A communication method when a third communication apparatus newly joins a network formed from a plurality of communication apparatuses including first and second communication apparatuses (300, 301), the method comprising the steps of: a determination step of causing the first communication apparatus to determine in response to a start instruction of communication parameter setting processing whether the first communication apparatus belongs to the network; a start step of causing the first communication apparatus to start an operation as a provider which provides communication parameters upon determining that the first communication apparatus belongs to the network in the determination step; a notification step (F802, F803) of causing the first communication apparatus to notify the second communication apparatus that the operation as the provider is started by transmitting a first notification signal; a reception step of causing the second communication apparatus to receive the first notification signal in the notification step; and a response step of causing the second communication apparatus to transmit a response signal containing information on the first communication apparatus in response to a provider search signal from the third communication apparatus after reception in the reception step, wherein the second communication apparatus starts transmission of a second notification signal containing information on the first communication apparatus in response to reception in the reception step, and the method further comprising a first change step of causing the second communication apparatus to change a value of a parameter for controlling transmission of the second notification signal to decrease the number of times of transmission of the second notification signal per unit time by the second communication apparatus to less than the number of times of transmission of the first notification signal per unit time by the first communication apparatus, in response to reception in the reception step. a determination step of causing the first communication apparatus to determine in response to a start instruction of communication parameter setting processing whether the first communication apparatus belongs to the network; a start step of causing the first communication apparatus to start an operation as a provider which provides communication parameters upon determining that the first communication apparatus belongs to the network in the determination step; a notification step (F802, F803) of causing the first communication apparatus to notify the second communication apparatus that the operation as the provider is started by transmitting a first notification signal; a reception step of causing the second communication apparatus to receive the first notification signal in the notification step; and a response step of causing the second communication apparatus to transmit a response signal containing information on the first communication apparatus in response to a provider search signal from the third communication apparatus after reception in the reception step, wherein the second communication apparatus starts transmission of a second notification signal containing information on the first communication apparatus in response to reception in the reception step, and the method further comprising a first change step of causing the second communication apparatus to change a value of a parameter for controlling transmission of the second notification signal to decrease the number of times of transmission of the second notification signal per unit time by the second communication apparatus to less than the number of times of transmission of the first notification signal per unit time by the first communication apparatus, in response to reception in the reception step.