March 21, 2024 Results of Solicitation for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance, etc., to a Partial Amendment (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Ministerial Ordinance No. 6 of 2022) for Partial Amendment to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, etc. and Report from Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council

 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance, etc., to a Partial Amendment (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Ministerial Ordinance No. 6 of 2022) for Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Regulations of the Telecommunications Business Act, based on the consultation with Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council (chaired by AIDA Hitoshi, professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo) on January 23, 2024 (Consultation No. 3177).
 MIC today received a report from the Council summarizing the outcomes of the solicitation for opinions. MIC will now publish both the submitted opinions, its perspectives on them, and the report itself.
 MIC is planning to implement the ordinance based on the report promptly.

1. Overview

 This document outlines the Draft Ministerial Ordinance, etc., to a Partial Amendment (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Ministerial Ordinance No. 6 of 2022) for Partial Amendment of the Enforcement Regulations of the Telecommunications Business Act, which aims to clarify the timing of the abolition of the transitional measures for restrictions on penalties for term-binding contracts, based on the discussions of the “Study Group on Consumer Protection Rules” (Chaired by NIIMI Ikufumi, professor emeritus of Meiji University), and the “Guidelines for Consumer Protection Rules for the Telecommunications Business Act” (not subject to consultation) will also be revised accordingly.

2. Results of the solicitation for opinions and the report

 The solicitation for opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance, etc., to a Partial Amendment (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Ministerial Ordinance No. 6 of 2022) for Partial Amendment of the Enforcement Regulations of the Telecommunications Business Act was conducted from Wednesday, January 24 to Tuesday, February 27, 2024. As a result, 21 opinions were submitted.
 Furthermore, MIC today received a recommendation from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council, affirming that it is appropriate to advance with the Draft Ministerial Ordinance, etc., to a Partial Amendment (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Ministerial Ordinance No. 6 of 2022).

3. Future plans

 Based on the results of the solicitation for opinions and the report, MIC will promptly develop the relevant ordinances and regulations.

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