Federal Communications Commission Released: September 1, 2026 FY 2026 REGULATORY FEES – SPACE BUREAU On August 27, 2026, the Commission released the FY 2026 Regulatory Fees Report and Order. Review of the Commission’s Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2026, MD Docket No. 26-94, Report and Order, FCC 26-59 (rel. Aug. 27, 2026) (FY 2026 Regulatory Fees Report and Order). This document is available for viewing at http://www.fcc.gov/regfees. Regulatory fee payments must be received by the Commission no later than 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time, on September 24, 2026. The Commission has instituted a mandatory electronic payment policy, which means that licensees will not be able to make regulatory fee payments by check, money order, or cashier’s check. Only credit card, ACH, and wire transfer payments will be accepted. Please make sure that your electronic fee payment is made and the transaction is complete by the due date for FY 2026 regulatory fees. While FY 2026 regulatory fees will not become effective until the order is published in the Federal Register, regulatees, at their own discretion, may submit payments at any time before the FY 2026 regulatory fees due date.  The Commission has discontinued the use of the Fee Filer system and incorporated this payment system into the Commission Registration System (CORES). To use CORES, you need to be registered with the FCC at https://apps2.fcc.gov/fccUserReg/pages/login.htm. Once your FCC username is registered and verified, you can access CORES and select the option to associate your existing FRN to that username, if you have not already done so. To make a FY 2026 regulatory fee payment, log in to the following website using your username and password: https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do. Commission licensees and regulatees should consult the FY 2026 Regulatory Fees Report and Order for specific information concerning regulatory fee payment obligations, the regulatory fee process, and regulatory fee requirements for payment. The Commission also publishes industry-specific guidance under the heading FY 2026 – Who Owes Fees and What Is My Fee, which can be found on the Commission website at http://www.fcc.gov/regfees. This Fact Sheet applies to providers of earth station licensees, geostationary orbit (GSO) space station licensees, non-geostationary satellite orbit systems (NGSO) licensees (Small Constellations, Large Constellations, and Small Satellites), non-U.S. licensed GSO space stations granted market access to the United States, non-U.S. licensed NGSO systems granted market access to the United States, and On-Orbit Services (OOS) and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), more commonly known as In-Space Servicing Industries. Licensees and market access grantees owe regulatory fees for each license and market access grant held as of October 1, 2025, and payment is due even if a license or market access grant expired after October 1, 2025. In instances where a license or authorization is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2025, the fee must be paid by the party that is the licensee or holder of the authorization on the date that the fee payment is due. Earth Stations Who Must Pay: VSAT and Equivalent C-Band Antennas: These facilities are earth station systems comprising very small aperture terminals making up authorized networks operating in the 12 and 14 GHz bands that provide a variety of communications services to other stations in the network. Each system, authorized pursuant to blanket licensing procedures in Part 25 of the Commission’s rules, consists of a network of technically-identical small fixed-satellite earth stations which often includes a larger hub station. Entities holding these types of authorizations will be assessed a regulatory fee per authorization or registration, as well as a fee for each associated Hub Station. Mobile Satellite Earth Stations: Mobile satellite service providers operate under blanket licenses for mobile antennas (transceivers) which are smaller than one meter and provide voice or data communications, including position location information, for mobile platforms such as cars, buses, or trucks. Earth Station Antennas: Transmit/Receive and Transmit-Only Antennas: These licensees include private carriers and common carriers that operate fixed-satellite earth station antennas to provide telephone, television, data, and other forms of communication, including antennas used to transmit and receive and transmit-only. Also included in this category are telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) earth stations and transportable earth stations. Earth Station Antennas: Receive-Only Antennas: The Commission does not assess regulatory fees for receive-only earth station antennas. Notice of Billing: Earth Station licensees will not receive a pre-completed regulatory fee bill (FCC Form 159-B) in the mail for their Earth Station licenses. A regulatory fee bill will be created and placed in CORES for payment. Earth Station licensees are also required to make regulatory fee payments for all other regulatory fees that they owe. Fee Calculation: $2,970 per license or authorization, and $2,970 for each associated Hub Station. Note that beginning in FY 2025, regulatory fees were assessed based on when earth stations were authorized, rather than when the operator certified that the earth station’s construction was complete or when the first satellite of the related system became operational. Geostationary Orbit Space Stations Notice of Billing: GSO space station licensees and market access grantees will not receive a pre-printed