The development of the cable industry in Japan has been steady but slow. The Japanese cable penetration rate is not as high as in the USA and Canada for several reasons, and in this article the focus is on how broadcasting policy in Japan has affected the cable television market. Nevertheless...

This paper provides an overview of universal service in Japan, especially in regard to multimedia. Recently, the MPT has commissioned studies on the universal service and the main findings are briefly discussed. In particular, the definition of the universal service obligation in a multimedia...

Foreword -- Preface Overview of the Japanese Media Content Policies -- I Broadcasting Policies -- 1. Terrestrial Broadcasting Policy -- 2. Public Broadcasting -- 3. Commercial Broadcasting -- 4. Satellite Broadcasting Policy -- II Regional Media Policies -- 5. Cable Television -- 6. Community FM...