April 21, 2023 Additional Public Solicitation for Direct Subsidy Project Plans and Public Solicitation for Indirect Subsidy Project Plans related to FY2023 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan (CIAJ) have decided to make an additional public solicitation for direct subsidy project plans and a public solicitation for indirect subsidy project plans related to the FY2023 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements.

1. Overview

The project on promoting advanced radio environment improvements subsidizes part of the costs of local governments, third-sector corporations, and telecommunications carriers to install optical fibers that are prerequisites for high-speed, large-capacity wireless stations in geographically disadvantaged areas. The project is divided into a direct subsidy project sector and an indirect subsidy project sector. The direct subsidy project sector assists prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations. On the other hand, the indirect subsidy project sector provides indirect assistance to telecommunications carriers through executive organizations.

*The CIAJ has been adopted as an executive organization for indirect subsidy project plans related to the FY2023 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements.

2. Additional public solicitation for direct subsidy project plans

(1) Implementing entities

Prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations

(2) Application period

Start date of public solicitation: Friday, April 21, 2023

First deadline: No later than noon on Friday, May 19, 2023

Second deadline: No later than noon on Friday, June 16, 2023

Third deadline: No later than noon on Friday, July 14, 2023

*Grant decisions will first be made on applications submitted by the first deadline.

*In the event of a large number of applications, the implementation details may be adjusted. If the budgeted amount is expected to be reached by applications received by the first or second deadlines, no further applications may be accepted. In the case of a project plan in which a local public entity is the project sponsor, and the project request exceeds the budgeted amount, the project plan may be adopted after considering the rate of individual number card issuance by the relevant entity.

*Applicants should contact MIC (the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications office that has jurisdiction over the project implementation area or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa) in advance.

(3) Method of submitting applications

Applicants should submit application documents according to the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for Projects to Support Radio System Dissemination and “Manual of Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements,” as shown in the URL in 4 (1), and mail the application documents or email them as specified below.

I. System for filing requests for subsidies (jGrants)

II. Regional Bureau of Telecommunications office or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications

Applicants should submit the electronic data on the application documents to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or Okinawa Office of Telecommunications, which has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location using email or a large-capacity file transfer system designated by MIC.

(4) Future schedule (tentative)

Adoption notification, etc.: June 2023 or later, as needed

3. Public solicitation for indirect subsidy project plans

(1) Implementing entities

Telecommunications carriers (excluding prefectural and municipal governments and third-sector corporations)

(2) Application period

Start date of public solicitation: Friday, April 21, 2023

First deadline: No later than noon on Friday, May 19, 2023

Second deadline: No later than noon on Friday, June 16, 2023

Third deadline: No later than noon on Friday, July 14, 2023

*Grant decisions will first be made on applications submitted by the first deadline.

*In the event of a large number of applications, the implementation details may be adjusted. If the budgeted amount is expected to be reached by applications received by the first or second deadlines, no further applications may be accepted. In adopting applications submitted by the deadline date, priority will be given, in principle, to applicants who submit a subsidy request form in the subsidy request survey for indirect subsidy projects conducted between January 16 and February 3, 2023.

*Applicants should contact MIC (the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications office that has jurisdiction over the project implementation area or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa) or the CIAJ in advance.

(3) Method of submitting applications

Please check with the following URL on the website of CIAJ.

(4) Future schedule (tentative)

Adoption notification, etc.: June 2023 or later, as needed

4. Others

(1) Notes

Applicants wishing to apply after the third deadline should consult with MIC (Regional Bureau of Telecommunications, etc.) individually.

(2) FY2022 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements (under second supplementary budget)

The second supplementary budget for fiscal 2022 supports disadvantaged areas (depopulated areas, remote areas, isolated islands, peninsulas, mountain villages, specific agricultural and mountain villages, and areas with heavy snowfall). In addition, municipalities with a financial strength index of 0.8 or lower and towns with a population density of 500 persons/km2 or lower are also considered areas eligible for subsidies. Although the submission period has ended, applicants wishing to implement a subsidized project should contact the relevant inquiry point for further information.