Article 6A telecommunications carrier must not engage in unfair and discriminatory treatment with regard to the provision of telecommunications services.

Article 7A telecommunications carrier that provides universal telecommunications services (meaning telecommunications services listed below that are to be provided nationwide due to their indispensability to the daily lives of the people; hereinafter the same applies) must make efforts to provide the services in an appropriate, fair and stable manner:

Article 8(1)If a natural disaster, serious event, or any other emergency occurs or is likely to occur, a telecommunications carrier must give priority to communications regarding matters that are necessary for prevention of a disaster or related relief efforts, for securing transportation, communications or electric power supply, or for maintaining the public order. The same applies to other communications specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that are conducted in an urgent manner for the public interest.

(2)In the cases set forth in the preceding paragraph, if necessary, a telecommunications carrier may suspend part of its telecommunications operations in accordance with the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(3)If a telecommunications carrier interconnects its telecommunications facilities with another telecommunications carrier's telecommunications facilities in order to ensure the implementation of the communications set forth in paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as "essential communications") in a smooth manner while trying to achieve mutual corporation, it must conclude an agreement for preferential treatment of essential communications or take other necessary measures pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 9A person that intends to conduct telecommunications business must obtain registration from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to the following cases:

Article 10(1)A person that intends to obtain a registration as set forth in the preceding Article must file a written application describing the following particulars with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications:

(2)The written application set forth in the preceding paragraph must be accompanied by a document in which the relevant person pledges that it does not fall under Article 12, paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii), and other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 11(1)If an application for the registration set forth in Article 9 is filed, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must register the following particulars in a register for telecommunications carriers, except for cases in which the Minister refuses the registration pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article:

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has made a registration under the preceding paragraph, the Minister must notify the applicant to that effect without delay.

Article 12(1)If a person that has filed a written application set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1) falls under any of the following items, or the written application or its accompanying document includes a false entry on any important particulars or fails to describe any material fact, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must refuse the registration:

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has refused registration pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister must notify the applicant to that effect in writing together with the reasons.

Article 12-2(1)The registration referred to in Article 9 ceases to have effect if any of the following conditions occurs and the registration is not renewed within three months from the date of the occurrence of the condition:

(2)The provisions of the preceding three Articles apply mutatis mutandis to the renewal of registration under the preceding paragraph. In this case, the terms in the middle column of the table below which are used in the provisions in its left column are deemed to be replaced with the terms in its right column.

(3)If a request for the renewal of the registration is filed pursuant to paragraph (1), and the processing of the requested renewal is not completed by the end of the period specified in that paragraph, the registration under Article 9 remains in force until the process is completed, even after the expiration of that period.

(4)In paragraph (1), the meanings of the following terms are as prescribed in those items:

Article 13(1)If a person that has obtained the registration set forth in Article 9 intends to change any of the particulars set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1), item (iii) or (iv), the person must obtain a registration of the change from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)With regard to the application of the provision of the preceding paragraph in the case in which a person registered under Article 9 has been newly designated pursuant to the provision of Article 164, paragraph (1), item (iii) and a change has occurred in the matters set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1), item (iii) due to that designation, the phrase "If a person that has obtained the registration set forth in Article 9 intends to change any of the particulars set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1), item (iii) or (iv), the person must obtain a registration of the change from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications" in the preceding paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "If there is any change to the particulars set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1), item (iii) or (iv), the person must obtain a registration of the change from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications within one month from the date newly designated pursuant to the provision of Article 164, paragraph (1), item (iii)".

(3)A person that intends to obtain the registration of the change set forth in the paragraph (1) (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph following the deemed replacement of terms; the same applies hereinafter except for Article 186, item (i)) must file a written application describing the particulars subject to the change with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(4)The provisions of Article 10, paragraph (2), Article 11, and Article 12 apply mutatis mutandis to the registration of the change as set forth in paragraph (1). In this case, the term "the following particulars" in Article 11, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "the particulars subject to the change"; and the term "If a person that has filed a written application set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1) falls under any of the following items" in Article 12, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "If a person that has filed a written application for registration of a change falls under any of the following items (item (ii) is limited to parts related to provisions for foreign laws equivalent to this Act)".

(5)If a person that has obtained the registration as set forth in Article 9 has changed any of the particulars set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1), item (i), (ii), or (v), or has made any minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as set forth in the proviso of paragraph (1), the person must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay. If that notification is filed, the Minister is to change the registration without delay.

Article 14(1)If a person that has obtained the registration as set forth in Article 9 falls under any of the following items, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may revoke the registration set forth in that Article:

(2)The provisions of Article 12, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to cases set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Article 15If a notification of the total discontinuation of telecommunications business or a notification of dissolution is filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, the registration ceases to have effect pursuant to the provisions of Article 12-2, paragraph (1), or if the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications revokes the registration pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the Minister must delete the registration of the relevant person that has obtained the registration set forth in Article 9.

Article 16(1)A person that intends to conduct telecommunications business (except for a person that should obtain registration as set forth in Article 9) must file a notification to that effect with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, by attaching documents describing the following particulars to it:

(2)With regard to the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph in the case in which a person other than a telecommunications carrier has been newly designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 164, paragraph (1), item (iii), the phrase "to that effect" in the preceding paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "to that effect, within one month from the date of the new designation under Article 164, paragraph (1), item (iii)".

(3)If a person that has filed the notification set forth in paragraph (1) (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph following the deemed replacement of terms; the same applies hereinafter except for Article 185, item (i)) has changed any of the particulars specified in item (i), (ii) or (v) of that paragraph, the person must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

(4)If a person that has filed the notification set forth in paragraph (1) intends to change any of the particulars set forth in item (iii) or (iv) of that paragraph, the person must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect; provided, however, that this does not apply to minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(5)If a person that has filed the notification as set forth in paragraph (1) is newly designated pursuant to Article 41, paragraph (4), the person must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (iv) within one month from that date of designation, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(6)With regard to the application of the provision of paragraph (4) in the case in which a person that has filed the notification set forth in paragraph (1) has been newly designated pursuant to the provision of Article 164, paragraph (1), item (iii) and a change has occurred in the matters set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii) due to that designation, the phrase "intends to change" in paragraph (4) is deemed to be replaced with "for when a change has occurred, within one month from the date of the new designation pursuant to the provision of Article 164, paragraph (1), item (iii)".

Article 17(1)If all of telecommunications business has been transferred, or a telecommunications carrier has merged or split (this split is limited to a split resulting in the succession to all of telecommunications business), or inheritance from that carrier has occurred, the person that has acquired all of the telecommunications business through the transfer, the corporation surviving after the merger or newly established upon the merger, the corporation that has succeeded all of the telecommunications business upon the split, or the heir (or if one particular heir has been selected from among two or more heirs as the successor to the telecommunications business by agreement among the heirs, the selected heir; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) succeeds to the status of the telecommunications carrier; provided, however, that this does not apply if the telecommunications carrier has obtained the registration set forth in Article 9; and the person that has acquired all of the telecommunications business through the transfer, the corporation surviving after the merger or newly established upon the merger, the corporation that has succeeded to all of the telecommunications business upon the split, or the heir falls under any of Article 12, paragraph (1), items (i) through (iv).

(2)A person that has succeeded to the status of telecommunications carrier pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

Article 18(1)If a telecommunications carrier suspends or discontinues all or part of its telecommunications business, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

(2)If a corporation that is a telecommunications carrier dissolves due to reasons other than a merger, the liquidator in charge (or in cases of dissolution due to an order commencing bankruptcy proceedings, the bankruptcy trustee) or an equivalent person set forth in foreign law must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

Article 19(1)A telecommunications carrier that provides universal telecommunications services must establish general conditions of contracts concerning charges and other terms and conditions for the provision of its universal telecommunications services (except for particulars concerning technical conditions to be authorized pursuant to the provisions of Article 52, paragraph (1) or Article 70, paragraph (1), item (i), and particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; the same applies in paragraph (3) of this Article and Article 25, paragraph (2)) and notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those general conditions of contracts before their implementation, pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication. The same applies if it intends to change them.

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that the general conditions of contracts for which notification has been filed (hereinafter referred to as "notified contract conditions") pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph fall under any of the following items, the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier that has given the notification and is providing the universal telecommunications services to change the notified contract conditions within a reasonable period designated by the Minister:

(3)A telecommunications carrier that provides universal telecommunications services must not do so except in accordance with the charges and other terms and conditions set forth in the notified contract conditions, other than in cases falling under any of the following items:

(4)In accordance with the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier that provides universal telecommunications services may reduce or exempt charges for those services specified in the notified contract conditions.

Article 20(1)A telecommunications carrier that provides designated telecommunications services (telecommunications services which a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities provides by using those facilities, and which are specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those particularly necessary to be designated in order that the interests of users are protected by efforts of the relevant telecommunications carrier to ensure that the carrier provides those services using those facilities based on proper charges or other proper terms and conditions, considering the circumstances such as those in which substitute telecommunications services are not sufficiently provided by other carriers; hereinafter the same applies) must establish general conditions of contracts concerning charges and other terms and conditions for the provision of its designated telecommunications services (except for particulars on technical conditions to be authorized pursuant to the provisions of Article 52, paragraph (1) or Article 70, paragraph (1), item (i), and particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; the same applies in paragraph (5) of this Article, and Article 25, paragraph (3)) and must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those general conditions of contracts before their implementation, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The same applies if it intends to change them.

(2)The provisions of the preceding paragraph (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) following the deemed replacement of terms; the same applies in the following paragraph of this Article, paragraph (2) of the following Article and Article 188, item (ii)) do not apply to telecommunications services which are both designated telecommunications services and universal telecommunications services.

(3)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that the general conditions of contracts for which notification has been made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as "general conditions of contracts for securing the provision of the telecommunications services") fall under any of the following items, the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier that has given the notification and is providing the designated telecommunications services to change those general conditions within a reasonable period designated by the Minister:

(4)With respect to the general conditions of contracts concerning which a telecommunications carrier installing the telecommunications facilities newly designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 33, paragraph (1) must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for the first time after the designation date pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the phrase "must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the general conditions of contracts prior to their implementation, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The same applies to the cases in which it intends to change them" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the general conditions of contracts within three months from the date on which the designation is granted pursuant to the provisions of Article 33, paragraph (1)".

(5)A telecommunications carrier that provides designated telecommunications services must not do so except in accordance with the charges and other terms and conditions for the provision of those services specified in the general conditions of contracts for securing the provision of the telecommunications services, other than in cases falling under any of the following items:

(6)In accordance with the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier that provides designated telecommunications services may reduce or exempt charges for those services specified in the general conditions of contracts for securing the provision of the telecommunications services.

Article 21(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, at least once a year, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must determine the level of charges that is generally found feasible for designated telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those having a significant influence on the interests of users in light of their content, the scope of users, and other factors (hereinafter referred to as "specified telecommunications services"), in consideration of reasonable costs under efficient management, commodity prices, and other economic circumstances, for each type of specified telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, by using a charge index (meaning figures to represent the level of charges for each type of telecommunications service, which are calculated by using the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications considering charges based on the distance and speed of communications and other classifications as well as the amount of traffic, the number of circuits, and other factors to which the charges are applied; hereinafter the same applies), and must notify the telecommunications carrier that provides the specified telecommunications services of the charge index (hereinafter referred to as "the standard charge index") by the period before the date on which the standard charge index becomes applicable as specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 19, paragraph (1) or paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if a telecommunications carrier that provides specified telecommunications services intends to change charges for those services, and the charge index after the change exceeds the standard charge index for those services, it must obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

(3)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must grant the authorization as set forth in the preceding paragraph, if an application for the authorization set forth in the preceding paragraph is filed, and the Minister finds that there are special circumstances making it difficult to offer charges based on a charge index that is equivalent to or less than the standard charge index and that the charges after the change requested in the application do not fall under any of the following items:

(4)If the standard charge index is applied, and the charge index for the specified telecommunications services to which that standard charge index is applicable exceeds that standard charge index, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is to order the telecommunications carrier that provides the specified telecommunications services to change the charges for those services within a reasonable period designated by the Minister, except for the cases in which the Minister finds that there are special circumstances making it difficult to offer charges based on a charge index that is equivalent to or less than the standard charge index.

