Annual regulatory fees are mandated by Congress, pursuant to Section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Section 9 requires the Commission to collect regulatory fees to recover the regulatory costs associated with the its enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information, and international activities.
FY 2012 Regulatory Fees
Commission Seeks Comment on GAO Report and Extends Reply Comment Deadline to October 23, 2012
September 24, 2012 - Public Notice
Reminder That FY 2012 Regulatory Fees are Due on September 13, 2012
August 31 2012 - Public Notice
Payment Methods and Procedures for Fiscal Year 2012 Regulatory Fees
August 13 2012 - Public Notice
FY 2012 Regulatory Fees Due No Later Than September 13, 2012, Eastern Time (ET)
August 13 2012 - Public Notice
Fee Filer Mandatory for FY 2012 Regulatory Fee
August 13 2012 - Public Notice
FY 2012 Regulatory Fees Report & Order
July 19 2012 - Report & Order
FY 2012 Regulatory Fee Reform
July 17 2012 - NPRM
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2012
May 04 2012 - NPRM
FY 2012 - Who Owes Fees and What is My Fee
- Cable Television Systems
- Commercial Wireless Services
- International and Satellite Services Licensees
- Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSPs)
- Media Look-Up Website
- Media Services Licensees
- Submarine Cable Systems
- Waivers
- Exemptions
How to Make Payment
All payments start with a FCC Registration Number (FRN) and Form 159 or 159W. After completing this form you can make payment by check, credit card, electronic transfer, or wire transfer. Checks must be mailed, along with Form 159 to:
Federal Communications Commission
Regulatory Fees
P.O. Box 979084
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000
If you prefer to send your payment by courier to a lockbox address your envelope and have it delivered to:
Federal Communications Commission
Regulatory Fees
c/o U.S. Bank-Government Lockbox #979084
SL-MO-C2-GL
1005 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
Attn: FCC Government Lockbox
Payments that are misdirected to the FCC in Washington, DC will be forwarded to U.S. Bank in St. Louis, MO; however, this could result in a late filing that would therefore be subject to the 25% late payment fee.
The quickest and easiest way to pay is using a credit card through the Fee Filer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are regulatory fees?
A: 47 U.S.C. §159 establishes four broad categories of Commission activities as regulatory. These are all "enforcement activities, policy and rulemaking activities, user information services, and international activities." The statute then requires the FCC to "assess and collect" fees to recover the costs of these activities. Thus, the fees that cover the costs of these four types of activities are called regulatory fees.
Regulatory fees are distinct from application fees, which are authorized in 47 U.S.C. §158. Application fees cover the FCC's costs related to licensing communication service providers. This includes activities such as issuing permits, testing applicants, certifying licenses, authorizing transfers, assigning or transferring call signs, and adjudicating disagreements.
Q: Why does my company have to pay these fees?
A: Each year, as part of the passage of the federal budget, Congress establishes an amount that the FCC must collect in regulatory fees. This year that amount is $335.8 million. Based upon 47 U.S.C. §159, the FCC is obligated to collect this amount from every organization that benefits in any way from the FCC's enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information, and international activities.
The regulatory fee section of the law does not specifically exempt any group from paying this fee; although, it does allow the Commission to waive, reduce, or defer payment of a fee "for good cause shown, where such action would promote the public interest." The FCC has interpreted this to mean that regulatory fees will not be applied to state and local governments, amateur radio operator licensees (other than amateur vanity call signs), and non-profit organizations. The FCC also allows companies in precarious financial situations or bankruptcy to petition for a case-by-case decision on a waiver or reduction of the regulatory fee.
Q: When are the fees due?
A: Payments for FY 2012 regulatory fees must be received by 11:59 p.m., September 13, 2012.
Q: What if my company can't pay by the due date?
A: While 47 U.S.C. §159 does not specifically exempt any organization from paying regulatory fees it does require penalties for late payment. The statute specifically says, "Such penalty shall be 25 percent of the amount of the fee which was not paid in a timely manner."
Q: I want to talk to a human being, who do I call?
A: Those with questions related to the FCC's Fee Filer program should call the toll-free Help Line at 1-877-480-3201 and select option 4.
Published: August 14 2012
