December 6, 2024 Designation of "Support Areas" under the Universal Service System for Broadband Services (Revision)

 In preparation for operating the Universal Service System for broadband services, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) designated approximately 30,000* areas as support areas and announced them today. These areas were selected from approximately 230,000 areas nationwide as they are expected to face a revenue and expenditure deficit for providing broadband services.

 The designation, revision, and announcement were carried out by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, based on actual state reports from telecommunications carriers providing broadband services, in accordance with the provisions of Article 110-2 of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984).

 A total of 30,650 areas, including 16,256 of such areas classified as general support areas for item (ii) universal telecommunications services and 14,394 of such areas classified as special support areas for the same services.

 This designation (or revision) has been carried out in response to errors in the information reported by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation, and ZTV Corporation, in accordance with Article 14-5, Paragraph 1 of the Regulations for Enforcement of Telecommunications Business Act (Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Ordinance No. 25 of 1985).