Key Facts
• July 24: Gifu Governor Yasunaga Ezaki raised concerns at the National Governors’ Meeting.
• July 29: Ezaki reiterated the need for revising the Broadcast Act in a press conference.
• Issue: Public vehicles with TV-enabled car navigation systems are subject to NHK fees.
• Current law: NHK fees apply to all devices capable of receiving broadcasts, including car navigation systems and mobile phones.
• Ezaki’s stance: Fees should not apply to devices with no intent to view broadcasts.
• NHK policy: Households pay one fee per household, but government offices pay per device.
• Ezaki criticized the law as “too simplistic” and called for clearer rules.
• Proposal: Exclude devices not intended for viewing broadcasts from fee obligations.
Summary
Gifu Governor Yasunaga Ezaki has called for revisions to Japan’s Broadcast Act, highlighting issues with NHK license fees applied to public vehicles equipped with TV-enabled car navigation systems. Speaking at the National Governors’ Meeting on July 24 and a press conference on July 29, Ezaki argued that fees should not apply to devices with no intent to view broadcasts. Under current law, NHK fees are mandatory for all devices capable of receiving broadcasts, including car navigation systems and mobile phones. While households pay one fee per household, government offices must pay per device, leading to concerns about the misuse of taxpayer funds. Ezaki criticized the law as overly simplistic and proposed clearer rules to exclude devices not intended for viewing broadcasts. The matter will be discussed further in the General Affairs Standing Committee.
