August 20, 2025 Results of Solicitation of Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Amendment of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Broadcasting Act and the Ministerial Ordinance for Special Exceptions for Notification regarding Equipment and Operations of General Broadcastings, and Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is currently engaged in formulating ministerial ordinances and other guidelines required to enforce Act No. 27 of 2025, which partially amends the Radio Act and the Broadcasting Act. As part of these efforts, the MIC solicited opinions on the following drafts from Saturday, June 28, 2025, to Monday, July 28, 2025: "Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Amendment of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Broadcasting Act and the Ministerial Ordinance for Special Exceptions for Notification regarding Equipment and Operations of General Broadcasting," "Draft Ministerial Ordinance Specifying Items to be Notified Regarding Access to Certification Records on the Approval of Basic Broadcasting Operations," and "Draft Guidelines on Preferable Measures to Ensure Continuous Viewing and Fulfill Announcement Obligations Prior to the Abolition of Relay Stations for Basic Terrestrial Broadcasting" (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Draft Ministerial Ordinances and Guidelines"). As a result, 47 opinions were submitted. These opinions, along with the MIC’s position on them, are made available.
　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 that partially amends the Regulations for Enforcement of the Broadcasting Act. Today, the MIC received a report stating that the Draft Ministerial Ordinance is appropriate.
　Considering the results of the opinion solicitation and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council, the MIC will promptly formulate the relevant ministerial ordinance etc..

Note: The published materials are in Japanese only.

1. Results of opinion solicitation

　The Act Partially Amending the Radio Act and the Broadcasting Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Amending Act") was promulgated on Friday, April 25, 2025. The Amending Act is to come into effect on a date specified by a cabinet order, within a period not exceeding nine months from the date of promulgation.
　As part of the efforts to prepare relevant regulations necessary to enforce the Amending Act, the MIC needs to prepare regulations to protect viewers when specified terrestrial basic broadcasters abolish relay stations and to digitize the certification of basic broadcasters. Aiming for preparing the regulations, the MIC solicited opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinances and Guidelines for 31 days from Saturday, June 28, 2025, to Monday, July 28, 2025.

2. Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

　Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council regarding the appropriateness of the Draft Ministerial Ordinance that partially amends the Regulations for Enforcement of the Broadcasting Act. Today, the MIC received a report stating that it is appropriate.

3. Future schedule

　Considering the results of the public solicitation and the report, the MIC will promptly develop the relevant ministerial ordinances and guidelines.

4. How to obtain materials

　The published materials will be available in the "Press Materials" section on the MIC website (https://www.soumu.go.jp/ ).