Bad news for LAN in Japan

I found this at Gamespot, "According to Kyodo News, the Ministry of Public Management, which governs the telecommunications field in Japan, is planning a new bill that will charge consumers a radio signal fee for operating devices that use wireless LAN. Previously radio signal fees were charged only to major companies with wireless communication licenses, such as broadcasting stations or moible phone operators. The ministry explains that the new bill aims to 'make things fair,' since wireles LAN products and moible phones use the radio wave in a similar manner.

The new radio bill specifically targets home and offices that operate PCs over a wireless LAN. However, if passed by the Japanese parliment, the law will mean that multiplayer on Sony PSP and Nintendo DS will come with a cost, since bothuse wireless LAN for their connections.

The bill will not be proposed to parliment until next year, so consumer and electronic manufactures in Japan will have plenty of timeto organize oppostionto the Ministry of Public Management."


I really hope this bill won't pass, but we have to wait and see.

-Falco8