Overview and Statutory Authority
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) published its updated Fee Filing Guide, effective July 3, 2014. The Commission exercises authority to collect application and regulatory fees under Title III, Section 3001 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-39) and Section 8 of the Communications Act, codified at 47 U.S.C. 158.
The guide compiles fee schedules, required administrative forms, payment instructions, and lockbox delivery locations for Equipment Approval Services and Experimental Radio Services. The rules governing fee payments and exemptions are codified in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1, Subpart G.
- Part A outlines general payment methods, registration rules, waiver requests, and lockbox procedures.
- Part B details fee schedules and submission requirements for Equipment Authorization (FCC Form 731) and Grantee Code assignments.
- Part C specifies fee requirements for Experimental Radio Services authorizations and classified filings.
General Payment Rules and Registration Requirements
All applicants and payers must use an FCC Registration Number (FRN) issued through the Commission Registration System (CORES). An FRN is mandatory on FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice); omitting it results in the submission being returned as unprocessable. If the payer and applicant are distinct legal entities, separate FRNs must be supplied for each party.
Under the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA), the Commission will withhold action on any application or request for benefits if the applicant is delinquent in non-tax debts owed to the FCC, and it will dismiss the request if the delinquency is not resolved.
Acceptable payment methods include checks, bank drafts, money orders, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover), and wire transfers. Cash is not accepted. Remittances must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. financial institution and made payable to 'FCC'. Postdated, altered, or third-party checks, as well as checks older than six months, are rejected. Customer-Initiated Payment Plan (CIP) electronic payments are no longer supported by the Commission's lockbox bank.
- FCC Form 159 must accompany check, money order, mail-in credit card, and wire transfer payments.
- For online credit card payments made via the OET electronic filing systems, applicants should not submit a paper Form 159 to the lockbox bank.
- Wire transfers require submitting FCC Form 159 by fax to U.S. Bank at (314) 418-4232 at least one hour before transmitting funds.
Equipment Approval Services Fee Schedule
Applications for equipment authorization (FCC Form 731) and Grantee Code registrations must be submitted electronically through the OET Equipment Authorization System. Supporting exhibits must be uploaded within five calendar days of application submittal, and fee payments must be processed within 15 calendar days to avoid dismissal.
Grantee Code assignment requires payment within 30 calendar days of issuance. If payment is not verified within that window, the code is removed from the database, requiring the applicant to obtain a new code. The Commission recommends fee payment within seven calendar days of assignment.
- Grantee Code Assignment (Fee Type Code EAG): $65.00
- Certification for Receivers (except TV and FM) (Fee Type Code EEC): $530.00
- Certification for Devices under Parts 11, 15, and 18 (except receivers) (Fee Type Code EGC): $1,365.00
- Certification for All Other Devices (Fee Type Code EFT): $690.00
- Modifications and Class II Permissive Changes (Fee Type Code EAC): $65.00
- Class III Permissive Changes for Software Defined Radios (Fee Type Code ECC): $690.00
- Request for Confidentiality under Certification (Fee Type Code EBC): $195.00
- Advance Approval of Subscription TV Systems (Fee Type Code EIS): $4,180.00
- Confidentiality for Advance Approval of Subscription TV Systems (Fee Type Code EBS): $195.00
Experimental Radio Services and Special Filing Procedures
Applications for Experimental Radio Service authorizations must be submitted electronically through the OET Experimental Licensing System, except for filings classified for national security purposes.
Classified applications (Confidential or Secret) require applicants to submit unclassified data electronically—inserting dummy data if necessary to pass system validation—along with an attachment indicating that classified portions were forwarded directly to the FCC Security Operations Staff or the FCC Operations Center.
Classified portions may be physically delivered to OSMD Security Operations Staff at 445 12th St, SW, Washington, DC 20554, or transmitted via secure fax to (202) 418-0908 or SIPRNet to FCCOC@ADNET.sgov.gov.
- New Station Authorization (FCC Form 442, Fee Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Modification of Authorization (FCC Form 442, Fee Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Renewal of Station Authorization (FCC Form 405, Fee Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Assignment of License or Transfer of Control (FCC Form 702 or 703, Fee Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Special Temporary Authority (Correspondence, Fee Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Request to Withhold Information from Public Inspection (Correspondence, Fee Type Code EAE): $65.00 additional fee
Mailing Addresses, Waivers, and Contact Information
Mail-in payments accompanied by Form 159 must be sent to the dedicated U.S. Bank lockbox: Federal Communications Commission, Equipment Approval Services (or Experimental Radio Services), P.O. Box 979095, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. For courier and hand deliveries, packages must be delivered to U.S. Bank – Government Lockbox 979095, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101, with an inner envelope referencing P.O. Box 979095.
Requests for fee waivers, fee determinations, deferrals, and formal refund determinations are decided by the Office of the Managing Director and reviewed by the Office of General Counsel. These filings must be submitted in writing to the Managing Director, Room 1-A625, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.
- OET Laboratory Division Customer Service Branch: Telephone (301) 362-3000, Fax (301) 362-3290.
- OET Experimental Licensing Branch: Telephone (202) 418-2479, Fax (202) 418-1918, Email elb@fcc.gov.
- FCC Consumer Center: Toll-free 1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322); CORES Helpdesk: 1-877-480-3201.