*Pages 1--66 from Microsoft Word - 50008.doc* Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 1 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005 Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2004 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) MD Docket No. 05- 59 MD Docket No. 04- 73 REPORT AND ORDER AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION Adopted: July 1, 2005 Released: July 7, 2005 By the Commission: Commissioner Copps concurring and issuing a statement; Commissioner Adelstein approving in part, concurring in part, and issuing a statement. TABLE OF CONTENTS Heading Paragraph # I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 II. DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................................. 2 A. Development of FY 2005 Fees ........................................................................................... 2 1. Calculation of Revenue and Fee Requirements ..................................................... 2 2. Additional Adjustments to Payment Units ............................................................ 3 3. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Messaging Service.......................... 5 4. Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) .................................................... 6 5. International Bearer Circuits.................................................................................. 8 6. Regulatory Fees for Direct Broadcast Service (DBS) Providers and Cable Television Operators............................................................................................ 10 7. Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service (MVDDS)........................... 12 8. Broadband Radio Service (BRS) / Educational Broadband Service (EBS), (formerly MDS/ MMDS and ITFS)...................................................................... 13 9. Regulatory Fees for AM and FM Construction Permits ...................................... 14 1 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 2 10. Clarification of Policies and Procedures.............................................................. 16 a. Ad Hoc Issues Concerning Our Regulatory Fee Exemption Policies..... 16 b. Regulatory Fee Obligations for Digital Broadcasters ............................. 23 c. Regulatory Fee Obligations for AM Expanded Band Broadcasters ...... 24 d. Effective Date of Payment of Multi- Year Wireless Fees ....................... 26 11. Notification, Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees.............................. 27 a. Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSPs) .................... 29 b. Satellite Space Station Licensees............................................................ 31 c. Media Services Licensees....................................................................... 34 d. Cable Television Subscribers.................................................................. 36 B. FY 2005 Fee Determination and FY 2004 Reconsideration............................................. 38 12. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Providers....................................... 38 III. PROCEDURAL MATTERS ......................................................................................................... 45 A. Payment of Regulatory Fees ............................................................................................. 45 1. De Minimis Fee Payment Liability..................................................................... 45 2. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates for Annual Regulatory Fees ...... 46 3. Limitations on Credit Card Transactions............................................................. 48 B. Enforcement...................................................................................................................... 49 C. Congressional Review Act Analysis................................................................................. 51 IV. ORDERING CLAUSES................................................................................................................ 52 ATTACHMENTS Attachment A Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Attachment B Sources of Payment Unit Estimates for FY2005 Attachment C Calculation of Revenue Requirements and Pro- Rata Fees Attachment D FY 2005 Schedule of Regulatory Fees Attachment E Factors, Measurements, and Calculations that Determine Station Contours and Population Coverages Attachment F List of Commenters Attachment G FY 2004 Schedule of Regulatory Fees Attachment H Rule Changes I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Order, we conclude a proceeding to collect $280,098,000 in regulatory fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005. These fees are mandated by Congress and are collected to recover the regulatory costs associated with the Commission’s enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information, and international activities. 1 We also deny the petition for reconsideration filed by Cingular Wireless LLC of the Commission’s FY 2004 Report and Order. 2 1 47 U. S. C. § 159( a). 2 Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2004, Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 11, 662 (2004) (FY 2004 Report and Order); see infra paras. 38- 41. 2 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 3 II. DISCUSSION A. Development of FY 2005 Fees 1. Calculation of Revenue and Fee Requirements 2. As explained below, we adjust our section 9 regulatory fees to reflect the requirement to collect $280,098,000 in regulatory fees during FY 2005. As described in the FY 2005 NPRM, 3 this adjusted amount is $7,140,000, or approximately 2.6 percent greater than the $272,958,000 we were required to collect during the previous fiscal year. Each fiscal year, the Commission proportionally allocates the total amount that must be collected via regulatory fees. The results of this calculation are contained in Attachment C. 4 For FY 2005, this allocation was done using FY 2004 revenues as a base. From this base, a revenue amount for each fee category was calculated. Each fee category was then adjusted upward by 2.6 percent to reflect the increase in regulatory fees from FY 2004 to FY 2005. These FY 2005 amounts were then divided by the number of payment units in each fee category to determine the unit fee. 5 In instances of small fees, such as licenses that are renewed for a multiyear term, the resulting unit fee was also divided by the term of the license. These unit fees were then rounded to the nearest $5 or $25 in accordance with 47 U. S. C. §159( b)( 2). 2. Additional Adjustments to Payment Units 3. In calculating the FY 2005 regulatory fees in Attachment D, we further adjusted the FY 2004 list of payment units (Attachment B) based upon licensee databases and industry and trade group projections. Whenever possible, we verified these estimates from multiple sources to ensure the accuracy of these estimates. In some instances, Commission licensee databases were used, while in other instances, actual prior year payment records and/ or industry and trade association projections were used in determining the payment unit counts. 6 Where appropriate, we adjusted and/ or rounded our final estimates to take into consideration variables that may impact the number of payment units, such as waivers and/ or exemptions that may be filed in FY 2005, and fluctuations in the number of licensees or station operators due to economic, technical or other reasons. Therefore, when we note that our estimated FY 2005 payment units are based on FY 2004 actual payment units, we may have rounded the number for FY 2005 or adjusted it slightly to account for these 3 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 70 FR at 9575, 9576, ¶ 5 (2005) (FY 2005 NPRM). 4 It is important to note that the required increase in regulatory fee payments of approximately 2.6 percent in FY 2005 is reflected in the revenue that is expected to be collected from each service category. Because this expected revenue is adjusted each year by the number of estimated payment units in a service category, the actual fee itself is sometimes increased by a number other than 2.6 percent. For example, in industries where the number of units is declining and the expected revenue is increasing, the impact of the fee increase may be greater. 5 In most instances, the fee amount is a flat fee per licensee or regulatee. However, in some instances the fee amount represents a unit subscriber fee (such as for Cable, Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Cellular/ Mobile and CMRS Messaging), a per unit fee (such as for International Bearer Circuits), or a fee factor per revenue dollar (Interstate Telecommunications Service Provider fee). The payment unit is the measure upon which the fee is based, such as a licensee, regulatee, subscriber, etc. 6 The databases we consulted include, but are not limited to, the Commission’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), International Bureau Filing System (IBFS), and Consolidated Database System (CDBS). We also consulted industry sources including but not limited to Television & Cable Factbook by Warren Publishing, Inc. and the Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook by Reed Elsevier, Inc., as well as reports generated within the Commission such as the Wireline Competition Bureau’s Trends in Telephone Service and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast and Annual CMRS Competition Report. For additional information on source material, see Attachment B. 3 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 4 variables. 4. We consider additional factors to determine regulatory fees for AM and FM radio stations. These factors are facility attributes (class of service and type (AM or FM) of service), as well as the population served by the radio station. Calculating the population served for each radio station is determined by coupling current U. S. Census Bureau data with technical and engineering data, as detailed in Attachment E. Consequently, the class and type of service, as well as the population served, determine the regulatory fee amount to be paid. 3. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Messaging Service 5. In the FY 2005 NPRM, the Commission proposed to continue its policy of maintaining the CMRS Messaging Service regulatory fee at the rate calculated in FY 2003 and FY 2004 to avoid further contributing to the financial hardships associated with a declining subscriber base. 7 We received no comments or reply comments on this matter. Consequently, we will maintain the CMRS Messaging Service regulatory fee at $0.08 per subscriber. 4. Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) 6. In the FY 2004 proceeding, the Commission identified a difference in treatment between LMDS Block A and Block B licensees for the purposes of assessing section 9 regulatory fees. This difference resulted in a disproportionately higher fee obligation on LMDS Block B licenses when compared on a per- megahertz (MHz) basis. 8 As a result, in the FY 2005 NPRM, we proposed to amend the fee schedule and assess LMDS regulatory fees on a flat MHz basis. 9 We received two comments on this proposal. These commenters oppose the proposal to collect LMDS regulatory fees on a per- MHz basis, arguing that that the Commission cannot use a per- MHz regulatory fee for LMDS without using the same fee methodology for the 24 GHz and 39 GHz services. 10 We decline to adopt a per- MHz fee methodology for LMDS at this time, and we will therefore retain our existing methodology for assessing LMDS fees for FY 2005. 11 7. The commenters also argued that LMDS should be reclassified for fee assessment purposes as a microwave service. 12 The Commission determined in its FY 2003 fee proceeding that LMDS was developing on a separate track from microwave services and that it should be moved into a separate fee 7 See FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9576, ¶ 5. 8 FY 2004 Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 11, 662, 11, 669, ¶ 16. Block A licenses are authorized for 1150 MHz of spectrum, while Block B licenses are authorized for 150 MHz of spectrum. Using the authorized bandwidth for each license as the basis for comparison, the Commission noted that the regulatory fee for Block B licenses in FY 2004 was significantly higher on a per- MHz basis than the fee for Block A licenses. On a per- MHz basis, Block B licensees, which are authorized for 150 MHz in the 31, 000- 31, 075/ 31, 225- 31, 300 MHz bands, paid regulatory fees equivalent to $1. 80 per MHz ($ 270 divided by 150 MHz) in FY 2004, while Block A licensees, which are authorized for 1150 MHz of spectrum, paid the equivalent $0. 24 per MHz ($ 270 divided by 1150 MHz). 9 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9577, ¶ 7. The Commission proposed to set a per- MHz per unit fee of $0. 44 for LMDS licensees, and then multiply the unit fee by the amount of bandwidth authorized for Block A and Block B licenses. As proposed, in FY 2005 the regulatory fee amount for Block A licensees would have been $0. 44 multiplied times 1150 MHz = $506, rounded to $505; while the amount for Block B licensees would have been $0.44 multiplied times 150 MHz = $66, rounded to $65. 10 Comments of XO Communications (XO), at 2- 7; Comments of the Law Firm of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast (BMDDP), at 2- 4. 11 However, we may revisit the per- MHz and other fee methodologies in the future. 12 XO Comments at 2- 5; BMDDP Comments at 4- 5. 4 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 5 category. 13 The Commission subsequently rejected arguments to place LMDS in the microwave fee category in the FY 2004 Report and Order. 14 XO and BMDDP have presented no new evidence or arguments that would cause us to reconsider that decision. We find no compelling reason to reclassify LMDS as a microwave service, which would reduce the LMDS annual fee by more than 80 percent, and thereby impose a disproportionate financial burden on fee payers in other service categories. We therefore will maintain the existing regulatory fee classification for LMDS for FY 2005. 5. International Bearer Circuits 8. We decline to change or modify the methodology for assessing regulatory fees for international carriers at this time. In the FY 2005 NPRM, we sought comment on possible changes to the regulatory fees assessed on international carriers. 15 Only three parties filed comments and/ or reply comments on this matter. 16 The Commission currently assesses regulatory fees on international carriers based on the number of active international bearer circuits the carrier had the previous year. 17 9. We are not persuaded by these commenters that a significant change to our section 9 regulatory fee assessment methodology for international bearer circuits is warranted at this time, or that the benefits of changing our assessment methodology outweigh the costs of modifying our systems and processes at this time. We decline to adopt the Tyco proposal to create a new, separate fee category for non- common carrier cable landing licensees at this time. 18 As a practical matter, we note that we have at present no acceptable methodology for allocating fee requirement between categories of payers. 19 Even if we had an acceptable methodology, we would not be able to undertake the required analysis in time for FY 2005 fee payments and still comply with the section 9( b)( 3) notification requirement. Moreover, because creating a new section 9 regulatory fee category would impact other international carriers, we would want to address the issue of regulatory fee payments by international carriers as a whole and not make discrete changes for one 13 Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2003, Report and Order, 18 FCC Rcd 15, 985, 15, 989, at ¶ 9 (2003) (FY 2003 Report and Order). 