April 14, 2023 Results of Solicitation for Opinions on Drafts of Institutional Development, including Draft Ministerial Ordinance to Partially Revise Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and Report from Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) recently solicited opinions on a draft ministerial ordinance and pertinent conditions to partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and other regulations. MIC has received a report today from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council in response to MIC’s inquiry (Inquiry No. 3162, March 3, 2023) on this draft ministerial ordinance and related matters. Therefore, MIC has decided to make public the report, the opinions received, and MIC’s views on the opinions. Considering the results of this solicitation for opinions, the report, and other relevant factors, MIC plans to promptly carry out institutional development, including the revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (MPT Ordinance No. 25 of 1985).

1. Background

MIC has submitted to the 208th session of the Diet a bill on the Act on Partial Amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act. The purpose of this bill was to improve the universal service system for broadband services to ensure the smooth provision of telecommunications services and to protect the interests of its users in light of changes in the environment surrounding the telecommunications business. After the passage of the bill, the Act on Partial Amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 70 of 2022, hereafter referred to as the “Amended Act”) was promulgated on Friday, June 17, 2022.

Based on the promulgation of the Amended Act, in June 2022, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications submitted an inquiry on the ideal state of the provision of universal telecommunications services, etc., to the Information and Communications Council. In February 2023. the Council compiled a report on the ideal state of the provision of universal telecommunications services, etc.

Following the promulgation of the Amended Act, in June 2022, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications submitted an inquiry to the Information and Communications Council regarding the ideal state of the provision of universal telecommunications services, etc. In February 2023, the Council compiled a report on the ideal state of the provision of universal telecommunications services, etc.

This matter is to partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and pertinent conditions to make institutional development based on the Revised Act (provisions related to the Universal Service System for Broadband Services mentioned above) and the said report.

2. Results of solicitation for opinions and report

On Friday, March 3, 2023, MIC submitted an inquiry to the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council regarding the draft ministerial ordinance and pertinent conditions to partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc.

The draft ministerial ordinance (including matters other than those inquired of the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council) was open for opinions from Saturday, March 4, 2023, to Monday, April 3, 2023. In response, 10 comments were submitted.

3. Future plans

Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc. Based on the results of this solicitation for opinions and the report, MIC will promptly make institutional developments, including the partial revision of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc.

4. How to obtain materials

The reference materials on the subject matter will be available for viewing and distribution at the Telecommunications Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department, Telecommunications Bureau, MIC.

*The published materials are in Japanese only.