FCC Application Fees to Rise 17 Percent

posted on 1.13.2025

A Jan. 7 FCC Order details an average 17.4 percent increase in application fees that broadcasters would pay for FCC applications that require fees.  

David Oxenford, an attorney with TAB Associate member law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer, said for commercial broadcasters, “that includes applications for technical changes in facilities, applications for assignments or transfers of control of broadcast companies and stations, license renewal applications, requests for Special Temporary Authority when a station is silent or not operating with its authorized facilities, and even Biennial Ownership Reports” which are due Dec. 1, 2025.

Oxenford has written on the FCC’s order with analysis and a table of the fee increases.

By law, the FCC must adjust its fees every two years to address Consumer Price Index increases.

The commission’s 2022 adjustment saw an average fee increase of 11.6 percent.

The new fee increases will be effective 30 days after the schedule of fees is published in the Federal Register.

“Broadcasters who want to save a few dollars on technical changes or other applications that they know to be coming up would be well advised to get their applications on file sooner rather than later,” Oxenford said. 

He added that the fees apply to most requests by broadcasters for FCC actions, but the fees do not apply to most applications by noncommercial licensees.

Read more about the fee increases and their impact on broadcasters at Oxenford’s www.BroadcastLawBlog.com.

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

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