disparities in information and communications among regions” and providing “grants for promoting development of local information and communications infrastructure”, to improve the geographical digital divide and promote informatization of local regions.

### 2. Promotion of barrier free information

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is establishing an information barrier-free environment with no digital divide caused by age and physical restrictions, so that all people including the elderly and disabled can make use of ICT.

The Ministry is promoting the active use of “Operational Models for Governments’ Websites for Everyone” (established in December 2005) which presents specific operation models for maintaining and improving web accessibility, enabling all people including the elderly and disabled to use public websites and web-systems. The Ministry has also been establishing and promoting guidelines to improve telecommunications accessibility. Furthermore, deliberations on guidelines for improving usability have continued since fiscal 2006, in order to offer easy use of ICT to the elderly.

Closed caption programs and audio commentary programs are broadcast to enable people with hearing difficulties or impaired vision to efficiently obtain information through television broadcasting. Based on the “Law for Promoting Businesses that Facilitate the Use of Communications and Broadcast Services by Physically Disabled Persons”, the Ministry is supporting part of the production costs for the production companies.

### 3. Promotion of Informatization of Administrative Services

## (1) Realization of e-Government

The government has thus far been promoting improvements of usability and service quality, administrative reform to leverage IT, and establishment and enhancement of e-Government, based on the e-Government Construction Program, the Future Administrative Reform Policy, and the IT Policy Package-2005.

Also in the IT New Reform Strategy, realization of “the most convenient and efficient e-Government in the world” is specified as one of the IT structural reform policies.

Based on the IT New Reform Strategy, the Liaison Conference for Chief Information Officers (CIO) of Respective Ministries formulated the “e-Government Promotion Plan”(August 2006) to properly implement the future e-government plans and achieve expected results following the PDCA cycle. This plan clearly indicates goals to be achieved by 2010 and measures required to achieve those goals. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to conduct steady promotion of informatization of administrative services based on the e-Government Promotion Plan.

## (2) Realization of e-Local Governments

e-Local Governments are established to increase the satisfaction level of residents, realize a simple and effective administration, revitalize local areas and promote the development of local IT industry. In August 2003, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications formulated the “Guideline for Promoting e-Local Governments” to develop infrastructure of e-local governments and promote online administrative procedures. Also, considering the recent change in the information and communications environment surrounding local public entities, the Ministry issued the “New Guideline for Promoting e-Local Governments” in order to “realize a useful, effective and vital e-local government by fiscal 2010”. This guideline includes not only an operational policy to achieve the goal, but benchmarks to monitor the progress so that the implementation can be reviewed every fiscal year.

Hence, using such infrastructure as Local Government Wide Area Networks (LGWANs), the Resident Registration Network System, and the Public Certification Service for Individuals, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has been promoting effective e-Local Government and taking various measures from financial and human resource viewpoints, etc., to improve local services.

### 4. Promotion of ICT in Disaster Prevention Field

In addition to public networks for subscribed phones and cellular phones and exclusive lines, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is now establishing a robust, congestion-free independent network called the “disaster prevention communications network” across the nation, prefectures and municipalities, to secure communications and collect and submit information promptly and steadily in the event of disaster. The Ministry is promoting development and enhancement of the disaster prevention communication network while setting up effective measures in the event of network interruption, including activities of the Conference of Emergency Communications.

#### 5. Regional development, etc. utilizing the information and communications infrastructure

Establishment and utilization of regional information and communications infrastructure will promote regional development and revitalization and lead to resolution of various problems that respective regions have. Hence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is supporting regional development utilizing the information and communications infrastructure, and regional revitalization initiated by ICT.

Also, to combine all the knowledge from residents, business entities and local public entities and revitalize