Section 13: Challenges toward Ubiquitous Society
1. ICT usage from the viewpoint of safety and security ..31
2. Status of the digital divide ..32

## Chapter 2 Current Status of Information and Communications

Section 1: Telecommunications Business
1. Telecommunications market.....35
2. Telecommunications service .....35
3. Status of use of telecommunications service.....35
4. Telecommunications rate.....36
5. Telecommunications network.....36

Section 2: Broadcasting Business
1. Broadcasters.....37
2. Broadcasting services .....37
3. Status of broadcasting media use.....37
4. International broadcasting .....38

Section 3: Postal Service
1. Finances of postal service.....38
2. Volume of postal items.....38
3. Post office network.....39
4. Correspondence delivery businesses.....39

Section 4: R&D / Human Resources Development
1. Research in the information and communications field.....40
2. Trade in technology .....40
3. Human resources development.....40

Section 5: Informatization of Government and Public Sector
1. e-government.....41
2. e-municipality.....41
3. Public services.....41

Section 6: Trends Abroad
1. Information and communications market abroad.....42
2. Trends in ICT policies abroad.....42

## Chapter 3 Outlook for Information and Telecommunications Policies

Section 1: Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society
1. Promotion of national strategy .....47
2. u-Japan policy.....47

Section 2: Development of Information and Communications Policies
1. Development of telecommunications policies.....48
2. Development of broadcasting policy.....49
3. Promotion of policy for effective use of radio spectrum.....49

Section 3: Advancement of Information and Communications Network
1. Development and promotion of network infrastructures.....51
2. Promoting the broadcasting advancement.....52

Section 4: Establishment of a Safe and Secure Network
1. Consumer administration in relation to telecommunications services.....53
2. Promotion of measures for information security and privacy protection.....54
3. Efforts to ensure the reliability of electronic data.....54
4. Development of radio use environment.....54

Section 5: Promotion of Content Distribution and Efforts to Promote Creation and Fostering of Information and Communications Venture Businesses
1. Promoting production, distribution and preservation of content.....55
2. Development of an environment to promote creation and fostering of information and communications venture businesses.....55

Section 6: Efforts Contributing to Informatization of Administrative and Public Services
1. Promotion of Informatization of administrative and public services.....56

Section 7: Elimination of the Digital Divide and Human Resources Development
1. Elimination of geographic digital divide.....57
2. Promotion of information barrier-free.....57
3. Human resource development.....57

Section 8: Promotion of Research and Development
1. Development of R&D Policies in the information and communications field.....57
2. Selective and strategic promotion of research and development in the information and communications area.....58

Section 9: Promotion of International Strategy
1. Promotion of international policy.....59
2. Promotion of international cooperation.....59
3. Promotion of international standardization activities.....60

Section 10: Development of Postal Service Administration
1. Efforts of Japan Post.....60