December 26, 2023 Results of Solicitation of Opinions regarding Partial Amendments, etc. to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc. and Re-solicitation of Opinions (Interconnection-related Matters)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions on partial amendments to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc., from Thursday, November 23, through Friday, December 22, 2023. As a result, 13 opinions were submitted on connection-related matters*1 in the proposed amendments.
Therefore, while opening the results of the solicitation of opinions to the public and in order to hear the opinions regarding opinions submitted by other interested parties, MIC will conduct re-solicitation of opinions from Wednesday, December 27, through Friday, January 12, 2024.

*1. The following draft amendments out of the proposed amendments Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (MPT No. 25 of 1985)
Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulations for Category I Designated Telecommunications Facilities Interconnection Accounting (MPT No. 91 of 1997)
Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulation on the Interconnection Charges Relating to Category I Designated Telecommunications Facilities (MPT No. 64 of 2000)
Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulation on the Interconnection Charges Relating to Category II Designated Telecommunications Facilities (MPT No. 31 of 2016)

1. Overview of draft ministerial ordinances, etc.

MIC organized the Study Group on Calculation of Interconnection Charges, etc.* in March 2017, which has been deliberating on the current interconnection system, which is the basis for ensuring fair competition, and other matters for providing various services smoothly in a fair competition environment.
The study group examined bill-and-keep of interconnection charges for voice services, such as telephony (a method of inter-carrier settlement in which interconnection charges are not mutually paid between telecommunications carriers). As a measure to introduce this method partially, the seventh report of the study group (published on Wednesday, September 6, 2023) recommended that it would be appropriate to make the bill-and-keep optional based on an agreement between interconnecting parties.
In light of the above, MIC will amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (MPT No. 25 of 1985) and other relevant ministerial directives and guidelines to allow the selection of the bill-and-keep option based on an agreement between interconnecting parties with regard to category I designated telecommunications facilities and category II designated telecommunications facilities.
With regard to the proposed amendments, MIC solicited opinions from Thursday, November 23, through Friday, December 22, 2023. While opening the results of the solicitation of opinions and in order to hear the opinions regarding opinions submitted by other interested parties, MIC will make a re-solicitation of opinions (limited to those on interconnection-related matters) from Wednesday, December 27, through Friday, January 12, 2024. A summary of the proposed amendments is provided in Attachment 1.
*2. The name was changed from the Study Group on Calculation of Interconnection Charges in December 2019.

2. Opinions submitted

The submitters of opinions and the contents of the opinions are listed in Attachment 2.

3. Procedure of public solicitation of opinions

(1) Subject for soliciting opinions
Opinions submitted in response to the interconnection-related matters in the proposed amendments in the recent solicitation for opinions
○ Draft Ministerial Ordinance Partially Amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act: See attachment 3*3 Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (MPT No. 25 of 1985) Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulations for Category I Designated Telecommunications Facilities Interconnection Accounting (MPT No. 91 of 1997) Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulation on the Interconnection Charges Relating to Category I Designated Telecommunications Facilities (MPT No. 64 of 2000) Draft Partial Amendment to the Regulation on Interconnection Charges Relating to Class II Designated Telecommunications Facilities (MPT No. 31 of 2016)
*3. The name of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications was revised from the draft of subject for soliciting opinions.

(2) Opinion re-solicitation period: From Wednesday, December 27, 2023, and no later than Friday, January 12, 2024 (Opinions sent by mail will be accepted if postmarked by the deadline.)

For details, please see the Procedure of Public Re-solicitation of Opinions. The materials will be available for inspection and distribution at the Tariff and Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (10th floor, MIC). They will also be posted in the Public Comment section of e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/).

4. Future plans

Based on the results of the solicitation for opinions and re-solicitation of opinions, the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council will make a report on matters to be consulted.
Based on the report from the Council and the results of the solicitation and re-solicitation of opinions, the Ministerial Ordinance, etc., will be enacted and put into effect.

*The published material is in Japanese only.