information and communications field, and concluded that it is appropriate to consider development of a legal system that can punish acts of leaking personal information in a cross-sectoral manner in their reports released in December 2004 and February 2005 respectively.

## 3 Overcoming the digital divide

In the process of examination conducted by the Study Group on Putting in Place Balanced Nationwide Broadband Platforms since June, it was recognized anew that local governments that are making progressive efforts are playing a certain role in developing local broadband infrastructures in an increasing number of cases. In light of this, the “Plan for Eliminating Zero Broadband Areas”—an interim report mainly consisting of the Plan for Accelerating the Installation of a Regional Broadband Infrastructure, which summarize the challenges and measures in developing broadband infrastructure for reference by local governments—was compiled in February 2005.

## 4 Improving the environment for radio spectrum use

Along with the rapid spread and upgrading of radio spectrum use including mobile phones, concerns have been raised that the radio waves might cause adverse effects on the human body or cause malfunctions to medical equipment, such as the heart pacer. To ease such concerns and to develop an environment that allows people to use radio spectrum safely and confidently, the MIC has formulated adequate criteria and implemented researches.

Moreover, to protect radio equipment from electromagnetic interference from other equipment, the MIC has contributed to the establishment of international standards at CISPR and introduced domestic standards in compliance with the international standards.

In addition, in order to increase the volume of information that can be transmitted on the power line communication system, there have been demands in recent years to expand the frequency range that can be used (2-30MHz to be added). The MIC has set up the “Study Group on High-Speed Power Line Communications” and has been investigating possibilities and conditions for the coexistence of high-speed power line communications with radio uses since January 2005.

## Section 8

## Promoting R&D

## 1 Developing R&D policies in the information and communications field

## (1) Future R&D promoting strategy

In order for Japan to achieve sustainable economic development and for the Japanese people to lead safe lives with peace of mind, it is necessary to make active and strategic investments in selective areas of science and technology and to maintain and develop the competitiveness of industry through the promotion of research and development. From this perspective, the Second-Term Science and Technology Basic Plan (approved by the Cabinet in March 2001) placed special priority on four fields of science and technology, including the information and communications field, and stipulated that R&D resources should be allocated to these fields in a preferential manner.

With the aim of actively promoting R&D in the information and communications field toward achievement of a future ubiquitous network society, the MIC set up the R&D Strategic Committee within the Telecommunications Council and examines strategies on the priority R&D fields, the roles of the national government and public organizations, and methods of strengthening the international competitiveness and internationally expanding Japan’s information and communications technology.

## (2) Developing R&D environment

An open test-bed network environment would be required to realize next-generation advanced networks at an early stage under collaboration of Japanese and overseas industries, universities, governments, and communities, revitalize the Japanese economy and society, as well as to strengthen Japan’s international competitiveness.

The cutting-edge R&D test-bed network (JGN II) operated by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology governed by the MIC supports R&D at the light wavelength level by introducing state-of-the-art optical switching, and provides access points in all prefectures nationwide. It is used as the infrastructure for industry-university-government collaboration and regional collaboration around the nation by universities, research institutes, private companies, and local governments. The pioneering efforts concerning