### 3. Broadcasting Business

Broadcasters ... 49

Broadcasting Services ... 49

Broadcasting Fees ... 50

Status of the Usage of Broadcasting Media ... 50

### 4. Postal Service

Overview ... 51

Mail volume ... 51

Services ... 51

Postage rates ... 51

### 5. Information and Communications Network

High-Speed and Ultra High-Speed Networks ... 52

Radio Stations ... 52

Postal Network ... 52

### 6. Information Flow

Information Flow in Japan ... 54

Regional Information Flows ... 54

### 7. Trends Abroad

The United States .. 55

EU .. 55

Asia .. 55

Chapter 3

## TRENDS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS POLICY

### 1. Realization of an Advanced Information and Communications Network Society

Promotion of a National IT Strategy . . . 58

e-Japan-related Budget . . . 58

### 2. Development of Policies for the New Information and Communications Era

Competition Policy of the Telecommunications Industry for the Promotion of the IT Revolution .. 59

Provision of Asymmetrical Regulations .. 59

Creation of a Telecommunications Business Dispute Settlement Commission .. 59

Implementation of a Universal Service Fund .. 59

Development of a Competitive Environment in the Telecommunications Sector .. 60

Review of the Long Run Incremental Cost Model .. 60

Approach to the Development of Broadcasting .. 60

Promotion of Policies for the Effective Utilization of Radio Waves .. 60

### 3. Advances in Networks

Development and Promotion of Network Infrastructure ..... 61

Promotion of Advances in Broadcasting ..... 61

Convergence of Communications and Broadcasting ..... 61

### 4. Promotion of Content and Applications, and Development of Human Resources

Formation of a New Content Distribution Market

Toward the Broadband Network Era .....62

Promotion of Telework and SOHO .....62

Promotion of New Information and

Communications Businesses .....62

Development of Human Resources .....62

### 5. Promoting the Digitization of Public Areas

Promotion of Local Digitization .. . 63

Online Administrative Procedures and Laying the Groundwork for Public Certifications .. . 63

Development of Public Systems .. . 63

Local Government Wide Area Network .. . 63

Digitization of Processing Applications and Notices at Local Governments .. . 63

Measures Toward the Design of a Geographic Information System (GIS) .. . 64

Promotion of the Digital Museum Concept .. . 64

Local Development Through IT .. . 64

### 6. Promotion of Advanced Information and Communications

Development of the Telecommunications Usage Environment .. 65

Improvement of Safety and Reliability and Promotion of Crisis Management Measures .. 65

Development of a Barrier-Free Information Environment .. 65

Development of the Radio Wave Usage Environment .. 65

Improvement of Media Literacy .. 66

### 7. Promotion of Research and Development

Development of Promotional Strategies in the Information and Communications Field by the Council for Science and Technology Policy .. 67

Support for R&D through Competitive Funds .. 67

System of R&D and Evaluation of R&D .. 67

Development of Broadband DSL Network .. 67

R&D on the Next-Generation Internet .. 67

R&D on the Gigabit Network Technology .. 68

Development of a Terabit-Class Super Network .. 68

R&D on Ultra-High-Speed Photonic Network Technologies .. 68