14 FY 2004 Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd at 11, 669, ¶ 16. 15 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9577, 9578, ¶¶ 11- 17. 16 Tyco filed comments and reply comments, SIA filed comments and Level 3 filed reply comments that addressed the international bearer circuit issue. The parties generally argued that the current methodology for assessing regulatory fees on the number of active circuits favors older, lower capacity systems, and a fee system based on cable landing licenses and international section 214 authorizations would be administratively simpler and provide an incentive for carriers to initiate new services. 17 Regulatory fees for International Bearer Circuits are to be paid by facilities- based common carriers that have active international bearer circuits in any transmission facility for the provision of service to an end user or resale carrier, which includes active circuits to themselves or to their affiliates. In addition, non- common carrier satellite operators must pay a fee for each circuit sold or leased to any customer, including themselves or their affiliates, other than an international common carrier authorized by the Commission to provide U. S. international common carrier services. Non- common carrier submarine cable operators are also to pay fees for any and all international bearer circuits sold on an indefeasible right of use (IRU) basis or leased to any customer, including themselves or their affiliates, other than an international common carrier authorized by the Commission to provide U. S. international common carrier services. See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2001, MD Docket No. 01- 76, Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 13525, 13593 (2001); Regulatory Fees Fact Sheet: What You Owe – International and Satellite Services Licensees for FY 2004 at 3 (rel. July 2004) (the fact sheet is available on the FCC web- site at: http:// hraunfoss. fcc. gov/ edocs_ public/ attachmatch/ DOC- 249904A4. pdf). 18 Tyco Comments at 7- 8. We may revisit this determination in the regulatory fee proceeding for FY 2006. 19 Tyco proposes that the Commission use either employee or employee- hour equivalents to establish the regulatory fee requirements for non- common carrier cable landing licensees. Tyco Comments at 23- 25. 5 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 6 category of payers at this time. In addition, we conclude that Tyco’s main concern is addressed by modifying the section 9 regulatory fee for international bearer circuits rather than creating an entirely new category of section 9 regulatory fees. To that end, we note that these fees have declined substantially, due to increased capacity in the active circuit market: The FY 2005 section 9 fee assessment of $1.37 per 64 kbps circuit is just over half the $2.52 per 64 kbps circuit fee adopted for FY 2004, and is 32% below the $2.01 per 64 kbps circuit proposed in the FY 2005 NPRM. For these reasons, we find that it would not be appropriate to change the fee assessment for international carriers for FY 2005. We note that in the FY 2005 NPRM, we stated that we would not implement any changes to the bearer circuit fee assessment methodology for this FY 2005 collection cycle. 20 6. Regulatory Fees for Direct Broadcast Service (DBS) Providers and Cable Television Operators 10. We decline to modify the FY 2005 regulatory fee assessment methodology for DBS providers in response to the comments of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and American Cable Association (ACA). NCTA argues that cable operators pay a disproportionately larger amount of the Commission’s regulatory fees as compared to DBS providers, despite the fact that they are similarly situated competitors. 21 NCTA proposes that the Commission adopt the same per- subscriber assessment for DBS operators that applies to cable television operators. DirecTV, Inc. and Echostar Satellite L. L. C. (DirecTV & Echostar), in joint reply comments, argue that the cable operators have failed to make the required showing to satisfy the legal standard in section 9 of the Act for changes to the Commission’s regulatory fee structure. 22 DirecTV and Echostar further argue that the costs to the Commission of regulating cable exceed those associated with DBS. 23 11. We agree that the cable commenters have not made a compelling argument, consistent with the standard set forth in section 9( b)( 3) for “permitted amendments”, to justify a change to the section 9 regulatory fees for DBS operators. Moreover, the Commission has not provided notice for a change to the fee methodology for DBS operators. However, the Commission may seek further information on this issue during FY 2006 in order to fully explore whether there is a legal basis for such a change and to analyze the impact of any change in the methodology used to assess fees both for DBS providers and cable television operators. Therefore, for FY 2005, we will continue to use our current methodology for assessing regulatory fees for cable television operators and DBS operators. 7. Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service (MVDDS) 12. We decline to establish a MVDDS regulatory fee category at this time. In our FY 2005 NPRM, we proposed that, since MVDDS licenses were first awarded in 2004 and equipment is still under development, we would not establish MVDDS as a new regulatory fee category in FY 2005. 24 We received no comments or reply comments on this matter. We therefore adopt our proposal and will not establish a MVDDS regulatory fee category for FY 2005. 20 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9578, ¶ 16. 21 Comments of NCTA at 4- 8. See also ACA Comments at 2- 3 (arguing that the difference in regulatory fee treatment increases the burden on cable operators in small markets). 22 Reply Comments of DirectTV and Echostar at 3. 23 Id. at 5. 24 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9579, ¶ 21. 6 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 7 8. Broadband Radio Service (BRS) / Educational Broadband Service (EBS) (formerly MDS/ MMDS and ITFS) 13. We note that the BRS/ EBS proceeding is currently pending. 25 As we stated in the FY 2005 NPRM, we are exploring regulatory fee assessment issues for BRS/ EBS in that proceeding. 26 To the extent we adopt any changes to our regulatory fee rules in that proceeding, such changes will not be effective in time for the FY 2005 regulatory fee assessments. We expect to make any appropriate adjustments in the FY 2006 regulatory fee cycle or later. 9. Regulatory Fees for AM and FM Construction Permits 14. At the inception of our regulatory fee program in FY 1994, the regulatory fee amount for construction permits was set at an amount that, when compared to licensed stations, was commensurate to the limited nature of station operations under the terms of a construction permit. However, since 1994, the amount of fees that we have been directed to collect each year has steadily increased, while the number of estimated payment units for these construction permits has steadily decreased. This combination of increasing expected revenue and decreasing payment units for these construction permits has resulted in a regulatory unit fee that is higher than that of some licensed stations. 15. To rectify this situation, we proposed to set the AM, FM, VHF, and UHF construction permit fee to be no higher than the regulatory fee associated with the lowest licensed station for that fee category, noting that because there are unit and revenue variables in assessing the per- unit regulatory fee, it may be necessary to make revenue adjustments each fiscal year to keep the per unit regulatory fee for construction permits at the level of the lowest licensed fee for AM, FM, VHF, and UHF stations. We did not receive any comments or reply comments on this matter. Therefore, beginning in FY 2005, we will hold fee amounts for construction permits in each respective fee category (e. g., AM, FM, VHF and UHF stations) to levels no higher than the lowest fee amounts for licensed facilities in each respective fee category, and if necessary, will make adjustments across only a narrow group of media fee categories, such as AM, FM, VHF and UHF stations, to keep the level of the lowest respective licensed fee. 10. Clarification of Policies and Procedures a. Ad Hoc Issues Concerning Our Regulatory Fee Exemption Policies 16. Pursuant to 47 CFR § 1.1162, the Commission does not establish regulatory fees for applicants, permittees, and licensees who qualify as government entities or non- profit entities. Despite the language of 47 CFR § 1.1162, we still frequently encounter uncertainty and comments from parties with respect to our fee exemption policies. In our FY 2005 NPRM, we proposed certain clarifications to our exemption policies. 27 We received no comments or reply comments regarding our fee exemption policies. Therefore, we will be incorporating these clarifications into the text of the regulatory fee public notices that are generated each year prior to the collection of regulatory fees. 17. Terminology: In the ensuing discussion, “facility” includes “station” and “licensee” includes 25 See Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 and 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Provision of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, Educational and Other Advanced Services in the 2150- 2162 and 2500- 2690 MHz Bands et al, Report & Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 19 FCC Rcd 14165, 14293- 97 (2004) (R& O and FNPRM). 26 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9579, ¶¶ 22- 23. 27 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9579, 9580, ¶¶ 26- 30. 7 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 8 “permittee.” “October 1” means the close of business on October 1, the first day of the government fiscal year. “Fee Due Date” means the close of business on the day determined to be the final date by which regulatory fees must be paid. The Fee Due Date usually occurs in August or September. An “Exempt Entity” is a legal entity that is relieved of the burden of paying annual regulatory fees. 18. Determination of Fee Code for a Facility: The fee code is determined by the operational status of the facility as of October 1 of each year. This involves factors such as whether the facility is in a Construction Permit (CP) or Licensed status and a variety of other factors. Every facility has a fee code. 19. Facility Changes During the Year: There is no prorating of regulatory fees. For example, if a facility is in construction permit status as of the close of business October 1, but a license is granted on or after October 2, that facility is considered to be in construction permit status for the entire year. Other facility changes during the course of the year, such as technical changes, are treated in the same manner. 20. Establishment of Exempt Status: State, local, and federal government agencies and IRS-certified not- for- profit entities are generally exempt from payment of regulatory fees. The Commission requires that each exempt entity have on file a valid IRS Determination Letter or certification from a government authority documenting its exempt status. In instances where there is a question regarding the exempt status of an entity, the FCC may request, at any time, for the entity to submit an IRS Determination Letter or certification from a government authority that documents its exempt status. 21. Subsidiaries of Exempt Entities: The licensee of a facility may be distinct from the ultimate owner. Exempt entities may hold one or more licenses for media facilities directly and/ or through subsidiaries. Facilities licensed directly to an exempt entity and its exempt subsidiaries are excused from the regulatory fee obligation. However, licensees that are for- profit subsidiaries of exempt entities are subject to regulatory fees regardless of the exempt status of the ultimate owner. Examples: A University owns a commercial facility whose profits are used to support the University and/ or its programs. If the facility is licensed to the University directly, or to an exempt subsidiary of the University, it is exempt from regulatory fees. If, however, the license is held by a for- profit subsidiary, regulatory fees are owed, even though the University is an exempt entity. A state pension fund is the majority owner of a for- profit commercial broadcasting firm. The facilities licensed to the for- profit broadcasting firm would be subject to regulatory fees, even though it is owned by an exempt agency. 22. Responsible Party, and the Effects of Transfers of Control: The entity holding the license for a facility as of the Fee Due Date is responsible for the regulatory fee for that facility. Eligibility for a regulatory fee exemption is determined by the status of the licensee as of the Fee Due Date, regardless of the status of any previous licensee( s). b. Regulatory Fee Obligations for Digital Broadcasters 23. In our FY 2005 NPRM, we noted that our current schedule of regulatory fees does not include service categories for digital broadcasters. 28 Licensees in the broadcast industry pay regulatory fees based on their analog facilities. For licensees that broadcast in both the analog and digital formats, the only regulatory fee obligation at the present time is for their analog facility. Moreover, a licensee that has fully transitioned to 28 Id. at 9580, ¶ 31. 8 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 9 digital broadcasting and has surrendered its analog spectrum would have no regulatory fee obligation under the current fee regime. We sought comment on whether to establish a regulatory fee category for digital broadcasters, but received no comments or reply comments on this matter. 29 At this time, we will maintain the regulatory fee obligation that applies only for the analog facility. c. Regulatory Fee Obligations for AM Expanded Band Broadcasters 24. We do not require AM Expanded Band radio stations to pay section 9 regulatory fees for their expanded band AM station at this time. In the FY 2005 NPRM, we proposed to clarify this point and to explain that licensees that operate a standard band AM station (540- 1600 kHz) that is linked to an AM Expanded Band station are subject to regulatory fees for their standard band station only. 30 We recognized uncertainty about the regulatory fee status in the industry that resulted from the fact that AM Expanded Band radio service is not among the Commission’s categories of general exemptions from regulatory fees specified in the Commission’s rules. 31 We received no comments or reply comments on this matter. 