# PROMOTION OF ADVANCED INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

## Development of the Telecommunications Usage Environment

In May 2002 a law concerning the limitation on liability for damages by the designated telecommunications service providers and the disclosure of sender information came into effect. This law set forth the necessary provisions articulating the liability of such telecommunication service providers as Internet service providers, allowing them to respond quickly and appropriately to cases involving the violation of rights of other parties in connection with information posted to Web pages and electronic message boards on the Internet. In addition, the MPHPT hosted a study group to address methods of dealing with nuisance e-mail, on which a report was compiled in January 2002. The study group discussed technical and systematic measures for controlling and preventing the distribution of nuisance mail. Subsequently, a proposal for a law on topics including the appropriateness of sending certain designated e-mail was submitted to the 154th session of the Diet, which was then approved. Furthermore, the development of a necessary legal framework with respect to individual information protection, and of electronic signatures and certification businesses has been undertaken. The MPHPT has established the Telecommunication Consumer Consultation Center, which deals with complaints and concerns related to telecommunications services from its users. It has also set up the Telecommunications Service Monitoring Institution.

## I mprovement of Safety and Reliability and Promotion of Crisis Management Measures

The Bill to Prohibit and Take Measures against Unauthorized Access (commonly known as the Bill to Prohibit Unauthorized Access) came into effect in February 2000 (July 2000 for some parts of the bill) under the authority of the National Police Agency, the MPT (now the MPHPT), and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). In addition, in October 2001 the government put together a communication and cooperation system between public and private sectors concerning measures against cyber terrorism in accordance with Special Action Plan on Countermeasures to Cyber Terrorism of Critical Infrastructure, which stipulates matters related to a communication system between the government and private sector in the event of cyber-terrorism. The MPHPT has added new criterion to the Guidelines for Information and Communications Network Safety and Reliability in order to improve the safety and reliability of a third-generation mobile communications system. In addition, the MPHPT has developed in collaboration with an independent public corporation Communication Research Laboratory (CRL), the Safety and Reliability Guidelines for Info-communications Networks, which was utilized during the United Statesterrorist attack incidents that occurred in September 2001.

## Development of a Barrier-Free Information Environment

In order to eliminate the digital divide in relation to the elderly and mentally or physically challenged, the MPHPT has implemented a variety of measures designed to create a communications and broadcasting system that responds to the range of obstacles confronting the elderly and the mentally or physically challenged. In fiscal 2001 the MPHPT granted subsidies to eight business projects for research and development related to communications and broadcasting services designed for the elderly and the mentally or physically challenged. In addition, the ministry is implementing programming production support measures in order to provide closed captioning broadcasts for the visually and hearing impaired. In April Study Group on the Next-Generation Closed Caption was held and a report was prepared.

## Development of the Radio Wave Usage Environment

In order to maintain a sound radio wave usage environment, the MPHPT has been aggressively promoting the appropriate use of radio waves by implementing measures such as that of imposing radio wave usage fees to prevent problems