sites, disaster-management bases, and homes. Digital formats that enable interactive communications and data communications are being introduced for these wireless systems to make it possible to address diverse information provision needs, such as collecting disaster information via images, exchanging information with evacuation sites, and notifying information from disaster-management administration via text displays.

## (3) Establishing radio usage environments

### a. Promoting policies to counter bioelectromagnetic environmental issues

Many smartphones and other wireless devices, which have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, internally conduct mobile phone signals, wireless LAN signals, and other types of radio-frequency signals and have functions to simultaneously emit multiple radio-frequency signals. In May 2014, MIC revised the Guidelines for Prevention of Effects on Implantable Medical Equipment Caused by Radio waves from All kinds of Machinery and Tools using Radio Waves to clarify that smartphones and other mobile devices with internal wireless LAN functionality are included in the Guidelines' "mobile phone devices" scope.

### b. Promoting policies to counter electromagnetic interference

The Radio Wave Utilization Environment Committee, established under the Information and Communications Technology Subcommittee, Information and Communications Council, surveys and studies policies to counter electromagnetic interference caused by unnecessary radio waves. MIC contributes to debates on international standards at CISPR (Comité International Spécial des Perturbations Radioélectriques) and works, through the promotion of domestic standardization initiatives and other activities, to prevent unnecessary radio waves from interfering with radio communication systems and causing problems with electrical and electronic devices.

### c. Ensuring the reliability of radio devices

Modular and chip-based radio devices are increasingly available, driven by technological advances in recent years, and numerous products, such as robot vacuum cleaners, are manufactured and sold with embedded radio devices that have been certified to conform to technical standards. The issue is that the technical standards compliance mark, indicating the modular device has been certified to conform to technical standards, is affixed to the modular device and not to the product that contains the modular device. Therefore, users cannot directly verify the technical standards compliance mark.

In light of this situation, MIC submitted a bill to partially amend the Radio Act to the National Diet in February 2014. The bill included (1) provisions permitting the reprinting of technical standards compliance marks on products and (2) provisions pertaining to the repair of mobile phones and other wireless devices by third parties that permit repair businesses registered with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to self-verify the correctness of repairs and display a mark indicating conformance with technical standards. The bill was passed in April 2014.

### d. Preventing radio interference and obstruction

Amid the expanding use of the radio spectrum, it is an increasingly important task to maintain a favorable radio spectrum usage environment by eliminating radio interference and obstruction. Therefore, in addition to monitoring radio waves and eliminating radio interference and obstruction, MIC is strengthening efforts to deal with devices that could cause radio interference and obstruction.

### 4. Handling disputes between businesses in the information and communications field

## (1) Mediation and arbitration by the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission

a. Overview of the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission

(i) Functions of the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission

The Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission is a specialized organization for quickly and fairly handling increasingly diverse conflicts in the telecom field. The Commission has three functions: (1) performing mediation and arbitration to resolve conflicts between carriers and other businesses; (2) deliberating on and issuing reports to inquiries from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications when an order or ruling is to be issued; (3) giving recommendations to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications on improvements to competition rules or other matters as part of its mediation, arbitration, and inquiry responses.

## (2) Negotiation orders and rulings by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications

In the telecom field, when negotiations between telecom businesses fall apart on matters such as interconnection of telecommunication equipment, a telecom business, based on the provisions of the Telecommunications Business Act, may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to issue an order to start or resume negotiations or to make a ruling on the matter. Also, in the broadcast field, if negotiations between terrestrial TV broadcasters and cable TV operators or other businesses fall apart on matters such as rebroadcast agreements, the cable TV operator or other business may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to make a ruling on the matter. In FY 2003, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications issued one ruling in the broadcast field.