July 6, 2023 Report from Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council on Draft Ministerial Ordinance to Make Partial Revisions to Ministerial Ordinance Partially Revising Rules for Calculation of Grants and Contributions, etc. related to Provision of Universal Telecommunications Services

On Friday, May 26, 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) submitted an inquiry (Inquiry No. 3168) to the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council (chaired by AIDA Hitoshi, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo). The inquiry pertained to a draft ministerial ordinance proposing partial revisions to the Ministerial Ordinance Partially Revising Rules for Calculation of Grants and Contributions, etc. related to the Provision of Universal Telecommunications Services. Today, the Council reported to MIC that revising the consulted draft ministerial ordinance with some statutory modifications is appropriate.
Based on this report, MIC plans to promptly revise the Ministerial Ordinance to make partial revisions to the Ministerial Ordinance Partially Revising Rules for Calculation of Grants and Contributions, etc. related to Provision of Universal Telecommunications Services.

1. Overview of draft ministerial ordinance

This matter draws on the Information and Communications Council’s report “Ideal State of the Universal Service Grant System in Light of Changes in the Fixed-line Phone Environment,” dated September 20, 2022. It proposes a partial revision to the Ministerial Ordinance Partially Revising Rules for Calculation of Grants and Contributions, etc. related to the Provision of Universal Telecommunications Services (Ministerial Ordinance No. 53 of 2020). The aim is to refine the provisions regarding the calculation method for the compensation amount under the Universal Service Grant system, particularly during the transition period from telephone networks to IP networks.

2. Report

On Friday, May 26, 2023, MIC submitted an inquiry regarding the draft ministerial ordinance to make partial revisions to the Ministerial Ordinance Partially Revising Rules for Calculation of Grants and Contributions, etc. related to Provision of Universal Telecommunications Services. Today, MIC received the report stating that revising the consulted ministerial ordinance with some statutory amendments is appropriate.

3. Future plans

MIC will promptly make institutional development based on this report and pertinent conditions.

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