June 15, 2026 Results of the Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance Partially Amending the Regulations for the Prevention of Radio Propagation Blockage under the Radio Act, and on the related Draft Directive.

– Protection of Important Radio Communications within the Exclusive Economic Zone –

　In order to ensure the appropriate operation of the System for the Prevention of Radio Propagation Blockage within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) prepared both a draft ministerial ordinance partially amending the Regulations for the Prevention of Radio Propagation Blockage under the Radio Act, and a draft directive partially amending the Examination Standards Related to the Radio Act.
　As a result of a solicitation for opinions conducted by the MIC on the relevant draft ministerial ordinance and the draft directive from Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to Thursday, April 16, 2026, eight opinions were submitted. The MIC hereby publishes the submitted opinions and its views on those opinions.

Note: The published materials are in Japanese only.

1．Background

　The System for the Prevention of Radio Propagation Blockage is intended to avoid the disruptions of important radio communications* used for telecommunications services, the protection of lives or property, the maintenance of public peace and order, and other purposes. Under the System, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications designates, to the extent necessary, specific areas for the prevention of radio propagation blockage, thereby preventing communications blockages caused by the construction of high-rise buildings and other structures within such areas.

　Following the amendment of the Act on Promoting the Utilization of Sea Areas for the Development of Marine Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities, a scheme to permit the installation of offshore wind power generation facilities within Japan's EEZ was established and came into effect on April 1, 2026. As installations of offshore wind power generation facilities within the EEZ are expected to increase in the future, the necessary amendments are made in order to ensure the appropriate operation of the relevant System within the EEZ while maintaining a balance with the promotion of offshore wind power generation.

• * Important radio communications: radio communications relating to six categories of services, namely telecommunications services, broadcasting services, the protection of lives or property or the maintenance of public peace and order, meteorological services, electric power supply activities for the electricity business, and operation of trains for the railway business.

[Main Amendments]

• (1) Partial amendment of the Regulations for the Prevention of Radio Propagation Blockage under the Radio Act
  • a. Addition of cases exempted from the requirement to submit a notification of planned construction work for high-rise buildings, etc. (Article 6, item (v))
  • b. Addition of provisions concerning the offices through which documents are to be submitted to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (Article 11)
  • c. Addition of documents required to be attached when a notification of planned construction work for high-rise buildings, etc. is submitted at an early stage (Annotations 4(8) and 4(9) to Form No. 1 of the Appended Table)
• (2) Partial amendment of the Examination Standards Related to the Radio Act
  Addition of matters to be taken into consideration in the designation of Radio Propagation Blockage Prevented Areas (Article 41(5)(i))
• (3) Other necessary revisions to related provisions

2．Actions Taken Following the Solicitation for Opinions

　Today, based on the results of the solicitation for opinions, MIC enacted a ministerial ordinance partially amending the Regulations for the Prevention of Radio Propagation Blockage under the Radio Act and a directive partially amending the Examination Standards Related to the Radio Act.

3. How to Obtain Materials

　The published materials are available in the “Public Comments” section of e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/ )