Broadcasting was set up in September 2007 with the aim of promoting the comprehensive and well-organized efforts of the MIC, and a liaison council of relevant ministries and agencies for the full transition to digital broadcasting was established under the Cabinet Secretariat in order to promote the smooth switchover to digital broadcasting.

Furthermore, in November 2007, the “National Council for Promotion of Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting” consisting of top leaders from a wide range of fields such as broadcasters, manufacturers, dealers, consumer groups, mass media and business groups, and concerned government ministries including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issued the “Action Plan for the Promotion of Digital Broadcasting (No. 8)”, to clarify the issues to be addressed by concerned parties. The MIC is determined to implement specific plans and to make efforts for a full transition to digital broadcasting following the termination of analog broadcasting in 2011, in cooperation with broadcasters, manufacturers and other related organizations.

### B. Promotion of satellite broadcasting policy

Currently, a total of 12 frequencies are assigned to BS broadcasting in Japan through international coordination. Of these, 8 are already in use (5 for BS digital broadcasting and 3 for BS analog broadcasting), and, following a report from the Radio Regulatory Council in July 2007, it has been decided to use the remaining 4 for BS digital broadcasting from 2011. In accordance with the Basic Plan for Broadcast Dissemination, it has also been decided to reassign the 3 frequencies currently assigned to BS analog broadcasting to BS digital broadcasting with the complete termination of the former, scheduled for July 24, 2011.

Based on the recent progress of globalization and in response to an emerging need for an enhanced capacity of message transmission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) consulted the Information and Communications Council regarding “International TV Broadcasting for Foreigners” and the method of its promotion in August 2006 and received a report in August 2007. The Council’s report made recommendations on (1) the specific direction to take in enhancing international TV broadcasting, and (2) ideal business entities and financial resources for international TV broadcasting. In response, the MIC has introduced a new system including commissioning program productions from new business entities, and has taken measures for a drastic expansion of national expenditures with the amendment to the Broadcast Law. After the enforcement of the amended law of April 2008, affiliated companies which receive business consignments from the NHK have been established, making efforts to launch new TV programs for foreigners scheduled for early 2009.

### C. Advancement of cable television

Due to recent changes in the environment surrounding cable broadcasting, represented by the progress of digital broadcasting and the wide coverage of large volume networks, etc., the future of re-transmission through cable broadcasting is re-emerging as an issue to be discussed. Thus, the MIC had held meetings of the Study Group on Broadcast Retransmission by Cable Broadcasters since September 2007 and the Study Group released the final report in March 2008. In response, the MIC formulated and released, in April 2008, the “Guidelines for Interpretation of Due Reasons in the Consultation Procedures and Arbitration Concerning the Agreement on Broadcast Retransmission by Cable Broadcasters”

### 3. Promotion of radio policy

## (1) Radio policy summary

### A. Promotion of Strategy for Frequency Liberalization

Today, use of the radio spectrum is expanding remarkably in terms of both quality and quantity, and domestic needs for the radio spectrum are being increasingly widened and diversified, with technological innovation in the ICT field as a driver. Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has created a framework to open up the radio spectrum drastically toward delivery of radio broadband services, which is the key to the realization of a ubiquitous society in Japan. Based on the “Radio Policy Vision,” a report was submitted from the Information and Communications Council in July 2003. The MIC also promotes the Strategy for Frequency Liberalization as a policy measure to assign frequencies to new fields.

In order to establish the world’s leading radio broadband environment, it is necessary to secure the radio spectrum needed for mobile communications systems and wireless access systems promptly and smoothly, as they are the core of such the broadband environment. Thus, the MIC formulated its- Action Plan for Radio Spectrum Reallocation in August 2004 to follow-up the reallocation of the radio spectrum smoothly and steadily, which is to be reviewed, in a sequential manner, responding to the results of an assessment of the annual usage survey on the radio spectrum and changes in the radio usage environment.

### B. Review of spectrum user fee systems

The MIC has hosted its Study Group on the Spectrum User Fee System since April 2007, to facilitate a review of the next Spectrum User Fee System.