25. We will continue to refrain from requiring AM Expanded Band radio stations to pay section 9 regulatory fees for their stations. However, we note that our decision not to require section 9 regulatory fee payments for AM Expanded Band stations is not a permanent exemption from regulatory fees for AM Expanded Band Radio Service. Because the movement to the expanded band is voluntary and helps to reduce interference in the standard bandwidth, we will continue our policy of not subjecting this relatively small group of stations to regulatory fees. However, at some future point when the migration of standard band broadcasters to the Expanded Band has advanced, we may consider establishing section 9 regulatory fee requirements for AM Expanded Band stations. d. Effective Date of Payment of Multi- Year Wireless Fees 26. The first eleven fee categories in our Attachment D, Schedule of Regulatory Fees, constitute a general fee category known as multi- year wireless fees. Regulatory fees for this category are generally paid in advance, and for the amount of the entire 5- year or 10- year term of the license. Because regulatory fees are paid at the time of license renewal (or at the time of a new application), these fees can be paid at any time during the fiscal year. As a result, there has been some confusion as to the regulatory fee rate that should apply at the time of license renewal. Current fiscal year regulatory fees generally become effective 30 or 60 days after publication of the fees Order in the Federal Register, or in some instances, 90 days after delivery of the Order to Congress. Current procedures regarding the renewal of multi- year wireless fees stipulate that licensees may submit their fee payments no more than 90 calendar days prior to the expiration of their licenses. The regulatory fee rate that applies at the time of renewal (or at the time of an application for a new license) depends on the date that payment is physically received within the 90 day period, and how this date relates to the “effective date” of the current fiscal year regulatory fees. Generally, the “effective date” of the current fiscal year regulatory fees is published in our fee public notices soon after the Order is released. If the renewal payment (or application of a new license) is physically received before the “effective date,” the prior fiscal year regulatory fee rate applies. If the renewal payment (or application of a new license) is physically received on or after the “effective date”, the current fiscal year regulatory fee rate applies. 29 Id., ¶ 33. 30 Id., ¶ 34- 36. 31 47 CFR § 1.1162 9 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 10 11. Notification, Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees 27. Each year, we generate public notices and fact sheets that notify regulatees of the fee payment due date and provide additional information regarding regulatory fee payment procedures. Accordingly, in FY 2005, as in prior years, we will make available to all regulatees these public notices, fact sheets and other relevant fee payment information on our website at http:// www. fcc. gov/ fees/ regfees. html. In the event that regulatees do not have access to the Internet, we will mail public notices and other relevant materials upon request. Regulatees and the general public may request such information by contacting the FCC CORES HelpDesk at (877) 480- 3201, Option 4. 28. In addition to making the above information available on- line for all of our regulatees, we proposed in our FY 2005 NPRM to send specific regulatory fee assessments or bills by surface mail to regulatees in a select group of fee categories. 32 We are pursuing our billing initiatives as part of our effort to modernize our financial practices. Eventually, we may expand our billing initiatives to include all regulatory fee service categories. For now, based on the results of our assessment and billing initiatives from last year, and the resources currently available to us, we will proceed with our various FY 2005 initiatives as described below. a. Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSPs) 29. In FY 2001, we began sending pre- completed FCC Form 159- W assessments to carriers in an effort to assist them in paying the Interstate Telecommunications Service Provider (ITSP) regulatory fee. 33 The fee amount on FCC Form 159- W was calculated from the FCC Form 499- A report, which carriers are required to submit by April 1 st of each year. Throughout FY 2002 and FY 2003, we refined the FCC Form 159- W to simplify the regulatory fee payment process. 34 In FY 2004, we generated and mailed the same pre-completed FCC Form 159- W’s to carriers under the same dissemination procedures, but we informed them that we will be treating the amount due on Form 159- W as a bill, rather than as an assessment. Other than the manner in which Form 159- W payments were entered into our financial system, carriers experienced no procedural changes regarding the use of the FCC Form 159- W when submitting payment of their FY 2004 ITSP regulatory fees. In our FY 2005 NPRM, we sought comment on this billing initiative and on ways to improve it. 30. We received no comments or reply comments on our ITSP billing initiative for FY 2005. We will continue our ITSP, Form 159- W, billing initiative in FY 2005. 32 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9575, ¶¶ 38- 61. We clarify the distinction between an assessment and a bill. An “assessment” is a proposed statement of the amount of regulatory fees owed by an entity to the Commission (or proposed subscriber count to be ascribed for purposes of setting the entity’s regulatory fee). An assessment is not entered into the Commission’s accounts receivable system as a current debt. A “bill” is automatically entered into our financial records as a debt owed to the Commission. Bills reflect the amount owed and have a due date of the last day of the fee payment window. Consequently, if a bill is not paid by the due date, it becomes delinquent and is subject to our debt collection procedures. See also 47 CFR §§ 1.1161( c), 1.1164( f)( 5), 1. 1910. 33 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2001, Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 13525, at 13590, ¶ 67 (2001) (FY 2001 Report and Order). See also FCC Public Notice – Common Carrier Regulatory Fees (August 3, 2001) at 4. 34 Beginning in FY 2002, the Form 159- W included a payment section that allowed carriers the opportunity to send in Form 159- W in lieu of completing Form 159 Remittance Advice Form. 10 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 11 b. Satellite Space Station Licensees 31. In FY 2004, for the first time, we mailed regulatory fee bills through surface mail to all licensees in our two satellite space station service categories. Specifically, geostationary orbit space station (“ GSO”) licensees received bills for their operational satellites; 35 and non- geostationary orbit space station (“ NGSO”) licensees received bills for their systems. 36 In our FY 2005 NPRM, we proposed to continue our billing initiative for our GSO and NGSO satellite space station categories. We sought comment on this proposal and received comments from the Satellite Industry Association (“ SIA”). 32. SIA states that its members experienced a wide range of problems with our billing system in FY 2004. For example, in some cases licensees did not receive a pre- printed bill for all of their space stations. 37 Several satellite operators report that they received bills that substantially undercounted the number of space stations for which they owed fees. However, the bills that were issued in FY 2004 lacked call sign information, making it impossible for most operators to determine which satellites were missing from their bills. SIA offered suggestions for improving the process. 38 33. We have modified our Fee Filer online payment system so that it will address most of SIA’s suggested corrective measures. 39 We will address SIA’s other suggestions by generating and mailing the bills at the earliest allowable date after this FY 2005 Order becomes effective. We will also ensure that we will have knowledgeable staff available to assist licensees with their billing questions and to resolve any bill disputes. c. Media Services Licensees 34. In our FY 2005 NPRM, we proposed that we would continue to generate regulatory fee assessment postcards for media services following the same procedures we used in FY 2004. We noted that we mail the postcards on a per- facility basis and that they serve to provide parties with the fee payment due date and the assessed fee amount for the facility (as well as the data attributes that were used to determine the amount). 40 We received no comments or reply comments on our proposal. We will continue our assessment 35 “Satellites” are in operation on the first day of the fiscal year and not co- located with and technically identical to another operational satellite (i. e., not functioning as a spare satellite) on the first day of the fiscal year. 36 “Systems” are licensed by the Commission and operational on the first day of the fiscal year. 37 SIA Comments at 11. 38 Id. Specifically, SIA suggests: 1) licensees should be issued a single bill that lists all the space stations for which the Commission believes the licensee owes fees; 2) call signs should be included on bills so that licensees can verify the accuracy of the billing information; 3) procedures should be in place to permit a bill to be modified or supplemented if it is incorrect; 4) bills should be mailed well in advance of the payment deadline so that licensees have a reasonable period to review the bill, seek additional information, if needed, and correct any errors prior to the payment due date; and 5) the Commission staff members who are knowledgeable about satellite licensing should be available to assist licensees by answering questions and resolving problems. 39 Although the process of mailing one bill per space station will continue unchanged, Fee Filer will automatically find and consolidate all regulatory fees which have been billed, based upon FCC Registration Number (FRN) and password entered. Information that describes each individual fee will include FRN, call sign, and the fee amount. This information will be subject to review by the Fee Filer user, who can then make modifications, deletions or additions online. After the user confirms the details of each fee, he/ she may print a one- page Remittance Voucher which is to accompany the payment. The one- page Remittance Voucher will reflect the total payment and the detail applicable to that summary payment. 40 Fee assessments were issued for AM and FM Radio Stations, AM and FM Construction Permits, FM Translators/ Boosters, VHF and UHF Television Stations, VHF and UHF Television Construction Permits, Satellite 11 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 12 initiative for media services entities as we originally proposed. Specifically, we will mail a single round of postcards to licensees and their other known points of contact in our Consolidated Database System (CDBS) and Commission Registration System (CORES) – our two official databases for media services. By doing so, licensees and their points of contact will all be furnished with the same fee information for the facility in question. The postcards will direct parties to a Commission- authorized web site to update or correct fee information regarding the facility, or to certify their fee- exempt status if need be. 41 The postcards will also provide the telephone number of our FCC CORES Help Desk at (877) 480- 3201, Option 4, in the event that parties need additional assistance. 35. We emphasize that parties must still submit a completed Form 159 with their fee payment, despite having received an assessment postcard. The postcards are not to be used as a substitute for completing a Form 159. We cannot guarantee that a party’s regulatory fees will be posted accurately against its account if a completed Form 159 is not returned with the fee payment. We also emphasize that the facility ID is the most important data element that parties need to include on their completed Form 159. The facility ID is a unique identifier that never changes over the course of a facility’s existence (unlike its call sign). We prominently display each facility’s facility ID on its assessment postcard, and our Form 159 filing instructions require that each facility’s facility ID (and call sign) needs to be provided. However, each year we typically receive many incomplete Form 159s that do not provide the facility ID of the facility whose fee is being paid. d. Cable Television Subscribers 36. We adopt our proposal to generate fee assessment letters for cable operators who are on file as having paid FY 2004 regulatory fees for their basic cable subscribers. 42 We received no comments or reply comments on this issue. Under our proposal, our assessment letter to each operator would announce the due date for payment of FY 2005 regulatory fees; reflect the subscriber count for which the operator paid FY 2004 regulatory fees; and request that the operator access a Commission- authorized web site to provide its aggregate count of basic cable subscribers as of December 31, 2004— the date that cable operators are to use as the basis for determining their regulatory fee obligations for basic cable subscribers. If the number of subscribers as of December 31, 2004 differs from the number paid for FY 2004, operators would be required to provide a brief explanation for the differing subscriber counts and indicate when the difference occurred. Cable operators who do not have access to the Internet would be able to contact the FCC CORES Help Desk at (877) 480- 3201, Option 4, to provide their subscriber count as of December 31, 2004. Payment procedures for FY 2005 regulatory fees are the same as they were in previous years. For example, cable operators are to complete the FCC Form 159 Remittance Advice when making their payment, and are to certify their December 31, 2004 subscriber count in Block 30 of the Form 159. 37. We also sought comment on a proposal to require the cable television operators to annually report their basic subscriber counts to the Commission prior to paying regulatory fees for the fiscal year in question. 43 The Commission proposed to use the reported subscriber counts to audit regulatory fee payments that are collected later in the fiscal year. NCTA was the only commenter on this proposal. NCTA agreed that a June 1 st reporting requirement could be met with accurate subscriber information from the previous year Television Stations, Low Power Television (LPTV) Stations, and LPTV Translators/ Boosters. Fee assessments were not issued for broadcast auxiliary stations, nor will they be issued for them in FY 2005. 41 The Commission- authorized web site will be available on- line throughout this summer. The site’s web address is http:// www. fccfees. com. 42 FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9583, ¶ 57. 43 Id., ¶¶ 60- 61. 12 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 13 and would not be unduly burdensome for operators to file. 44 We do not adopt a subscriber reporting requirement at this time. We will continue to assess our need for information to manage the regulatory fee assessment program and may revisit this issue in the future. B. FY 2005 Fee Determination and FY 2004 Reconsideration 12. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Providers 38. In this section, we address the arguments presented by Cingular and CTIA in their comments to the FY 2005 NPRM. In addition, we address Cingular’s petition for reconsideration of the Commission’s FY 2004 Report and Order and the comments filed in response to Cingular’s petition. 45 39. Prior to FY 2004, the Commission relied on Cellular, PCS, and SMR providers to compute and submit the regulatory fee applicable to them based on the number of their subscribers. Beginning in fiscal year 2004, the Commission decided to take an alternative approach and adopted a system of mailing assessments to Cellular, PCS, and SMR providers based on subscriber data contained in their Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast (NRUF) reports. 46 NRUF data is collected by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) to monitor the utilization of telephone numbers by carriers. For purposes of assessing regulatory fees, the Commission uses the count of “assigned” telephone numbers (TN’s) 47 stated by carriers in their NRUF reports (adjusted for porting). 48 For carriers not required to file NRUF reports, the self- computation method still applies. 