Overview and Authority
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), in conjunction with the Office of Managing Director (OMD), published its Fee Filing Guide effective July 3, 2014. The guide provides regulatory fee structures, payment procedures, and submission requirements for radio frequency equipment approval services and experimental radio licensing under Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
The Commission collects application processing charges pursuant to Title III, Section 3001 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-39), revising Section 8 of the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 158) and 47 CFR Part 1, Subpart G, Section 1.1101.
General Payment Rules and Remittance Procedures
All applicants and licensees submitting feeable filings must utilize an FCC Registration Number (FRN) obtained through the Commission Registration System (CORES) or via FCC Form 160. Payer and applicant FRNs must be supplied separately on FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) if the payer is not the applicant entity. Under the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA), the FCC withholds action on and dismisses applications from entities delinquent in non-tax debts owed to the Commission.
Fees may be paid by check, bank draft, money order, wire transfer, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Checks must be in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. financial institution, payable to 'FCC', and no older than six months. Cash, postdated, altered, or third-party checks are not accepted. Online credit card payments require at least 128-bit encryption; applicants paying online should not submit a paper Form 159 to the lockbox bank. The former Customer-Initiated Payment Plan (CIP) is no longer supported.
- Mail-in fee remittances: Federal Communications Commission, Equipment Approval Services (or Experimental Radio Services), P.O. Box 979095, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000.
- Courier and hand deliveries: Federal Communications Commission, c/o U.S. Bank – Government Lockbox #979095, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101 (Attention: FCC Government Lockbox).
- Wire transfers: Handled via ABA Routing Number 021030004 to TREAS NYC (BNF: FCC/AC—27000001), with Form 159 faxed to U.S. Bank at (314) 418-4232 at least one hour prior to transmission.
Equipment Approval Services Fee Schedule
Applications for equipment authorization (FCC Form 731) and Grantee Code assignments must be submitted electronically through the OET Equipment Authorization System. Grantees must complete fee payments for code assignments within 30 calendar days of issuance to prevent automatic database removal. For Form 731 filings, exhibits must be uploaded within 5 calendar days of application submission, and fee payments must be processed within 15 calendar days to avoid application dismissal.
- Assignment of Grantee Code (Payment Type Code EAG): $65.00
- Certification for Receivers (except TV and FM) (Payment Type Code EEC, Form 731): $530.00
- Certification for Devices Under Parts 11, 15, and 18 (except receivers) (Payment Type Code EGC, Form 731): $1,365.00
- Certification for All Other Devices (Payment Type Code EFT, Form 731): $690.00
- Modifications and Class II Permissive Changes (Payment Type Code EAC, Form 731): $65.00
- Class III Permissive Changes for Software Defined Radios (Payment Type Code ECC, Form 731): $690.00
- Request for Confidentiality under Certification (Payment Type Code EBC, Form 731): $195.00
- Advance Approval of Subscription TV Systems (Payment Type Code EIS): $4,180.00
- Request for Confidentiality for Advance Approval of Subscription TV Systems (Payment Type Code EBS): $195.00
Experimental Radio Services Fee Schedule
Applications for Experimental Radio Services must be submitted electronically through the OET Experimental Licensing System on the FCC website. Inquiries regarding experimental authorizations are handled by the OET Experimental Licensing Branch.
National security classified applications (Confidential or Secret) require filing unclassified baseline data electronically (with dummy data if required to pass validation), an electronic note referencing security submission, and delivery of the classified materials to the FCC Security Operations Staff or FCC Operations Center via SIPRNet or secure fax.
- New Station Authorization (FCC Form 442, Payment Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Modification of Authorization (FCC Form 442, Payment Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Renewal of Station Authorization (FCC Form 405, Payment Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Assignment of License or Transfer of Control (FCC Form 702 or 703, Payment Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Special Temporary Authority (Payment Type Code EAE): $65.00
- Request for Withholding from Public Inspection (Payment Type Code EAE): $65.00