(5)If a telecommunications carrier installing the telecommunications facilities that were formerly Category I designated telecommunications facilities provides telecommunications services (limited to universal telecommunications services) by using those facilities, and charges for those services have been authorized pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) as of the time of the cancellation of the designation under Article 33, paragraph (1), the charges are deemed to be those specified by the notified contract conditions.

(6)A telecommunications carrier that provides specified telecommunications services must not do so unless their charges to be authorized pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) are in accordance with those which have been authorized pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph; provided, however, that this does not apply if charges for those services are reduced or exempted pursuant to the provisions of the following paragraph.

(7)In accordance with the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier that provides specified telecommunications services may reduce or exempt charges for those services authorized pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2).

Article 22A telecommunications carrier that provides specified telecommunications services must keep records of the amount of traffic, the number of circuits, and other factors of its specified telecommunications services by the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 23(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier that provides universal telecommunications services, designated telecommunications services, or specified telecommunications services must make public the notified contract conditions or the general conditions of contracts for securing the provision of the telecommunications services (including the technical conditions authorized pursuant to the provisions of Article 52, paragraph (1) or Article 70, paragraph (1), item (i)) or the charges authorized pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2), and must post those general conditions or charges at its business offices or other places of business in a manner in which the public can easily see them.

(2)The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to the terms and conditions for the provision of those services in relation to the particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as set forth in Article 19, paragraph (1) or Article 20, paragraph (1).

Article 24The following telecommunications carriers must keep accounts in accordance with the classification of accounting titles and other accounting procedures specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications:

Article 25(1)A telecommunications carrier that provides item (i) universal telecommunications services must not refuse to do so within its service areas without justifiable grounds.

(2)Without justifiable grounds, a telecommunications carrier that provides item (ii) universal telecommunications services must not refuse to do so under the charges and other terms and conditions set forth in the notified contract conditions in its service area, except as otherwise provided by an agreement with the party receiving the item (ii) universal telecommunications services concerning charges and other terms and conditions for the provision of those services.

(3)Without justifiable grounds, a telecommunications carrier that provides designated telecommunications services must not refuse to do so under the charges and under other terms and conditions for the provision of those services, as specified in the general conditions of contracts for securing the provision of the telecommunications services, within its service areas, except as otherwise provided by an agreement with the party receiving the designated telecommunications services concerning charges and other terms and conditions for the provision of those services.

Article 26(1)If a telecommunications carrier intends to conclude a contract for the provision of the telecommunications services listed below, with a user (including a person that intends to receive telecommunications services, but excluding a telecommunications carrier; the same applies in this paragraph, Article 27 and Article 27-2), the carrier must explain an outline of the charges and other terms and conditions for the provision of those services to the user pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to the cases that are specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those in which it is found that the protection of the interests of users would not be compromised even if the outline of the charges and other terms and conditions for service provision were not explained to the user, in consideration of the contents of the contract and other circumstances:

(2)The designations set forth in the items of the preceding paragraph are made by issuing a public notice.

Article 26-2(1)If a telecommunications carrier effects a contract for provision of telecommunications services as listed in the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the telecommunications carrier must prepare a document and deliver it to the user (excluding telecommunications carriers; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and paragraphs (1) and (5) of the following Article) without delay pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to the cases that are specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those in which it is found that the protection of the interests of users would not be compromised even if the document were not delivered to the user, in consideration of the contents of the contract and other circumstances.

(2)With the consent of the user and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, in lieu of delivering the document under the preceding paragraph, a telecommunications carrier may provide a user with the particulars that are required to be stated in that document by means of an electronic data processing system or by any other means of information and communications technology specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. In doing so, the telecommunications carrier is deemed to have delivered the document.

(3)If a telecommunications carrier has provided the particulars that are required to be included in a document under paragraph (1) by the methods referred to in the preceding paragraph (excluding the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), in lieu of delivering the document, those particulars are deemed to be delivered to a user when those particulars are recorded in a file stored on a computer used by that user.

Article 26-3(1)Except as otherwise provided by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a user that has concluded a contract with a telecommunications carrier under which they are provided with telecommunications services listed in Article 26, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii) may cancel that contract in writing unless eight days have elapsed since the day on which the customer received the document set forth in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (or until eight days have elapsed since the date of commencement of the telecommunications services, if the provision of the telecommunications services (limited to telecommunications services set forth in Article 26, paragraph (1), item (i)) commences after the receipt date of the document; or unless eight days have elapsed since the date on which the user received a document in which, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the telecommunications carrier has described that the user may cancel that contract pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, and which the telecommunications carrier has delivered to the user, if the telecommunications carrier or a person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conducts notification (meaning a person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conducts notification as defined in Article 73-2, paragraph (2); the same applies in Article 27-3, paragraph (2), item (ii)) misrepresented the information on cancellation of that contract under this paragraph, in violation of the provisions in Article 27-2 (limited to the part relating to item (i); hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph), or the provisions of Article 27-2 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 73-3, respectively, and as a result of that false explanation, the user misconstrued that the explanation was correct, and did not cancel that contract under this paragraph within that period).

(2)The cancellation of a contract for the provision of telecommunications services under the preceding paragraph becomes effective when a document indicating that the contract for the provision of telecommunications services is cancelled is issued.

(3)If a contract for the provision of telecommunications services becomes subject to a cancellation under paragraph (1), the telecommunications carrier may not demand that the person who cancelled the contract pay any compensation or penalty for that cancellation, or pay or deliver other monies (meaning money and other property; the same applies in the following paragraph); provided, however, that this does not apply to the amount of money specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as the amount of money payable by the person who cancelled that contract for services received in the period up until the cancellation of that contract, or any other amount of money payable regarding the contract by the person who cancelled it.

(4)If a contract for the provision of telecommunications services becomes subject to a cancellation under paragraph (1), and the telecommunications carrier has received monies in connection with the contract, the carrier must promptly return them to the person who cancelled that contract; provided, however, that this does not apply to the amount of money specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as prescribed in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, among the monies received in connection with that contract.

(5)A special provision that is contrary to the provisions of the preceding paragraphs and disadvantageous to a user is void.

Article 26-4(1)When suspending or discontinuing all or part of telecommunications operations, in advance, a telecommunications carrier must make the particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those necessary to protect the interests of users known to users concerned with the operations that the carrier intends to suspend or discontinue, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to suspension or discontinuation of telecommunications operations related to telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those having relatively little effect on the interests of users.

(2)In the case of the main clause in the preceding paragraph, a telecommunications carrier must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in that paragraph in advance, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, with regard to suspension or discontinuation of telecommunications operations related to telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as having a significant influence on the interests of users.

Article 26-5The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is to organize the following information that the Minister possesses regarding suspension or discontinuation of telecommunications operations for telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as prescribed in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, and make the relevant information public using the Internet and other appropriate methods:

Article 27A telecommunications carrier must properly and promptly process complaints or inquiries from users regarding the telecommunications carrier's methods of conducting its operations in relation to the telecommunications services set forth in the items of Article 26, paragraph (1), or regarding the telecommunications services as set forth in the items of that paragraph which the telecommunications carrier provides.

Article 27-2Telecommunications carriers must not engage in any of the following:

Article 27-3(1)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may designate a telecommunications carrier that provides mobile telecommunications services (meaning telecommunications services set forth in Article 26, paragraph (1), item (i) or telecommunications services set forth in item (iii) in that paragraph (limited to services provided by using transmission line facilities interconnected to mobile terminal facilities at one end), which are designated by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications as those for which it is necessary to keep appropriate competitive relationships among telecommunications carriers, in consideration of their conditions for the provision of telecommunications services, or other circumstances; hereinafter the same applies) (the relevant telecommunications carrier excludes a carrier whose proportion of the number of users who they provide with mobile telecommunications services to the total number of users of mobile telecommunications services (limited to the same type of services as those provided by the telecommunications carriers) does not exceed the proportion specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as having little impact on appropriate competitive relationships among telecommunications carriers) as a telecommunications carrier to which the provisions of the following paragraph apply.

(2)Telecommunications carriers designated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must not engage in any of the following:

(3)The designation of mobile telecommunications services and telecommunications carriers under paragraph (1) is made by issuing a public notice.

Article 27-4If a telecommunications carrier entrusts a person to conclude a contract for the provision of telecommunications services as an intermediary, broker or agent (hereinafter referred to as "intermediation or other similar actions"), or conduct any other associated operations, the telecommunications carrier must provide guidance to any person entrusted with those operations (including other persons that are entrusted with those operations by the relevant person (including cases in which the relevant operations are entrusted two or more times); hereinafter referred to as a "person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions") or take other measures necessary for ensuring that the operations related to that entrustment are conducted in a proper and secure manner, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 27-5Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may designate telecommunications carriers that provide telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as having a significant influence on the interests of users in consideration of their content, the scope of users, and their usage as telecommunications carriers that should handle specified user information (meaning information about a user obtained in regard to that telecommunications service, which is listed in the following; the same applies hereinafter) properly:

Article 27-6(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, any telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article must establish regulations concerning the following matters (hereinafter referred to as "regulations for handling information") in order to ensure the proper handling of specified user information, and notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those regulations within three months from the date of that designation:

(2)When a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article has changed its regulations for handling information, the telecommunications carrier must notify the Minister of the changed matters without delay.

Article 27-7(1)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds it necessary in order to ensure the proper handling of specified user information, the Minister may order a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-5 to change the regulations for handling information that the telecommunications carrier has notified the Minister of pursuant to the provisions of the paragraphs of the preceding Article.

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-5 does not observe its regulations for handling information, the Minister may order that telecommunications carrier to observe the regulations for handling information to the extent necessary to protect the interests of users.

Article 27-8(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-5 must establish a policy concerning the following matters (referred to as a "information handling policy" in the following paragraph and the following Article, paragraph (2)) to ensure transparency in the handling of specified user information, and make the policy public within three months from the date of the designation:

(2)When a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to Article 27-5 has changed its information handling policy, it must make the change public without delay.

Article 27-9(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-5 must conduct an evaluation of the status of the handling of specified user information every fiscal year.

(2)When a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to Article 27-5 finds it necessary based on the results of the evaluation under the preceding paragraph, the telecommunications carrier must change its regulations for handling information or its information handling policy.

Article 27-10(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-5, within three months from the date of the designation, must appoint a general manager of specified user information who is responsible for the general management of the duties on the particulars listed in the items of Article 27-6, paragraph (1) from among persons in managerial positions who participate in making important decisions on business management and who possess specific practical experience in handling information regarding users or satisfy other requirements specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)If a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-5 appoints or dismisses a general manager of specified user information, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 27-11(1)A general manager of specified user information must perform their duties in a sincere manner.

(2)Regarding the protection of the interests of users, a telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-5 must respect the opinions of the general manager of specified user information that the manager holds concerning performing their duties.

Article 27-12In providing telecommunications services to its users, when a telecommunications carrier or a person conducting item (iii) business (limited to persons that provide telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as having non-negligible influence on the interests of users, in consideration of their content, the scope of users, and their usage) intends to send information transmission order communications (meaning a telecommunications transmission that provides a command to activate the information transmission functions possessed by the telecommunications facilities of the user (meaning the function of transmitting information about the user recorded in the telecommunications facilities of the user to the telecommunications facilities of a person other than the user; hereinafter the same applies in this Article); hereinafter the same applies in this Article) to the telecommunications facilities of the users, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, that telecommunications carrier or person conducting item (iii) business, in advance, must notify those users of the contents of their information that is to be sent by information transmission functions activated by the information transmission order communications, the telecommunications facilities to which that information is to be sent, and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, or must make the abovementioned information readily available to those users; provided, however, that this does not apply if that information is any of the following:

Article 28(1)In any of the following cases, a telecommunications carrier must report without delay to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect including its reason or cause:

(2)If a telecommunications carrier finds that any of the situations specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as a situation that could cause any of the accidents listed in item (ii), (a) through (c) of the preceding paragraph has occurred, the telecommunications carrier must report without delay to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect including its reason or cause.

