Overview and Authority
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released revised Application Fee Filing Guides across its various operational bureaus, with the updated fee schedules taking effect on April 28, 2009. The Commission's statutory authority to establish and collect application processing fees and associated charges derives from Title III, Section 3001 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-239/Public Law 101-39), revising Section 8 of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 158.
The released guides cover application processing fees across the Enforcement Bureau, International Bureau, Media Bureau, Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Wireline Competition Bureau, and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Under the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA), the Commission withholds action on applications and dismisses requests if delinquent non-tax debts owed to the FCC remain unresolved.
- Statutory Authority: 47 U.S.C. § 158 (Section 8 of the Communications Act).
- Effective Date: April 28, 2009.
- Requirement: Mandatory use of FCC Registration Numbers (FRNs) on all feeable filings via FCC Form 159.
Enforcement, Wireline, and Public Safety Fee Schedules
The Enforcement Bureau guide outlines Section 8 fees for formal complaints and common carrier accounting oversight. Formal complaints filed under 47 U.S.C. § 208 require a fee per defendant, while pole attachment complaints under 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1401–1.1418 carry standard filing charges.
The Wireline Competition Bureau guide sets fees for domestic Section 214 applications, tariff filings under 47 C.F.R. Part 61, and accounting oversight, including depreciation update studies. In the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, petitions under Section 109(b) of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) are cataloged under specific payment codes.
- Enforcement Bureau Formal Complaint: $200.00 (Fee Code: CIZ).
- Enforcement Bureau Pole Attachment Complaint: $250.00 (Fee Code: TPC).
- Enforcement Bureau Field Audit: $103,215.00 (Fee Code: BMA).
- Enforcement Bureau Review of Attest Audit: $56,340.00 (Fee Code: BLA).
- Wireline Domestic Section 214 Application: $1,015.00 (Fee Code: CUT).
- Wireline Tariff Filing Fee / Special Permission: $815.00 (Fee Code: CQK).
- Wireline Review of Depreciation Update Study (Single State): $34,275.00 (Fee Code: BKA).
- Public Safety CALEA Section 109(b) Petition: $5,880.00 (Fee Code: CLEA).
Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Services
The Office of Engineering and Technology guide covers Equipment Approval Services and Experimental Radio Services. Applications for equipment certification under 47 C.F.R. § 2.907 must be submitted electronically via FCC Form 731 through the Equipment Authorization System (EAS), while Grantee Code assignments must also be obtained electronically.
Experimental Radio Service filings under 47 C.F.R. Part 5 are processed electronically through the OET Experimental Licensing System, with specific procedures in place for classified submissions submitted to the FCC Security Operations Staff.
- Grantee Code Assignment: $60.00 (Fee Code: EAG).
- Equipment Certification - Parts 11, 15, and 18 Devices (Non-receivers): $1,220.00 (Fee Code: EGC).
- Equipment Certification - Receivers (Except TV and FM): $475.00 (Fee Code: EEC).
- Equipment Certification - All Other Devices: $615.00 (Fee Code: EFT).
- Class II Permissive Change: $60.00 (Fee Code: EAC); Class III Permissive Change: $615.00 (Fee Code: ECC).
- Request for Confidentiality under Certification: $175.00 (Fee Code: EBC).
- Experimental Radio New Station Authorization, Modification, or Renewal: $60.00 per application (Fee Code: EAE).
International and Media Bureau Schedules
The International Bureau fee schedule specifies charges for international fixed public radio, Section 214 applications, earth stations, geostationary (GSO) and non-geostationary (NGSO) space stations, direct broadcast satellites (DBS), and international broadcast stations. Electronic filing via the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) is mandatory for satellite space and earth station applications.
The Media Bureau fee schedule details charges for commercial TV, AM, FM, FM translators, TV translators, low-power TV (LPTV), Class A television, FM/TV boosters, and Cable Television Relay Service (CARS), alongside cable community registration and aeronautical frequency notifications.
- GSO Space Station Launch and Operate Initial Application: $115,990.00 (Fee Code: BNY).
- NGSO Space Station Launch and Operate System Application: $399,455.00 (Fee Code: CLW).
- Commercial TV New or Major Change Construction Permit: $4,205.00 (Fee Code: MVT).
- Commercial AM New or Major Change Construction Permit: $3,740.00 (Fee Code: MUR).
- Commercial FM New or Major Change Construction Permit: $3,365.00 (Fee Code: MTR).
- Cable Television Relay Service (CARS) New License / Modification / Renewal: $260.00 (Fee Code: TIC).
- Cable Special Relief Petition: $1,310.00 (Fee Code: TQC).
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Remittance Rules
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau guide covers services processed through the Universal Licensing System (ULS), including Cellular, Offshore, Paging, Rural Radiotelephone, Broadband Radio Service (BRS), Broadcast Auxiliary, Marine Coast, Ship, Aircraft, Aviation Ground, Land Mobile (Part 90), 218–219 MHz, General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Amateur Vanity, and Part 101 Fixed Microwave.
All feeable manual and mail-in filings must be remitted with FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) to designated U.S. Bank lockbox addresses in St. Louis, Missouri. Payments may be executed via check, bank draft, money order, wire transfer, or accepted credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), while cash is not accepted. Electronic filing platforms also support direct online credit card payments.
- Amateur Vanity License (Initial or Renewal): $12.30 (Fee Code: WAVR).
- Commercial Radio Operator License Renewal: $60.00 (Fee Code: PACS).
- General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) New/Renewal: $85.00 (Fee Code: PAZR).
- Hearings Request (Wireless Services): $11,205.00 (Fee Code: PFHM).
- Part 90 Land Mobile (470 MHz & Above / 220 MHz Local) New/Renewal: $460.00 (Fee Code: PALS).
- ULS Payment Timing: Electronic filers paying separately must remit payment within 10 calendar days of submission.