December 27, 2023 Results of Solicitation for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance to Partially Amend the Rules for Enforcement of the Wire Telecommunications Act and Others and Promulgation of Amended Ministerial Ordinance and Related Matters

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions on a draft ministerial ordinance to partially amend the Rules for Enforcement of the Wire Telecommunications Act and pertinent conditions from Wednesday, October 25 through Friday, November 24, 2023. As a result, two opinions were submitted, and MIC decided to open the submitted opinions to the public, along with MIC’s views on the opinions.

1. Amendments overview

MIC prepared a draft ministerial ordinance to partially amend the Rules for Enforcement of the Wire Telecommunications Act (Ministerial Ordinance of MPT No. 36 of 1953), a draft Notice to partially amend MIC Notice No. 67 of 2015 (to specify details of administrative rules), and a draft manual of administrative rules. These drafts are intended to address various risks surrounding international submarine cables and landing stations, which are critical infrastructure, to ensure the cyber security of information and telecommunications networks, and to review various regulations based on the Plan for a Comprehensive Review of Regulations, taking into account the Digital Principles (formulated on June 3, 2022, by Special Commission on Digital Administrative Reform). In this connection, MIC solicited opinions on these drafts.

2. Results of solicitation for opinions

MIC solicited opinions on these amendments to the Ministerial Ordinance, etc., from Wednesday, October 25 through Friday, November 24, 2023, and received two opinions. The opinions submitted, along with MIC’s views on them, are shown in Attachment 1.

3. Promulgation and enforcement of revised Ministerial Ordinance, etc.

Based on the results of the public solicitation, MIC promulgated the following Ministerial Order and Notice, which went into effect today.
• Ministerial Ordinance to partially amend the Rules for Enforcement of the Wire Telecommunications Act (Ministerial Ordinance of MIC No. 100 of 2023) (Attachment 2)
• Notice to partially amend MIC Notice No. 67 of 2015, (to specify details of administrative rules) (MIC Notice No. 438 of 2023) (Attachment 3)

In addition, the Manual of administrative rules was amended. (The amended version is in Attachment 4, and the version showing changes is in Attachment 5).

4. How to obtain materials

Press materials will be made available for inspection and distribution at the Telecommunications Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC. They will also be posted in the Public Comment section of the e-Government (e-Gov) portal (https://www.e-gov.go.jp).

*The published materials are in Japanese only.