Article 29(1)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that a telecommunications carrier falls under any of the following items, the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier to improve its method of conducting the operations or take other measures to the extent necessary for ensuring the interests of users or the public interest:

(2)If either of conditions set forth in the following items occur, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may order the person prescribed in those items to improve the methods of conducting its operations or take other measures to the extent necessary for ensuring the interests of users:

Article 30(1)If the amount of the income that a telecommunications carrier installing Category II designated telecommunications facilities generated from its operation involved in providing telecommunications services using those facilities in the most recent year accounts for a proportion of the total amount of the income generated in the same year from all operations of the same kind involved in providing telecommunications services within the same area of the relevant carrier and that proportion exceeds the proportion specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and if the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds it necessary to ensure proper competition with other telecommunications carriers in consideration of changes in that proportion and other circumstances, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Minister may designate the relevant carrier as a telecommunications carrier to which the provisions of paragraphs (3), (5), and (6) are applied.

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds the designation under the preceding paragraph is no longer necessary, the Minister must cancel the designation.

(3)The telecommunications carrier designated pursuant to paragraph (1) must not conduct any of the following acts:

(4)A telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must not conduct any of the following acts:

(5)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that an act undertaken by a telecommunications carrier that has been designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities violates the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier to suspend or change that act.

(6)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier that has been designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) and a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must make the status of income and expenditure for its telecommunications services and other particulars related to its accounting as specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications public.

Article 31(1)An officer of a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities (limited to a corporation; hereinafter the same applies in this Article) must not concurrently serve as an officer of a corporation with a specific affiliation to the relevant carrier (limited to a telecommunications carrier which is the relevant carrier's subsidiary, a company that owns the relevant telecommunications carrier as its subsidiary, or that company's subsidiary (except for the relevant carrier itself)), as specified by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications as one in which there is a possibility that appropriate competitive relationships between telecommunications carriers would be impaired if the relevant officer serves as an officer of that corporation (the relevant corporation is hereinafter referred to as a "carrier with a specific affiliation" in the following paragraph and Article 169, item (ii)).

(2)A telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must not conduct the following acts; provided, however, that this does not apply if there are compelling reasons specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications:

(3)If a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities entrusts all or a part of the telecommunications operations or any other operations incidental to them to its subsidiary, that carrier must conduct the necessary and proper supervision of the entrusted subsidiary so that the subsidiary does not conduct the acts listed in any of the items of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article or the preceding paragraph of this Article (excluding those conducted for the reason in the proviso of that paragraph; the same applies in the following paragraph) in relation to the entrusted business.

(4)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities undertakes any act listed in the items of paragraph (2), or finds that the entrusted subsidiary referred to in the preceding paragraph undertakes any act listed in the items of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article or any act listed in the items of paragraph (2), the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier to suspend or change the act listed in the items of that paragraph, or take necessary measures to suspend or change the acts listed in the items of paragraph (4) of that Article or the acts listed in the items of paragraph (2) undertaken by the entrusted subsidiary.

(5)The term "subsidiary" prescribed in paragraph (1), paragraph (3) and the preceding paragraph means a company for which a majority of the voting rights of all shareholders (excluding shareholders that cannot exercise their voting rights with regard to all particulars that may be resolved at the shareholders meetings, and including shareholders that are deemed to have voting rights pursuant to the provisions of Article 879, paragraph (3) of the Companies Act; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) or all employees of the company is held by another corporation. In this case, a company in which a corporation and one or more of its subsidiaries hold the majority of all voting rights of all shareholders or all employees or in which one or more of a corporation's subsidiaries hold the majority of all shareholders or all employees is deemed to be the subsidiary of that corporation.

(6)In order to ensure an appropriate competitive relationship with other telecommunications carriers, a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must establish a system or take other necessary measures to properly control the information which came to its knowledge in relation to the operations involved in interconnection between the Category I designated telecommunications facilities and the telecommunications facilities of the other telecommunications carrier and to properly supervise the status of the implementation of those operations, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(7)The system or other necessary measures specified in the preceding paragraph must include the following particulars:

(8)Every year, a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must report to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications on particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications with respect to the measures it has taken to comply with the provisions of paragraph (2), (3), and (6) and the status of implementation of those measures, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 32If a telecommunications carrier receives a request from another telecommunications carrier to interconnect the telecommunications facilities of the requesting telecommunications carrier with the telecommunications line facilities of the requested telecommunications carrier, it must accept the request except for the following cases:

Article 33(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may designate the aggregates of the following as telecommunications facilities whose interconnection with telecommunications facilities of other telecommunications carriers is indispensable for improving convenience of users and developing telecommunications in a comprehensive and reasonable manner: transmission line facilities which are installed by a single telecommunications carrier and interconnected to the user's telecommunications facilities (except for mobile terminal facilities) at one end and whose transmission line facilities come to account for a proportion that is calculated by the method specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as the proportion of the number of telecommunications lines of all transmission line facilities of the same type installed within the prefecture in which those transmission line facilities are to be installed, and that exceeds the proportion specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; and telecommunications facilities specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications which are installed by the telecommunications carrier for the purpose of providing telecommunications services using those transmission line facilities.

(2)A telecommunications carrier installing telecommunications facilities designated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "Category I designated telecommunications facilities") must establish general conditions of contracts for interconnection between the Category I designated telecommunications facilities and other telecommunications carriers' telecommunications facilities, concerning the amount of money that the telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities is to receive (hereinafter referred to as "interconnection charges" in this Article), the technical conditions required at the points of interconnection with other telecommunications carriers' telecommunications facilities, and other terms and conditions of interconnection, including classifications of telecommunications carriers according to which charges for telecommunications services are specified (hereinafter referred to as "terms and conditions of interconnection"), and must obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. The same also applies if it intends to change those general conditions of contracts for interconnection.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, among interconnection charges and terms and conditions of interconnection as specified in the general conditions of contracts for interconnection for which authorization is to be obtained as set forth in the preceding paragraph, authorization is not required to be obtained for those specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as having a comparatively small influence on improving user convenience and developing telecommunications in a comprehensive and reasonable manner.

(4)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must grant permission as set forth in paragraph (2) if the Minister finds that an application for authorization as set forth in paragraph (2) (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (16) following the deemed replacement of terms; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph, paragraph (6), paragraph (9), paragraph (10) and paragraph (14)) complies with all of the following items:

(5)The methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph (limited to those which specify interconnection charges for functions specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as the functions specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as set forth in item (i), (b) of that paragraph, that are found to have the potential to achieve increased efficiency in provision of telecommunications services through interconnection with Category I designated telecommunications facilities to a considerable extent, by the introduction of advanced new telecommunications technologies) must be those by which the amount is calculated in consideration of the expenses for the Category I designated telecommunications facilities which will increase in accordance with an increase in the amount of traffic or the number of circuits for the telecommunications services provided by the those facilities through their interconnection, if the relevant Category I designated telecommunications facilities are reorganized to improve their efficiency with the use of advanced new telecommunications technologies that are generally available.

(6)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that promotion of the public interest is hindered because the interconnection charges specified in the general conditions of contracts for interconnection which have been authorized as set forth in paragraph (2) become inappropriate in light of the amount set forth in paragraph (4), item (ii), or because the terms and conditions of interconnection specified in the general conditions of contracts for interconnection become particularly inappropriate due to changes in the social and economic circumstances, the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities to apply for authorization for a change of the general conditions of contracts for interconnection within a reasonable period designated by the Minister.

(7)A telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must establish the general conditions of contracts for interconnection for interconnection charges and terms and conditions of interconnection specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as set forth in paragraph (3), for interconnection with their Category I designated telecommunications facilities, and must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those general conditions before their implementation. The same also applies if it intends to change them.

(8)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that the interconnection charges or terms and conditions of interconnection specified in the general conditions of contracts for interconnection for which notification has been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (including as applied pursuant to the provision of paragraph (17) following the deemed replacement of terms) hinder promotion of the public interest, the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier that has given the notification and is installing the Category I designated telecommunications facilities to change the general conditions of contracts for interconnection within a reasonable period designated by the Minister.

(9)A telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must not conclude or amend an agreement with other telecommunications carriers on interconnection with the relevant Category I designated telecommunications facilities, unless the action is conducted in accordance with the general conditions of contracts for interconnection authorized pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) or the general conditions of contracts for interconnection for which notification has been made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (7) (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (17) following the deemed replacement of terms) (hereinafter referred to as "authorized or notified general conditions of contracts for interconnection" in this Article).

(10)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if there are special circumstances that make it difficult to comply with authorized or notified general conditions of contracts for interconnection upon authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities may conclude or amend an agreement on interconnection with the relevant Category I designated telecommunications facilities through interconnection charges and terms and conditions of interconnection different from those specified in the authorized or notified general conditions of contracts for interconnection (limited to those conforming to all items (except item (i), (a) and (b)) in paragraph (4), in cases of those that fall under the interconnection charges and terms and conditions of interconnection as set forth in paragraph (2)).

(11)A telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must make its authorized or notified general conditions of contracts for interconnection public, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(12)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must keep records of the amount of traffic, the number of circuits, or other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (referred to as "amount of traffic or other particulars" in paragraph (14)) for respective functions specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as set forth in paragraph (4), item (i), (b), in relation to interconnection with the Category I designated telecommunications facilities.

(13)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier installing those Category I designated telecommunications facilities must keep accounts for interconnection with its Category I designated telecommunications facilities, and based on the accounting, make the status of income and expenditure regarding the interconnection and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications public.

(14)In order to keep the interconnection charges fair and justifiable, a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must recalculate the interconnection charges, in light of the amount calculated by methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as set forth in paragraph (4) item (ii), based on records of the amount of traffic or other particulars and on the results of accounts as set forth in the preceding paragraph, every time a period not exceeding five years as specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has passed, after the date of authorization set forth in paragraph (2) in cases of interconnection charges set forth in paragraph (5), or every time a telecommunications carrier has closed accounts for the preceding fiscal year pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph in cases of other interconnection charges.

(15)A telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must endeavor to provide other telecommunications carriers with any information necessary for smooth interconnection between their telecommunications facilities and those Category I designated telecommunications facilities.

(16)With regard to interconnection charges and terms and conditions of interconnection specified in the general conditions of contracts for interconnection for which a telecommunications carrier installing telecommunications facilities newly designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is to obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for the first time after the date of designation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), the phrase "must obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. The same also applies when it intends to change those general conditions of contracts for interconnection" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "must apply for authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications within three months from the date on which the designation is newly granted pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph".

(17)With regard to interconnection charges and the terms and conditions of interconnection specified in the general conditions of contracts for interconnection of which the telecommunications carrier installing the telecommunications facilities newly designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is to notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for the first time after the date of the designation pursuant to the provision of paragraph (7), the phrase "must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those general conditions before their implementation. The same also applies when it intends to change them" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those general conditions within three months from the date on which designation is newly granted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1)".

(18)The provisions of paragraph (9) do not apply for three months from whichever date comes later: the date on which the authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is granted with respect to the general conditions of contracts for interconnection that the telecommunications carrier installing the telecommunications facilities newly designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) has applied for pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) as applied pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (16) following the deemed replacement of terms; or the date on which the notification of the general conditions of contracts for interconnection is filed by the telecommunications carrier pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (7) as applied pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph following the deemed replacement of terms (hereinafter referred to as "initial date of calculation" in this paragraph) to the agreements on interconnection that the telecommunications carrier has concluded with other telecommunications carriers as of the initial date of calculation that are related to the newly designated telecommunications facilities.

