6. Elimination of telecommunications gap
Since 1991 local governments have cooperated with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in building communications facilities in rural areas where private enterprises cannot obtain sufficient profit from supplying communications services.
(1) Outline of projects
1) Mobile communications facilities
Local governments provide pylons for mobile communications in areas where there is no prospect of mobile communications services being supplied by private enterprises. Private telecommunications companies should compete with each other when they expand the areas served by their mobile or cellular phones.
However, communications services will play a role in the social infrastructure, bringing new jobs and improving convenience for people in the area. Local governments have been approved to build communications facilities for mobile and cellular phones in the following areas.
a. Little populated areas, remote areas or isolated islands where private companies do not provide and have no intention of providing services. (Designated as remote areas)
Areas where no more than 8,000 cars pass in 12 hours according to the 1990 national traffic survey are basically regarded as being areas where private companies will not provide any services.
b. Underground shopping districts, subways and underground parking managed by local governments. (Designated as closed areas)
2) Commercial broadcasting TV facilities
Local governments have been approved to build communications facilities for commercial broadcasting TV in areas where there is no commercial broadcasting.
The Broadcasting Law (Article 2 Clause 2) requires commercial broadcasting companies to promote a wider range of TV waves, but this is not compulsory. Municipalities may play a role in remote areas.
Except in remote areas, public corporations will be founded in each prefecture to build commercial broadcasting facilities under the control
