Statutory Authority and General Remittance Procedures
The Federal Communications Commission collects application processing fees under Title III, Section 3001 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-39), which revised Section 8 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. § 158). This statutory framework directs the Commission to assess charges for regulatory and application processing services provided to commercial communications entities under its jurisdiction.
Applicants submitting feeable filings must include FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) along with payment by check, bank draft, money order, credit card, or wire transfer denominated in U.S. dollars. Under the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA), effective October 1, 2004, the Commission will withhold action on and dismiss applications from entities with unresolved delinquent non-tax debts owed to the FCC. Nonfeeable applications filed in Washington, DC must be directed to the Office of the Secretary.
- FCC Form 159 is required for all feeable paper and manual remittances; online credit card filers do not send paper Form 159 copies.
- FCC Form 159C continuation sheets must be utilized when submitting payments for more than two call signs or multiple applicants.
- Waivers, fee determinations, and deferral requests must be submitted directly to the Office of the Managing Director for legal review by the Office of General Counsel.
- Courier and hand-delivered fee packages must be delivered to the Mellon Client Service Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Enforcement Bureau Fee Requirements
The Enforcement Bureau adjudicates formal complaints against common carriers, conducts financial and operating audits, and resolves pole attachment disputes under Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Filings with the Enforcement Bureau carry specific Section 8 fee schedules that must accompany initial requests or be billed directly depending on the audit procedure.
- Common Carrier Formal Complaint (Payment Type Code: CIZ): $180.00 fee per named defendant under 47 C.F.R. § 1.735.
- Pole Attachment Complaint (Payment Type Code: TPC): $225.00 fee.
- Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagement Development and Review (Payment Type Code: BLA): $49,885.00 fee.
- Field Audits (Payment Type Code: BMA): $91,390.00 billed to carriers.
- Review of Attest Audits (Payment Type Code: BLA): $49,885.00 billed to carriers.
International Bureau and Satellite Services Schedule
The International Bureau administers licensing for international public radio communications, international Section 214 authorizations, earth stations, and space systems. Electronic filing via the International Bureau Electronic Filing System (IBFS) is mandatory for routine earth stations, non-U.S. satellite access requests, and space station applications (excluding DBS and DARS).
International broadcast applications, overseas cable construction, and international fixed public radio filings are processed under distinct fee codes and procedural guidelines.
- Non-Geostationary (NGSO) Space Station Launch and Operate Application (Payment Type Code: CLW): $353,690.00.
- Geostationary (GSO) Space Station Launch and Operate Application (Payment Type Code: BNY): $102,700.00.
- Overseas Cable Construction Section 214 Request (Payment Type Code: BIT): $13,390.00.
- Cable Landing License for Common Carriers (Payment Type Code: CXT): $1,505.00; Non-Common Carriers (Payment Type Code: BJT): $14,895.00.
- Fixed Satellite VSAT Systems Initial Application (Payment Type Code: BGV): $8,260.00.
- Transmit/Receive Earth Station Initial Application (Payment Type Code: BAX): $2,240.00.
Media Bureau Application Fee Schedule
The Media Bureau oversees broadcast stations (AM, FM, TV, Class A TV, LPTV, translators, boosters) and Cable Television Relay Services (CARS). Applications to construct new facilities, modify authorizations, renew licenses, or transfer ownership require Section 8 fees.
Cable operators and Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs) must also submit statutory fees for community registrations, CARS authorizations, and aeronautical frequency notifications.
- Commercial TV Construction Permit (Payment Type Code: MVT): $3,720.00; Commercial AM Construction Permit (Payment Type Code: MUR): $3,310.00; Commercial FM Construction Permit (Payment Type Code: MTR): $2,980.00.
- Comparative Construction Permit Hearing Fees (Payment Type Codes: MWT / MWR): $9,920.00.
- Broadcast License Renewal (Payment Type Codes: MGT / MGR): $150.00 for TV/AM/FM; $55.00 for FM/TV Translators (MAF / MAL).
- Broadcast Ownership Report Biennial Filing (FCC Form 323): $55.00 per station.
- CARS Station Application (New, Modification, Renewal, Assignment, Transfer; Payment Type Code: TIC): $230.00.
- Cable Special Relief Petition (Payment Type Code: TQC): $1,160.00; Cable Community Registration (TAC): $55.00.
Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Approvals
The Office of Engineering and Technology manages equipment authorization programs, grantee code assignments, and experimental licensing. Equipment Authorization applications submitted on FCC Form 731 require electronic submittal along with payment processing and exhibit uploads.
Under 47 C.F.R. § 0.459, requests to withhold technical exhibits or trade secrets from public inspection require a separate confidentiality fee.
- Assignment of Grantee Code for New Applicants (Payment Type Code: EAG): $55.00.
- Equipment Certification for Parts 11, 15, and 18 Devices (Payment Type Code: EGC): $1,080.00.
- Equipment Certification for Receivers other than TV/FM (Payment Type Code: EEC): $420.00.
- Equipment Certification for All Other Devices (Payment Type Code: EFT): $545.00.
- Class II Permissive Change (Payment Type Code: EAC): $55.00; Class III Permissive Change for SDRs (Payment Type Code: ECC): $545.00.
- Request for Confidentiality under Equipment Certification (Payment Type Code: EBC): $155.00.
- Advance Approval of Subscription TV Systems (Payment Type Code: EIS): $3,310.00.
Wireless and Wireline Bureau Fee Frameworks
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau processes filings via the Universal Licensing System (ULS). Applicants filing electronically receive fee totals and must remit payments within 10 calendar days to avoid dismissal and forfeiture under 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.934 and 1.1109.
The Wireline Competition Bureau oversees domestic Section 214 applications, common carrier tariffs, depreciation studies, and Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) Section 109(b) petitions.
- CALEA Section 109(b) Petition (Payment Type Code: CLEA): $5,210.00.
- Domestic 214 Cable Construction or Blanket Application (Payment Type Code: CUT): $895.00.
- Tariff Filings and Special Permission Requests under Part 61 (Payment Type Code: CQK): $720.00.
- Single State Depreciation Update Study Review (Payment Type Code: BKA): $30,350.00 (plus $1,000.00 per additional state under CVA).
- Accounting Rule Waiver Petition for Parts 32, 36, 43, 64, or 65 (Payment Type Code: BEA): $6,840.00.