Article 33-2If a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities intends to suspend or discontinue functions specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as prescribed in paragraph (4), item (i), (b) of the preceding Article for interconnection with the relevant Category I designated telecommunications facilities, it must make this known to other telecommunications carriers whose telecommunications facilities are interconnected to the relevant Category I designated telecommunications facilities and that are using the relevant functions, in advance, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 34(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may designate the aggregates of the following as telecommunications facilities whose appropriate and smooth interconnection with the telecommunications facilities of other telecommunications carriers is to be ensured: transmission line facilities which are installed by a single telecommunications carrier and interconnected to the specified mobile terminal facilities at one end, and whose specified mobile terminal facilities represent a proportion exceeding the proportion specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of the total number of specified mobile terminal facilities interconnected to all transmission line facilities of the same type installed within the same service area of the telecommunications services provided by using the relevant transmission line facilities; and telecommunications facilities specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications which are installed by the telecommunications carrier to provide the telecommunications services.

(2)A telecommunications carrier installing telecommunications facilities designated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "Category II designated telecommunications facilities") must establish the general conditions of contracts for interconnection between the Category II designated telecommunications facilities and other telecommunications carriers' facilities, concerning the amount of money that the telecommunications carrier installing the Category II designated telecommunications facilities is to receive, and the terms and conditions of interconnection, and notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those general conditions before their implementation, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The same also applies if it intends to change them.

(3)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that the general conditions of contracts for interconnection for which notification has been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (8) following the deemed replacement of the terms) fall under any of the following items, the Minister may order the telecommunications carrier installing the Category II designated telecommunications facilities to change the general conditions of contracts for interconnection within a reasonable period designated by the Minister:

(4)A telecommunications carrier installing Category II designated telecommunications facilities must not conclude or amend an agreement with other telecommunications carriers on interconnection with the Category II designated telecommunications facilities, unless the action is conducted in accordance with the general conditions of contracts for interconnection of which the notification has been made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) (including as applied pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (8) following the deemed replacement of terms; the same applies in the following paragraph).

(5)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier installing Category II designated telecommunications facilities must make public the general conditions of contracts for interconnection for which notification has been made pursuant to the provision of paragraph (2).

(6)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier installing Category II designated telecommunications facilities must keep accounts for interconnection with its Category II designated telecommunications facilities, and based on the accounting, make the status of income and expenditure regarding the interconnection and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications public.

(7)A telecommunications carrier installing Category II designated telecommunications facilities must endeavor to provide other telecommunications carriers with any information for smooth interconnection between their telecommunications facilities and the Category II designated telecommunications facilities.

(8)With regard to the amount of money that a telecommunications carrier installing telecommunications facilities newly designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is to receive, and the terms and conditions of interconnection, as specified in the general conditions of contracts for interconnection of which the telecommunications carrier is to notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for the first time after the date of designation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), the phrase "and notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the general conditions of contracts prior to their implementation, pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication. The same also applies to the cases in which it intends to change those general conditions of contracts" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "and notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the general conditions of contracts within three months from the date on which designation is newly granted pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication".

(9)For three months from the date on which the notification of the general conditions of contracts for interconnection is filed by the telecommunications carrier pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), as applied pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph following the deemed replacement of terms (hereinafter referred to as "date of notification"), the provisions of paragraph (4) do not apply to the agreements on interconnection that a telecommunications carrier installing telecommunications facilities newly designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) has concluded with other telecommunications carriers as of the date of notification that are related to interconnection with the newly designated telecommunications facilities.

Article 34-2If a telecommunications carrier installing Category II designated telecommunications facilities intends to suspend or discontinue functions specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as prescribed in item (i), (b) of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article related to interconnection with the relevant Category II designated telecommunications facilities, it must make this known to other telecommunications carriers whose telecommunications facilities are interconnected to the relevant Category II designated telecommunications facilities and that are using the relevant functions, in advance, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 35(1)If a telecommunications carrier requests another telecommunications carrier to conclude an agreement on interconnection between the requested telecommunications carrier's telecommunications line facilities and the requesting telecommunications carrier's telecommunications facilities, but the requested telecommunications carrier refuses to hold negotiations or those negotiations fail, resulting in the requesting telecommunications carrier filing a petition, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is to order the requested telecommunications carrier to start or restart those negotiations, except for cases in which the Minister finds that interconnection falls under the items of Article 32 or an application for arbitration has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 155, paragraph (1).

(2)Beyond the cases set forth in the preceding paragraph, if a telecommunications carrier requests another telecommunications carrier to conclude an agreement on interconnection between the requested telecommunications carrier's telecommunications facilities and those of the requesting telecommunications carrier, but the requested telecommunications carrier refuses to hold negotiations or those negotiations fail, resulting in the requesting telecommunications carrier filing a petition; and if the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that that interconnection is particularly necessary and appropriate for increasing the public interest, the Minister may order the requested telecommunications carrier to start or restart those negotiations, except for cases in which an application for arbitration has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 155, paragraph (1).

(3)If negotiations between the parties about interconnection with a telecommunications carrier's telecommunications facilities fail on the amount of money that is to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions of interconnection, or other details of the agreement, the telecommunications carrier installing telecommunications facilities to be interconnected to them may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for a ruling; provided, however, that this does not apply if any party has already filed an application for arbitration under Article 155, paragraph (1).

(4)Beyond the cases set forth in the preceding paragraph, if an order has been issued pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), and negotiations between the parties fail on the amount of money that is to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions of interconnection, or the details of the agreement, the relevant party may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communication for a ruling.

(5)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications receives the application for a ruling under the preceding two paragraphs, the Minister must notify the other party to that effect, and must give that other party an opportunity to file written answers within a period designated by the Minister.

(6)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications makes a ruling as set forth in paragraph (3) or (4), the Minister must notify the parties to that effect without delay.

(7)If a ruling is made as set forth in paragraph (3) or paragraph (4), the negotiations between the parties are deemed to have reached agreement in accordance with the ruling.

(8)Any of the parties that are dissatisfied with the ruling set forth in paragraph (3) or (4) with regard to the amount of money that is to be received or paid by the party may demand an increase or decrease in that amount by filing an action within six months from the date on which the party is informed of the ruling.

(9)In filing an action as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the other party is the defendant.

(10)Dissatisfaction with the amount of money that is to be received or paid by the party may not be used as grounds to appeal the ruling set forth in paragraph (3) or (4).

Article 36(1)If a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities has a plan to change or make an addition to existing functions (except those specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) of the Category I designated telecommunications facilities, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the plan pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications by the period before the date on which the installation work starts as specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The same also applies if it intends to change the plan notified to the Minister.

(2)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities must make public the plan for which the notification has been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(3)If a notification is filed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that the implementation of the notified plan is likely to hinder the smooth interconnection between the Category I designated telecommunications facilities and those of another telecommunications carrier, the Minister may recommend the telecommunications carrier installing the Category I designated telecommunications facilities to change its plan.

Article 37(1)If a telecommunications carrier installing Category I designated telecommunications facilities intends to conclude or amend an agreement with other telecommunications carriers on sharing its Category I designated telecommunications facilities, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of it in advance pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)A telecommunications carrier installing telecommunications facilities newly designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 33, paragraph (1) must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the agreement on sharing the telecommunications facilities that it has concluded with other telecommunications carriers as of the time of the designation, without delay, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 38(1)If a telecommunications carrier requests another telecommunications carrier to conclude an agreement on sharing telecommunications facilities or structures for telecommunications facilities installation (meaning buildings and other structures used by telecommunications carriers to install telecommunications facilities; the same applies hereinafter), but the requested telecommunications carrier refuses to hold negotiations or those negotiations fail, resulting in the requesting telecommunications carrier filing a petition, and if the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that the relevant sharing is particularly necessary and appropriate for increasing the public interest, the Minister may order the requested telecommunications carrier to start or restart negotiations, except for the cases in which an application for arbitration is filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 155, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 156, paragraph (1).

(2)The provisions of Article 35, paragraphs (3) through (10) apply mutandis to the sharing of telecommunications facilities or structures for telecommunications facilities installation. In this case, the term "terms and conditions of interconnection" in paragraph (3) and paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "terms and conditions for sharing"; the phrase "installing telecommunications facilities to be interconnected with the telecommunications facilities" and the term "Article 155, paragraph (1)" in paragraph (3) of that Article are deemed to be replaced with "that intends to conclude an agreement with the telecommunications carrier" and "Article 155, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 156, paragraph (1)", respectively; and, the term "paragraph (1) or paragraph (2)" in paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 38, paragraph (1)".

Article 38-2(1)If a telecommunications carrier installing Category I or Category II designated telecommunications facilities commences the operations involved in providing wholesale telecommunications services by using those Category I or Category II designated telecommunications facilities, the telecommunications carrier must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the commencement of those services, the type of wholesale telecommunications services by each classification specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, without delay, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The same applies if it changes the particulars for which notification has been made, or discontinues those operations.

(2)A telecommunications carrier that provides specified wholesale telecommunications services (meaning wholesale telecommunications services using Category I or II designated telecommunications facilities other than those specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as having little impact on appropriate competitive relationships among telecommunications carriers; hereinafter the same applies) must not refuse to do so within its service areas without just cause.

(3)If a telecommunications carrier that provides specified wholesale telecommunications services receives an offer for conclusion of a contract for the provision of those services and, before presenting the amount of money that the requesting telecommunications carrier is to pay and other terms and conditions for the provision of those services, the requested carrier is requested to present the abovementioned information together with the method for calculation of that amount and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as the information that would contribute to smoothing negotiations regarding conclusion of the contract in question, the requested carrier must not refuse their presentation without just cause.

(4)If a telecommunications carrier who provides specified wholesale telecommunications services violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications may order the telecommunications carrier to improve its methods of conducting the operations or take other measures to the extent necessary for ensuring the public interest.

Article 39The provisions of Article 35, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3) through paragraph (10) and Article 38, paragraph (1) apply mutatis mutandis to the provision of wholesale telecommunications services. In this case, the phrase "interconnection between the requested telecommunications carrier's telecommunications line facilities and the requesting telecommunications carrier's telecommunications facilities" in Article 35, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "provision of specified wholesale telecommunications services prescribed in Article 38-2, paragraph (2)"; the term "agreement" in paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of that Article and Article 38, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "contract"; the phrase "interconnection falls under the items of Article 32" in Article 35, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "there are justifiable grounds prescribed in that paragraph"; the term "Article 155, paragraph (1)" in paragraph (1) and the proviso of paragraph (3) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 155, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 156, paragraph (2)"; the term "terms and conditions of interconnection" in paragraphs (3) and (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "terms and conditions for the provision of those services"; the phrase "installing telecommunications facilities to be interconnected to them" in paragraph (3) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "that intends to conclude a contract with the telecommunications carrier that provides wholesale telecommunications services"; the term "paragraph (2)" in paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 38, paragraph (1)"; the phrase "sharing telecommunications facilities or structures for telecommunications facilities installation (meaning buildings and other structures used by telecommunications carriers to install telecommunications facilities; the same applies hereinafter)" in Article 38, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced by "provision of wholesale telecommunications services other than specified wholesale telecommunications services prescribed in paragraph (2) of the following Article"; and the term "that sharing" and the term "Article 156, paragraph (1)" in Article 38, paragraph (1) are deemed to be replaced with "that provision" and "Article 156, paragraph (2)", respectively.

Article 39-2The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is to organize the following information that the Minister possesses regarding Category I and Category II designated telecommunications facilities, and to make the relevant information public using the Internet or any other appropriate means:

Article 39-3(1)A telecommunications carrier that provides specified domain name telecommunications services must not refuse to do so in its service areas without just cause.

(2)If a telecommunications carrier providing specified domain name telecommunications services has violated the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may order the telecommunications carrier to improve its methods of conducting operations or take other measures, to the extent necessary for ensuring the interests of users or the public interest.

