January 16, 2023 Public Solicitation for FY2023 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements and Survey on Subsidy Requests

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make a public solicitation for direct subsidy project plans and for an executive organization for indirect subsidy project plans related to the FY2023 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements, from Monday, January 16 through Friday, February 3, 2023. During the same period, MIC will also conduct a survey on subsidy requests relating to indirect subsidy project plans.

1. Overview

The Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements subsidizes part of the cost incurred by local governments, third-sector corporations, and telecommunications carriers when installing optical fiber—a prerequisite for high-speed, large-capacity wireless stations—in geographically disadvantaged areas. In addition to subsidizing new installation projects, the project also subsidizes part of the cost incurred by local governments for the maintenance and management of optical fiber on outlying islands.
The project is divided into a direct subsidy project category and an indirect subsidy project category. The direct subsidy project category provides direct assistance to prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations, while the indirect subsidy project category provides indirect assistance to telecommunications carriers through executive organizations.
MIC has decided to publicly solicit direct subsidy project plans and an executive organization for indirect subsidy plans, and also to conduct a survey on subsidy requests relating to indirect subsidy plans.

2. Public solicitation of direct subsidy project plans (including those involving maintenance and management of dedicated transmission line equipment for outlying islands)

1. Implementing entities

Prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations
(In the case of plans involving maintenance and management of dedicated transmission line equipment for outlying islands, prefectures and municipalities only)

2. Application period

From Monday, January 16 through 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023

• *
  Should a large number of applications be received, the amount of subsidy to be granted may be adjusted within the limits of the budget. In addition, implementation under the budget for FY2022 may be requested. In the case of project plans where a local government is the project implementing body, if project requests exceed the budget funding available, decisions on the adoption of project plans will also take into account the local government's Individual Number Card issuance rate.

3. Application method

Prepare the document following the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for the Support Project of Wireless System Diffusion Costs and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Radio Environment Promotion Project, and apply using either of the following methods.

1. Submission of application form to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications

Submit electronic data of the application document to the competent Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa) that has jurisdiction over the applicant's location by email or a large-file transfer system designated by MIC.

2. Application via the system for filing requests for subsidies (jGrants)

Please access the jGrants website and submit your application.

4. Future schedule (tentative)

A preliminary announcement on nominated projects will be made in March 2023 or thereafter.
The decision on granting subsidies will be made in April 2023 or thereafter.

3. Public solicitation of an executive organization for indirect subsidy project plans

1. Implementing entities

General incorporated associations, general incorporated foundations, public interest incorporated associations, and public interest incorporated foundations

2. Application period

From Monday, January 16 through 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023

3. Application method

Complete the application documents in accordance with the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for the Support Project of Wireless System Diffusion Costs and the guidelines for the solicitation of executive organizations for the Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements. Then submit the application documents as electronic data to the Broadband Development Office, Telecommunications Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC by email or a large-file transfer system designated by MIC.

4. Future schedule (tentative)

The decision on the executive organization will be made on April 3, 2023

4. Survey on subsidy requests relating to indirect subsidy plans

1. Survey respondents

Municipalities considering installation by telecommunications carriers
Telecommunications carriers

2. Survey period

From Monday, January 16 through 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023

3. Submission method

Prepare the documents with reference to the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for the Support Project of Wireless System Diffusion Costs and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Radio Environment Promotion Project. Then submit the relevant documents as electronic data to the competent Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa) that has jurisdiction over the area where the applicant intends to conduct the installation project by email or a large-file transfer system designated by MIC.

4. Handling of survey results

MIC will consider its policy on the allocation of the FY2023 budget in light of the survey results. The executive organization will, as a general rule, use this allocation policy as the basis for adopting indirect subsidy project plans. Accordingly, we request that local governments and telecommunications carriers considering indirect subsidy project plans ensure they make a submission in response to this survey.

5. Other

Points to note

MIC is conducting the public solicitations and survey of subsidy requests as a preliminary procedure based on the assumption that the FY2023 budget bill will pass the Diet, so that subsidized projects can be started without delay once the budget bill is passed. It should therefore be kept in mind that the content of the projects to be implemented may be subject to change, depending on the content of the budget bill passed.

• *
  The published materials are in Japanese only.