Ginowan City Office to investigate poor reception of digital terrestrial broadcasts in the areas around U.S. Futenma Air Station

January 24, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

From early February to late March, in the areas around U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, the Ginowan City Office will carry out a general investigation of poor reception of digital terrestrial broadcasts due to interference caused by U.S. flight activities. Although residents can normally watch and listen to their televisions and radios without any problems, when a plane flies nearby, noise or blackness on the screen affects their reception. This survey will be carried out primarily in order to obtain more information about the negative impact on life in all areas of the city. Under the Law concerning the Improvement of the Living Environment around Defense Facilities, the municipal office will receive 4.9 million yen from the Ministry of Defense for the survey and will commission specialized companies to do the work.

The Okinawa Office of Telecommunications surveyed the situation using instruments installed at nine points in the city over a period of 60 days from June 10, 2010, including community centers, and confirmed interference caused by U.S. aircraft in five locations.

According to survey results in the previous year from the Okinawa Defense Bureau, they also confirmed that interference occurred for about 2000 households, or about 900 buildings, located in part of areas of three districts north of the airfield runway, including Nodake, Futenma and Aragusuku.

In these areas, the city office has taken measures to set up cable television fully subsidized by the Ministry of Defense. However, it decided to carry out the survey once again because it received many complaints from residents outside the areas.

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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