FCC Application Fees to Increase by About 17% – Get Your Applications on File Now Before the New Fees Go Into Effect

The FCC released an Order this week announcing an upcoming increase in application fees to be paid on any “feeable” application.  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 (due to be filed by December 1, 2025).  The FCC is required by law to adjust its fees every two years to account for increases in the Consumer Price Index. With the recent increases in inflation in all sectors of the economy, FCC fees, like everything else, will be going up – by an average of about 17.4%, which follows an increase of 11.6% that was imposed in 2022 (see our article here).  This year’s increases brought a concurring statement from Chairman-designate Carr, who observed that these steep increases in fees most hurt smaller entrepreneurs who cannot afford new additional costs.  But, he states that there is not much that the FCC can do as Congress has mandated that these fees increase with inflation  The changes will be effective 30 days after the schedule of fees is published in the Federal Register – so 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.

Fees do not apply to most applications by noncommercial licensees.  Otherwise, the fees apply to most requests by broadcasters for FCC actions.  New fees will also take effect for non-broadcast services including private radio and satellite services for which some broadcasters hold authorizations, as well as for broadcast auxiliary applications (processed by the FCC’s Wireless Bureau). For the principal broadcast services administered by the FCC’s Media Bureau, here are the new fees that will take effect sometime in 2025 – watch for the effective date to be announced in the near future:

§1.1104  Schedule of charges for applications and other filings for media services.

Table 1 to § 1.1104

Full power commercial and class A television stationsTYPE OF APPLICATIONPAYMENT TYPE CODEFEE AMOUNTNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMVT$5,000/application (if no Auction)New or Major Change, Construction PermitMVS$5,675/application (if Auction, include Post-Auction, Consolidated Long & Short Form Fee)Minor Modification, Construction PermitMPT$1,565/applicationNew LicenseMJT$425/applicationLicense RenewalMGT$370/applicationLicense Assignment (2100 Schedule 314 &  (long form)MPU$1,460/stationLicense Assignment (2100 Schedule 316 & (short form)MDT$475/stationTransfer of Control (2100 Schedule 315 & (long form)MPU$1,460/stationTransfer of Control (2100 Schedule 316 & (short form)MDT$475/stationCall SignMBT$190/applicationSpecial Temporary AuthorityMPV$315/applicationPetition for Rulemaking for New Community of LicenseMRT$3,985/petitionBiennial Ownership Report (Full Power TV Stations Only)MAT$95/station

Table 2 to § 1.1104

Commercial AM radio stationsTYPE OF APPLICATIONPAYMENT TYPE CODEFEE AMOUNTNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMUR$4,675/applicationNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMVR$5,350/applicationMinor Modification, Construction PermitMVU$1,910/applicationNew LicenseMMR$755/applicationAM Directional AntennaMOR$1,480/applicationLicense RenewalMGR$365/applicationLicense Assignment (2100 Schedule 314 & (long form)MPR$1,180/stationLicense Assignment (2100 Schedule 316 & (short form)MDR$500/stationTransfer of Control (2100 Schedule 315 & (long form)MPR$1,180/stationTransfer of Control (2100 Schedule 316 & (short form)MDR$500/stationCall SignMBR$190/applicationSpecial Temporary AuthorityMVV$325/applicationBiennial Ownership ReportMAR$95/station

Table 3 to § 1.1104

Commercial FM radio stationsTYPE OF APPLICATIONPAYMENT TYPE CODEFEE AMOUNTNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMTR$3,870/application, if no AuctionNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMVW$4,545/application, if Auction, include Consolidated Long and Short Form FeeMinor Modification, Construction PermitMVX$1,485/applicationNew LicenseMHR$275/applicationFM Directional AntennaMLR$705/applicationLicense RenewalMGR$365/applicationLicense Assignment (2100 Schedule 314 & (long form)MPR$1,180/stationLicense Assignment (2100 Schedule 316 & (short form)MDR$500/stationTransfer of Control (2100 Schedule 315 & (long form)MPR$1,180/stationTransfer of Control (2100 Schedule 316 & (short form)MDR$500/stationCall SignMBR$190/applicationSpecial Temporary AuthorityMVY$235/applicationPetition for Rulemaking for New Community of LicenseMRR$3,735/petitionBiennial Ownership ReportMAR$95/station

Table 4 to § 1.1104

FM translatorsTYPE OF APPLICATIONPAYMENT TYPE CODEFEE AMOUNTNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMOF$830/application, if no AuctionNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMVZ$1,505/application, if Auction, include Consolidated Long and Short Form FeeMinor Modification, Construction PermitMWA$235/applicationNew LicenseMEF$210/applicationFM Translator/Booster License RenewalMAF$205/applicationFM Translator/Booster Spec. Temp. Auth.MWB$190/applicationFM Translator License Assignment (2100 Schedule 345, 314 , & 316)MDF$325/stationFM Translator Transfer of Control (2100 Schedule 345, 315, & 316)MDF$325/stationFM Booster, New or Major Change, Construction PermitMOF$830/stationFM Booster, New LicenseMEF$210/applicationFM Booster, Special Temporary AuthorityMWB$190/application

Table 5 to § 1.1104

Section 310(b)(4) Foreign Ownership PetitionTYPE OF APPLICATIONPAYMENT TYPE CODEFEE AMOUNTForeign Ownership Petition (separate and additional fee required for underlying application, if any)MWC$2,920/application

Table 6 to § 1.1104

TV translators and LPTV stationsTYPE OF APPLICATIONPAYMENT TYPE CODEFEE AMOUNTNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMOL$910/application, if no AuctionNew or Major Change, Construction PermitMOK$1,585/application, if Auction, include Consolidated Long and Short Form FeeNew LicenseMEL$250/applicationLicense RenewalMAL$170/applicationSpecial Temporary AuthorityMGL$315/applicationLicense Assignment (2100 Schedule 345, 314, & 316)MDL$375/stationTransfer of Control (2100 Schedule 345, 315, & 316)MDL$375/stationCall SignMBT$190/application