Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## Broadcasters

At the end of fiscal 2001 there were 348 ordinary terrestrial broadcasters (of which 152 were community broadcasters), 146 ordinary satellite broadcasters, and 669 cable TV companies offering original programs (Exhibit 2-6) in Japan. In addition, following the implementation of the Law Concerning Broadcast on Telecommunications Services in January 2002, a new system has been in place to regulate broadcasting on telecommunications circuits such as communications satellites and fiber optics.

Operating revenues for broadcasters for fiscal 2000 rose over the previous year. Commercial terrestrial broadcasters earned ¥2,646.6 billion, a 6.6% increase over the previous fiscal year, commercial satellite broadcasters ¥189.1 billion a 17.7% increase over the previous fiscal year, and cable TV companies ¥246.3 billion, a 9.8% increase over the previous fiscal year.

In addition, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) was engaged in terrestrial broadcasting operations with its domestic broadcasting which consisted of a total of five television and radio channels, and in satellite broadcasting operations with its broadcasting satellite (BS) broadcasting with a total of six channels, including Television 1, Television 2, and High Vision.

Other than the above, the University of the Air was established in order to respond to Japanese citizens' request for opportunity to study university courses and is also aimed at promoting and developing broadcasting programs for university education. At the present time, the programs of the University of the Air are aired through terrestrial TV broadcasting, super shortwave broadcasting, and CS digital broadcasting. The programs on terrestrial TV broadcasting and CS digital broadcasting are repeated via cable TV. These programs can be seen across Japan.

## Broadcasting Services

The number of commercial terrestrial television broadcasting stations in operation at the end of fiscal 2001 was 127, and approximately 90% of households in Japan were able to obtain at least 4

Exhibit 2-6. Number of Broadcasters at the End of Fiscal 2001

Notes: • Figures in parentheses represent numbers for fiscal 2000.

• Figures do not include NHK and the University of the Air.

• Cable TV operators are those offering original programs.
channels. With respect to satellite broadcasting, BS broadcasting commenced operations with analog broadcasting in June 1989 and digital broadcasting in December 2000, while CS broadcasting debuted with analog broadcasting in April 1992 followed by digital broadcasting in June 1996. In addition, consignor broadcasters for Plat-One and SKY Perfect Communications commenced broadcasting services in March 2002 and May 2002, respectively, using the N-SAT-110 satellite that was launched in October 2000 and is positioned at 110 degrees longitude east, which is the same as that for BS broadcasting. Even though cable TV was originally launched as a supplementary broadcasting media which was to be primarily focused on repeating already aired programs because of the reception difficulties experienced by viewers of terrestrial television broadcasting, its broadcasting programs have become diversified in recent years due to repeat broadcasts via satellite broadcasting and an increase in the number of original programs. In addition, NHK has been engaged in international broadcasting which is aimed at overseas reception, and both NHK and commercial broadcasters have been airing programs that are designed for foreign viewers overseas.

## Broadcasting Fees

An examination of the structure of the reception fees and charges for both terrestrial and satellite broadcasting services shows that reception fees constitute the main source of revenue for NHK, while commercial broadcasters rely heavily on advertising revenues and pay-TV charges as their main source. In the case of BS digital broadcasting, which commenced service in December 2000, NHK so far has not established a reception fee classification specifically for this service, thus allowing its viewers with the existing satellite color contracts to receive this new service without any additional fee. In addition, fees for the BS digital broadcasting service contracts provided by commercial broadcasters have remained at about the same level as those for the BS analog broadcasting service, a move aimed at promoting the faster penetration of BS digital broadcasting.

## Status of the Usage of Broadcasting Media

According to the Nationwide Survey on Individual Audience Ratings (June 2001), which is released by the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, television broadcasting viewing time in Japan is such that the average time of television broadcasting viewing per day (weekly average) in 2001 was 3 hours 51 minutes, which was the longest average time seen in 10 years and 30 minutes longer than the average time of viewing in 1992 (Exhibit 2-7). In addition, audience ratings on television broadcasting by time shows that the peak viewing times occur between 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning, between 12:00 and 13:00 in the afternoon, and after the early evening.

Exhibit 2-7. Changes in the Average Time of Television Broadcasting Viewing per Day (weekly average)

Source: The Nationwide Survey on Individual Audience Ratings, NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute (June 2001)
## Overview

The postal service incurred a net loss of ¥10 billion in fiscal 2000, which was a ¥45.3 billion improvement from the net loss in fiscal 1999 thanks to managerial efforts that included cutting back on the cost of personnel and supplies in order to reflect dwindling postal service revenues. Cumulative profits at the end of fiscal 2000 were ¥122.6 billion.