49 40. We disagree with the arguments of Cingular, CTIA, and others that the NRUF data are not sufficiently accurate for the purpose of assessing regulatory fees for the three classes of Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers — the Cellular Radiotelephone Service, the Personal Communications Service (PCS), and the Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) Service. Evidence of the accuracy and reliability of the NRUF data can be found in the fact that while the initial FY 2004 assessment letters calculated regulatory fees based on approximately 162.36 million numbers, the reconciliation process, based on provider responses, revised the regulatory fee assessment by only 1.4 percent (to 160.02 million numbers). Further evidence of the reliability of the NRUF data is that in FY 2004, we issued 127 initial assessment letters to CMRS providers. Only 3.2 percent of the respondents had adjustments of greater than 5,000 subscribers but less than 20,000; and only 5.5 percent had adjustments of greater than 20,000 subscribers. This experience indicates that NRUF data is sufficiently reliable and accurate for the purposes of assessing section 9 regulatory fees. We therefore reject Cingular’s request to reconsider the use of NRUF data in calculating FY 2004 fees for 44 NCTA Comments at 2. 45 See Cingular Wireless LLC Petition for Reconsideration, MD Docket No. 04- 73, filed Aug. 6, 2004 (Cingular Petition). We received comments in support of the Cingular Petition from CTIA – The Wireless Association TM (CTIA) and joint comments from seven wireless carriers (American Cellular Corporation, AT& T Wireless Services, Inc., Dobson Cellular Systems, Inc., Nextel Communications, Inc., Sprint Corporation, T- Mobile USA, Inc., and Western Wireless Corporation) (Wireless Carriers). We also received reply comments in support of the petition from the Rural Telecommunications Group, Inc. (RTG). 46 FY 2004 Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd at 11, 675- 76 ¶ 45. 47 “Assigned” numbers are “numbers working in the Public Switched Telephone Network under an agreement such as a contract or tariff at the request of specific end users or customers for their use, or numbers not yet working but having a customer service order pending.” Instructions for Utilization and Forecast Forms, FCC Form 502 (Jun. 2003). 48 The porting information is developed from the telephone number porting database managed by the Local Number Portability Administrator, NeuStar, Inc. 49 FY 2004 Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd at 11, 677 ¶ 49. 13 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 14 these three classes of CMRS carriers. We will also continue to rely on the NRUF data for the FY 2005 regulatory fee assessments for these carriers. 41. Further, we find no basis for the assertion in Cingular’s petition that a lack of clarity in the NRUF definition of “intermediate” TN’s (number made available for use by another telecommunications carrier or non- carrier entity) unduly complicates the correction process and makes the NRUF data unreliable. 50 The Commission’s fee assessment is based only on the number of “assigned” TN’s stated in the NRUF report. Thus, to the extent that a carrier categorizes TN’s as “intermediate,” it has no need to make a correction. 42. These facts suggest that using NRUF data has not led to inaccurate or unfair assessments for CMRS providers. They also demonstrate that the Commission has a method to address and correct for potential anomalies that the NRUF data may implicate. We therefore disagree with Cingular and others that using NRUF data, combined with the reconciliation process, may result in overpayment of regulatory fees. 51 In fact, using NRUF data, which is subject to verification, will likely produce more accurate assessments than the self- assessment method the Commission previously used. Our experience in FY 2004 indicates that – far from being overly burdensome – this process offers CMRS providers an opportunity to correct potential errors in their data for section 9 regulatory fee assessment purposes. 52 43. We also reject the arguments of Cingular and others that the two- step process that we established in the FY 2004 Report and Order — sending an initial assessment letter, which a CMRS provider may correct, followed by a final assessment letter — is unduly burdensome. 53 Cingular maintains that the correction process contemplates a burdensome number- by- number reconciliation of the NRUF data and a carrier’s actual subscriber count. We clarify that carriers are not required to perform number- by- number reconciliations when making corrections. Carriers may make corrections on an aggregate basis. We will review the letters, and decide whether to accept the revised totals. Based upon this feedback, we will send out a second assessment letter that will coincide with the payment period of regulatory fees. This second assessment letter with aggregate totals will constitute the basis upon which FY 2005 regulatory fees will be paid. If we receive no response to our initial assessment letter within 21 days, we will assume that no corrections are required and the final assessment letter, which is mailed approximately 30 days after the initial letter, will base the fee payment due on the number of subscribers listed on the initial assessment. In response to Cingular’s questions as to whether the Commission intends to allow carriers to correct so- called “contaminated numbers” (numbers used by a thousands- block carrier before donating the remainder of the block to the pool), 54 we clarify that carriers are permitted to address “contaminated numbers.” Paragraph 46 of the FY 2004 Report and Order specifically links the correction process with the problem of “contaminated numbers.” To the extent that paragraph 46 of the FY 2004 Report and Order does not unequivocally provide that carriers may correct the initial assessment letter to account for “contaminated numbers,” we hereby clarify that they may do so. 44. We will continue to use the two- step process for assessing section 9 regulatory fees on CMRS providers as proposed in the FY 2005 NPRM. 55 Specifically, we will continue to mail an initial regulatory fee 50 Cingular Petition at 4- 5. 51 Cingular Petition at 3, 5- 6. 52 Cingular Petition at 5- 6. See also CTIA Comments at 3. 53 Cingular Petition at 5- 6. 54 Cingular Petition at 3. 55 See FY 2005 NPRM, 70 FR at 9579, ¶ 51- 52. 14 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 15 assessment to CMRS providers based on information they submit on their NRUF forms. The initial assessment letter will include a list of the carriers’ Operating Company Numbers (OCNs), and an aggregate total of assigned numbers (adjusted for porting) upon which the assessment is based. 56 If the number of subscribers on the initial assessment letter differs from the data included on their NRUF forms, CMRS providers may amend their initial assessment letter to identify their subscriber count as of December 31, 2004. III. PROCEDURAL MATTERS A. Payment of Regulatory Fees 1. De Minimis Fee Payment Liability 45. As in the past, regulatees whose total FY 2005 regulatory fee liability, including all categories of fees for which payment is due, amounts to less than $10 will be exempted from payment of FY 2005 regulatory fees. 2. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates for Annual Regulatory Fees 46. The responsibility for payment of annual regulatory fees by service category is as follows: 57 a) Media Services: The responsibility for the payment of regulatory fees rests with the holder of the permit or license as of October 1, 2004. However, in instances where a license or permit is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2004, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the license or permit at the time payment is due. b) Wireline (Common Carrier) Services: Fees must be paid for any authorization issued on or before October 1, 2004. However, where a license or permit is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2004, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the license or permit at the time payment is due. c) Wireless Services: Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) cellular, mobile, and messaging services (fees based upon a subscriber, unit or circuit count): Fees must be paid for any authorization issued on or before October 1, 2004. The number of subscribers, units or circuits on December 31, 2004 will be used as the basis from which to calculate the fee payment. d) Multichannel Video Programming Distributor Services (basic cable television subscribers and CARS licenses): The number of subscribers on December 31, 2004 will be used as the basis from which to calculate the fee payment. 58 For CARS 56 Additionally, paragraph 48 of the FY 2004 Report and Order indicates that “[ i] f some subscribers are no longer customers, but have been assigned to another company, please indicate the company which has acquired these subscribers.” Cingular suggests that it is unnecessary to report numbers because the Commission already takes ported numbers into account using the LNP database. Cingular Petition at 3. We agree with Cingular that it is generally unnecessary to correct ported numbers. 57 Note that regulatees in the service categories that are shaded in grey in Attachment D do not pay annual regulatory fees. We collect regulatory fees from these entities in advance to cover the term of license. Fee payments from these entities are submitted along with their initial authorization or renewal application when that application is filed. 58 Cable television system operators should compute their basic subscribers as follows: Number of single family dwellings + number of individual households in multiple dwelling unit (apartments, condominiums, mobile home parks, etc.) paying at the basic subscriber rate + bulk rate customers + courtesy and free service customers. Note: Bulk- Rate Customers = Total annual bulk- rate charge divided by basic annual subscription rate for individual households. 15 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 16 licensees, fees must be paid for any authorization issued on or before October 1, 2004. The responsibility for the payment of regulatory fees for CARS licenses rests with the holder of the permit or license on October 1, 2004. However, in instances where a CARS license or permit is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2004, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the license or permit at the time payment is due. e) International Services: For earth stations and geostationary orbit space stations, payment is calculated on a per operational station basis. For non- geostationary orbit satellite systems, payment is calculated on a per operational system basis. The responsibility for the payment of regulatory fees rests with the holder of the permit or license on October 1, 2004. However, in instances where a license or permit is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2004, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the license or permit at the time payment is due. For international bearer circuits, payment is calculated on a per active circuit basis as of December 31, 2004. 47. We strongly recommend that entities who will be submitting more than twenty- five (25) Form 159- C’s use the electronic Fee Filer program when sending their regulatory fee payment. We will, for the convenience of payers, accept fee payments made in advance of the normal formal window for the payment of regulatory fees. 3. Limitations on Credit Card Transactions 48. The U. S. Treasury has advised the Commission that it may begin rejecting Credit Card transactions greater than $99,999.99 from a single credit card in a single day. The U. S. Treasury has published Bulletin No. 2005- 03 in which Federal Agencies are directed to limit credit card collections per these rules. The Commission will institute policies to conform to the U. S. Treasury policy. Entities needing to remit amounts of $100, 000.00 or greater should use check, ACH or Fed Wire payment methods. Additional information can be found at http:// www. fcc. gov/ fees. B. Enforcement 49. As a reminder to all licensees, section 159( c) of the Communications Act requires us to impose an additional charge as a penalty for late payment of any regulatory fee. As in years past, A LATE PAYMENT PENALTY OF 25 PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT OF THE REQUIRED REGULATORY FEE WILL BE ASSESSED ON THE FIRST DAY FOLLOWING THE DEADLINE DATE FOR FILING OF THESE FEES. REGULATORY FEE PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED AND STAMPED AT THE LOCKBOX BANK BY THE LAST DAY OF THE REGULATORY FEE FILING WINDOW, AND NOT MERELY POSTMARKED BY THE LAST DAY OF THE WINDOW. Failure to pay regulatory fees and/ or any late payment penalty will subject regulatees to sanctions, including the provisions set forth in the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (“ DCIA”). We also assess administrative processing charges on delinquent debts to recover additional costs incurred in processing and handling the related debt pursuant to the DCIA and §1.1940( d) of the Commission’s Rules. These administrative processing charges will be assessed on any delinquent regulatory fee, in addition to the 25 percent late charge penalty. Partial underpayments of regulatory fees are treated in the following manner. The licensee will be given credit for the amount paid, but if it is later determined that the fee paid is incorrect or was submitted after the deadline Operators may base their count on "a typical day in the last full week" of December 2004, rather than on a count as of December 31, 2004. 16 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 17 date, the 25 percent late charge penalty will be assessed on the portion that is submitted after the filing window. 50. Furthermore, we amended our regulatory fee rules effective November 1, 2004, to provide that we will withhold action on any applications or other requests for benefits filed by anyone who is delinquent in any non- tax debts owed to the Commission (including regulatory fees) and will ultimately dismiss those applications or other requests if payment of the delinquent debt or other satisfactory arrangement for payment is not made. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1161( c), 1.1164( f)( 5), and 1.1910. Failure to pay regulatory fees can also result in the initiation of a proceeding to revoke any and all authorizations held by the delinquent payer. C. Congressional Review Act Analysis 51. The Commission will send a copy of this Order in MD Docket No. 05- 59 and Order on Reconsideration in MD Docket No. 04- 73 in a report to be sent to Congress and the General Accounting Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U. S. C. 801( a)( 1)( A). IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 52. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED pursuant to sections 4( i) and (j), 9, and 303( r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U. S. C. §§ 154( i), 154( j), 159, and 303( r) that the FY 2005 section 9 regulatory fee assessment requirements ARE ADOPTED as specified herein. 53. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to sections 4( i) and (j), 9, 303( r), and 405 of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U. S. C. §§ 154( i), 154( j), 159, 303( r), and 405, 47 U. S. C. § 405 and 47 C. F. R. § 1.106 that the Petition for Reconsideration, filed August 6, 2004, by Cingular Wireless LLC IS DENIED. 54. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules ARE AMENDED as set forth in Attachment G, and the these Rules shall become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. 55. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, SHALL SEND a copy of this Order in MD Docket No. 05- 59 and Order on Reconsideration in MD Docket No. 04- 73, including the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the U. S. Small Business Administration. 56. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this proceeding is TERMINATED. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Marlene H. Dortch Secretary 17 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 18 ATTACHMENT A FINAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS 57. