June 21, 2023 Authorization of Changes to Exemption Standards of the Receiving Fees of the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted today an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council (chaired by SASASE Iwao, Professor Emeritus of Keio University) on changes to the exemption criteria for reception fees of the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (also called NHK and hereafter referred to as “NHK,” headed by INABA Nobuo, President), as applied under Paragraph 2, Article 64 of the Broadcast Act (Act No. 132 of 1950). Then MIC received a report from the Radio Regulatory Council stating the appropriateness of the approval as inquired.
In response to this report, MIC will promptly approve this matter.

1. Overview of the changes

The changes apply a full exemption from the NHK reception fee to students living away from their parents or guardians, including those recognized as dependents under the social insurance system and students with an equivalent income level to those dependents. To this end, regulations will be established, as shown in the attachment for the Exemption Standards of the Receiving Fees of NHK.
In addition, in May 2020, a special provision was newly established to exempt the receiving fees for those that have received prior approval from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications regarding the scope of the receiving contracts to be exempted and the period of exemption in cases where the spread of COVID-19 has had or is likely to have a serious impact on the lives of people and the national economy. However, since COVID-19 was moved to Class 5 Infectious Disease on May 8, 2023, the provision of the said special exception is deleted.

2. Effective date of changes

October 1, 2023

*The published material is in Japanese only.