Japanese government officials said today that by the end of March, the country will have launched a concrete action plan outlining a Priority Policy Program designed to guide Japan as it emerges as a world IT leader.

The plan is part of a national policy to be pursued by both the public and private sectors, government spokespersons from the Information Technology Policy Office, Cabinet Secretariat said. Under the strategy, a goal is set to make Japan the world's most advanced IT nation within five years. By the end of March, the country hopes to establish an ultra high-speed network infrastructure and competition policies. The plan calls for ultra high-speed access networks to 10 million households and additional high-speed access to 30 million households at low rates by fiscal 2005. The introduction of asymmetrical regulations and the shift of the government's administrative attitude from prior regulations-oriented to an ex-post-facto check approach, and the establishment of a special organ able to quickly respond to such issues as complaints from users and conflicts among carriers, is also planned, the spokespersons said. The plan also envisions reinforcement of the function of the Fair Trade Commission to eliminate acts that hinder fair competition, and the establishment of clear rules to promote just and fair use of telecommunications resources such as optical fiber. Also, the country will implement a "fair and transparent means" of allocation of radio frequency spectrum, including an auction system. Japan will also facilitate e-commerce through construction of a framework allowing safe participation, revision of regulations that hinder e-commerce, and the passage of new rules concerning electronic contracts and consumer protection. The government also said it plans to become more heavily an e-government, handling electronic data in the same manner as paper-based information, by fiscal 2003.