As we noted in our weekly summary of regulatory activity of interest to broadcasters, the FCC on Friday released a number of public notices and fact sheets providing details of how broadcasters are to pay their annual regulatory fees. Included among the public notices was one setting the deadline for paying the regulatory fees as September 25th. The FCC’s filing system is open now so fees can be paid at any time prior to the September 25th deadline. The failure to pay fees by that deadline will result in a 25% penalty. Interest will also accrue on late payments, as well as collection fees. Thus, late payments are costly.
Fees for each television station are set out in the FCC’s Report and Order setting those fees (in a table in Appendix F, pages 52-95 of the order – fees are established based on a station’s population coverage, so each station is assigned a specific fee). Radio stations can look up their fees in a “look up database” that is available through a link that was set out in the Media Bureau Fact Sheet released on Friday. Broadcasters should check their fees carefully to make sure that they are paying the expected amount and are submitting payment for all of their affected facilities. Remember, fees are based on a station’s facilities on October 1, 2024, the beginning of the last fiscal year. For broadcasters with earth stations, those fees are set out in the Space Bureau Fact Sheet.
Also released on Friday was a public notice called Waiver, Reduction, Deferral, and Installment Payment Requests, setting out the procedures to be used by a broadcaster seeking to be excused from paying regular fees, or allowing the broadcaster to pay the fees through a series of installment payments. Requests for a waiver or deferral of regulatory fees must be made by the September 25th deadline for a payment. These exemptions are principally based on financial hardship. The Public Notice encourages broadcasters seeking waiver or deferral to pay as much as they can by September 25. It reminds those broadcasters seeking this waiver or deferral to submit appropriate financial documents to prove their inability to pay the fees when due.
Another public notice called Regulatory Fee Exemptions sets out those broadcasters who are exempt from paying regulatory fees. Most prominently, broadcasters licensed to operate as noncommercial broadcast stations are exempt. Also exempt are broadcasters whose total obligations for regulatory fees add up to $1000 or less.
According to the Payment Methods and Procedures Public Notice, applicants must use the CORES database to register to make payments before such payments are submitted. Payments must be made by wire transfer, ACH payment, or by credit card. No checks or money orders will be accepted for regulatory fees.
All broadcasters should carefully review these public notices and fact sheets to determine what they owe and how to make their payments. Remember, the September 25th deadline is a hard deadline with substantial penalties for those who miss that deadline. So, get ready to make those payments now!
