DA 18-975
 Released:  September 21, 2018
By the Office of the Managing Director

REGULATORY FEE FILING WINDOW FOR THOSE REGULATEES AFFECTED BY HURRICANE FLORENCE EXTENDED TO THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
Hurricane Florence has caused significant damage in the areas within its path, including storm surge, wind damage, and flooding.  Hurricane Florence also appears to have caused substantial damage to the communications network, resulting in service disruptions and outages throughout these areas, which include the following counties:

GEORGIA: Appling, Bacon, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, Mcintosh, Montgomery, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne

NORTH CAROLINA: Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Wake, Washington, Wayne, Wilson

SOUTH CAROLINA: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, Williamsburg

VIRGINIA: Chesapeake City, Suffolk City, Virginia Beach City
  
The Commission is mindful of the effect of Hurricane Florence on entities that are required to pay annual regulatory fees (regulatory fee payors) pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 159 (Public Law 115-31).  The Commission is therefore extending the deadline date for those regulatory fee payors The Fiscal Year 2018 Regulatory Fee Report and Order and Order was released by the Commission on August 29, 2018.  See https://www.fcc.gov/document/fy-2018-regulatory-fee-report-and-order-and-order.  The Commission also publishes industry-specific guidance in Who Owes Fees & What Is My FY 2018 Fee, which can be found on the Commission website at https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/regulatory-fees.  Although the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018, or the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018, amended sections 8 and 9 and added section 9A to the Communications Act, those provisions do not become effective until October 1, 2018.  Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-141, 132 Stat. 1084, Division P – RAY BAUM’s Act of 2018, Title I, § 103 (2018).
 in the affected areas for filing Fiscal Year 2018 Regulatory Fees from 11:59 PM, September 25, 2018 to 11:59 PM September 27, 2018.  For all other regulatory fee payors, i.e. those not affected by Hurricane Florence, the previously announced window remains in effect. Payment Methods and Procedures for Fiscal Year 2018 Regulatory Fees, Public Notice, released August 30, 2018, available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-353883A1.pdf. 


The Communications Act and the Commission’s rules govern the late payment or non-payment of regulatory fees. See 47 U.S.C. § 159(c), 31 U.S.C. § 3717; 47 CFR §§ 1.1164, 1.1910.
  Thus, to the extent regulatory fee payors affected by Hurricane Florence anticipate that they might experience challenges with meeting the payment date, as extended, or have questions, they may contact Thomas Buckley (202-418-0725; Thomas.Buckley@fcc.gov) or Sarah Stone (202-418-1748; Sarah.Stone@fcc.gov) in the Office of Managing Director as resources and points of contact with respect to Hurricane-related regulatory fee concerns.  Affected entities, however, are not required to use that point of contact when seeking information regarding avenues for relief.  Instead, they may follow the process outlined in our rules and orders when seeking relief with respect to regulatory fee payments. See Regulatory Fees Fact Sheet, Procedures for Filing Waivers, Reductions and Deferments of Regulatory Fees, released August 30, 2018 (describing the requirements of 47 U.S.C. § 159(c), (d), DCIA, and 47 CFR § 1.1166), available at, https://www.fcc.gov/document/fy-2018-regulatory-fee-waiver-fact-sheet.  
  
In addition, regulatees can contact the Commission’s Financial Operations Help Desk with inquiries at (877) 480-3201, Option 4 or email inquiries to ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.