they can provide proper information about disasters to citizens. The Study Group put together and released an interim report in July 2013.

To support the efforts of broadcasters and local governments aiming to strengthen the disaster resilience of broadcast networks, MIC established the Tax Program for Promoting Disaster-Resilience Measures for Broadcast Networks in FY 2014 and continued the Assistance Program for Broadcast Network Establishment under the FY 2013 supplementary budget. MIC also implemented the Assistance Program to Eliminate Poor Reception Areas for Commercial Radio, making use of funds from radio spectrum usage fees.

### 4. Developing new broadcast media in empty frequency bands

With the switchover from analog to digital terrestrial TV broadcasts, several frequency bands became available after the termination of analog terrestrial TV broadcasts and the reorganization of digital broadcast channels. MIC is looking to make effective use of these frequencies, such as assigning mobile phones and other devices to the empty frequency bands.

### 5. Ensuring the safety and reliability of broadcast infrastructure

MIC has developed rules concerning technical standards, major incidents subject to reporting, and other matters based on a partial response from the Information and Communications Council, in keeping with the enforcement of the June 2011 revised Broadcast Act.

### 6. Various issues concerning broadcasting policy

MIC held meetings of the Study Group on Enhancing the Overseas Distribution of Information by NHK starting in August 2014. The Study Group examined how to enhance the distribution of information about Japan overseas coupled with implementation frameworks to further enhance international TV broadcasts (NHK World TV) for people overseas, funding sources, and overseas expansion efforts for broadcast content, in the interest of increasing Japan's presence and further broaden understanding of Japan's attractions and philosophy. The Study Group put together an interim report in January 2015.

Based on these rules, MIC is now taking proactive measures, such as mandating broadcasters to maintain broadcasting equipment correctly and requiring them to thoroughly investigate the causes of any serious accidents and take effective steps to prevent reoccurrence.

Another issue is eliminating areas where households cannot view digital broadcasts, which has emerged with the switchover from analog to digital terrestrial TV broadcasts. The Association for Promotion of Digital Broadcasting, consisting of MIC and broadcasters, has implemented various measures led by MIC's TV Reception Support Center (DigiSupo), such as erecting high-performance antennas and installing community reception facilities. It also started satellite broadcasts in March 2010 to cover areas of poor digital reception as a temporary measure until measures to eliminate areas of poor digital reception have been completed. Since the measures to eliminate areas of poor digital reception were finally completed on March 31, 2015, the satellite broadcasts to cover areas of poor digital reception were terminated on the same date.

## Section 5 Handling Disputes between Businesses in the Information and Communications Field

## (1) Overview of the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission

The Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission is a specialized organization for quickly and fairly handling increasingly diverse conflicts in the telecom field. The Commission has three functions: (1) performing mediation and arbitration to resolve conflicts between carriers and other businesses; (2) deliberating on and issuing reports in response to inquiries from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications when an order or ruling is to be issued; (3) giving recommendations to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications on improvements to competition rules or other matters as part of its mediation, arbitration, and inquiry responses.

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

In the telecom field, when negotiations between telecom businesses fall apart on matters such as interconnection of telecommunications equipment, a telecom business, based on the provisions of the Telecommunications Business Act, may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to issue an order to start or resume negotiations or to make a ruling on the matter. Also, in the broadcast field, if negotiations between terrestrial TV broadcasters and cable TV operators or other businesses fall apart on matters such as rebroadcast agreements, the cable TV operator or other business may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to make a ruling on the matter.