sonal wireless.

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

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

The Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission is a specialized organization for quickly and fairly handling the increasingly diverse cases of conflict in the telecom field. The Commission has three functions: (1) Mediation and arbitration to resolve conflicts between businesses etc., (2) When the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications issues an order or ruling etc., the Commission receives an inquiry and deliberates and replies, (3) As part of mediation, arbitration, and replies to inquiries, the committee recommends competition rule improvements to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

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

In the telecommunications field, when discussions on topics such as connection of telecommunications equipment stagnate between telecommunications businesses, a telecommunications business can submit a request to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications that he/she issues a ruling or an order to start or restart discussions. Also, in the broadcast field, if a discussion such as on a rebroadcast agreement stagnates between a cable TV broadcast business and terrestrial core broadcast business, the cable TV broadcast business can submit a request to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications that he/she issues a ruling. In FY2011, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications issued five rulings in the broadcast field.

### 5. Ensuring safety and reliability of infrastructure

Regarding telecom infrastructure, considering that the Great East Japan Earthquake caused congestion and breakdown etc. in telecom infrastructure over wide areas and for a long time, and that 2011 typhoon number 12 wind and flood damage cut off means of communications to mountain area villages etc., in February 2012, the Information and Communications Council provided replies for some items concerning safety and reliability policies for telecommunications. Based on these, to ensure more communications during disasters, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is starting work to partially revise business use telecommunications equipment rules, etc. Also, in FY2011 there were many communications failures involving smartphones and other mobile phone services. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications began to hold its "Liaison Committee on Countermeasures against Mobile Phone Communication Failures" in February 2012. Starting April 2012, the Information and Communications Council began deliberations on revisions of safety and reliability standards etc. of telecom equipment for the smartphone era.

Regarding broadcast infrastructure, along with the June 2011 enforcement of the revised Broadcast Act, based on the partial replies by the Information and Communications Council, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications developed rules concerning technical standards, major incidents subject to reporting, etc.

## Section 3

## Ensuring Citizen’s Lives are Safe and Secure

### 1. Consumer administration in relation to telecommunications services

## (1) Response to various problems concerning ICT services, considering the viewpoints of users

In its “Study Group on Examining Issues around ICT Services from the User Perspective,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications began holding working groups starting in September 2010 on each topic: Examination of the “Act on the Limitation of Liability for Damages of Specified Telecommunications Service Providers and the Right to Demand Disclosure of Identification Information of the Senders,” methods of handling spam, development of an environment where youth can use the Internet safely and securely, and obtaining and enhancing benefits for telecom service users. This Study Group put together and published recommendations on each topic in FY2011.

## (2) Developing a safe and secure usage environment in the smartphone era

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is advocating “Protection of Children Online (PCO) by Design” as a concept which shows the design of devices, design of services, and development of systems in businesses and between businesses, etc., in a form incorporating effective youth protection. Also, starting January 2012, the “Working Group on the User Information Sent