(3)A telecommunications carrier that provides specified domain name telecommunications services must make the status of income and expenditure for its telecommunications services and other accounting particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications public, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 40If a telecommunications carrier intends to conclude, amend or discontinue an agreement or contract with foreign governments, foreign nationals, or foreign corporations on telecommunications activities, which includes important particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, it must obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 73-2(1)A person that intends to perform intermediation or other similar actions for concluding a contract related to the provision of telecommunications services listed in the items of Article 26, paragraph (1) upon being entrusted by a telecommunications carrier or by a person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect together with a document describing the following particulars, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications:

(2)If there is a change to the particulars listed in any of the items of the preceding paragraph, a person that has concluded the notification referred to in that paragraph (hereinafter referred to as a "person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conducts notification") must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay; provided, however, that this does not apply to minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(3)If a person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that concluded notification has transferred all of its business of performing intermediation or other similar actions for concluding contracts related to the provision of telecommunications services listed in the items of Article 26, paragraph (1) for which the notification under the preceding two paragraphs has been made (hereinafter referred to as "intermediation or other similar actions subject to notification" in this paragraph and the following paragraph), or if a person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that concluded notification has merged or split (this split is limited to a split resulting in the succession to all of the business of performing intermediation or other similar actions subject to notification) or inheritance from the that person has occurred, the person that has acquired all of the relevant business through the transfer, the corporation surviving after the merger or newly established upon the merger, the corporation that has succeeded to all of the relevant business upon the split, or the heir (or if one particular heir has been selected from among two or more heirs as the successor to the relevant business by agreement among the heirs, the selected heir) may succeed to the status of the person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conducted notification. In this case, the person that succeeded to the status of the person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conducted notification must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

(4)If a person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conducts notification discontinues its intermediation or other similar actions subject to notification, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

(5)If a corporation that is a person entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conducts notification dissolves due to reasons other than a merger, the liquidator in charge (or in cases of dissolution due to an order commencing bankruptcy proceedings, the bankruptcy trustee) must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

Article 73-3The provisions set forth in Article 26 and Article 27-2 apply mutatis mutandis to persons entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conduct notification; and the provisions set forth in Article 27-3, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to persons entrusted with intermediation or other similar actions that conduct notification if they perform intermediation or other similar actions for concluding contracts related to provision of mobile telecommunications services provided by telecommunications carriers designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of that Article. In this case, the terms in the middle column of the following table which are used in the provisions in its left column are deemed to be replaced with the terms in its right column.

Article 73-4If either of the conditions set forth in the following items occur, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may order the person prescribed in those items to improve the methods of conducting its business activities or take other measures to the extent necessary for ensuring the interests of users:

Article 106The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may designate a general incorporated association or general incorporated foundation which is established to contribute to ensuring the provision of universal telecommunications services and is found to conform to the criteria listed below with respect to the operations set forth in the following Article (hereinafter referred to as "support operations") as the only Universal Telecommunications Service Support Institution (hereinafter referred to as the "support institution") in Japan, upon its application:

Article 107The support institution is to conduct the following operations:

Article 108(1)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has designated the support institution, the Minister may designate a telecommunications carrier that provides item (i) universal telecommunications services and is found to conform to the criteria listed below, as a Category I eligible telecommunications carrier, upon its application:

(2)The designation under the preceding paragraph is granted for each type of item (i) universal telecommunications services specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(3)If a Category I eligible telecommunications carrier (limited to a telecommunications carrier other than those installing Category I or Category II designated telecommunications facilities) intends to change the general conditions of contracts for interconnection set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii), it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of those changes and make them public pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications before their implementation.

(4)In the case of succession to the status of a telecommunications carrier under Article 17, paragraph (1), if that telecommunications carrier was a Category I eligible telecommunications carrier, a telecommunications carrier that has succeeded to the status of that telecommunications carrier is to succeed to the status as a Category I eligible telecommunications carrier.

(5)If a Category I eligible telecommunications carrier falls under any of the following items or has filed an application for revocation of the designation under paragraph (1), the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may revoke its designation:

Article 109(1)The support institution must calculate the grants set forth in Article 107, item (i) (hereinafter referred to as "Category I grants") by the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and must obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications with regard to the amount of the Category I grants and methods of providing them for each fiscal year.

(2)A Category I eligible telecommunications carrier must notify the support institution of the cost spent in the previous fiscal year to provide the item (i) universal telecommunications services related to the designation under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the income generated by the provision of the item (i) universal telecommunications services related to the designation, and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as the basis for calculating the Category I grants, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(3)The cost set forth in the preceding paragraph must be calculated by the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those for calculating reasonable costs under efficient management.

(4)If the support institution has obtained authorization set forth in paragraph (1), it must make the amount of Category I grants public pursuant to the provisions of by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 110(1)Each fiscal year, the support institution may collect dues from the telecommunications carriers that are listed below and whose scale of business exceeds the standards specified by Cabinet Order (hereinafter referred to as "telecommunications carriers conducting interconnection or other similar actions" in this Article), in order to allocate them to all or part of the costs required for operations listed in Article 107, item (i) (including work incidental to the operations; the same applies in Article 112, paragraph (1)); provided, however, that those dues (hereinafter referred to as "Category I dues") must not come to account for a proportion exceeding the proportion specified by Cabinet Order of the amounts calculated by methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as the income generated by the provision of the telecommunications services in the previous fiscal year by a telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions (the income so generated includes the income generated by the provision of the telecommunications services in the previous fiscal year by a corporation disappearing in a merger, a corporation conducting a split (limited to a split resulting in the succession to all of telecommunications business), a decedent, or another telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions that transferred its telecommunications business in either of the following cases: if another telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions has merged or split, or inheritance from that carrier has occurred in the previous fiscal year or in the relevant fiscal year (limited to the period until the relevant telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions receives the notification under paragraph (3)), and the relevant telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions is a corporation surviving after the merger or newly established upon the merger, a corporation that has succeeded to all of the telecommunications business upon the split, or a heir; or if the relevant telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions has succeeded to all of the telecommunications business from another telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions in the previous fiscal year or in the relevant fiscal year (limited to the period until the relevant telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions receives the notification under paragraph (3))):

(2)The support institution must calculate the Category I dues by methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and must obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications with regard to the amount of Category I dues and methods of their collection for each fiscal year.

(3)If the support institution has obtained the authorization set forth in the preceding paragraph, it must send telecommunications carriers conducting interconnection or other similar actions a notification describing the amount of the Category I dues which they are to pay, the time limit for paying them, and methods of paying them, together with written documents describing the authorized particulars.

(4)A telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions has the obligation to pay Category I dues to the support institution in accordance with the notification under the preceding paragraph.

(5)If a telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions has received the notification under paragraph (3) but fails to pay the Category I dues to the support institution by the due date for the payment, it has the obligation to pay a delinquency charge equivalent to the Category I dues multiplied by the rate specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on a daily basis in the period from the date following the due date to the date of payment.

(6)If a telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions fails to pay its Category I dues by the due date for the payment, the support institution must demand in writing that the carrier pay the dues by the due date newly designated.

(7)If a telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions that has received a written demand under the preceding paragraph fails to pay the Category I dues related to the demand and the delinquency charge under paragraph (5) by the designated time limit, the support institution may file a petition to that effect with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

(8)If a petition is filed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may order the telecommunications carrier conducting interconnection or other similar actions to pay the support institution the Category I dues and the delinquency charge under paragraph (5).

Article 110-2(1)When the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications has designated a support institution, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Minister may designate a district that falls under all of the following items (excluding those falling under all of the items of the following paragraph) among the areas representing units of districts into which the entire nation is divided pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (hereinafter in this paragraph and the following paragraph referred to as "unit districts"), as an item (ii) universal telecommunications service general support district (hereinafter referred to as a "general support district"):

(2)When the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications designates a supporting institution, the Minister may designate a unit district that falls under all of the following items as an item (ii) universal telecommunications service special support district (hereinafter referred to as a "special support district"), pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications:

(3)When a general support district ceases to fall under any of the items of paragraph (1) or a special support district ceases to fall under any of the items of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications is to cancel its designation pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(4)When the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications has designated a general support district or a special support district, or has cancelled that designation, the Minister is to notify the support institution to that effect and make it public without delay.

Article 110-3(1)When the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications has designated a support institution and a support district (refers to the general support district and the special support district; hereinafter the same applies in this Article), the Minister may designate a telecommunications carrier that provides item (ii) universal telecommunications services and is recognized as conforming to the following standards as a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier upon application by that telecommunications carrier:

(2)When the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications designates a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister must also designate the support district included in the scope of the service area for the item (ii) universal telecommunications services subject to the application as the support district for that Category II eligible telecommunications carrier (hereinafter in this Article and paragraph (3) of the following Article referred to as the "coverage support district"), by each such support district. The same applies when a new support district is included in the scope of that service area.

(3)In the cases listed in the following items, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications is to cancel the designation of the coverage support district as specified in those items:

(4)When the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications designates a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier under the provisions of paragraph (1) and the coverage support district of that Category II eligible telecommunications carrier under the provisions of the first sentence of paragraph (2), the Minister is to notify the support institution and that Category II eligible telecommunications carrier to that effect and make it public without delay. The same applies to the designation of a coverage support district pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (2), the cancellation of the designation of a coverage support district under the preceding paragraph, or the revoking of the designation of a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier under paragraph (6).

(5)In the case of succession to the status of a telecommunications carrier under Article 17, paragraph (1), if that telecommunications carrier was a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier, a telecommunications carrier that has succeeded to the status of that telecommunications carrier is to succeed to the status of a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier.

(6)When a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier falls under any of the following items or when an application for revoking the designation under paragraph (1) has been filed by a Category II eligible telecommunications carrier, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications may revoke the designation:

Article 110-4(1)The support institution must calculate the amount of the grants set forth in Article 107, item (ii) (hereinafter referred to as "Category II grants") by the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and must obtain authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications concerning the amount of the Category II grants and methods of providing them for each fiscal year.

(2)An application for the authorization set forth in the preceding paragraph must be filed together with a document clarifying the breakdown of the amount of the Category II grants for each category of general support district or special support district.

(3)Category II eligible telecommunications carriers must notify the support institution of the cost spent to provide the item (ii) universal telecommunications services in a fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which they calculate the amount of the Category II grants, the income generated by the provision of the item (ii) universal telecommunications services, and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as the basis for calculating the amount of the Category II grants, by each coverage support district pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(4)The cost set forth in the preceding paragraph must be calculated by the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those for calculating reasonable costs under efficient management, and the income referred to in that paragraph must be calculated by the methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as those that calculate income that would normally arise if standardized rates were set.

(5)If the support institution has obtained authorization set forth in paragraph (1), it must make the amount of Category II grants public pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 110-5(1)Each fiscal year, the support institution may collect dues from telecommunications carriers that provide high-speed data transmission telecommunications services (excluding those specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) and whose scale of business exceeds the standards specified by Cabinet Order (hereinafter referred to as "high-speed data transmission service provider" in this paragraph), in order to allocate them to all or part of the costs required for operations listed in Article 107, item (ii) (including work incidental to the operations; the same applies in Article 112, paragraph (1)); provided, however, that those dues (hereinafter referred to as "Category II dues") must not come to account for a proportion exceeding the proportion specified by Cabinet Order of the amounts calculated by methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as the income generated by the provision of the telecommunications services in the previous fiscal year by a high-speed data transmission service provider (the income so generated includes the income generated by the provision of the telecommunications services in the previous fiscal year by a corporation disappearing in a merger, a corporation conducting a split (limited to a split resulting in the succession to all of telecommunications business), a decedent, or another high-speed data transmission service provider transferring its telecommunications business in either of the following cases: if another high-speed data transmission service provider has merged or split, or inheritance from that provider has occurred in the previous fiscal year or in the relevant fiscal year (limited to the period until the high-speed data transmission service provider in question receives the notification pursuant to the provisions of Article 110, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the following paragraph), and the high-speed data transmission service provider in question is a corporation surviving after the merger or newly established upon the merger, a corporation that has succeeded to all of the telecommunications business upon the split, or a heir; or if the high-speed data transmission service provider in question has succeeded to all of the telecommunications business from another high-speed data transmission service provider in the previous fiscal year or in the relevant fiscal year (limited to the period until the high-speed data transmission service provider in question receives the notification pursuant to the provisions of Article 110, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the following paragraph)).

(2)The provisions of Article 110, paragraphs (2) through (8) apply mutatis mutandis to Category 2 dues. In this case, the term "telecommunications carriers conducting interconnection or other similar actions" in paragraph (3) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "high-speed data transmission service provider (meaning the high-speed data transmission service provider prescribed in Article 110-5, paragraph (1); hereinafter the same applies in this Article). The term "telecommunications carriers conducting interconnection or other similar actions" in paragraphs (4) through (8) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "high-speed data transmission service provider".

