FCC Annual Regulatory Fees due by Sept. 26

posted on 9.11.2017

-25% penalty for late payment

The FCC has released its order detailing the 2017 table of annual regulatory fees and their due date.

Payment of the FCC’s annual regulatory fees must be made by 10:59 pm CT on Sept. 26.

There is a stiff penalty of 25 percent if the fees are not paid on time.

The FCC does not accept checks or money orders.

Payment may only be made by credit card or electronic transfer of funds.

Attorney David Oxenford with TAB Associate Member law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer notes that
only commercial stations need pay these fees.

“Credit cards can only be used for payments up to $24,999.99 by any entity,” Oxenford said.

Stations can access the FCC’s online Fee Filer system here using the station’s FCC Registration Number (FRN) and password or the station’s CORES username and password.

The system creates an FCC Form 159-E which is needed in the payment process.

If a station is paying by wire transfer, staff will have to fax in the 159-E.

Dan Kirkpatrick, an attorney with TAB Associate Member law firm Fletcher Heald and Hildreth, recommends that stations not wait until the last minute, especially if staff are not familiar with the Fee Filer.

“While Fee Filer will ordinarily list fees associated with the FRN used to access the system, the list of fees shown in Fee Filer may not be complete,” said Kirkpatrick.

“As a general rule, it’s the payer’s responsibility to confirm the fullest extent of the payer’s regulatory fee obligation so double- and triple-checking other FCC databases, as well as your own records, is prudent.”

Oxenford and Kirkpatrick have written in greater detail about this year’s annual regulatory fee filing. 

You can check out their blog posts here and here.

Questions?  Contact TAB's Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.

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