(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of this law is to promote the public welfare by ensuring equitable and efficient utilization of radio waves.

(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
In order to secure its equitable and efficient utilization, as a rule a license issued by the Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications is necessary to establish a radio station (Article 4).
Furthermore, considering that radio waves are a limited and scarce resource, licenses to establish radio stations, aside from radio stations listed below, shall not be granted to any foreigner, foreign government, foreign juridical person or organization and any juridical person or organization of a certain foreign nature (Article 5):

1) Experimental radio stations, radio stations on board specified ships and aircraft and amateur radio stations;

2) Fixed radio stations set up in foreign diplomatic and consular offices [limited to the government of countries or the representative in which Japanese government or the representative within the said countries are permitted to establish radio stations of a similar kind (that is, the principle of reciprocity)].

3) Radio stations installed on vehicles moving on land, radio set up for portable use or non-movable radio stations installed on land to communicate with portable receiving equipment (except for those for telecommunication business use).

4) Radio stations established to carry out telecommunication business and radio stations established to control location and position of artificial satellites accommodating the relevant radio facilities.

(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTERIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Ordinance of the Radio Law
Enforcement Regulations of the Radio Law
Ministry Ordinance to Specify the Designated Period in the Radio Law
Regulations on Licensing Procedures for Radio Stations
Regulations for Essential Standards for Establishing Radio Stations (excluding broadcast stations)
Operational Regulation of Radio Stations
Regulations for Regulating on Radio Equipment
Ordinance concerning Type Approval of Radio Equipment
Ordinance concerning Technical Regulations Conformity Certification of Specified Radio Equipment
Ordinance concerning Attested Private Inspector, etc.
Basic Standard for Establishment of Specified Radio Equipment
Ordinance on Radio Operators and Others

(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Items Covered
Radio facilities (equipment)

2) Certification System
i. Type approval of radio equipment
This certification system was established to achieve improvement in the reliability of apparatus for radio equipment used for the purpose of securing human life, public safety and property. Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunicati should conduct this type approval according to international treaties and the like. Type approval is not required for radio equiptment that have already successfully passed in foreign countries the type approval granted to be equivalent to the prescribed type approval under the ordinance concerning type approval by the Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications.


ii. Certification of conformity with technical regulations of Specified Radio Equipment
This certification system was established to achieve simplification and rationalization of administrative work and to alleviate the burden borne by license applicants. In this system, the Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications or a person designated by the Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (designated certification bodies) certifies radio equipment used in small-scale radio stations specified by applicable ordinances of the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications conform with technical regulations prescribed in the Law prior to the installation. The small-schale equiptment certified under this system is subject to the special measures such as simplified lincensing procedure not reqireing post-investigation, blanket licensing to cover several equiptments or exemption of licensing. For the specified Radio Equiptment, in addition to one-by-one certification, certification to a construction design by investigation of one of the equiptments is also available.

iii Self decralation of conformity with technical regulations
Under this sytem, self confirmation on conformity to the technial regulations stipulated in Radio Law can be effective for equiptments with less possibility to interveane. The items including the specified radio equiptment: portable terminal, PHS terminal, etc. that are listed in Minsterial Order are subject to this system. It is necessary to confirm that each equiptment based on the constructing design is conformed with the design, as well as the design is consistent to the technical regulation.

iv. Type designation in industrial Facilities Emitting Radio Waves
This system is used to certify equipment Emitting radio waves. It was established to achieve simplification and rationalization of administrative work as well as to reduce the burden to applicants for permission to install such equipment. Permission is not required to install equipment of this type designation.
Incidentally, with respect to test performance documentation to be attached to the application for type designation, inspection data of foreign manufacturers are acceptable granted that such data conform to Japanese standards.


[Flowchart of certification system](PDF file)

(5) HIGHLIHGTS OF THE RECENT AMENDMENT

In January 2004, a new system of self -confirmation of the conformity assessment of the technical standard of radio equipment was introduced. At the same time, the accreditation that has been undertaken by the Minister or the Certified bodies was transferred to the Registered bodies.
In 2005, the limitation to the foreign participation to the broadcasting station operating company (grand wave) has amended; in addition to the previous limitation to the direct investment, limitation to indirect investment was introduced.

(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Offices for Further Information)
Licenses to be extended to foreign nationals and other foreign interests:
Land Mobile Communications Division, Radio Department, Telecommunications Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Tel: (03) 5253-5893
Inspection of aircraft radio station:
Mobile Satellite Communications Division, Radio Department,
Telecommunications Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Tel: (03) 5253-5816
Certification System:
Electromagnetic Environment Division, Radio Department, Telecommunications Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Tel: (03) 5253-5908 http://www.soumu.go.jp