REGULATORY FEES  
FACT SHEETFederal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554 August 2012
REGULATORY FEE EXEMPTIONS
General Exemptions
The Commission’s automated filing and payment system (“Fee Filer”) is now available for filing and 
payment of FY 2011 regulatory fees. Regulatory fee payments must be RECEIVED by the 
Commission no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on September 13, 2012. 
Government entities are not required to pay regulatory fees.  Non-profit entities (exempt under Section 
501 of the Internal Revenue Code) also may be exempt.  The Commission requires that any entity 
claiming exempt status submit, or have on file with the Commission, a valid IRS Determination Letter 
documenting its nonprofit status or certification from a governmental authority attesting to its exempt 
status.  
Also, a regulatee is exempt from paying regulatory fees if the sum total of all of its regulatory fees owed 
is less than $10.  Regulatees are responsible for calculating their own total fee obligation amount 
associated with their various services to determine whether they qualify for this de minimis exemption.  
The Commission reserves the right to request documentation that supports a de minimis exemption 
finding.  
Specific Service Category Exemptions
In addition to the general exemptions explained above, the following guidance applies to specific 
service categories.  Noncommercial educational (NCE) FM station and full service NCE television 
broadcast station licensees are exempt from payment of regulatory fees, provided that these stations 
operate solely on an NCE basis.  If these stations are exempt, then the licenses that licensees hold for 
any peripheral services are also exempt from payment of regulatory fees, provided that such licenses 
are used solely in conjunction with commonly owned NCE stations.  Peripheral services may include 
auxiliary broadcast stations for AM/FM/TV/LPTV services, remote pickup stations, FM translators or 
boosters, or TV translators or boosters.  Also, emergency alert system (EAS) licenses for auxiliary 
service facilities are exempt, as are licenses held for Educational Broadband Service (EBS).
Also, under our community service exemption, a broadcast facility/equipment does not owe 
regulatory fees if it meets all three (3) of the following criteria: (1) is not licensed to, in whole or in 
part, and does not have common ownership with, the licensee of a commercial broadcast station; (2) 
does not derive income from advertising; and (3) is dependent on subscriptions/contributions from 
the members of the community served for support.  Finally, licensees of TV translator, TV booster, 
FM translator, FM booster, and LPTV stations who have obtained a fee refund because of an NTIA 
facilities grant for their station or a fee waiver because of demonstrated compliance with the 
eligibility and service requirements of § 73.621 of the Commission's rules are exempt from payment 
of regulatory fees.
- FCC -