FCC’s Proposed Annual Regulatory Fees Include Big Hike for Radio Stations

posted on 6.06.2022

The FCC has released its Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the annual assessment of the commission’s regulatory fees.

If adopted without changes, radio stations would see a significant increase from last year, 13 percent.

Radio stations saw a decrease in their annual regulatory fees in 2021.

“For these local stations that are still recovering from the pandemic and face unique economic challenges in today’s media landscape, such an unjustified increase is devastating and risks undermining the unique locally focused service that our communities rely upon,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt in a statement.   

“Unfortunately, the Commission continues to unlawfully require broadcasters to subsidize the Commission’s broadband activities.” 

The FCC is proposing a Sept. 30 due date, with comments on the proposed rulemaking due by July 5, and replies due by July 18.

The FCC will ingest broadcaster and trade groups’ comments on the proposed fees and potentially adjust the fee schedule and methodology in calculating its annual fees.

“A decision on the final amount of the proposed fees is routinely released in late August or very early September,” said attorney David Oxenford with TAB Associate member law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer.

For now, radio broadcasters can check stations’ proposed annual regulatory fees in a fee table on page 38 of Appendix C in the report and order.

Broadcast television station fees are listed by callsign on pages 48-104 of the same document.

TAB will alert broadcasters when the proposed fees are finalized, and the actual due date is released.

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

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