of the costs of production of closed-caption and audio description programs. The Guidelines for Broadcasting Administration for the Visually and Auditory Impaired Persons, formulated in January 2007, aims to provide closed-caption services to all possible broadcasting programs by 2017.

### 4. 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 New IT 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 implement future e-government plans properly and to achieve the expected results following the PDCA cycle (revised in December 2008).

The MIC plans to conduct the steady promotion of the informatization of administrative services based on the plan.

## (2) Realization of e-local governments

e-Local governments aim to upgrade administrative services and simplify and streamline administration through the use of ICT. In March 2007, the MIC issued the New Guidelines for Promoting e-Local Governments in order to “realize a useful, effective and vital e-local government by fiscal 2010” and conducts annual follow-ups of the progress of implementation.

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

### 5. Promotion of ICT in disaster prevention field

In addition to public networks for subscribed phones and cellular phones and exclusive lines, the MIC 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 MIC will continue promoting the development and enhancement of the disaster prevention communication network while setting up effective measures to address network interruption through, for example, activities of the Conference of Emergency Communications.

### 6. Promotion of content policy

Under the basic policy of market expansion in the contents field as part of its efforts for strengthening the capacity for Japan’s growth and international competitiveness, Japan set forth the numerical target of “increasing the value of the contents market to about 5 trillion yen within the next 10 years” in the Basic Guidelines for Economy and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform 2006 (cabinet decision in July 2006). Also, the 2007 Intellectual Property Promotion Plan (Headquarters for Intellectual Property Strategy in May 2007) designated “making Japan a first-class global digital content super-power” as a main pillar of its efforts, thus promoting collaboration between public and private sectors.

In order to develop a business environment for contents production and distribution industries, the MIC has been (1) discussing rules and other issues concerning the use/transmission of contents, (2) making efforts toward the development of a contents trade market, (3) considering the promotion of appropriate broadcasting contents production and trade, and (4) making efforts for preventing illegal contents on networks. In addition, the MIC has been making active efforts for IPTV and for strengthening the international competitiveness of the contents business and reinforcement of the creative industry.

### 7. Creation and fostering of ICT venture businesses

ICT ventures create new businesses with innovative and indigenous technology and business models are expected to serve as the front-runners of innovation that enables the ICT industry of Japan to achieve further development in an era of increasingly fierce global competition.

In the Third Science and Technology Basic Plan (cabinet decision in March 2006), the government of Japan advocates the strengthening of the comprehensive support system for research and development-oriented ventures, etc., by promoting corporate activities for R&D-oriented ventures. Also, in the 2008 Basic Policy for Economic and Financial Reform (cabinet decision in June 2008), the government states that it