Released on: August 24, 2018


FCC ANNOUNCES REVISED FY 2018 APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE

Effective Tuesday, September 4, 2018, the application fees charged to licensees and permittees by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will increase to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U). The Commission’s FY 2018 Application Fee Order, FCC 18-90, GEN Docket No. 86-285, was adopted on July 6, 2018, released on July 10, 2018, and published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2018. 83 FR 38039 (August 3, 2018).
  

Section 8(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, requires cost-of-living adjustments to the application fee schedule every two years after October 1, 1991.  Increases in the dollar amount of all Section 8 application fees are based on the percentage change in the CPI-U from the date of enactment of the legislation.  The tables in the FY 2018 Application Fee Order reflect the net change in the CPI-U of 3.7 percent, calculated from October 2015 through October 2017 in accordance with Section 1.1115 of Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules.
Wireless Telecommunications Services application fees that have an associated regulatory fee that must be paid at the same time of application filing are noted by an asterisk in the FY 2018 Application Fee Order tables.   There currently is an open rulemaking to update the FCC’s regulatory fees and the FY 2016 regulatory rates remain in effect until they are replaced by Commission order. Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2018, Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 18-65 (2018).
  The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Fee Filing Guide (dated September 26, 2016) provides guidance on completing wireless applications and such guidance should be used in combination with the updated FY 2018 application fees.  A revised FY 2018 Wireless Telecommunications Fee Filing Guide will be posted on the Commission’s website when the FY 2018 regulatory fee rates become effective.  Please contact the Financial Operations Helpdesk at 877-480-3201 (Option 2 or 3) with any questions regarding wireless application fees that have a regulatory fee component.  The wireless application fees that have a regulatory fee component include:  PLMRS (Exclusive Use), PLMRS (Shared Use), Rural Radio, Microwave, Marine (Ship), Marine (Coast), Aviation (Ground), and Aviation (Aircraft).


Copies of all fee filing guides for each of the Bureaus/Offices that provide services with application fees may be obtained on the Internet at www.fcc.gov/fees/appfees.html.  Copies may also be obtained by calling Forms Distribution at (202) 418-3676 or toll free by calling 1-800-418-3676.    
For additional information concerning the new Schedule of Section 8 application fees, please contact the Financial Operations Helpdesk at 877-480-3201 (Option 6).