## Mail Volume

As in fiscal 2000, the postal service continued to process a record high total volume of mail (a sum of the number of domestic mail volume and the number of international mail processed) in fiscal 2001, processing 26.7 billion items, a 0.7% increase over the previous fiscal year. In addition, a comparison of the total volume of mail processed by different countries in fiscal 2000 shows that Japan ranked third in the world after the United States and France. In terms of the annual volume of mail per capita in fiscal 2000, however, Japan ranked 18th, accounting for approx. 28.2% of the annual volume of mail per capita in the United States, which ranked first.

## Services

Efforts are made for the improvement of various postal services in order to cater to the changes occurring in the social economy arising from the utilization of IT, the need for a total service which can consolidate logistics, information, and payment settlement functions, and the increasing and diversified needs of users for other diverse services. The Postal Service continues to develop new services, such as a service that will consolidate logistics, information, and payment settlement functions.

## Postage Rates

Domestic postal rates, which are based on a financially self-supporting system, are determined in accordance with the principal of the equalization of income and expenditure. Postage rates for ordinary mail are based on a characteristic system of flat rates that are applicable nationwide. Inexpensive postage rates have been set for third-class mail and fourth-class mail in view of specific social policies in Japan. On the other hand, postage rates for parcel post are determined according to the applicable zone of destination and the weight of the parcel. In addition, as in the case of ordinary mail, postage rates for booklet parcel post for the mentally and physically challenged and other similar items have been set at a low level in light of certain social policies.
Exhibit 2-8. Status of the Development of Fiber Optic Networks by Size of City

Fiscal year	Coverage
Classification	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Government designated cities and prefectural capital cities and equivalent	All areas	16%	21%	28%	34%	44%	56%	61%
Main areas (Business areas)	32%	47%	74%	89%	92%	93%	94%
Cities with a population of more than 100,000 people	All areas	8%	11%	11%	13%	22%	31%	40%
Main areas (Business areas)	6%	23%	48%	59%	69%	72%	72%
Other	2%	3%	5%	6%	8%	14%	22%
National average	10%	13%	16%	19%	27%	36%	43%

Note: Figures are as of March 31. Main areas refer to those areas in which business customers account for more than 50% of the subscribers.
## I nformation Flow in Japan

The Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications conducts the Census of Information Flow survey on a regular basis in order to get a comprehensive and quantitative grasp on the wide variety of information flows that form the information environment. According to the said survey, the volume for every category of information surveyed has consistently increased over the past 10 years, with a more significant growth seen in recent years (Exhibit 2-9). In addition, the survey has shown that the rate of growth in the volume of information flow in both “dedicated service (data transmission)” and “ISDN (data transmission)” has increased at an accelerating pace due to and in tandem with the digitalization of information and the development of networks, and that the volume of information for each of the above categories has also increased at an accelerating rate.

## Regional Information Flows

A breakdown of the share of information transmitted in fiscal 2000 by prefecture shows that Tokyo had the largest share with 16.9%, leading the second largest share held by Osaka Prefecture (6.8%) and others by a large margin. As in the category of information transmitted, Tokyo had the largest share in selectable information with 12.6%, once again leading second place Osaka Prefecture (8.5%) but with a slightly narrower margin than in the former category. In addition, in the category of information consumed the share of Tokyo (11.5%) continued to lead second place Osaka Prefecture (6.9%), with the gap between the two being similar to the margin observed in the category of selectable information. All of the above suggests that even though the regional gap in information flows is large as far as the transmitting of information is concerned, such a regional gap has relatively narrowed when it comes to the consumption of information.

Exhibit 2-9. Changes in the Volume of Information in Japan (1990 average = 100)

Information supplied	100	106	113	123	136	177	246	309	374	716	984	25.7%	41.0%	37.4%
Information transmitted	100	106	110	116	125	154	202	245	289	519	700	21.5%	35.4%	24.8%
Selectable information	100	107	112	118	124	133	142	171	192	221	237	9.0%	12.3%	7.5%
Consumable information	100	105	110	114	116	125	135	144	155	189	215	8.0%	11.5%	14.0%
Information consumed	100	103	105	110	114	132	154	176	200	314	406	15.0%	25.2%	29.4%
Real gross domestic product	100	103	103	103	104	107	111	111	110	112	114	1.3%	1.3%	1.7%
Total population	100	100	101	101	101	102	102	102	102	102	103	0.3%	0.2%	0.29%

