Discussion in the House of Representatives Regarding Deliberation on the Broadcast Act - Part 1

 ■Discussion in the House of Representatives Regarding Deliberation on the Broadcast Act - Part 1

Having been invited as a witness to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Internal Affairs and Communications regarding the revised Broadcast Act that would clear the path for NHK to simultaneously transmit their regular programming on the internet, I received questions regarding all aspects from Diet members from all parties.

○Why regular simultaneous transmission?

・As the internet becomes infrastructure, being able to receive signals at anytime from anywhere without additional costs strengthens the right to knowledge.

・As normal simultaneous transmission takes place in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and South Korea, as well as for the 4 major networks in the United States, it must be discussed why normal simultaneous transmission is not allowed in Japan.

・This is a policy decision on whether or not the internet is seen as infrastructure. I believe that it became infrastructure 12 years ago.

○Squeezing the private sector

・I understand concerns from commercial broadcasting. However, I cannot believe that there is a national basis for 2.5%.

・Looking beyond simultaneous transmission, it is important to consider the perspectives of how much investment is necessary to improve utility of IT utilization and use of data and AI for citizens, and how a new media environment will be built out in conjunction with commercial broadcasting.

・Under the circumstances of a changing global media environment, including IT, and expansion of foreign businesses into Japan, it is important to consider the perspective of what kind of media foundation and business environment should be prepared.

・Investment by and business costs for NHK should be set while considering these perspectives.

○NHK must not become bloated

・Citizens are unlikely to be understanding if NHK becomes bloated without reviewing its overall business and license fees.

・I would like NHK to thoroughly fulfill its role as a public media outlet of universally good broadcasting and cutting-edge development.

・I would like business expansion to be considered together with the revision of its overall business and license fees, as well as disclosure of information and revised governance.

○The state of license fees

・For the time being, it is appropriate to reach out to non-subscribers through the message screen.

・Considering cord-cutting and internet diffusion trends moving forward, there is a need to revise the license fee system.

・The method of collecting fees and charges regardless of whether or not people watch TV, which is utilized in the United Kingdom and Germany, is also worth referencing.

・Although it is not a tax, it is close to a tax. The understanding of citizens as a whole is a major prerequisite.

○The negative impact of the internet

・The internet is essentially infrastructure now, 10 years on from the introduction of the smartphone.

・While fake news becomes prevalent, communication opportunities and communities that were previously unavailable have been created through social networking services. There is an element in which democracy has been strengthened.

・In order to enrich this culture, education to utilize information is important.

○Regulation of content through fusion of communication and broadcasting

・Japanese broadcasting programs are involved in a system that gives autonomy to the program council at each station and the BPO.

・This system functions effectively and maintains the binary system of NHK and commercial broadcasting, as well as a rich broadcasting culture.

・The internet and content represent the third element in this system. Japan is fine, as it is autonomous and free, but the information literacy of its citizens is important.

○Would it be all right to abolish NHK?

・Europe is transitioning from public broadcasting to commercial broadcasting, while the United States is transitioning from commercial to public. However, Japan has a special binary system.

・Since Japanese TV builds a rich culture, the binary system is functioning. This pillar does not need to be changed.

・How can the internet, which is the third element, be enriched? How to educate these users is worth discussing.