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 59 the Commission prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact on small entities by the policies and rules in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, In the Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005. Written public comments were sought on the FY 2005 fees proposal, including comments on the IRFA. This present Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) conforms to the RFA. 60 I. Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules: 58. This rulemaking proceeding is initiated to amend the Schedule of Regulatory Fees in the amount of $280,098,000, the amount that Congress has required the Commission to recover. The Commission seeks to collect the necessary amount through its revised Schedule of Regulatory Fees in the most efficient manner possible and without undue public burden. II. Summary of Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments in Response to the IRFA: 59. None. III. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to which the Proposed Rules Will Apply: 60. The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of, and where feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities that may be affected by the proposed rules and policies, if adopted. 61 The RFA generally defines the term “small entity” as having the same meaning as the terms “small business,” “small organization,” and “small governmental jurisdiction.” 62 In addition, the term “small business” has the same meaning as the term “small business concern” under the Small Business Act. 63 A “small business concern” is one which: (1) is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the SBA. 64 61. Small Businesses. Nationwide, there are a total of 22.4 million small businesses, according to SBA data. 65 59 5 U. S. C. § 603. The RFA, 5 U. S. C. §§ 601- 612 has been amended by the Contract With America Advancement Act of 1996, Public Law No. 104- 121, 110 Stat. 847 (1996) (CWAAA). Title II of the CWAAA is the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA). 60 5 U. S. C. § 604 61 5 U. S. C. § 603( b)( 3). 62 5 U. S. C. § 601( 6). 63 5 U. S. C. § 601( 3) (incorporating by reference the definition of “small- business concern” in the Small Business Act, 15 U. S. C. § 632). Pursuant to 5 U. S. C. § 601( 3), the statutory definition of a small business applies “unless an agency, after consultation with the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and after opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more definitions of such term which are appropriate to the activities of the agency and publishes such definition( s) in the Federal Register.” 64 15 U. S. C. § 632. 65 See SBA, Programs and Services, SBA Pamphlet No. CO- 0028, at page 40 (July 2002). 18 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 19 62. Small Organizations. Nationwide, there are approximately 1.6 million small organizations. 66 63. Small Governmental Jurisdictions. The term "small governmental jurisdiction" is defined as “governments of cities, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special districts, with a population of less than fifty thousand.” 67 As of 1997, there were approximately 87, 453 governmental jurisdictions in the United States. 68 This number includes 39,044 county governments, municipalities, and townships, of which 37,546 (approximately 96. 2%) have populations of fewer than 50,000, and of which 1,498 have populations of 50,000 or more. Thus, we estimate the number of small governmental jurisdictions overall to be 84, 098 or fewer. 64. We have included small incumbent local exchange carriers in this present RFA analysis. As noted above, a “small business” under the RFA is one that, inter alia, meets the pertinent small business size standard (e. g., a telephone communications business having 1,500 or fewer employees), and “is not dominant in its field of operation.” 69 The SBA’s Office of Advocacy contends that, for RFA purposes, small incumbent local exchange carriers are not dominant in their field of operation because any such dominance is not “national” in scope. 70 We have therefore included small incumbent local exchange carriers in this RFA analysis, although we emphasize that this RFA action has no effect on Commission analyses and determinations in other, non- RFA contexts. 65. Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (LECs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for incumbent local exchange services. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 71 According to Commission data, 72 1,337 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of incumbent local exchange services. Of these 1,337 carriers, an estimated 1,032 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 305 have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that most providers of incumbent local exchange service are small businesses that may be affected by these rules. 66. Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), Competitive Access Providers (CAPs), “Shared- Tenant Service Providers,” and “Other Local Service Providers.” Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for these service providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 73 According to Commission data, 74 609 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of either competitive access provider services or competitive local exchange carrier services. Of these 609 carriers, an estimated 458 have 1,500 or fewer 66 Independent Sector, The New Nonprofit Almanac & Desk Reference (2002). 67 5 U. S. C. § 601( 5). 68 U. S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2000, Section 9, pages 299- 300, Tables 490 and 492. 69 15 U. S. C. § 632. 70 Letter from Jere W. Glover, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, SBA, to William E. Kennard, Chairman, FCC (May 27, 1999). The Small Business Act contains a definition of “small- business concern,” which the RFA incorporates into its own definition of “small business.” See 15 U. S. C. § 632( a) (Small Business Act); 5 U. S. C. § 601( 3) (RFA). SBA regulations interpret “small business concern” to include the concept of dominance on a national basis. See 13 CFR § 121.102( b). 71 13 CFR § 121. 201, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 517110 (changed from 13310 in October 2002). 72 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, Page 5- 5 (Aug. 2003) (hereinafter “Trends in Telephone Service”). This source uses data that are current as of December 31, 2001. 73 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 74 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 19 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 20 employees and 151 have more than 1,500 employees. In addition, 16 carriers have reported that they are “Shared- Tenant Service Providers,” and all 16 are estimated to have 1.500 or fewer employees. In addition, 35 carriers have reported that they are “Other Local Service Providers.” Of the 35, an estimated 34 have 1,500 or fewer employees and one has more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that most providers of competitive local exchange service, competitive access providers, “Shared- Tenant Service Providers,” and “Other Local Service Providers” are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 67. Local Resellers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for the category of Telecommunications Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 75 According to Commission data, 76 133 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of local resale services. Of these, an estimated 127 have 1,500 or fewer employees and six have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of local resellers are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 68. Toll Resellers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for the category of Telecommunications Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 77 According to Commission data, 78 625 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of toll resale services. Of these, an estimated 590 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 35 have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of toll resellers are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 69. Payphone Service Providers (PSPs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for payphone services providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 79 According to Commission data, 80 761 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of payphone services. Of these, an estimated 757 have 1,500 or fewer employees and four have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of payphone service providers are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 70. Interexchange Carriers (IXCs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for providers of interexchange services. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 81 According to Commission data, 82 261 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of interexchange service. Of these, an estimated 223 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 38 have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of IXCs are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 71. Operator Service Providers (OSPs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for operator service providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 83 According to Commission data, 84 23 carriers have reported that 75 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517310 (changed from 513330 in October 2002). 76 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 77 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517310 (changed to 513330 in October 2002). 78 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 79 3 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 80 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 81 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 82 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 83 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 84 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 20 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 21 they are engaged in the provision of operator services. Of these, an estimated 22 have 1,500 or fewer employees and one has more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of OSPs are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 72. Prepaid Calling Card Providers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for prepaid calling card providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Telecommunications Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 85 According to Commission data, 86 37 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of prepaid calling cards. Of these, an estimated 36 have 1,500 or fewer employees and one has more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of prepaid calling card providers are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 73. 800 and 800- Like Service Subscribers. 87 Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for 800 and 800- like service (" toll free") subscribers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Telecommunications Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 88 The most reliable source of information regarding the number of these service subscribers appears to be data the Commission collects on the 800, 888, and 877 numbers in use. 89 According to our data, at the end of January, 1999, the number of 800 numbers assigned was 7,692,955; the number of 888 numbers assigned was 7,706,393; and the number of 877 numbers assigned was 1,946,538. We do not have data specifying the number of these subscribers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of toll free subscribers that would qualify as small businesses under the SBA size standard. Consequently, we estimate that there are 7,692,955 or fewer small entity 800 subscribers; 7,706,393 or fewer small entity 888 subscribers; and 1,946,538 or fewer small entity 877 subscribers. 74. International Service Providers. The Commission has not developed a small business size standard specifically for providers of international service. The appropriate size standards under SBA rules are for the two broad categories of Satellite Telecommunications and Other Telecommunications. Under both categories, such a business is small if it has $12.5 million or less in average annual receipts. 90 For the first category of Satellite Telecommunications, Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were a total of 324 firms that operated for the entire year. 91 Of this total, 273 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million, and an additional 24 firms had receipts of $10 million to $24,999,999. Thus, the majority of Satellite Telecommunications firms can be considered small. 75. The second category – Other Telecommunications – includes “establishments primarily engaged in … providing satellite terminal stations and associated facilities operationally connected with one or more terrestrial communications systems and capable of transmitting telecommunications to or receiving telecommunications from satellite systems.” 92 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 439 85 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517310 (changed from 513330 in October 2002). 86 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 87 We include all toll- free number subscribers in this category, including those for 888 numbers. 88 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517310 (changed from 513330 in October 2002). 89 FCC, Common Carrier Bureau, Industry Analysis Division, Study on Telephone Trends, Tables 21. 2, 21. 3, and 21. 4 (Feb. 19, 1999). 90 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS codes 517410 and 517910 (changed from 513340 and 513390 in October 2002). 91 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, "Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization)," Table 4, NAICS code 513340 (issued October 2000). 92 Office of Management and Budget, North American Industry Classification System, page 513 (1997) (NAICS code 513390, changed to 517910 in October 2002). 21 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 22 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. 93 Of this total, 424 firms had annual receipts of $5 million to $9,999,999 and an additional six firms had annual receipts of $10 million to $24,999,990. Thus, under this second size standard, the majority of firms can be considered small. 76. Wireless Service Providers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for wireless firms within the two broad economic census categories of “Paging” 94 and “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications.” 95 Under both SBA categories, a wireless business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. For the census category of Paging, Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were 1,320 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 96 Of this total, 1,303 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 17 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. 97 Thus, under this category and associated small business size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered small. For the census category Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications, Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 98 Of this total, 965 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 12 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. 99 Thus, under this second category and size standard, the great majority of firms can, again, be considered small. 77. Internet Service Providers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for Internet Service Providers. This category comprises establishments “primarily engaged in providing direct access through telecommunications networks to computer- held information compiled or published by others.” 