Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (NTT East) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (NTT West) submitted documents on February 15, 2001 to the Japanese Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications necessary for approval of L-mode Service. On March 16, the Ministry responded that it would permit the provision of L-mode Service under the condition that NTT East and NTT West made the changes indicated in the Telecommunications Council report on approval and authorization of L-mode Service. Based on that response from the Ministry, NTT East and NTT West have today submitted a supplementary application to the Ministry with changes in the rates to be charged for the service and the method of rate setting.
1. Change in rate-setting method involving gateway function
Of the service functions implemented in the gateway switches installed by NTT East and NTT West, a change will be made in the functions involving inter-prefecture service to allow rates to be set by the third party (interconnecting carrier) providing the inter-prefecture service.
This change applies to the functions whereby L-mode subscribers in prefectures with no gateway use an adjacent gateway for exchanging e-mail or searching for content, etc.
Rate setting method
New rate schedule
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In the application of February 15 these rates were to be set by NTT East or NTT West. This is now changed so that the rates are set by the interconnecting carriers. |
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These rates are to be set by the interconnecting carriers. |
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2. Requests made from the standpoint of assuring user convenience and fair competition
The report issued by the Telecommunications Council noted above included a number of requests made from the standpoint of assuring user convenience and fair competition. In response, NTT East and NTT West plan to study appropriate measures based on discussions with the parties involved.
3. Scheduled start of service
After the necessary approval and authorization have been received, nationwide service is scheduled to start in June 2001.
4. Content to be available from the L-menu list
(1) Soliciting views on content to appear on the L-menu list |
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Once approval and authorization have been received to offer L-mode service, NTT East and NTT West will announce the service on their Web sites and will solicit opinions regarding policy for selecting content to appear on the L-menu list, the ethical and moral considerations to be applied to the selection process, and the way the L-mode content is to be organized. |
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(2) Soliciting content to appear on the L-menu list |
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Based on the received opinions, the procedure to be followed in soliciting content accessible from the L-menu list will be made public. Around the same time, explanatory meetings will be held in Tokyo and Osaka regarding the content solicitation procedure. Those wishing to attend these meetings can apply by e-mail at the addresses below. |
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NTT East: L-info@sinoa.east.ntt.co.jp
NTT West: L-info@west.ntt.co.jp |
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| *In applying to attend the above meetings, be sure to indicate your company, name, and phone number.
Note that the procedures for applying to appear on the content menu lists of other providers and the provision of charge collection services for the content to be made available on those lists and for general (URL-accessed) content will be determined separately based on the views of the parties involved. |
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