Article 111The support institution may request that telecommunications carriers submit data, if that data is necessary for conducting support operations.

Article 112(1)The support institution must separate accounts for the operations listed in Article 107, item (i) from accounts for the operations listed in item (ii) of that Article.

(2)If the support institution conducts the operations other than support operations, it must separate accounts for those operations from accounts for support operations.

Article 113(1)The support institution must establish a consultation commission for support operations.

(2)Upon being consulted by the representative of the support institution, the consultation commission for support operations may conduct the study and deliberation on the amount of Category I and II grants and methods of providing them, the amount of Category I and II dues and methods of collecting them, and other important particulars concerning the conduct of the support operations, and provide the representative of the support institution with the opinions that it finds necessary for those matters.

(3)The representative of the support institution appoints members of the consultation commission for support operations from among telecommunications carriers and persons with the relevant expertise, with authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 114(1)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has revoked the designation of the support institution pursuant to the provisions of Article 84, paragraph (1) or (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 116, paragraph (1), and newly designates a support institution after the revocation, the assets related to the support operations of the support institution subject to the revocation belong to the newly designated support institution.

(2)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, the management of the assets related to the support operations and other necessary transitional measures (including transitional measures concerning penal provisions) in cases in which the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications revokes the designation of a support institution pursuant to the provisions of Article 84, paragraph (1) or (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 106, paragraph (1), are specified by Cabinet Order within a scope considered reasonably necessary .

Article 115The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is to provide information and data, or guidance and advice necessary for conducting the support operations to the support institution.

Article 116(1)The provisions of Article 75, paragraph (2), items (ii) through (iv), Article 77, paragraphs (1) and (3), Articles 78 through 84, and Article 90 apply mutatis mutandis to the support institution.

(2)In the cases set forth in the preceding paragraph, the terms in the middle column of the following table which are used in the provisions in its left column are deemed to be replaced with the terms in its right column.

Article 116-2(1)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may certify a general incorporated association that has been established by a telecommunications carrier and recognized as satisfying the requirements below as a person performing operations specified in the following paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "operations against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities" in this Section), upon its application:

(2)The general incorporated association approved under the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities") is to conduct the operations listed below:

(3)A person that intends to receive approval under paragraph (1) must submit an application describing the following particulars to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications:

(4)Articles of incorporation and other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications must be attached to the application in the preceding paragraph.

(5)The certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities must receive approval from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications if it intends to change the particulars listed in paragraph (3), item (iii); provided, however, that this does not apply to minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(6)The provisions set forth in paragraphs (3) and (4) apply mutatis mutandis to approval of changes referred to in the preceding paragraph. In such cases, the term "following particulars" in paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "particulars listed in item (i) and item (iii) (limited to matters related to changes, for particulars listed in item (iii))".

(7)If there is a change to particulars listed in the items of paragraph (3) (excluding item (iii)), or a minor change specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as prescribed in the proviso of paragraph (5) is made, the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

Article 116-3(1)The certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities must allow public inspection of the specified membership list pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)A person that is not the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities must not use characters in its name that can be mistaken for the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities.

(3)A person that is not a specified member of the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities must not use characters in its name that can be mistaken for a specified member of the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities.

Article 116-4A officer or employee of the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities or a person that formerly held that position must not divulge any secret which came to their knowledge with respect to the operations against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities.

Article 116-5The certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities must prepare and keep books, by recording or making entries of the particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications concerning the operations against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities in those books, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 116-6(1)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds it necessary to improve the operations of the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities, the Minister may order the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities to take measures necessary for the improvement to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act.

(2)If the operations of the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities violate this Act, an order based on this Act, or a disposition based on them, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may revoke its approval or order the suspension of all or part of its operations for a specified period within six months in length.

Article 116-7In response to a request by the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may provide information specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as information that is related to a telecommunications carrier and contributes to the operations against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities, to the extent necessary for the certified association against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities to properly conduct operations against cyber attacks on telecommunications facilities.

Article 116-8If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has made an approval under Article 116-2, paragraph (1), there is a notification of changes as set forth in paragraph (7) of that Article (limited to notifications related to changes in the particulars listed in item (i) of paragraph (3) of that Article), or the Minister has revoked the approval or ordered suspension of all or part of operations pursuant to the provisions of Article 116-6, paragraph (2), the Minister must issue a public notice to that effect pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 117(1)If a telecommunications carrier conducting telecommunications business in which it installs telecommunications line facilities and provides telecommunications services or a person intending to conduct that telecommunications business intends to have the provisions of the following Section applied to it, it may obtain the approval from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for all or part of the telecommunications business by the way of an application.

(2)A person that intends to obtain the approval set forth in the preceding paragraph must file a written application describing the following particulars with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications:

(3)The written application set forth in the preceding paragraph must be filed together with a business plan and other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 118A person that falls under any of the following items may not obtain the approval set forth in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article:

Article 119The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must not grant the approval set forth in Article 117, paragraph (1), unless the Minister finds that an application for the approval under that paragraph complies with all of the following items:

Article 120(1)A person that has obtained the approval set forth in Article 117, paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as an "approved telecommunications carrier") must start the telecommunications business subject to the approval (hereinafter referred to as "approved telecommunications business") within the period designated by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds it particularly necessary, the Minister may divide the service areas set forth in Article 117, paragraph (2), item (ii) and designate the period set forth in the preceding paragraph for each divided service area.

(3)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may extend the period set forth in paragraph (1), if the application is filed from an approved telecommunications carrier and the Minister finds that there are justifiable grounds for it.

(4)If an approved telecommunications carrier has started an approved telecommunications business (or if the service areas were divided and the period was designated for each divided area pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), the approved telecommunications business related to the division), it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

Article 121(1)Without justifiable grounds, an approved telecommunications carrier must not refuse to provide telecommunications services related to its approved telecommunications business.

(2)If an approved telecommunications carrier has violated the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may order the approved telecommunications carrier to improve the methods of conducting its operations or take other measures, to the extent necessary for ensuring the interests of users or the public interest.

Article 122(1)If an approved telecommunications carrier intends to change the particulars set forth in Article 117, paragraph (2), item (ii) or (iii), it must obtain the approval from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)If an approved telecommunications carrier has made minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as set forth in the proviso of the preceding paragraph, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

(3)The provisions of Article 117, paragraph (3), Article 118 (excluding item (ii)), and Article 119 apply mutatis mutandis to the approval set forth in paragraph (1).

(4)The provisions of Article 120 apply mutatis mutandis to the cases set forth in paragraph (1) (except for cases in which the number of service areas is decreased). In this case, the term "Article 117, paragraph (1)" in paragraph (1) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 122, paragraph (1)".

(5)If an approved telecommunications carrier changes any of the particulars set forth in Article 117, paragraph (2), item (i), it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

Article 123(1)If an approved telecommunications carrier dies, the heir (or, if one particular heir has been selected from among two or more heirs as the successor of the approved telecommunications business by agreement among the heirs, that selected heir) succeeds to the status of the approved telecommunications carrier that the decedent had.

(2)If an heir set forth in the preceding paragraph does not apply for the authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications with regard to succession within sixty days from the death of the decedent, or a decision not to authorize an application from the heir as set forth in that paragraph is rendered, the approval of the approved telecommunications business ceases to have effect at the time when the period has passed or when the decision is rendered.

(3)If a corporation having the status as an approved telecommunications carrier has conducted a merger or split (limited to a split resulting in the succession to all of approved telecommunications business), a corporation surviving after the merger or newly established upon the merger, or a corporation that has succeeded to all of the approved telecommunications business upon the split may succeed to the status as an approved telecommunications carrier with the authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

(4)If an approved telecommunications carrier has transferred all of its approved telecommunications business, the person that has acquired all of the approved telecommunications business through the transfer may succeed to the status as an approved telecommunications carrier with authorization from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

(5)The provisions of Articles 118 and 119 apply mutatis mutandis to the authorization set forth in the preceding three paragraphs.

Article 124(1)If an approved telecommunications carrier suspends or discontinues all or part of its approved telecommunications business, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

(2)The period of suspension set forth in the preceding paragraph must not exceed one year.

Article 125If an approved telecommunications carrier falls under any of the following items, its approval ceases to have effect:

Article 126(1)If an approved telecommunications carrier falls under any of the following items, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may revoke its approval:

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications revokes approval pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister must notify the approved telecommunications carrier to that effect in writing together with the reasons.

Article 127(1)If an approved telecommunications carrier that has obtained the approval of a change in the particulars set forth in Article 117, paragraph (2), item (ii) or (iii), pursuant to the provisions of Article 122, paragraph (1), does not change the particulars within the period designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 120, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 122, paragraph (4) (or if the period has been extended pursuant to the provisions of Article 120, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 122, paragraph (4), within the extended period), the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may revoke its approval.

(2)The provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the cases set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Article 128(1)If it is necessary and appropriate to use other persons' land, buildings, or other structures affixed to them (except for administrative properties prescribed in Article 3, paragraph (2) of the National Property Act (Act No. 73 of 1948), administrative properties prescribed in Article 238, paragraph (3) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947) and other properties specified by Cabinet Order (referred to as "administrative or other prescribed properties" in paragraph (4)); hereinafter referred to as the "land, buildings, or other structures") in order to install the wires, cables and antennas (limited to the wires, cables, and antennas that are installed in a single premises (including the area equivalent to the premises) or in a single building (hereinafter referred to as the "premises or building" in this paragraph) which the public passes through or assembles at, if the wires, cables, and antennas are installed within the premises or building primarily for the use of communications for persons who are in the premises or building) and other facilities accessory to them (hereinafter referred to collectively as "telecommunications lines" in this Section) for the use of an approved telecommunications business, an approved telecommunications carrier may request that the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures (or if there is a person that uses the land, buildings, or other structures in question based on their title other than ownership, the person and the owner; hereinafter the same applies) hold negotiations related to the establishment of the right to use them (hereinafter referred to as "right to use"), with the authorization of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. The same applies if an approved telecommunications carrier intends to extend the duration of the right to use as set forth in paragraph (3) and continue using the land, buildings, or other structures after the end of that duration of the right.

(2)The authorization set forth in the preceding paragraph may be granted if an approved telecommunications carrier uses the land, buildings, or other structures to an extent which does not seriously impair another person's use of them; provided, however, that in cases of land, buildings, or other structures that are used for business in which they may be expropriated or used pursuant to the provisions of any other law, the authorization may be granted as long as the use of the land, buildings, or other structures in question does not obstruct their use for that business; and in cases of buildings and other structures, the authorization may be granted as long as they are used to support the telecommunications lines.

(3)The duration of the right to use as set forth in paragraph (1) is fifteen years (or fifty years if the purpose of use is to establish underground cables or other underground structures, or to establish aboveground structures made of steel or concrete); provided, however, that this does not apply if a shorter duration is set as a result of negotiations set forth in that paragraph or a ruling set forth in Article 132, paragraph (2) or (3).

(4)If an application for authorization set forth in paragraph (1) is filed and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds it necessary to do so, the Minister is to hear the opinions of the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures (the owner includes the administrator of administrative or other prescribed properties or any other person specified by Cabinet Order, if the thing in question is a building or any other structure that is affixed to the administrative or other prescribed properties; the same applies in the following paragraph, Article 130, paragraph (1), and Article 131).

(5)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has granted authorization set forth in paragraph (1), the Minister must notify the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures to that effect, and issue a public notice of it.

(6)If an agreement is reached on the negotiations set forth in paragraph (1), the approved telecommunications carrier and the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures are to notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications of the particulars decided through those negotiations, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(7)If the notification set forth in the preceding paragraph is filed, the approved telecommunications carrier is to acquire the right to use the land, buildings, or other structures, or the duration of the right to use them is to be extended, in accordance with that notification.

(8)The approved telecommunications carrier and the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures may extinguish the right to use through an agreement. In this case, they must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect without delay.

