March 26, 2025 Results of Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance, etc. to Partially Amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions on the draft ministerial ordinance, etc. to partially amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business from Saturday, January 18, 2025, to Monday, February 17, 2025, and received three opinions. The MIC will release these opinions and the MIC’s position on them.

1. Overview

　Article 40 of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984: hereinafter referred to as the “Act”) stipulates that when a telecommunications carrier intends to conclude, amend or discontinue an agreement or contract containing important matters with a foreign government, etc. regarding telecommunications business, the authorization of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications is required.
　This partial amendment is to amend part of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act, the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business and the Examination Standards related to the Telecommunications Business Act with regard to the subject of authorization for agreements, etc. with foreign governments, etc. under Article 40 of the Act.

2. Results of the solicitation for opinions

　The MIC has developed a draft ministerial ordinance to partially amend the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business, and a draft official directive to partially amend the Examination Standards related to the Telecommunications Business Act, and solicited opinions from Saturday, January 18, 2025, to Monday, February 17, 2025 under the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993).
　Three opinions were submitted as a result of the opinion solicitation.

3. Promulgation of a ministerial ordinance, etc.

　In light of the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC today promulgated a ministerial ordinance to partially amend the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act and the Rules for Reporting on Telecommunications Business, and enacted the official directive to partially amend the Examination Standards related to the Telecommunications Business Act.

4. How to obtain materials

　The materials are available for viewing and can be obtained at the Tariff and Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Telecommunications Business Department of the Telecommunications Bureau, MIC (10th Floor, Central Government Building No.2). They are also posted on the e-Government Portal [e-Gov] (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/ ), the “Public Comments” section.