Source: Census of Information Flow
Information and Communications in Japan

White Paper 2002

Chapter 3

TRENDS IN INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATIONS POLICY
# REALIZATION OF AN ADVANCED INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SOCIETY

## Promotion of a National IT Strategy

In an effort to properly adapt to the changes in socioeconomic structures that have been taking place on a global basis as a result of the utilization of information and communications technologies (IT), the Basic Law on the Formation of an Advanced Information and Communications Network Society (IT Basic Law) was submitted by the government at the 150th extraordinary session of the Diet, passed in November 2000, and came into effect in January 2001. IT Strategic Headquarters, which has been set up within the government in accordance with the aforesaid law, has established an e-Japan Strategy, which is aimed at making Japan the most advanced IT nation in the world within the next five years. In addition, the e-Japan Priority Policy Program was launched in March 2001 with the aim of executing the aforementioned strategy, followed by the e-Japan 2002 Program, an annual program which was created in June 2001 and incorporated the preceding e-Japan Priority Policy Program into national policy for fiscal 2002.

In addition, in accordance with the Basic Policies for Macroeconomic Management and Structural Reform of the Japanese Economy (the so-called “muscular policies”), which were approved at the Cabinet meeting in June 2001, the Reform Schedule and Advanced Reform Program were created at the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy in September 2001 and October 2001, respectively. Meanwhile, IT Strategy Headquarters has been studying important and urgently needed IT-related policies, and put together the Acceleration and Advancement of e-Japan Priority Policy Program and e-Japan 2002 Program, which was incorporated into the Reform Schedule as well as the Advanced Reform Program.

Lastly, as we are about to enter the interim phase toward the goals set for the year 2005, the government plans to undertake an overall review of the e-Japan Priority Policy Program and plot out a new program, the e-Japan Priority Policy Program 2002, in June 2002, which will include more than 300 measures.

## e-Japan-related Budget

The government prepared a budget for fiscal 2002 in order to surely pursue the e-Japan 2002 Program, which was submitted and approved at the 154th session of the Diet. The total amount of the budget for fiscal 2002 related to the e-Japan Priority Policy Program was ¥1,954.5 billion, which represented an increase of ¥34.1 billion from the previous fiscal year. In addition, the government separately approved two supplementary budgets in fiscal 2001, the first of which was for a total amount of ¥84.1 billion and the second of which was for ¥390.8 billion, each one representing budgets in connection with the formation of an advanced information and communications network society.
## Development of a Competitive Environment in the Telecommunications Sector

Since August 2001 the MPHPT has held a study group on the development of a competitive environment and business model in the new information and communications era for which an interim report was prepared in January 2002. The study group plans to continue examining the development of a competitive environment in a full IP era and to put together a final report in June 2002.

## Review of the Long Run Incremental Cost Model

In September 2000 the MPT (now the MPHPT) once again held a study group on the long run incremental cost model. Items that had been outstanding from the previous study group and items that were suggested by means of public participation were discussed, and a report was subsequently prepared in March 2002.

## Approach to the Development of Broadcasting

In order to promote Japan’s IT revolution, it is important to properly pursue policies for the broadcasting industry with insight into the developments in technological reforms and the broadbanding of networks. Under the circumstances, the MPHPT has convened various round table conferences such as the conference on the future outlook for broadcasting in the broadband era, a study group on broadcasting policies, an investigative commission on the role of cable TV in the broadband era, and an investigative commission on the role of satellite broadcasting.

## Promotion of Policies for the Effective Utilization of Radio Waves

study, among other things, measures to smoothly execute the real location of radio waves, promote technological reform, and effectively utilize radio waves.

In order to meet the stringent conditions concerning radio waves, the MPHPT, in its efforts to ensure further transparency in the administration of radio waves, submitted to the 154th session of the Diet a proposal for the partial revision of the Radio Law, which is aimed at the enhancement of a system for investigating, evaluating, and publicly announcing the usage status of radio waves and a system for offering information related to radio stations. The above proposal was unanimously approved and passed, and publicly announced in May 2002. In addition, the MPHPT has held the Study Group on Policies concerning the Effective Radio Spectrum Use since January 2002 in order to
Government Promotion Pilot Project was launched in 2001 in accordance with the e-Japan Priority Policy Program. In March 2002 a basic specification for the project was created based on the actual results of the project in fiscal 2001 at a meeting of the national government's Inter-Ministerial Council for Promoting the Digitization of Public Administration. Going forward, the council plans to investigate during 2002 the project's compatibility with the public personal authentication service, the LGPKI, the multi-payment network (MPN), and other such systems as the documentation management system and the system for processing individual work from other ministries. In fiscal 2003 the council will investigate the project's compatibility with the system for processing individual work from other ministries.

