June 23, 2025 Results of the Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance Partially Amending the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and the Regulations for Radio Station Licensing Procedures (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft Ministerial Ordinance"), and the Report from the Radio Regulatory Council
- Establish relevant regulations for speeding up and streamlining the licensing procedures for radio stations such as mobile phone base stations -

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance that partially amends the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 14 of 1950) and the Regulations for Radio Station Licensing Procedures (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 15 of 1950), from Thursday, May 1, 2025, to Wednesday, June 4, 2025. As a result, 8 opinions were submitted. We will publicly announce the submitted opinions and the MIC’s view on them.
　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council, chaired by SASASE Iwao, professor emeritus at Keio University, regarding the appropriateness of the Draft Ministerial Ordinance. Today, the MIC received a report stating that it is appropriate to make amendments in accordance with the content of the draft.
　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council, the MIC will promptly amend the related regulations.

Note: The published materials are in Japanese only.

1. Background and summary of the amendments

　The "Report by the Radio Policy Advisory Panel for the Expansion of Digital Business" (August 2024) stated: "Currently, all base stations using shared frequencies are operated under individual licenses in principle. However, in order to streamline license procedures and flexibly open base stations in response to communications demand, it is appropriate to consider simplifying the licensing procedures for base stations that meet certain conditions by, for instance, making them subject to blanket licensing or requiring notification of license changes, while paying attention to interference prevention as well as the possibility of new or additional radio stations opened in other radio systems. In addition to base stations, it is appropriate to work on simplifying the licensing procedures for terminals as well, taking into account the increasing number of frequencies and standards." In response, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has reviewed this report.
　Based on this report, in order to establish systems for speeding up and streamlining the licensing procedures for radio stations such as mobile phone base stations, the MIC solicited opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance that partially amends the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and the Regulations for Radio Station Licensing Procedures from Thursday May 1, 2025, to Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

2. Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council regarding matters under the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950) included in the Draft Ministerial Ordinance that partially amends the Regulations for Enforcement of the Radio Act and the Regulations for Radio Station Licensing Procedures. Today, we received a report stating that it is appropriate to make amendments in accordance with the draft.

3. Future plans

　Based on the report from the Radio Regulatory Council and the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC will promptly amend or otherwise work on the ministerial ordinance.