January 15, 2024 Public Appeal for FY2024 Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements and Survey on Subsidy Request

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make a public appeal from Monday, January 15 through Friday, February 2, 2024, for fiscal 2024 direct subsidy project plans to promote advanced radio environment improvements, executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans, and a survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans to be conducted.

1. Overview

The Project on Promoting Advanced Radio Environment Improvements subsidizes a portion of the costs for local governments, third-sector corporations, and telecommunications carriers in geographically disadvantaged areas when they install optical fibers, which are essential for high-speed and high-capacity wireless communication necessary for realizing advanced wireless environments, such as 5G and IoT. Additionally, the project also provides subsidies for a portion of the expenses related to maintaining optical fibers and similar facilities in remote islands, in addition to new installations.
The project is divided into direct subsidy project plans that provide direct assistance to prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations and indirect subsidy project plans that provide indirect assistance to telecommunications carriers through executive organizations.
MIC has decided to make this public appeal for direct subsidy project plans, executive organizations of indirect subsidy project plans, and a survey on subsidy requests for indirect project plans.

2. Public appeal for direct subsidy project plans (including the maintenance of leased line equipment for remote island transmission)

(1) Implementing entities
Prefectures, municipalities, and third-sector corporations
(Prefectures and municipalities for the maintenance of leased line equipment for remote island transmission)
(2) Period of submission
From Monday, January 15, and no later than noon on Friday, February 2, 2024
*In cases of a large number of applications, the amount of subsidy may be adjusted within the budget limits, and there might be a request to carry out the project within the budget of 2023. Furthermore, in project plans where local governments are the main implementing body, and there is a demand for a project exceeding the budget amount, the project selection will be made considering the rate of individual number card issuance within that entity.
*For regions affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, consult with MIC at any time, regardless of the above application period.
(3) Application method
As per the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for Projects to Support Radio System
Dissemination and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Wireless Environment Improvement Promotion Project, both of which are posted on the URL in Section 5(2), prepare the documents, and apply using one of the following methods:
(1) Application to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications), whichever has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location
Submit the electronic data of the application documents to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or Okinawa Office of Telecommunications, whichever has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location, by email or a large-capacity file transfer system designated by MIC.
(2) Submission through the grant application system (JGrants)
Access the J-Grants site (https://www.jgrants-portal.go.jp/) and apply.
(4) Future schedule (tentative)
Notification of adopted projects: In or after March 2024
Grant decision: In or after April 2024

3. Public solicitation for executive organizations for indirect assistance projects

(1) Implementing entities
General incorporated associations, general incorporated foundations, public interest incorporated associations, and public interest incorporated foundations
(2) Period of submission
From Monday, January 15, and no later than noon on Friday, February 2, 2024
(3) Application method
As per the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for Projects to Support Radio System Dissemination and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Wireless Environment Improvement Promotion Project, both of which are posted on the URL in Section 5(2), prepare the application documents and submit the electronic data of the application documents to the Infrastructure Development Promotion Division, Telecommunications Business Department, Regional Bureau of Telecommunications, by email or a large-capacity file transfer system designated by MIC.
(4) Future schedule (tentative)
Decision on executive organization: April 1, 2024

4. Survey of requests for assistance for indirectly subsidized projects

(1) Target
Municipalities considering maintenance by telecommunications carriers
Telecommunications carriers
(2) Survey period
From Monday, January 15, and no later than noon on Friday, February 2, 2024 *In the area affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024, please consult with us at any time, regardless of the above survey period.

(3) Submission method
As per the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for Projects to Support Radio System
Dissemination and the Implementation Manual for the Advanced Wireless Environment Improvement Promotion Project, both of which are posted on the URL in Section 5(2), prepare the application documents and submit the electronic data of the application documents to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or Okinawa Office of Telecommunications, whichever has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location, by email or a large-capacity file transfer system designated by MIC.
(4) Handling of survey results
Based on the results of the survey, MIC will consider the allocation policy for the fiscal 2024 budget. As a general rule, the executive organization will adopt indirect subsidy projects based on the said allocation policy. Therefore, local governments or telecommunications carriers that are considering indirectly subsidized company projects are requested to ensure that they submit their applications.

5. Others

(1) Points to keep in mind
The public solicitation and survey of subsidy requests are conducted in advance on the premise that the budget is approved so that the subsidy projects can be started promptly after the initial budget for fiscal 2024 is approved. Therefore, be advised that the details of the survey may be subject to change depending on the contents of the budget to be approved.
(2) URL for related materials
https: //www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/broadband/index.html
*Keep in mind that the Subsidy Grant Guidelines for Projects to Support Radio System Dissemination and other information on this website may change in the future.

*The published material is in Japanese only.