# Communications Research Laboratory

> Japanese national communications research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q11639545](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11639545)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/communications-research-laboratory

## Summary
The Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) was a Japanese national research institute dedicated to communications technology. Originally established in 1952 as the Radio Research Laboratory, it operated under the CRL name starting in 1988 before merging into the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology in 2004.

## Key Facts
- **Original Name:** Radio Research Laboratory (電波研究所), established August 1, 1952.
- **Renaming:** Changed name to Communications Research Laboratory (通信総合研究所) on April 1, 1988.
- **Dissolution:** Merged into the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology on April 1, 2004.
- **Type:** Research institute; designated an Independent Administrative Institution starting April 1, 2001.
- **Country:** Japan.
- **Associated Projects:** Related to COMETS (Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite), a Japanese communications demonstration satellite.
- **Identifiers:** VIAF ID 151621895; Library of Congress Authority ID no2001096650.

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Communications Research Laboratory founded?
A: The institute was originally founded on August 1, 1952, as the Radio Research Laboratory. It adopted the name Communications Research Laboratory on April 1, 1988.

### Q: What happened to the Communications Research Laboratory?
A: The entity was dissolved on April 1, 2004, when it was merged into the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

### Q: What was the legal status of the CRL?
A: It was a research institute that transitioned into an Independent Administrative Institution on April 1, 2001, prior to its merger in 2004.

## Why It Matters
The Communications Research Laboratory served as Japan’s primary national institute for communications research for over five decades. Its significance lies in its role as a central government body driving Japan's radio and communications development during the post-war technological boom. The institute bridged the gap between early radio technology and modern information and communications technologies.

The evolution of the institute reflects the broader administrative changes in Japanese science and technology policy. Its transformation into an Independent Administrative Institution in 2001 and subsequent merger in 2004 were part of government efforts to streamline research operations and increase efficiency. Today, its legacy continues through its successor, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), which maintains the CRL's mandate for advancing Japan's information and communications infrastructure.

## Notable For
- **National Mandate:** Serving as the Japanese national communications research institute.
- **Longevity:** Operating for over 50 years (1952–2004) under different names.
- **Administrative Evolution:** Transitioning from a standard research agency to an Independent Administrative Institution.
- **Satellite Research:** Being organizationally related to the development of the COMETS communications demonstration satellite.
- **Succession:** Being the direct predecessor to the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

## Body
### Organizational History and Naming
The institute was originally established on August 1, 1952, under the name **Radio Research Laboratory** (Japanese: 電波研究所). It retained this name for nearly 36 years.

On April 1, 1988, the organization was renamed the **Communications Research Laboratory** (Japanese: 通信総合研究所). This name change reflected a broader scope of operations beyond just radio research.

### Status and Restructuring
The institute's organizational structure changed significantly at the turn of the 21st century. On April 1, 2001, it was designated as an **Independent Administrative Institution** (IAD). This status was created by the Japanese government to make research institutes more autonomous and efficient.

The CRL ceased to exist as an independent entity on April 1, 2004. On this date, it was merged into the newly formed **National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)**.

### Research and Technical Context
As a national research institute, the CRL focused on communications technologies. Historical data links the CRL to **COMETS** (Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite), indicating its involvement in satellite communications demonstration projects.

### Identifiers
*   **Acronyms:** CRL, RRL
*   **VIAF ID:** 151621895
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** no2001096650
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/120ktc46