Lawyer Article

The FCC has issued a Report and Order setting the regulatory fees to be paid for fiscal year 2007. We attach a chart showing the fees to be paid this year.

The total amount being collected represents a 2.84% reduction from 2006. (Actually, a slight increase in the total amount required by Congress was more than offset by not renewing the $10,000,000 "deficit reduction" imposed upon broadcasters last year.) The specific amount in each category of broadcast fees may vary due to the number of affected authorizations.

Consequently, a few fees rose slightly, although most are unchanged or reduced from 2006. There are no significant changes in the methodology and procedures for assessment and payment of the 2007 regulatory fees, as compared to the past several years. Television fees are still assessed according to market size, and radio fees are based upon facility attributes and populations served. All fees are based upon facilities authorized as of October 1, 2006. The Commission will attempt to send each licensee or permittee a notification by mail. Paper filings will be accepted, but the Commission encourages use of its on-line "Fee Filer" program, which has the advantages of avoiding FCC clerical error, providing instantaneous receipts and storing information for use in future years.

The Commission has not yet announced specific filing information, including the payment deadline which we assume, based upon past years, will be in mid-September. We will let you know once further details become available, and we will be prepared to assist you in fulfilling your payment requirement. If you have any questions as this point, please let us know.

Click here to see the regulatory fees in table format (pdf).