## (2) Increasing sophistication of networks, etc

### A. Promotion of increasing sophistication of networks

In order to address the issue of “IPv4 address exhaustion” in the Internet infrastructure that supports Japan’s society and economy, in February 2009 the MIC opened the Study Group concerning the Improved Use of IPv6 on the Internet in order to secure the use environment for the Internet and for the purpose of studying concrete measures to help promote the spread of IPv6 from the viewpoint of further increasing the benefit of the Internet. A second interim report was compiled and released in March 2010.

### B. Proper management of IP addresses / domain names

Currently, the private nonprofit organization ICANN is in charge of the extremely important task of appropriate management and coordination of the IP addresses and domain names essential to Internet use on a worldwide scale, so as to prevent duplication and other problems. Starting in November 2009, ICANN has been accepting registration of internationalized top-level domain by country. In Japan, appropriate domain names were discussed by the Information and Communications Council, and in July 2009 the domain “.Japan” was agreed upon. It was also decided that the administrator and operator of this domain should be selected from among private enterprises, and further considerations are underway in the privately established Japan Internet Domain Name Council.

## (3) Dispute settlement between telecommunications business operators

The Telecommunication Business Dispute Settlement Commission is endowed with the following four functions: (1) to implement procedures for mediation and arbitration among telecommunications business operators, (2) to implement procedures for mediation and arbitration regarding radio station establishment, etc. (3) to conduct investigation and submit reports on orders and awards made by the prime minister when consulted, and (4) to make the necessary recommendations to the MIC on the development of rules, etc. concerning the items within its vested powers. Besides these functions, the Commission has set up a consultation desk for telecommunication business operators to offer advice and answer questions on connections and issues among telecommunication business operators.

### 2. Development of broadcast policy

## (1) Promoting the transfer of broadcasting from analog to digital format

Terrestrial analog broadcasting will end and be completely replaced by a terrestrial digital service by July 24, 2011. Terrestrial digital TV broadcasting was launched in the three largest metropolitan areas, Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, in December 2003, and in December 2006, the service was started in all prefectural capitals. As of the end of March 2010, about 48.35 million households (about 97.5% of all households) have access to digital services, and as of the end of April 2010, the number of shipments of terrestrial digital receivers constitutes about 75.90 million sets. The number of households with cable TV connections capable of receiving terrestrial digital broadcasts is 24.06 million (as of the end of March 2010.)

In addition, branches of “Digi-Support” (the MIC Television Recipient Support Center), which offers support and consultations to television viewers regarding the transition to digital broadcasting, have been opened in every prefecture, and are helping promote the transition to an all-digital terrestrial broadcasting system.

## (2) Other broadcasting policies

Japan’s satellite broadcasting has acted as a pioneering technologically advanced medium, providing various special broadcasting services and high-definition TV programs. The cumulative total of shipments of special satellite receivers (for both BS and 110 CS digital broadcast) came to about 65.35 million sets (as of the end of March 2010), and the number of households connected to special satellite broadcasting is about 21.98 million (as of end of March 2009).