100 Under the SBA size standard, such a business is small if it has average annual receipts of $21 million or less. 101 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 2,751 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. 102 Of these, 2,659 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million, and an additional 67 firms had receipts of between $10 million and $24,999,999. 103 Thus, under this size standard, 93 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, "Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization)," Table 4, NAICS code 513390 (issued October 2000). 94 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 513321 (changed to 517211 in October 2002). 95 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 96 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513321 (issued October 2000). 97 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513321 (issued October 2000). The census data do not provide a more precise estimate of the number of firms that have employment of 1,500 or fewer employees; the largest category provided is “Firms with 1000 employees or more.” 98 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513322 (issued October 2000). 99 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513322 (issued October 2000). The census data do not provide a more precise estimate of the number of firms that have employment of 1,500 or fewer employees; the largest category provided is “Firms with 1000 employees or more.” 100 Office of Management and Budget, North American Industry Classification System, page 515 (1997). NAICS code 514191, “On- Line Information Services” (changed to current name and to code 518111 in October 2002). 101 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 518111. 102 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 4, Receipts Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 514191 (issued October 2000). 103 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 4, Receipts Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 514191 (issued October 2000). 22 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 23 the great majority of firms can be considered small entities. 78. Cellular Licensees. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for wireless firms within the broad economic census category “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications.” 104 Under this SBA category, a wireless business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. For the census category Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications firms, Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 105 Of this total, 965 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 12 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. 106 Thus, under this category and size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered small. According to the most recent Trends in Telephone Service data, 719 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of cellular service, personal communications service, or specialized mobile radio telephony services, which are placed together in the data. 107 We have estimated that 294 of these are small, under the SBA small business size standard. 108 79. Common Carrier Paging. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for wireless firms within the broad economic census categories of “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications.” 109 Under this SBA category, a wireless business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. For the census category of Paging, Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were 1,320 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 110 Of this total, 1,303 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 17 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. 111 Thus, under this category and associated small business size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered small. 80. In the Paging Second Report and Order, the Commission adopted a size standard for “small businesses” for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. 112 A small business is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling 104 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 105 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513322 (issued October 2000). 106 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513322 (issued October 2000). The census data do not provide a more precise estimate of the number of firms that have employment of 1,500 or fewer employees; the largest category provided is “Firms with 1000 employees or more.” 107 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, page 5- 5 (August 2003). This source uses data that are current as of December 31, 2001. 108 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, page 5- 5 (August 2003). This source uses data that are current as of December 31, 2001. 109 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 110 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513321 (issued October 2000). 111 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: “Information,” Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513321 (issued October 2000). The census data do not provide a more precise estimate of the number of firms that have employment of 1,500 or fewer employees; the largest category provided is “Firms with 1000 employees or more.” 112 Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems, Second Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 2732, 2811- 2812, paras. 178- 181 (Paging Second Report and Order); see also Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems, Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, 14 FCC Rcd 10030, 10085- 10088, paras. 98- 107 (1999). 23 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 24 principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $15 million for the preceding three years. 113 The SBA has approved this definition. 114 An auction of Metropolitan Economic Area (MEA) licenses commenced on February 24, 2000, and closed on March 2, 2000. Of the 2,499 licenses auctioned, 985 were sold. 115 Fifty-seven companies claiming small business status won 440 licenses. 116 An auction of MEA and Economic Area (EA) licenses commenced on October 30, 2001, and closed on December 5, 2001. Of the 15,514 licenses auctioned, 5,323 were sold. 117 One hundred thirty- two companies claiming small business status purchased 3,724 licenses. A third auction, consisting of 8,874 licenses in each of 175 EAs and 1,328 licenses in all but three of the 51 MEAs commenced on May 13, 2003, and closed on May 28, 2003. Seventy- seven bidders claiming small or very small business status won 2,093 licenses. 118 Currently, there are approximately 74,000 Common Carrier Paging licenses. According to the most recent Trends in Telephone Service, 608 private and common carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of either paging or “other mobile” services. 119 Of these, we estimate that 589 are small, under the SBA- approved small business size standard. 120 We estimate that the majority of common carrier paging providers would qualify as small entities under the SBA definition. 81. Wireless Communications Services. This service can be used for fixed, mobile, radiolocation, and digital audio broadcasting satellite uses. The Commission defined “small business” for the wireless communications services (WCS) auction as an entity with average gross revenues of $40 million for each of the three preceding years, and a “very small business” as an entity with average gross revenues of $15 million for each of the three preceding years. 121 The SBA has approved these definitions. 122 The Commission auctioned geographic area licenses in the WCS service. In the auction, which commenced on April 15, 1997 and closed on April 25, 1997, there were seven bidders that won 31 licenses that qualified as very small business entities, and one bidder that won one license that qualified as a small business entity. An auction for one license in the 1670- 1674 MHz band commenced on April 30, 2003 and closed the same day. One license was awarded. The winning bidder was not a small entity. 82. Wireless Telephony. Wireless telephony includes cellular, personal communications services, and specialized mobile radio telephony carriers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications” services. 123 Under the SBA small business 113 Paging Second Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 2811, para. 179. 114 See Letter to Amy Zoslov, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated December 2, 1998. 115 See “929 and 931 MHz Paging Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 4858 (WTB 2000). 116 See “929 and 931 MHz Paging Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 4858 (WTB 2000). 117 See “Lower and Upper Paging Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 21821 (WTB 2002). 118 See “Lower and Upper Paging Bands Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 11154 (WTB 2003). 119 See Trends in Telephone Service, Industry Analysis Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Table 5. 3 (Number of Telecommunications Service Providers that are Small Businesses) (May 2002). 120 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517211. 121 Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Establish Part 27, the Wireless Communications Service (WCS), Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 10785, 10879, para. 194 (1997). 122 See Letter to Amy Zoslov, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated December 2, 1998. 123 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 24 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 25 size standard, a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 124 According to the most recent Trends in Telephone Service data, 719 carriers reported that they were engaged in wireless telephony. 125 We have estimated that 294 of these are small under the SBA small business size standard. 83. Broadband Personal Communications Service. The broadband personal communications services (PCS) spectrum is divided into six frequency blocks designated A through F, and the Commission has held auctions for each block. The Commission has created a small business size standard for Blocks C and F as an entity that has average gross revenues of less than $40 million in the three previous calendar years. 126 For Block F, an additional small business size standard for “very small business” was added and is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years. 127 These small business size standards, in the context of broadband PCS auctions, have been approved by the SBA. 128 No small businesses within the SBA- approved small business size standards bid successfully for licenses in Blocks A and B. There were 90 winning bidders that qualified as small entities in the Block C auctions. A total of 93 “small” and “very small” business bidders won approximately 40 percent of the 1,479 licenses for Blocks D, E, and F. 129 On March 23, 1999, the Commission reauctioned 155 C, D, E, and F Block licenses; there were 113 small business winning bidders. 130 84. On January 26, 2001, the Commission completed the auction of 422 C and F Broadband PCS licenses in Auction No. 35. Of the 35 winning bidders in this auction, 29 qualified as “small” or “very small” businesses. 131 Subsequent events, concerning Auction 35, including judicial and agency determinations, resulted in a total of 163 C and F Block licenses being available for grant. 85. Narrowband Personal Communications Services. The Commission held an auction for Narrowband PCS licenses that commenced on July 25, 1994, and closed on July 29, 1994. A second auction commenced on October 26, 1994 and closed on November 8, 1994. For purposes of the first two Narrowband PCS auctions, “small businesses” were entities with average gross revenues for the prior three calendar years of $40 million or less. 132 Through these auctions, the Commission awarded a total of 41 licenses, 11 of which 124 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 125 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, page 5- 5 (August 2003). This source uses data that are current as of December 31, 2001. 126 See Amendment of Parts 20 and 24 of the Commission’s Rules – Broadband PCS Competitive Bidding and the Commercial Mobile Radio Service Spectrum Cap, Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 7824, 7850- 7852, paras. 57- 60 (1996); see also 47 CFR § 24. 720( b). 127 See Amendment of Parts 20 and 24 of the Commission’s Rules – Broadband PCS Competitive Bidding and the Commercial Mobile Radio Service Spectrum Cap, Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 7824, 7852, para. 60. 128 See Letter to Amy Zoslov, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated December 2, 1998. 129 FCC News, “Broadband PCS, D, E and F Block Auction Closes,” No. 71744 (released January 14, 1997). 130 See “C, D, E, and F Block Broadband PCS Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 14 FCC Rcd 6688 (WTB 1999). 131 See “C and F Block Broadband PCS Auction Closes; Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 2339 (2001). 132 Implementation of Section 309( j) of the Communications Act – Competitive Bidding Narrowband PCS, Third Memorandum Opinion and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 10 FCC Rcd 175, 196, para. 46 (1994). 25 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 26 were obtained by four small businesses. 133 To ensure meaningful participation by small business entities in future auctions, the Commission adopted a two- tiered small business size standard in the Narrowband PCS Second Report and Order. 134 A “small business” is an entity that, together with affiliates and controlling interests, has average gross revenues for the three preceding years of not more than $40 million. 135 A “very small business” is an entity that, together with affiliates and controlling interests, has average gross revenues for the three preceding years of not more than $15 million. 136 The SBA has approved these small business size standards. 137 A third auction commenced on October 3, 2001 and closed on October 16, 2001. Here, five bidders won 317 (Metropolitan Trading Areas and nationwide) licenses. 138 Three of these claimed status as a small or very small entity and won 311 licenses. 86. Lower 700 MHz Band Licenses. We adopted criteria for defining three groups of small businesses for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits. 139 We have defined a “small business” as an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $40 million for the preceding three years. 140 A “very small business” is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that are not more than $15 million for the preceding three years. 141 Additionally, the lower 700 MHz Service has a third category of small business status that may be claimed for Metropolitan/ Rural Service Area (MSA/ RSA) licenses. The third category is “entrepreneur,” which is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that are not more than $3 million for the preceding three years. 142 The SBA has approved these small size standards. 143 An auction of 740 licenses 133 See “Announcing the High Bidders in the Auction of ten Nationwide Narrowband PCS Licenses, Winning Bids Total $617, 006, 674,” Public Notice, PNWL 94- 004 (released Aug. 2, 1994); “Announcing the High Bidders in the Auction of 30 Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses; Winning Bids Total $490, 901, 787,” Public Notice, PNWL 94- 27 (released Nov. 9, 1994). 134 Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services, Narrowband PCS, Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 15 FCC Rcd 10456, 10476, para. 40 (2000). 