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NICT REPORT 39Fig.2 : A scene at the NICT exhibition booth in TechCrunch DISRUPT SF held in Sept. 2018es with local ICT ventures at the west coast of the US (Silicon Valley) and lec-tures from locally active venture entrepre-neurs and the like (Fig.1).Supporting the spread of infor-mation communication infra-structureWe want Japan to be the world’s most advanced ICT nation, and support the spread of information communication in-frastructure in this country.(a) Supporting regional communica-tions and broadcast development proj-ectsWe are supporting businesses that con-tribute to the enhancement of telecommu-nications (e.g., by improving CATV or set-ting up relay stations for terrestrial digital TV broadcasting) in areas other than large cities by subsidizing their interest pay-ments on loans from banks and other fi-nancial institutions.Supporting people with insuffi-cient access to informationWe support the development of envi-ronments where everyone has equal ac-cess to communication and broadcasting services.(a) Promoting the production of pro-grams with subtitles, sign language, and audio description.For people with audio-visual impair-ments, we partially subsidize the produc-tion of programs with subtitles, audio de-scriptions and sign language interpreting, sign language translation video to be dis-played together with broadcast programs, and equipment that checks the subtitles of commercial programs.(b) Promoting the development of communication and broadcasting servic-es for challenged usersWe provide partial subsidies for people who provide and develop communication and broadcasting services that are more accessible to people with physical disabili-ties who have difficulty in using communi-cation and broadcasting services.(c) Supporting barrier-free information deliveryThrough our website on barrier-free in-formation delivery, we are providing infor-mation that makes it easier for elderly and challenged users to make use of commu-nication and broadcasting services.Promoting private-sector re-search on communication and broadcasting technology• Commissioning private organizations to research basic technologiesWe promote the strategic and efficient research of fundamental technology by the private sector in the field of information communication.Fig.1 : Silicon Valley Boot CampResearch and Development