February 8, 2023 Results of Solicitation of Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Amendment of Ministerial Order Concerning Definitions of Specified Officers and Relationship of Control Relating to Basic Broadcasting Operations and Special Provisions on the Standards for Freedom of Expression, and Other Draft Amendments

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions from Friday, December 23, 2022 through Thursday, January 26, 2023, concerning the content of a draft ministerial order for partial amendment of the Ministerial Order Concerning Definitions of Specified Officers and Relationship of Control Relating to Basic Broadcasting Operations and Special Provisions on the Standards for Freedom of Expression, a draft ministerial notice for abolishing the Notice to Define the Regions Specified by Public Notice of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications under the Provisions of Article 3, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Ministerial Order Concerning Standards for Freedom of Expression Relating to Basic Broadcasting Operations (MIC Notice No. 282 of 2011), and the draft official directive for partial amendment of the Examination Standards Related to the Radio Act. As a result, 20 opinions were submitted. Accordingly, MIC discloses the submitted opinions along with MIC's views on them. Considering the results of the solicitation of opinions, MIC submitted an inquiry today about the appropriateness of the draft amendments to the Radio Regulatory Council (chaired by SASASE Iwao, Professor Emeritus, Keio University), and has received a report from the Council, approving the draft as appropriate. In consideration of the result of the solicitation of opinions and the report, MIC intends to promptly develop the provisions.

1. Outline

MIC solicited opinions from Friday, December 23, 2022 through Thursday, January 26, 2023, concerning a draft ministerial order for partial amendment of the Ministerial Order Concerning Definitions of Specified Officers and Relationship of Control Relating to Basic Broadcasting Operations and Special Provisions on the Standards for Freedom of Expression, along with other draft amendments.

2. Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

Following the aforementioned solicitation of opinions, MIC today submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council concerning the draft ministerial order for partial amendment of the Ministerial Order Concerning Definitions of Specified Officers and Relationship of Control Relating to Basic Broadcasting Operations and Special Provisions on the Standards for Freedom of Expression, and has received a report from the Council, approving the draft as appropriate.

3. Future plans

MIC will promptly develop the provisions based on the results of opinions submitted and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council.

4. How to obtain reference information

MIC will make the reference information available for viewing and obtaining copies at the Broadcasting Policy Division, Information and Communications Bureau, MIC (11th Floor, MIC).

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