Article 129(1)If negotiations under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article fail or cannot be conducted, an approved telecommunications carrier may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for a ruling on the use of the land, buildings, or other structures in accordance with the procedures specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to cases in which three months have passed since the date on which the authorization set forth in that paragraph was granted.

(2)If an approved telecommunications carrier applies for a ruling on extension of the duration of the right to use pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it may continue using the land, buildings, or other structures until the ruling is rendered.

Article 130(1)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications has received an application for a ruling under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, within three days, the Minister must send a copy of the application to the mayor of the municipality, and notify the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures to the effect that the application for a ruling has been filed.

(2)If the mayor of the municipality receives the documents set forth in the preceding paragraph, the mayor must issue a public notice to that effect within three days, and must make the documents available for public inspection one week from the date of that public notice.

(3)If the mayor of the municipality issues the public notice under the preceding paragraph, the mayor must report the date of that public notice to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

(4)With regard to the application of the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, the term "mayor of the municipality" in those provisions is deemed to be replaced with "mayor of the special ward" for a place where a special ward exists; and with "mayor of the ward or mayor of consolidated ward" for a designated city prescribed in Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act.

Article 131If a public notice is issued pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures or any other interested persons may file their written opinions with the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications within ten days from the date of the public notice.

Article 132(1)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must render a ruling promptly after the period set forth in the preceding Article has passed.

(2)A ruling which determines that the right to use should be established must specify the following particulars:

(3)A ruling which determines that the duration of the right to use should be extended must specify the extended period (or if the particulars listed in item (v) of the preceding paragraph are changed at the time of extending the period, the extended period and the particulars listed in that item after the change).

(4)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must hear the opinions of the expropriation committee in the prefecture which has jurisdiction over the land, buildings, or other structures on the particulars listed in paragraph (2), item (v) (including the particulars set forth in the preceding paragraph after the change), in advance, and render a ruling based on those opinions. In this case, the standards of the consideration set forth in that item are specified by Cabinet Order for each type of telecommunications lines and land, buildings, or other structures to cover losses which may generally arise from their use.

(5)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications renders a ruling set forth in Article 129, paragraph (1), the Minister must notify the approved telecommunications carrier and the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures to that effect without delay, and must issue a public notice of it.

(6)If a ruling which determines that the right to use should be established is rendered, the approved telecommunications carrier is to acquire the right to use the land, buildings, or other structures on the scheduled starting date of use as specified in the ruling.

(7)If a ruling which determines that the duration of the right to use should be extended is rendered, the duration of the right to use is to be extended for the period specified in the ruling.

(8)The provisions of Article 35, paragraphs (8) through (10) apply mutatis mutandis to the ruling set forth in Article 129, paragraph (1). In this case, the term "the amount of money to be received or paid by the party (or parties)" in Article 35, paragraph (8) and paragraph (10) is deemed to be replaced with "the amount of consideration".

Article 133(1)An approved telecommunications carrier may use another person's land, buildings, or other structures temporarily to the extent that this does not seriously obstruct that person's use, if using them for the purposes listed below is necessary and unavoidable in relation to conducting its approved telecommunications business; provided, however, that, in the cases of buildings or other structures, that use is limited to the purpose of supporting telecommunications lines:

(2)If an approved telecommunications carrier intends to use another person's land, buildings, or other structures temporarily pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it must obtain permission of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; provided, however, that this does not apply to temporary use for a period not exceeding fifteen days in the event of a natural disaster, serious event, or any other emergency.

(3)If an approved telecommunications carrier intends to use another person's land, buildings, or other structures temporarily pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), it must notify their possessor to that effect in advance; provided, however, that, if the notification is difficult to file in advance, it is sufficient for the approved telecommunications carrier to notify the possessor to that effect without delay after the carrier starts to use them.

(4)If the land, buildings, or other structures that an approved telecommunications carrier intends to use temporarily pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) are currently in use as part of a residence, the carrier must obtain the consent of the resident staying there.

(5)The period of temporary use under paragraph (1) may not exceed six months (or if temporary telecommunications lines or land survey markings have been set up in the cases set forth in item (ii) of that paragraph, one year).

(6)A person that enters another person's land, buildings, or other structures for the purpose of temporary use under paragraph (1) must carry a document certifying that the person has obtained the permission set forth in paragraph (2) (or in the cases of the proviso of that paragraph, a certificate for identification) and must show it to the persons concerned.

Article 134(1)An approved telecommunications carrier may enter another person's land if it is necessary to do so in order to conduct a survey, on-site investigation, or installation of telecommunications lines.

(2)The provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) and paragraph (6) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis if an approved telecommunications carrier enters another person's land pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 135(1)An approved telecommunications carrier may pass through another person's land if it is necessary to do so in order to conduct telecommunications line installation or maintenance.

(2)The provisions of Article 69, paragraph (4) and Article 133, paragraphs (3) and (4) apply mutatis mutandis if an approved telecommunications carrier passes through another person's land pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 136(1)If plants cause or are likely to cause an obstruction to telecommunications lines, or hinder surveys, on-site investigations, or installation of telecommunications lines, and if it is unavoidable to do so, an approved telecommunications carrier may clear or move the plants with the permission of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)If an approved telecommunications carrier clears or moves plants pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it must notify the owner of the plants to that effect in advance; provided, however, that, if the notification is difficult to make in advance, it is sufficient for the approved telecommunications carrier to notify the owner without delay after clearing or moving the plants.

(3)Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph (1), if the plants cause an obstruction to telecommunications lines and an approved telecommunications carrier finds that these plants will seriously damage the telecommunications lines and hinder the securing of communications in the case of leaving the obstruction unsolved, it may clear or move the plants without the permission of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. In this case, the approved telecommunications carrier must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications to that effect, and notify the owner of the plants of it without delay after clearing or transplanting the plants.

Article 137(1)If an approved telecommunications carrier has caused losses by temporarily using another person's land, buildings, or other structures pursuant to the provisions of Article 133, paragraph (1), by entering another person's land pursuant to the provisions of Article 134, paragraph (1), by passing through another person's land pursuant to the provisions of Article 135, paragraph (1), or by clearing or moving plants pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (3) of the preceding Article, it must compensate the person for any losses that person has suffered.

(2)If negotiations on compensation for losses under the preceding paragraph between an approved telecommunications carrier and a person that has suffered the losses fail or cannot be conducted, the approved telecommunications carrier or the person that has suffered the losses may file an application for a ruling with the prefectural governor, in accordance with the procedures specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(3)The provisions of Article 35, paragraphs (5) through (10) apply mutatis mutandis to the ruling set forth in the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications" and the term "written answers" in paragraph (5) of that Article are deemed to be replaced with "the prefectural governor" and "written answers (or written opinions when notifying the person that has suffered the loss)", respectively; the term "the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications" in paragraph (6) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the prefectural governor"; and the term "the amount of money to be received or paid by the party (or parties)" in paragraph (8) and paragraph (10) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the amount of compensation".

(4)A ruling which determines that compensation should be paid must specify the amount of compensation and the date and method of the payment.

Article 138(1)If the purpose or methods of using land, buildings, or other structures on which telecommunications lines are installed based on the right to use them or the purpose or methods of using land, buildings, or other structures adjacent to them has been changed and thereby the telecommunications lines seriously hinder the use of the land, buildings, or other structures in question, their owner may request that the approved telecommunications carrier relocate the telecommunications lines or otherwise take measures necessary to remove the hindrance.

(2)The approved telecommunications carrier must take the measures set forth in the preceding paragraph, except for cases in which it is extremely difficult to take the measures set forth in the preceding paragraph for conducting its operations, or from a technical perspective.

(3)If negotiations between the approved telecommunications carrier and the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures on the measures set forth in paragraph (1) fail or cannot be conducted, the carrier or the owner may apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for a ruling, in accordance with the procedures specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(4)The provisions of Article 130, Article 131, and Article 132, paragraphs (1) and (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the ruling set forth in the preceding paragraph.

(5)A ruling which determines that the measures set forth in paragraph (1) should be taken may specify that all or part of the cost of the measures is to be borne by the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures.

(6)A ruling which determines that the measures set forth in paragraph (1) should be taken must specify the date when those measures should be taken (or in the case set forth in the preceding paragraph, the date when those measures should be taken, and the amount, date and means of payment of the money to be borne by the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures).

(7)If a public notice has been issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 132, paragraph (5) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4), the negotiations between the approved telecommunications carrier and the owner of the land, buildings, or other structures are deemed to have reached an agreement in accordance with the ruling.

(8)The provisions of Article 35, paragraphs (8) through (10) apply mutatis mutandis to the ruling set forth in paragraph (3). In this case, the term "the amount of money to be received or paid by the party (or parties)" in paragraphs (8) and (10) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the amount of costs to be borne".

Article 139If an approved telecommunications carrier has ended the use of land, buildings, or other structures or it becomes unnecessary to use land, buildings, or other structures for its approved telecommunications business, the carrier must return that land, buildings, or other structures after restoring them or compensating for the losses arising from not restoring them.

Article 140(1)If an approved telecommunications carrier intends to lay an underwater cable to be used for its approved telecommunications business (hereinafter referred to as an "underwater cable") under any surface of water used for public purposes (hereinafter referred to as "waters"), in advance, it must notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and the relevant prefectural governor (including the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, if the waters are fishing grounds over which the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries exercises the authorities of the prefectural governor pursuant to the provisions of Article 183 of the Fishery Act (Act No. 267 of 1949); the same applies in the following paragraph) of the following particulars:

(2)If a notification is filed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph and the relevant prefectural governor finds it necessary to change the particulars related to the notification set forth in the preceding paragraph, based on the opinions of the interested persons related to the fishing rights (meaning fishing rights under the Fishery Act; hereinafter the same applies) or those of any persons actually and lawfully engaged in fishing operations specified by Cabinet Order as set forth in paragraph (4) of the following Article within the area set forth in item (i) of the preceding paragraph, or in consideration of the impact to fishing operations, after conducting the necessary negotiations with any other relevant prefectural governors, the governor may notify the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and the approved telecommunications carrier to that effect within thirty days from the date on which the notification was filed.

(3)The provisions of Article 66 of the Fishery Act apply mutatis mutandis to the notification under the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "any of the following items" in that Article is deemed to be replaced with "item (ii)", and the term "the prefectural governor" in that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the relevant prefectural governor that received the notification under Article 140, paragraph (1) of the Telecommunications Business Act".

(4)If an approved telecommunications carrier has received a notification under paragraph (2), it must change the particulars; provided, however, that this does not apply for the relevant provisions if changing those particulars seriously hinders the conduct of its operations and the authorization to the effect that the changes to those particulars are not necessary is obtained from the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 141(1)If the application from an approved telecommunications carrier is filed and it is necessary for the protection of the underwater cable laid in accordance with the procedures set forth in the preceding Article, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may designate an area within one thousand meters (or in case of a river to which the River Act (Act No. 167 of 1964) applies, or applies mutatis mutandis (hereinafter referred to as a "river"), within fifty meters) of the underwater cable as a protected area.

(2)The designation set forth in the preceding paragraph is made by issuing a public notice.

(3)If a protected area has been designated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), an approved telecommunications carrier must set up landmarks indicating that area and issue a public notice of the locations of the landmarks, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(4)In the protected area set forth in paragraph (1), it is prohibited for any person to anchor a vessel, engage in fishing operations using a trawl net or other fishing operations specified by Cabinet Order, mine soil, or moor a boat or raft to the landmarks set forth in the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this does not apply to the cases in which there are compelling reasons for a river administrator to conduct river construction, for a coast administrator as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (3) of the Coast Act (Act No. 101 of 1956) (hereinafter referred to as "coastal administrator" in this Article) to conduct construction work for coast conservation facilities prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) of that Act (hereinafter referred to as "coastal conservation facilities" in this paragraph), or for the competent minister to conduct construction work for coastal conservation facilities pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (1) of that Act, or in other cases specified by Cabinet Order.