135 Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services, Narrowband PCS, Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 15 FCC Rcd 10456, 10476, para. 40 (2000). 136 Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services, Narrowband PCS, Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 15 FCC Rcd 10456, 10476, para. 40 (2000). 137 See Letter to Amy Zoslov, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated December 2, 1998. 138 See “Narrowband PCS Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 18663 (WTB 2001). 139 See Reallocation and Service Rules for the 698- 746 MHz Spectrum Band (Television Channels 52- 59), Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 1022 (2002). 140 See Reallocation and Service Rules for the 698- 746 MHz Spectrum Band (Television Channels 52- 59), Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 1022, 1087- 88, para. 172 (2002). 141 See Reallocation and Service Rules for the 698- 746 MHz Spectrum Band (Television Channels 52- 59), Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 1022, 1087- 88, para. 172 (2002). 142 See Reallocation and Service Rules for the 698- 746 MHz Spectrum Band (Television Channels 52- 59), Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 1022, 1088, para. 173 (2002). 143 See Letter to Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated August 10, 1999. 26 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 27 (one license in each of the 734 MSAs/ RSAs and one license in each of the six Economic Area Groupings (EAGs)) commenced on August 27, 2002, and closed on September 18, 2002. Of the 740 licenses available for auction, 484 licenses were sold to 102 winning bidders. Seventy- two of the winning bidders claimed small business, very small business or entrepreneur status and won a total of 329 licenses. 144 A second auction commenced on May 28, 2003, and closed on June 13, 2003, and included 256 licenses: 5 EAG licenses and 476 Cellular Market Area licenses. 145 Seventeen winning bidders claimed small or very small business status and won 60 licenses, and nine winning bidders claimed entrepreneur status and won 154 licenses. 146 87. Upper 700 MHz Band Licenses. The Commission released a Report and Order, authorizing service in the upper 700 MHz band. 147 This auction, previously scheduled for January 13, 2003, has been postponed. 148 88. 700 MHz Guard Band Licenses. In the 700 MHz Guard Band Order, we adopted size standards for “small businesses” and “very small businesses” for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. 149 A small business in this service is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $40 million for the preceding three years. 150 Additionally, a very small business is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that are not more than $15 million for the preceding three years. 151 SBA approval of these definitions is not required. 152 An auction of 52 Major Economic Area (MEA) licenses commenced on September 6, 2000, and closed on September 21, 2000. 153 Of the 104 licenses auctioned, 96 licenses were sold to nine bidders. Five of these bidders were small businesses that won a total of 26 licenses. A second auction of 700 MHz Guard Band licenses commenced on February 13, 2001, and closed on February 21, 2001. All eight of the licenses auctioned were sold to three bidders. One of these bidders was a small business that won a total of two licenses. 154 144 See “Lower 700 MHz Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 17 FCC Rcd 17272 (WTB 2002). 145 See “Lower 700 MHz Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 11873 (WTB 2003). 146 See “Lower 700 MHz Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 11873 (WTB 2003). 147 Service Rules for the 746- 764 and 776- 794 MHz Bands, and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commission’s Rules, Second Memorandum Opinion and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 1239 (2001). 148 See “Auction of Licenses for 747- 762 and 777- 792 MHz Bands (Auction No. 31) Is Rescheduled,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 13079 (WTB 2003). 149 See Service Rules for the 746- 764 MHz Bands, and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commission’s Rules, Second Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 5299 (2000). 150 See Service Rules for the 746- 764 MHz Bands, and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commission’s Rules, Second Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 5299, 5343, para. 108 (2000). 151 See Service Rules for the 746- 764 MHz Bands, and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commission’s Rules, Second Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 5299, 5343, para. 108 (2000). 152 See Service Rules for the 746- 764 MHz Bands, and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commission’s Rules, Second Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 5299, 5343, para. 108 n. 246 (for the 746- 764 MHz and 776- 794 MHz bands, the Commission is exempt from 15 U. S. C. § 632, which requires Federal agencies to obtain SBA approval before adopting small business size standards). 153 See “700 MHz Guard Bands Auction Closes: Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 18026 (2000). 154 See “700 MHz Guard Bands Auction Closes: Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 4590 (WTB 2001). 27 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 28 89. Specialized Mobile Radio. The Commission awards “small entity” bidding credits in auctions for Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) geographic area licenses in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands to firms that had revenues of no more than $15 million in each of the three previous calendar years. 155 The Commission awards “very small entity” bidding credits to firms that had revenues of no more than $3 million in each of the three previous calendar years. 156 The SBA has approved these small business size standards for the 900 MHz Service. 157 The Commission has held auctions for geographic area licenses in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands. The 900 MHz SMR auction began on December 5, 1995, and closed on April 15, 1996. Sixty bidders claiming that they qualified as small businesses under the $15 million size standard won 263 geographic area licenses in the 900 MHz SMR band. The 800 MHz SMR auction for the upper 200 channels began on October 28, 1997, and was completed on December 8, 1997. Ten bidders claiming that they qualified as small businesses under the $15 million size standard won 38 geographic area licenses for the upper 200 channels in the 800 MHz SMR band. 158 A second auction for the 800 MHz band was held on January 10, 2002 and closed on January 17, 2002 and included 23 BEA licenses. One bidder claiming small business status won five licenses. 159 90. The auction of the 1,053 800 MHz SMR geographic area licenses for the General Category channels began on August 16, 2000, and was completed on September 1, 2000. Eleven bidders won 108 geographic area licenses for the General Category channels in the 800 MHz SMR band qualified as small businesses under the $15 million size standard. 160 In an auction completed on December 5, 2000, a total of 2,800 Economic Area licenses in the lower 80 channels of the 800 MHz SMR service were sold. 161 Of the 22 winning bidders, 19 claimed small business status and won 129 licenses. Thus, combining all three auctions, 40 winning bidders for geographic licenses in the 800 MHz SMR band claimed status as small business. 91. In addition, there are numerous incumbent site- by- site SMR licensees and licensees with extended implementation authorizations in the 800 and 900 MHz bands. We do not know how many firms provide 800 MHz or 900 MHz geographic area SMR pursuant to extended implementation authorizations, nor how many of these providers have annual revenues of no more than $15 million. One firm has over $15 million in revenues. We assume, for purposes of this analysis, that all of the remaining existing extended implementation authorizations are held by small entities, as that small business size standard is approved by the SBA. 92. 220 MHz Radio Service – Phase I Licensees. The 220 MHz service has both Phase I and Phase II licenses. Phase I licensing was conducted by lotteries in 1992 and 1993. There are approximately 1,515 such non- nationwide licensees and four nationwide licensees currently authorized to operate in the 220 MHz band. The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to such 155 47 CFR § 90. 814( b)( 1). 156 47 CFR § 90. 814( b)( 1). 157 See Letter to Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated August 10, 1999. We note that, although a request was also sent to the SBA requesting approval for the small business size standard for 800 MHz, approval is still pending. 158 See “Correction to Public Notice DA 96- 586 ‘FCC Announces Winning Bidders in the Auction of 1020 Licenses to Provide 900 MHz SMR in Major Trading Areas, ’” Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 18367 (WTB 1996). 159 See “Multi- Radio Service Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 17 FCC Rcd 1446 (WTB 2002). 160 See, “800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) Service General Category (851- 854 MHz) and Upper Band (861- 865 MHz) Auction Closes; Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 17162 (2000). 161 See, “800 MHz SMR Service Lower 80 Channels Auction Closes; Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 1736 (2000). 28 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 29 incumbent 220 MHz Phase I licensees. To estimate the number of such licensees that are small businesses, we apply the small business size standard under the SBA rules applicable to “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications” companies. This category provides that a small business is a wireless company employing no more than 1,500 persons. 162 According to the Census Bureau data for 1997, only twelve firms out of a total of 1,238 such firms that operated for the entire year in 1997, had 1,000 or more employees. 163 If this general ratio continues in the context of Phase I 220 MHz licensees, the Commission estimates that nearly all such licensees are small businesses under the SBA’s small business standard. 93. 220 MHz Radio Service – Phase II Licensees. The 220 MHz service has both Phase I and Phase II licenses. The Phase II 220 MHz service is a new service, and is subject to spectrum auctions. In the 220 MHz Third Report and Order, we adopted a small business size standard for defining “small” and “very small” businesses for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. 164 This small business standard indicates that a “small business” is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $15 million for the preceding three years. 165 A “very small business” is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that do not exceed $3 million for the preceding three years. 166 The SBA has approved these small size standards. 167 Auctions of Phase II licenses commenced on September 15, 1998, and closed on October 22, 1998. 168 In the first auction, 908 licenses were auctioned in three different- sized geographic areas: three nationwide licenses, 30 Regional Economic Area Group (EAG) Licenses, and 875 Economic Area (EA) Licenses. Of the 908 licenses auctioned, 693 were sold. 169 Thirty- nine small businesses won 373 licenses in the first 220 MHz auction. A second auction included 225 licenses: 216 EA licenses and 9 EAG licenses. Fourteen companies claiming small business status won 158 licenses. 170 A third auction included four licenses: 2 BEA licenses and 2 EAG licenses in the 220 MHz Service. No small or very small business won any of these licenses. 171 94. Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR). PLMR systems serve an essential role in a range of industrial, business, land transportation, and public safety activities. These radios are used by companies of all sizes operating in all U. S. business categories, and are often used in support of the licensee’s primary (non-telecommunications) business operations. For the purpose of determining whether a licensee of a PLMR system is a small business as defined by the SBA, we could use the definition for “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications.” This definition provides that a small entity is any such entity employing no 162 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 163 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, “Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization),” Table 5, NAICS code 513322 (October 2000). 164 Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules to Provide For the Use of the 220- 222 MHz Band by the Private Land Mobile Radio Service, Third Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 10943, 11068- 70, paras. 291- 295 (1997). 165 Id. at 11068, paras. 291. 166 Id. 167 See Letter to Daniel Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated January 6, 1998. 168 See generally “220 MHz Service Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 14 FCC Rcd 605 (WTB 1998). 169 See “FCC Announces It is Prepared to Grant 654 Phase II 220 MHz Licenses After Final Payment is Made,” Public Notice, 14 FCC Rcd 1085 (WTB 1999). 170 See “Phase II 220 MHz Service Spectrum Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 14 FCC Rcd 11218 (WTB 1999). 171 See “Multi- Radio Service Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 17 FCC Rcd 1446 (WTB 2002). 29 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 30 more than 1,500 persons. 172 The Commission does not require PLMR licensees to disclose information about number of employees, so the Commission does not have information that could be used to determine how many PLMR licensees constitute small entities under this definition. Moreover, because PMLR licensees generally are not in the business of providing cellular or other wireless telecommunications services but instead use the licensed facilities in support of other business activities, we are not certain that the Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications category is appropriate for determining how many PLMR licensees are small entities for this analysis. Rather, it may be more appropriate to assess PLMR licensees under the standards applied to the particular industry subsector to which the licensee belongs. 173 95. The Commission’s 1994 Annual Report on PLMRs 174 indicates that at the end of fiscal year 1994, there were 1,087,267 licensees operating 12,481, 989 transmitters in the PLMR bands below 512 MHz. Because any entity engaged in a commercial activity is eligible to hold a PLMR license, the revised rules in this context could potentially impact every small business in the United States. 96. Fixed Microwave Services. Fixed microwave services include common carrier, 175 private operational- fixed, 176 and broadcast auxiliary radio services. 177 At present, there are approximately 22,015 common carrier fixed licensees and 61,670 private operational- fixed licensees and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the microwave services. The Commission has not created a size standard for a small business specifically with respect to fixed microwave services. For purposes of this analysis, the Commission uses the SBA small business size standard for the category “Cellular and Other Telecommunications,” which is 1,500 or fewer employees. 