February 8, 2023 Results of Solicitation of Opinions on Draft Systemic Revisions Concerning Amateur Radio Use for Wireless Human Resource Development, etc. and Report from Radio Regulatory Council

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions from Thursday, November 17 through Friday, December 16, 2022, regarding a draft ministerial order for partial revisions to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act, etc. and draft systemic revisions to associated ministerial notices and the like, aimed at expanding opportunities to experience and use amateur radio, accelerating procedures for obtaining a license, and simplifying and rationalizing the license system, based on the Recommendations on Amateur Radio Use for Wireless Human Resource Development (August 2022), among other documents. As a result, 183 opinions were submitted. Accordingly, MIC discloses the submitted opinions along with MIC's views on the opinions to the public.
Considering the results of the solicitation of opinions, MIC today submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council (chaired by SASASE Iwao, Professor Emeritus, Keio University) about those consultation matters in the draft ministerial order in question based on the provisions of Article 99-11, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950), and has received a report from the Council, approving the draft as appropriate. MIC will promptly carry out the institutional development of the relevant provisions, based on the results of opinions submitted and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council.

1. Outline

In January 2022, MIC began holding sessions of the Amateur Radio Advisory Board for Wireless Human Resource Development (chaired by FUJII Takeo, Professor, Advanced Wireless Communication Research Center, the University of Electro-Communications), with the aim of creating a system and environment that facilitate amateur radio use from the viewpoint of fostering wireless human resources. In August 2022, the Advisory Board compiled the Recommendations on Amateur Radio Use for Wireless Human Resource Development. In light of these recommendations, MIC sought to make systemic revisions aimed at expanding opportunities to experience and use amateur radio, promoting digitalization, reducing the burden on applicants and shortening the length of time required for the handling of applications by accelerating procedures for obtaining a license and simplifying and rationalizing the license system, and improving the efficiency of administrative procedures, in order to broaden the base of wireless human resource development. As such, MIC solicited opinions from Thursday, November 17 through Friday, December 16, 2022, regarding a draft ministerial order for partial revisions to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act, etc. and draft systemic revisions to associated ministerial notices and the like.

2. Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

Considering the results of the solicitation of opinions, MIC today submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council about those consultation matters in the draft ministerial order in question based on the provisions of Article 99-11, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Radio Act, and has received a report from the Council, approving the draft as appropriate.

3. Future plans

MIC will promptly make the institutional development of relevant regulations 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 press release available for viewing and obtaining copies at the Land Mobile Communications Division, Radio Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (10th Floor, MIC).

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