regulatory fee bill (FCC Form 159-B) from the Commission for their satellite space station authorization(s). A regulatory fee bill will be created and placed in CORES for payment. GSO space station licensees and market access grantees are also required to make regulatory fee payments for all other regulatory fees that they owe. Who Must Pay: Entities authorized to operate satellite systems in geostationary orbit under Part 25 that provide communications, including solely TT&C operations, between satellites and earth stations on a common carrier or private carrier basis. U.S. licensed GSO space stations and, beginning in FY 2020, non-U.S. licensed GSO space stations granted market access to the United States through a Petition for Declaratory Ruling or through Earth Station licenses are subject to FY 2026 regulatory fees. Beginning in FY 2025, regulatory fees were assessed based on when space stations were authorized, rather than when the stations are certified to be operational. Fee Calculation: $183,590 per authorized space station in geostationary orbit as of October 1, 2025. Where there are separate station authorizations for co-located space stations or on-orbit spare space stations, evidenced by separate call signs, a fee will be assessed for each call sign. Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit Systems Notice of Billing: NGSO systems and market access grantees will not receive a pre-printed regulatory fee bill (FCC Form 159-B) from the Commission for their satellite systems authorization(s). A regulatory fee bill will be created and placed in CORES for payment. NGSO systems and market access grantees are also required to make regulatory fee payments for all other regulatory fees that they owe. Who Must Pay: Entities authorized to operate satellite systems in non-geostationary orbit under Part 25 that provide communications, including solely TT&C operations, between satellites and earth stations on a common carrier or private carrier basis. U.S. licensed NGSO space stations and, beginning in FY 2020, non-U.S. licensed NGSO space stations granted market access to the United States through a Petition for Declaratory Ruling or through Earth Station licenses are subject to FY 2026 regulatory fees. Beginning in FY 2025, the existing NGSO space station categories were reorganized into two new fee categories: small constellations (fewer than 1000 authorized space stations) and large constellations (1000 authorized space stations or more), replacing the previous “Less Complex” and “Other” fee categories. A third category, Small Satellites, includes NGSO space stations licensed pursuant to the streamlined small satellite process in sections 25.122 and 25.123 of our rules, as well as space stations that are primarily used for On-Orbit Services (OOS) and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), also known as In-Space Servicing Industries. Also beginning in FY 2025, regulatory fees were assessed based on when space stations were authorized, rather than when the stations are certified to be operational. Fee Calculation: NGSO space stations – Small Constellation owe a fee of $441,435 per authorized system in non-geostationary orbit. NGSO space stations – Large Constellation owe a fee of $3,384,345 per authorized system in non-geostationary orbit, and NGSO space stations – Small Satellite owe a fee of $14,520 per license/call sign. International Public Fixed Radio and International (HF) Broadcast Stations The fee categories of International Public Fixed Radio and International High Frequency (HF) Broadcast Stations were eliminated from regulatory fee assessment on August 18, 2009, based on the Commission’s actions in the FY 2009 Regulatory Fees Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order and the FY 2009 Regulatory Fees Report and Order. See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2009, MD Docket No. 09-65, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order, 24 FCC Rcd 5966 (2009) (FY 2009 Regulatory Fees NPRM ); Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2009, MD Docket No. 09-65, Report and Order, 24 FCC Rcd 10301 (2009) (FY 2009 Regulatory Fees Report and Order). Hence, there is no regulatory fee obligation for licensees holding International Public Fixed Radio and International (HF) Broadcast Station licenses. Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Regulatory Fee In FY 2015, the Commission instituted a new DBS fee to be paid on a per subscriber basis. For additional guidance on how to pay this fee, please see FY 2026 Media Bureau Regulatory Fees Fact Sheet, which can be found on the Commission website at http://www.fcc.gov/regfees. SUMMARY OF FEES FOR SPACE BUREAU SERVICES TYPE OF FEE REGULATORY FEE PAYMENT PAYMENT TYPE CODE Earth Stations $2,970 per station or Hub Station 2673 Geostationary Orbit Space Stations; U.S. licensed, and non-U.S. licensed space stations that have gained access through a Petition for Declaratory Ruling and through Earth Station licenses $183,590 per authorized station 2674 Non-Geostationary Orbit Satellite Systems – Small Constellation; U.S. licensed, and non-U.S. licensed space stations that have gained access through a Petition for Declaratory Ruling and through Earth Station licenses $441,435 per authorized system 2601 Non-Geostationary Orbit Satellite Systems – Large Constellation; U.S. licensed, and non-U.S. licensed space stations that have gained access through a Petition for Declaratory Ruling and through Earth Station licenses $3,384,345 per authorized system 2602 Non-Geostationary Orbit Satellite Systems – Small Satellite (per license/call sign); Space stations licensed pursuant to the streamlined small satellite process or that are primarily used for OOS and RPO $14,520 per license or call sign 2678 MANDATORY USE OF THE COMMISSION REGISTRATION SYSTEM (CORES) All regulatory fee payors are required to use CORES for fee filing and payment via Automated Clearing House (ACH), Visa or MasterCard debit card, or credit card.  