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

In fiscal 2000 the MPHPT compiled the Comprehensive GIS Shared Space Database Specification in order to promote the implementation of a comprehensive geographic information system (GIS), which is equipped with a database that can be shared among the different departments of local governments. In fiscal 2001 the ministry conducted a demonstrative test to put this specification into actual use, probed suggested operating techniques and uses of the database, and has just completed preparing a manual based on the test.

## Promotion of the Digital Museum Concept

The MPHPT is currently promoting the Digital Museum Concept, which will allow anyone to access via network digital information the cultural assets accumulated in local cultural facilities (such as galleries and museums). In fiscal 2000 the MPHPT classified the development of systems for the Digital Museum Concept under the Local Information and Communications Infrastructure Development Project, and also implemented financial measures in the form of tax allocated to local governments for the production of digital content whose main theme is culture in local public bodies.

## Local Development Through IT

In April 2002 the Okinawa Development Special Measures Law came into effect with the aim of implementing the necessary measures for promoting development in Okinawa. This law positions the development of information and communications as the key to the development of Okinawa, and incorporates measures such as the creation of an information and communications industry special district system as well as an information and communications industry development plan.

In addition, the MPHPT implemented in fiscal 2001 an investigative analysis on the promotion of the Okinawa International Information Special Section Concept, the development of a server farm in Ginoza Village (collaborative work with the METI), the promotion of a multimedia facility plan in Kadena Town, the development of online travel guide operation for the Yaeyama area, and research in relation to the design of a northern wide-area network.
of unwanted radio waves and illegal and unauthorized radio stations. In response to concerns that radio waves used on wireless telecommunications have a detrimental effect on human health, the ministry has adopted radio wave protection standards and is conducting on-going research related to this matter. On June 1, 2002, a partial provision is expected to be applied under the Regulations Concerning Radio Facilities and Regulations Concerning Technical Standards Compliance of Designated Radio Facilities whereby a maximum allowable value will be defined for the rate of radio waves that can be absorbed by humans from the use of cell phones and similar devices which are being placed on the side of head, and will legally require manufacturers of cell phones and wireless devices to rigorously ensure that this maximum allowable value not be exceeded.

## I mprovement of Media Literacy

Media literacy is defined as the organic convergence of following three abilities: 1) the ability to independently read and understand media; 2) the ability to access and utilize media; and 3) the ability to engage in communication through media, in particular, the interactive communication ability with readers of the information. The MPHPT has developed educational materials for the improvement of media literacy and began loaning it out to the public in July 2001 at telecommunications bureaus across Japan to improve nation's media literacy.
## Standard Time Delivery and Time Authentication Services

Since January 2002 the MPHPT has held a study group on R&D related to standard time delivery and time authentication services. The study group has focused on the following areas, for which a report was prepared in June 2002: 1) domestic and international trends in the time stamping business; 2) future images for the time stamping business and their utilization; 3) selection of R&D themes and issues related to the standardization of time stamping technology; 4) social and economic effects of the time stamping business; and 5) promotional measures related to the time stamping business.

## R&D on Moving Picture Natural Vision

As a leader in R&D on communications and broadcasting technologies, the TAO has been conducting R&D on the Natural Vision, which is able to recreate colors as close to their natural state as possible. With the goal of recreating an object as close to its actual state as possible in terms of its color, texture, stereoscopic effect, and glossiness, the TAO is working towards the development of a next-generation image display and transmission system based on multiple primary colors that will surpass the current color display system, the three RGB primary colors.

## R&D Activities of the Communications Research Laboratory

On April 1, 2001 the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) saw a new beginning as an independent administrative agency. As the only public R&D institution in the information and communications field, it is expected by many to fulfill its duties by utilizing a collection of research accomplishments from its previous existence as a national research institution, and maximizing the advantages it possesses from its efficient and active research conducting system as an independent administrative agency. The CRL has mapped out a medium-term plan designed to achieve the medium-term goals (from fiscal 2001 through fiscal 2005) designated by MPHPT Minister and has engaged in cutting-edge R&D that is considered too risky and difficult to be undertaken by the private sector, in order to enrich people's lives by strengthening the competitiveness of the information and communications industry in Japan and utilizing cutting-edge IT technology.