### 5. Ensuring the safety and reliability of infrastructure

## (1) Ensuring the safety and reliability of telecommunication infrastructure

MIC launched the Study Group on Ideal Prevention of Diversified and Complicated Telecommunications Accidents in April 2013 to search for approaches to prevent telecommunication accidents, which have become more diverse and complicated with the diversification and sophistication of networks and services. By establishing an environment in which the necessary preventative measures at each level are properly in place, the MIC strives to prevent telecommunication accidents. The Study Group put together a report in October 2013. Based on this report, MIC submitted a bill to amend the Telecommunications Business Act to the 2014 Ordinary Session of the National Diet to arrange provisions to prevent accidents. The bill was passed in June 2014.

## (2) Ensuring the safety and reliability of broadcast infrastructure

MIC has developed rules concerning technical standards, major incidents subject to reporting, and other matters based on a partial report from the Information and Communications Council, in keeping with the enforcement of the June 2011 revised Broadcast Act. Based on these rules, MIC is now taking proactive measures, such as mandating broadcasters to maintain broadcast equipment correctly and requiring them to thoroughly investigate the causes of any serious accidents and take effective steps to prevent reoccurrence.

## Section 3 Protecting the Safety and Security of Citizens' Livelihoods

### 1. Consumer affairs administration in relation to telecommunication services

## (1) Initiatives on consumer affairs administration for the smartphone age

To establish conditions whereby users can use smartphone and other services safely and securely, MIC made a three-pronged study: (1) approaches to the proper provision of smartphone and other services; (2) addressing new issues with using smartphone apps; and (3) addressing issues concerning user information on smartphones. In September 2013, MIC announced the Reinforcement Strategy on Smartphone Safety and Security.

### a. Initiatives on the proper provision of telecommunication services

Based on recommendations in the CS Correction Initiatives section of the Reinforcement Strategy on Smartphone Safety and Security, MIC launched the Study Group Meetings on Ideal state of Internet Service Quality Measurements in November 2013 to arrange an environment in which users sign smartphone contracts based on proper information, with a particular emphasis on the advertising of communication speeds and other service specifications. The meeting finalized its first report in April 2014. MIC also recognized that voluntary initiatives by industry groups in the area of consumer protection were not producing acceptable results, and issues had emerged such as non-compliance with voluntary standards and the presence of carriers who were not members of industry groups. Therefore, MIC launched the Study Group on the Safety and Security of ICT Services in February 2014 to look at this matter and the revision of consumer protection rules in the Telecommunications Business Act and to study the necessary system and legal approaches to put a legal framework in place. The Study Group is now conducting an in-depth study.

### b. Establishing usage environments for youth

Seeing the tremendous growth of smartphones among youth, and in consideration of the nature of security on smartphones, which is different from security on conventional mobile phones, it is increasingly important to not only raise the literacy of young people but also raise the literacy of their guardians and teachers.

MIC, with the Regional Bureaus of Telecommunications and the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications at the fore, is taking comprehensive public awareness activities, such as constructing promotion platforms to unify regional stakeholders and holding briefing sessions, to further the establishment of systems in which active stakeholders from all over each region can coordinate and carry out dissemination and public awareness activities to raise the literacy of young people, guardians, and teachers in their respective region.

### c. Handling user information in the smartphone age

MIC created the Working Group on Handling User Information Via Smartphones under the Study Group on Examining Issues around ICT Services from the User Perspective. Since January 2012, the Working Group has been examining the necessary measures on the handling of user information so that user information on smartphones is used in a safe and secure manner. The Working Group announced in August 2012 the Smartphone Privacy Initiative (SPI), a recommendation that included the Guideline for Handling Smartphone User Information, a voluntary guideline for app providers and other relevant businesses to follow.

In December 2012, the Study Group set up the Working Group on a Safe and Secure Usage Environment in the Era of Smartphones to discuss approaches to third-party verifications of smartphone apps that confirm