November 15, 2023 Results of Solicitation for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance Partially Amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and Report from Radio Regulatory Council
Review of provisions specifying recording media

Based on the Plan for a Comprehensive Review of Regulations in light of the Digital Principles (published in June 2022 by the Digital Extraordinary Administrative Advisory Committee), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted a ministerial ordinance partially amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act for the purpose of reviewing the regulations that specify the recording media (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 14 of 1950). Accordingly, MIC solicited opinions on the draft from Friday, September 8, through Monday, October 9, 2023. As a result, three opinions were received. Accordingly, MIC has decided to open the submitted opinions to the public, along with MIC’s views on the opinions.
With consideration of the results of the solicitation for opinions, MIC sent an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council (chaired by SASASE Iwao, Professor Emeritus at Keio University) today on the draft notice and received a report to the effect that it is appropriate to adopt the draft as proposed.
MIC will promptly develop the relevant provisions with consideration of the results of the solicitation for opinions and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council.

1. Background and overview

Based on the Plan for a Comprehensive Review of Regulations in light of the Digital Principles, efforts are underway to promote the further use of digital technology throughout the government.
Article 51-4-2 of the Ordinance Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act stipulates that a retailer of designated radio equipment shall use a magnetic disk, CD-ROM, or other equivalent method as an alternative method to a written delivery when concluding a sales contract with a purchaser. The solicitation for opinions was held from Friday, September 8 through Monday, October 9, 2023, on a draft ministerial ordinance partially amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act to allow the delivery of documents by electromagnetic recording media without specifying any recording medium.

2. Results of solicitation for opinions

The submitted opinions and MIC’s views on them are shown in the attachment.

3. Report from Radio Regulatory Council

Based on the results of the solicitation for opinions, MIC sent an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council today on the consultation item stipulated in Article 99-11, Paragraph 1 of the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950) of the draft ministerial ordinance partially amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act, and received a report to the effect that the draft is appropriate.

4. Future plans

MIC will promptly amend the ministerial ordinance, etc., based on the report from the Radio Regulatory Council and the results of the solicitation for opinions.

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  The reference material is in Japanese only.