(5)If an approved telecommunications carrier has filed an application, and the prefectural governor (or the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, if the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries directly exercises the authorities of the prefectural governor pursuant to the provisions of Article 183 of the Fishery Act; the same applies in paragraph (7)) finds it necessary to protect underwater cables, the governor may revoke or change the fishing rights which have been established on the waters within the protected area set forth in paragraph (1), or order the suspension of the exercise of those rights.

(6)The provisions of Article 93, paragraph (4) of the Fishery Act apply mutatis mutandis to the revocation or change of the fishing rights, or suspension of the exercise of those rights, pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "prefectural governor" in paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "prefectural governor that has received the application under Article 141, paragraph (5) of the Telecommunications Business Act".

(7)The prefectural governor must pay necessary consideration to protecting underwater cables with regard to establishing fishing rights on the waters within the protected area set forth in paragraph (1).

(8)A coastal administrator must pay necessary consideration to protecting underwater cables with regard to permitting the establishment of facilities or structures or permitting any act on the waters within the protected area set forth in paragraph (1).

Article 142(1)An approved telecommunications carrier must compensate any person that holds the fishing rights for any losses caused by the revocation of or change to their fishing rights or the suspension of the exercise of those rights under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article.

(2)The provisions of Article 177, paragraph (2), the first sentence of paragraph (3), and paragraphs (4), (5), (11) and (12) of the Fishery Act apply mutatis mutandis to the compensation for the losses under the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "any item in that paragraph" in paragraph (2) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "that paragraph"; the term "Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries" in the first sentence of paragraph (3) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the prefectural Governor, after they hear the opinions of the Sea-area Fisheries Adjustment Commission"; the term "the national government" in paragraph (5) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "approved telecommunications carrier"; in paragraph (11) of that Article, the term "land in paragraph (1), item (2) or item (3)" is deemed to be replaced with "fishery right specified in Article 141, paragraph (5) of the Telecommunications Business Act (limited to fishery rights revoked pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph)" and the term "the national government" is deemed to be replaced with "approved telecommunications carrier"; and the term "person qualified" in that paragraph and paragraph (12) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "person qualified (limited to registered lien holder)".

Article 143A vessel must not navigate the waters within the range specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications within one thousand meters (or in cases of a river, within fifty meters) of a vessel which is engaged in laying or repairing underwater cables of an approved telecommunications carrier and posts a sign to that effect, or within the range specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications within four hundred meters (or in cases of a river, within thirty meters) of a buoy which marks the location of the underwater cables being laid or repaired and posts a sign to that effect.

Article 144(1)A Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission") is established under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)The Commission processes the particulars which fall under its authority pursuant to the provisions of this Act, the Radio Act, and the Broadcasting Act.

Article 145(1)The Commission is composed of five commission members.

(2)The commission members serve on a part-time basis; provided, however, that up to two of them may serve on a full-time basis.

Article 146(1)The Commission has a chair, whom the commission members vote on among themselves.

(2)The chair presides over the affairs of the Commission and represents the Commission.

(3)In advance, the chair must designate a commission member to carry out the chair's duties in place of the chair if the chair is unable to perform their duties.

Article 147(1)The commission members are appointed by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from among persons with deep insight into the telecommunications business, utilization of radio waves, or broadcasting operations, with the consent of both Houses of the Diet.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if the term of office of a commission member expires or a vacancy f a position occurs, and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is not able to obtain the consent of both Houses of the Diet because the Diet is closed or because the House of Representatives has been dissolved, the Minister may appoint a person from qualified persons set forth in the preceding paragraph as a commission member.

(3)In the cases set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must obtain the recognition of both Houses of the Diet at the first Diet session following the appointment. In such case, if the Minister is not able to obtain the retroactive recognition of both Houses of the Diet, the Minister must immediately dismiss the commission member.

Article 148(1)The term of office of a commission member is three years; provided, however, that the term of office of a commission member that has been appointed to fill a vacancy is the remaining term of the predecessor.

(2)The commission members may be reappointed.

(3)When the term of office of a commission member expires, the commission member is to perform the duties until the successor is appointed.

Article 149When the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that a commission member is unable to perform their duties due to a mental or physical disorder or that the commission member has violated the obligations in the course of duties or committed any other misconduct unfitting for a commission member, the Minister may dismiss the commission member with the consent of both Houses of the Diet.

Article 150(1)A commission member must not divulge any secrets which may have come to their knowledge in the course of the duties. The same applies even after the commission member has retired from office.

(2)A commission member must not become an official of a political party or any other political organization, or actively engage in a political campaign during the term of office.

(3)During the term of office, a full-time commission member must not engage in other duties for which that member receives remuneration, conduct business for profit, or conduct any other operations for monetary gain, except for cases approved by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 151Remuneration of commission members is prescribed separately by law.

Article 152(1)A secretariat is established under the Commission to handle the administrative functions of the Commission.

(2)A director-general and other officials considered necessary are placed under the secretariat.

(3)The director-general handles the work of the secretariat upon the orders of the chair.

Article 153Beyond what is provided for in this Section, particulars necessary for the Commission are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 154(1)If a telecommunications carrier requests another telecommunications carrier to conclude an agreement on interconnection of telecommunications facilities but the requested telecommunications carrier refuses to hold negotiations or those negotiations fail, or negotiations between the parties concerning concluding an agreement on the interconnection of telecommunications facilities fail regarding the amount of money to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions of interconnection, or other details of the agreement, the parties may apply to the Commission for mediation; provided, however, that this does not apply if any party has already filed a petition set forth in Article 35, paragraph (1) or (2), an application for a ruling under paragraph (3) of that Article, or an application for arbitration under paragraph (1) of the following Article.

(2)The Commission is to conduct mediation, unless it finds that the relevant case is not appropriate for mediation by its nature or it finds that the parties have filed an application for mediation without due cause and for unjust reasons.

(3)The Commission's mediation is conducted by mediation commissioners whom the Commission nominates for each case from among the commission members or other officials (limited to those whom the Commission designates in advance; the same applies in paragraph (3) of the following Article).

(4)The mediation commissioners must mediate between the parties, confirm the points of both parties' arguments, and make efforts to resolve the relevant case.

(5)The mediation commissioners may hear opinions or request reports from the parties, and prepare and present to them a draft of mediation as necessary for resolving the relevant case.

(6)The mediation commissioners are to terminate the mediation on a case being undertaken if the parties file a petition set forth in Article 35, paragraph (1) or (2), an application for a ruling under paragraph (3) of that Article, or an application for arbitration under paragraph (1) of the following Article.

Article 155(1)If negotiations between telecommunications carriers concerning concluding an agreement on interconnection of telecommunications facilities fail regarding the amount of money to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions of interconnection, or other agreement details, both parties may apply to the Commission for arbitration; provided, however, that this does not apply if any party has already filed a petition set forth in Article 35, paragraph (1) or (2), or an application for a ruling under paragraph (3) of that Article.

(2)The Commission's arbitration is conducted by three arbitration commissioners.

(3)The Commission appoints those selected with the agreement of the parties, from among the commission members and other officials, as arbitration commissioners; provided, however, that, if selection with the agreement of the parties has not been made, the Commission is to appoint arbitration commissioners from among the commission members and other officials.

(4)Unless otherwise provided for in this Article, arbitration commissioners are deemed to be arbitrators and the provisions of the Arbitration Act (Act No. 138 of 2003) apply mutatis mutandis to them.

Article 156(1)The provisions of the preceding two Articles apply mutatis mutandis to agreements concerning the sharing of telecommunications facilities or structure for telecommunications facilities installation. In this case, the term "terms and conditions of interconnection" in Article 154, paragraph (1) and paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "terms and conditions for sharing"; and the term "Article 35, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2)" and the term "paragraph (3) of that Article" in the proviso of Article 154, paragraph (1) and paragraph (6) and in the proviso of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are deemed to be replaced with "Article 38, paragraph (1)" and "Article 35, paragraph (3), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (2) of that Article", respectively.

(2)The provisions of the preceding two Articles apply mutatis mutandis to contracts on the provision of wholesale telecommunications services. In this case, the term "terms and conditions of interconnection" and the term "details of the agreement" in Article 154, paragraph (1) and paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are deemed to be replaced with "terms and conditions for the provision of those services" and " details of the contract", respectively; and the term "Article 35, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2)" and the term "paragraph (3) of that Article" in the provisos of Article 154, paragraph (1) and paragraph (6) and the provisos of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are deemed to be replaced with "Article 35, paragraph (1) or Article 38, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 39" and "Article 35, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 39", respectively.

Article 157(1)If negotiations between telecommunications carriers concerning concluding an agreement or contract that is specified by Cabinet Order as the agreement or contract necessary to be concluded in order to ensure that telecommunications services are smoothly provided (referred to as an "agreement or contract" in paragraph (3)) fail regarding the amount of money to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions, or other details, those parties may apply to the Commission for mediation; provided, however, that this does not apply if any party has already filed an application for arbitration under that paragraph.

(2)The provisions of Article 154, paragraphs (2) through (6) apply mutatis mutandis to the mediation set forth in the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "a petition set forth in Article 35, paragraph (1) or (2), an application for a ruling under paragraph (3) of that Article, or an application for arbitration under paragraph (1) of the following Article" in paragraph (6) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "an application for arbitration under Article 157, paragraph (3)".

(3)If negotiations between telecommunications carriers concerning concluding an agreement or contract fail regarding the amount of money to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions, or other details, both parties may apply to the Commission for arbitration.

(4)The provisions of Article 155, paragraphs (2) through (4) apply mutatis mutandis to the arbitration set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Article 157-2(1)If negotiations between a telecommunications carrier and a person conducting item (iii) business concerning concluding a contract (hereinafter referred to simply as a "contract" in paragraph (3)) related to the provision of telecommunications service which the person conducting item (iii) business has requested for use in conducting that business fail regarding the amount of money to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions, or other details, the parties may apply to the Commission for mediation; provided, however, that this does not apply if any party has already filed an application for arbitration under that paragraph.

(2)The provisions of Article 154, paragraphs (2) through (6) apply mutatis mutandis to the mediation set forth in the preceding paragraph. In this case, the phrase "petition set forth in Article 35, paragraph (1) or (2), an application for arbitration under paragraph (3) of that Article, or paragraph (1) of the following Article" in paragraph (6) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 157-2, paragraph (3)".

(3)If negotiations between a telecommunications carrier and a person conducting item (iii) business concerning concluding an agreement which the person conducting that business has requested fail regarding the amount of money to be received or paid by the parties, the terms and conditions, or other details, both parties may apply to the Commission for arbitration.

(4)The provisions of Article 155, paragraphs (2) through (4) apply mutatis mutandis to the arbitration set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Article 158An application for mediation or arbitration filed with the Commission pursuant to the provisions of this Section must be made via the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 159Beyond what is provided for in this Section, particulars necessary for procedures for mediation and arbitration are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 160The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications must consult the Commission on the particulars listed below; provided, however, that this does not apply to particulars that the Commission finds to be minor:

Article 161(1)Notwithstanding the classification of procedures for hearing the statements of opinions under Article 13, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993), if the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications intends to make a disposition under Article 19, paragraph (2), Article 20, paragraph (3), Article 21, paragraph (4), Article 27-7, Article 29, Article 30, paragraph (5), Article 31, paragraph (4), Article 33, paragraph (6) or (8), Article 34, paragraph (3), Article 35, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 39) or (2), Article 38, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 39), Article 38-2, paragraph (4), Article 39-3, paragraph (2), Article 44-2, Article 51, Article 73-4, or Article 121, paragraph (2), the Minister must hold a hearing.

(2)If a hearing is held in relation to a disposition set forth in the preceding paragraph or a disposition under Article 44-5, and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications is to consult with the Commission concerning the relevant disposition pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article, the official presiding over the hearing related to the disposition is to be appointed from among the commission members with a recommendation from the Commission.

(3)The presiding official of the hearing related to a disposition set forth in paragraph (1) or a disposition under Article 44-5 must grant permission if the interested person related to the disposition has made a request to participate in the procedures of the hearing pursuant to the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Article 162(1)The Commission may provide necessary recommendations to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications with respect to the particulars which fall under its authorities pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

(2)If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications receives a recommendation set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister must make that recommendation public.