Shortly after the Ministry of Digital Affairs (moda) was inaugurated on August 27, Minister Audrey Tang held her first-ever video press conference on September 1. Tang explained two of the moda’s new plans in the phase-four Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program—namely, the “Responsive or Wartime Application of Emerging Technology to Reinforce Communication Network Digital Resilience Plan,” which ensures the usability of communication networks during emergency situations such as natural disasters or war; and the “Communication Innovative Technology Application Development and Environment Building Plan,” which assists industries to adopt  innovative applications.

Tang said that these programs managed by the moda are mostly phase-three Forward-looking Programs that have been transferred to the Ministry, to be continued as phase-four programs. In the fourth phase, the moda has proposed two new plans: the Communication Response Resilience Plan, and the Communication Innovation Application Plan.

The goal of the Communication Response Resilience Plan is to ensure that if existing communication systems such as submarine cables, the mobile network, and fixed network are damaged during emergency situations, Taiwan may still use these networks supported by non-geosynchronous satellites, in order to send necessary response messages (including video conference calls, network calls, and livestreams), both domestically and internationally. Considering that currently there is no commercial non-geosynchronous satellite service, the moda will conduct a proof of concept and install ground receiving equipment at over 700 domestic and three overseas locations, in order to confirm the feasibility of using non-geosynchronous satellites for response communication services.

As the phase-four Forward-looking Program has a term of two years, the communication network response resilience plan has been assigned a budget of NT$300 million in 2023 and NT$250 million in 2024, totaling NT$550 million.

Meanwhile, the Communication Innovation Application Plan aims to build an environment for communication technology innovation applications that will cultivate practical public application services. These services will be exported to the international market with the goal of “increasing social and production value by NT$10 billion”—meaning that the moda hopes to translate social values created by these communication applications, such as saved time and streamlined services, into measurable financial value.

For example, Tang said that currently, it may be difficult for those with hearing or language disabilities to make or take phone calls. However, by providing a video relay service through real-time matching, communication can be improved through innovation.

While it may be hard to estimate the value of this service, it definitely holds social value. According to Tang, this social value should also be calculable in currencies.

Tang added that the Communication Innovation Application Plan’s vision is to brainstorm with the public on how to take advantage of emerging low-latency, high-broadband communication applications, and to create high social value applications that also have production value and may allow for cross-border service delivery in the future. The moda expects to gather at least 100 project ideas, and will choose to implement at least 10 with especially high social value.

The Communication Innovation Application Plan is also being implemented under the phase-four Forward-looking Program, with a two-year term. The plan has a budget of NT$600 million in 2023 and NT$700 million in 2024, adding up to NT$1.6 billion.

Additionally, in response to the bill proposed by scholars on the compulsory bargaining between the media and digital platforms, which named the moda as the recommended competent authority, Tang said that the Minister without Portfolio, Wu Tsung-tsong, was already coordinating relevant ministries and councils. Tang added that while interacting with the press, she had previously mentioned that the moda’s goal is to ensure the prosperous development of all industries; and if the news industry needs to undergo digital transformation to tackle the challenges posed by large, cross-border digital platforms, “That is definitely our job.”

Tang explained that under Minister Wu’s coordination, the moda will conduct an overall review of large, cross-border digital platforms’ advertising business, and will investigate the critical problems for the news industry caused by those platforms. The moda will then work with other ministries and councils to help news companies launch an equal dialogue with large digital platform providers.

Tang responded to rumors that she is not interested in the issue of media bargaining, by stating that the government’s policies are not based on personal interests, and that the moda’s work includes promoting the digital transformation of all industries. She added that the moda will provide updated information once progress has been made.

Regarding the public’s and certain legislators’ doubts about the moda’s budget and “excessive funds,” Tang reiterated that the Ministry, including its two administrations, has a budget of around NT$5.7 billion, which is just a small fraction of the overall administrative budget of NT$2.72 trillion. The moda’s budget also includes around NT$3.2 billion that is used for transferring works from other ministries and councils.

As the moda’s budget was calculated according to regulations and is under the Legislative Yuan’s supervision, there is no issue of “excessive funds.” The content and items of all the moda’s plans for traveling abroad, commissioned projects, and donations are listed clearly in the budget, and the public can see how funds are used by reviewing the complete document.