Licensees and regulatees must first enter CORES with a valid username and password at: https://apps2.fcc.gov/fccUserReg/pages/login.htm, and follow the online prompts to review their data and submit an electronic fee payment.  The use of CORES to pay regulatory fees is mandatory, and payments in the form of checks, money orders, and cashier’s checks will not be accepted. Payors should note that this change will mean that entities that have previously paid both regulatory fees and application fees at the same time by paper check will no longer be able to do so because regulatory fees payments by paper check will no longer be accepted. To make a wire transfer payment, please enter CORES and submit your fee information, and then complete and fax your financial institution’s wire cover memo and an electronic FCC Form 159 (or equivalent) to the Commission at (202) 418-2843, or send an e-mail to RROGWireFaxes@fcc.gov mailto:RROGWireFaxes@fcc.gov at least one hour before initiating the wire transfer (but on the same business day) so as not to delay crediting the account.  Please include your FRN, Voucher Number, Payer Name, and the Amount of the Wire in the wire cover memo to assist us in posting your payment quickly, and to avoid costly delays that could result in penalties and interest for missing the payment due date.  Please see the following link, https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/wire-transfer, for information on initiating a wire transfer.  Please note that most wire transfers initiated after 6:00 p.m. (EDT) will be credited the next business day.  Please also note that an ACH, credit card, or MasterCard or Visa debit card transaction could take several days for the payment to be transferred from a financial institution to the Commission.  Therefore, any automated notification you receive from the Commission or Pay.gov following submission of your payment is an acknowledgement of submission, and not an acknowledgement that the funds have been received by the Commission.  As a precaution, fee payors should always check their bank statements to ensure that the funds have actually been transferred to the Commission by the regulatory fee payment due date. DE MINIMIS REGULATORY FEE LEVEL Regulatees whose total FY 2026 annual regulatory fee liability, including all categories of regulatory fees for which payment is due, is $1,000 or less are exempt from payment of FY 2026 regulatory fees. Thus, if the sum total of all annual FY 2026 regulatory fees is $1,000 or less, you are considered de minimis and do not have to pay FY 2026 regulatory fees. If you are de minimis, you will not need to report this exemption to the Commission. The de minimis threshold applies only to filers of annual regulatory fees (not regulatory fees paid through multi-year wireless filings), and it is not a permanent exemption. Rather, each regulatee will need to re-evaluate and re-calculate its regulatory fee liability each year in order to determine whether it meets the de miminis exemption established by the Commission’s annual regulatory fee order. Regulatees are responsible for calculating their total fee obligation to determine whether they qualify for this de minimis exemption. The Commission reserves the right to request documentation that supports a de minimis exemption claim. LIMITATIONS ON CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS In accordance with Treasury Financial Manual, Volume I, Part 5, Chapter 7000, Section 7055.20, Transaction Maximums, the highest amount that can be charged on a credit card for transactions with federal agencies is $24,999.99. Customers who owe an amount on a bill, debt, or other obligation due to the federal government are prohibited from splitting the total amount due into multiple payments. Splitting an amount owed into several payment transactions violates the credit card network and the Bureau of Fiscal Service rules. An amount owed that exceeds the $24,999.99 maximum, may not be split into two or more payment transactions in the same day by using one or multiple cards. Also, an amount owed that exceeds the $24,999.99 maximum may not be split into two or more transactions over multiple days by using one or more cards. Treasury Financial Manual, Volume I, part 5, Chapter 7000, Section 7055.30, Prohibition on Splitting Transactions. Transactions greater than $24,999.99 will be rejected. This limit applies to single payments or bundled payments of more than one bill. Multiple transactions to a single agency in one day may be aggregated and treated as a single transaction subject to the $24,999.99 limit. Customers who wish to pay an amount greater than $24,999.99 should consider available electronic alternatives such as Visa or MasterCard debit cards, ACH debits from a bank account, and wire transfers. Each of these payment options is available after submitting regulatory fee information through CORES. Further details will be provided regarding payment methods and procedures at the time of FY 2026 regulatory fee collection in Fact Sheets, available at http://www.fcc.gov/regfees. Regulatory fee payments that exceed the U.S. Treasury limit and are rejected by Treasury, causing a payment not to meet the required payment deadline, will be subject to interest, fees, and a 25% late payment penalty. 2 Federal Communications Commission[FCC XX-XXX] – FCC – 2