178 The Commission does not have data specifying the number of these licensees that have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of fixed microwave service licensees that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA’s small business size standard. Consequently, the Commission estimates that there are up to 22, 015 common carrier fixed licensees and up to 61,670 private operational- fixed licensees and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the microwave services that may be small and may be affected by the rules and policies proposed herein. We noted, however, that the common carrier microwave fixed licensee category includes some large entities. 97. 39 GHz Service. The Commission created a special small business size standard for 39 GHz licenses – an entity that has average gross revenues of $40 million or less in the three previous calendar years. 179 An additional size standard for “very small business” is: an entity that, together with affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years. 180 The SBA has 172 See 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 517212. 173 See generally 13 CFR § 121.201. 174 Federal Communications Commission, 60th Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1994, at ¶ 116. 175 See 47 CFR §§ 101 et seq. (formerly, Part 21 of the Commission’s Rules) for common carrier fixed microwave services (except Multipoint Distribution Service). 176 Persons eligible under parts 80 and 90 of the Commission’s Rules can use Private Operational- Fixed Microwave services. See 47 CFR Parts 80 and 90. Stations in this service are called operational- fixed to distinguish them from common carrier and public fixed stations. Only the licensee may use the operational- fixed station, and only for communications related to the licensee’s commercial, industrial, or safety operations. 177 Auxiliary Microwave Service is governed by Part 74 of Title 47 of the Commission’s Rules. See 47 CFR Part 74. This service is available to licensees of broadcast stations and to broadcast and cable network entities. Broadcast auxiliary microwave stations are used for relaying broadcast television signals from the studio to the transmitter, or between two points such as a main studio and an auxiliary studio. The service also includes mobile television pickups, which relay signals from a remote location back to the studio. 178 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 179 See Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Regarding the 37. 0- 38. 6 GHz and 38. 6- 40.0 GHz Bands, ET Docket No. 95- 183, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 18600 (1997), 63 Fed. Reg. 6079 (Feb. 6, 1998). 180 Id. 30 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 31 approved these small business size standards. 181 The auction of the 2,173 39 GHz licenses began on April 12, 2000 and closed on May 8, 2000. The 18 bidders who claimed small business status won 849 licenses. Consequently, the Commission estimates that 18 or fewer 39 GHz licensees are small entities that may be affected by the rules and polices herein. 98. Local Multipoint Distribution Service. Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) is a fixed broadband point- to- multipoint microwave service that provides for two- way video telecommunications. 182 The auction of the 986 Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) licenses began on February 18, 1998 and closed on March 25, 1998. The Commission established a small business size standard for LMDS licenses as an entity that has average gross revenues of less than $40 million in the three previous calendar years. 183 An additional small business size standard for “very small business” was added as an entity that, together with its affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years. 184 The SBA has approved these small business size standards in the context of LMDS auctions. 185 There were 93 winning bidders that qualified as small entities in the LMDS auctions. A total of 93 small and very small business bidders won approximately 277 A Block licenses and 387 B Block licenses. On March 27, 1999, the Commission re- auctioned 161 licenses; there were 32 small and very small business winning that won 119 licenses. 99. 218- 219 MHz Service. The first auction of 218- 219 MHz (previously referred to as the Interactive and Video Data Service or IVDS) spectrum resulted in 178 entities winning licenses for 594 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). 186 Of the 594 licenses, 567 were won by 167 entities qualifying as a small business. For that auction, we defined a small business as an entity that, together with its affiliates, has no more than a $6 million net worth and, after federal income taxes (excluding any carry over losses), has no more than $2 million in annual profits each year for the previous two years. 187 In the 218- 219 MHz Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, we defined a small business as an entity that, together with its affiliates and persons or entities that hold interests in such an entity and their affiliates, has average annual gross revenues not exceeding $15 million for the preceding three years. 188 A very small business is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates and persons or entities that hold interests in such an entity and its 181 See Letter to Kathleen O’Brien Ham, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA (Feb. 4, 1998) (VoIP); See Letter to Margaret Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Hector Barreto, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated January 18, 2002 (WTB). 182 See Rulemaking to Amend Parts 1, 2, 21, 25, of the Commission’s Rules to Redesignate the 27. 5- 29. 5 GHz Frequency Band, Reallocate the 29. 5- 30. 5 Frequency Band, to Establish Rules and Policies for Local Multipoint Distribution Service and for Fixed Satellite Services, Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Fifth Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 12 FCC Rcd 12545, 12689- 90, para. 348 (1997). 183 See Rulemaking to Amend Parts 1, 2, 21, 25, of the Commission’s Rules to Redesignate the 27. 5- 29. 5 GHz Frequency Band, Reallocate the 29. 5- 30.5 Frequency Band, to Establish Rules and Policies for Local Multipoint Distribution Service and for Fixed Satellite Services, Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Fifth Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 12 FCC Rcd 12545, 12689- 90, para. 348 (1997). 184 See Rulemaking to Amend Parts 1, 2, 21, 25, of the Commission’s Rules to Redesignate the 27. 5- 29. 5 GHz Frequency Band, Reallocate the 29. 5- 30. 5 Frequency Band, to Establish Rules and Policies for Local Multipoint Distribution Service and for Fixed Satellite Services, Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Fifth Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 12 FCC Rcd 12545, 12689- 90, para. 348 (1997). 185 See Letter to Dan Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA (Jan. 6, 1998). 186 See “Interactive Video and Data Service (IVDS) Applications Accepted for Filing,” Public Notice, 9 FCC Rcd 6227 (1994). 187 Implementation of Section 309( j) of the Communications Act – Competitive Bidding, Fourth Report and Order, 9 FCC Rcd 2330 (1994). 188 Amendment of Part 95 of the Commission’s Rules to Provide Regulatory Flexibility in the 218- 219 MHz Service, Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 1497 (1999). 31 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 32 affiliates, has average annual gross revenues not exceeding $3 million for the preceding three years. 189 The SBA has approved of these definitions. 190 At this time, we cannot estimate the number of licenses that will be won by entities qualifying as small or very small businesses under our rules in future auctions of 218- 219 MHz spectrum. Given the success of small businesses in the previous auction, and the prevalence of small businesses in the subscription television services and message communications industries, we assume for purposes of this analysis that in future auctions, many, and perhaps all, of the licenses may be awarded to small businesses. 100. Location and Monitoring Service (LMS). Multilateration LMS systems use non- voice radio techniques to determine the location and status of mobile radio units. For purposes of auctioning LMS licenses, the Commission has defined “small business” as an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average annual gross revenues for the preceding three years not exceeding $15 million. 191 A “very small business” is defined as an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average annual gross revenues for the preceding three years not exceeding $3 million. 192 These definitions have been approved by the SBA. 193 An auction for LMS licenses commenced on February 23, 1999, and closed on March 5, 1999. Of the 528 licenses auctioned, 289 licenses were sold to four small businesses. We cannot accurately predict the number of remaining licenses that could be awarded to small entities in future LMS auctions. 101. Rural Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a size standard for small businesses specific to the Rural Radiotelephone Service. 194 A significant subset of the Rural Radiotelephone Service is the Basic Exchange Telephone Radio System (BETRS). 195 The Commission uses the SBA’s small business size standard applicable to “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications,” i. e., an entity employing no more than 1,500 persons. 196 There are approximately 1,000 licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone Service, and the Commission estimates that there are 1,000 or fewer small entity licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone Service that may be affected by the rules and policies proposed herein. 102. Air- Ground Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a small business size standard specific to the Air- Ground Radiotelephone Service. 197 We will use SBA’s small business size standard applicable to “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications,” i. e., an entity employing no more than 1,500 persons. 198 There are approximately 100 licensees in the Air- Ground Radiotelephone Service, and we estimate that almost all of them qualify as small under the SBA small business size standard. 103. Aviation and Marine Radio Services. Small businesses in the aviation and marine radio services use a very high frequency (VHF) marine or aircraft radio and, as appropriate, an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (and/ or radar) or an emergency locator transmitter. The Commission has not developed a small business size standard specifically applicable to these small businesses. For purposes of 189 Id. 190 See Letter to Daniel Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated January 6, 1998. 191 Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules to Adopt Regulations for Automatic Vehicle Monitoring Systems, Second Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 15182, 15192 ¶ 20 (1998); see also 47 C. F. R. § 90.1103. 192 Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules to Adopt Regulations for Automatic Vehicle Monitoring Systems, Second Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd at 15192, para. 20; see also 47 C. F. R. § 90. 1103. 193 See Letter to Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated February 22, 1999. 194 The service is defined in § 22. 99 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 22. 99. 195 BETRS is defined in §§ 22. 757 and 22. 759 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 22. 757 and 22. 759. 196 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 197 The service is defined in § 22. 99 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 22. 99. 198 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS codes 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 32 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 33 this analysis, the Commission uses the SBA small business size standard for the category “Cellular and Other Telecommunications,” which is 1,500 or fewer employees. 199 Most applicants for recreational licenses are individuals. Approximately 581,000 ship station licensees and 131,000 aircraft station licensees operate domestically and are not subject to the radio carriage requirements of any statute or treaty. For purposes of our evaluations in this analysis, we estimate that there are up to approximately 712,000 licensees that are small businesses (or individuals) under the SBA standard. In addition, between December 3, 1998 and December 14, 1998, the Commission held an auction of 42 VHF Public Coast licenses in the 157.1875- 157.4500 MHz (ship transmit) and 161. 775- 162.0125 MHz (coast transmit) bands. For purposes of the auction, the Commission defined a "small" business as an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues for the preceding three years not to exceed $15 million dollars. In addition, a "very small" business is one that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues for the preceding three years not to exceed $3 million dollars. 200 There are approximately 10,672 licensees in the Marine Coast Service, and the Commission estimates that almost all of them qualify as "small" businesses under the above special small business size standards. 104. Offshore Radiotelephone Service. This service operates on several ultra high frequencies (UHF) television broadcast channels that are not used for television broadcasting in the coastal areas of states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. 201 There are presently approximately 55 licensees in this service. We are unable to estimate at this time the number of licensees that would qualify as small under the SBA’s small business size standard for “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications” services. 202 Under that SBA small business size standard, a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 203 105. Multiple Address Systems (MAS). Entities using MAS spectrum, in general, fall into two categories: (1) those using the spectrum for profit- based uses, and (2) those using the spectrum for private internal uses. With respect to the first category, the Commission defines “small entity” for MAS licenses as an entity that has average gross revenues of less than $15 million in the three previous calendar years. 204 “Very small business” is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more than $3 million for the preceding three calendar years. 205 The SBA has approved of these definitions. 206 The majority of these entities will most likely be licensed in bands where the Commission has implemented a geographic area licensing approach that would require the use of competitive bidding procedures to resolve mutually exclusive applications. The Commission’s licensing database indicates that, as of January 20, 1999, there were a total of 8,670 MAS station authorizations. Of these, 260 authorizations were associated with common carrier service. In addition, an auction for 5,104 MAS licenses in 176 EAs began November 14, 2001, and closed on November 27, 2001. 207 Seven winning bidders claimed status as small or very small businesses and won 611 licenses. 106. With respect to the second category, which consists of entities that use, or seek to use, MAS spectrum to accommodate internal communications needs, we note that MAS serves an essential role in a range of industrial, safety, business, and land transportation activities. MAS radios are used by companies of 199 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 200 Amendment of the Commission's Rules Concerning Maritime Communications, PR Docket No. 92- 257, Third Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 19853 (1998). 201 This service is governed by Subpart I of Part 22 of the Commission’s Rules. See 47 C. F. R. §§ 22. 1001- 22.1037. 202 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 203 Id. 204 See Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Multiple Address Systems, Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 11956, 12008, para. 123 (2000). 205 Id. 206 See Letter to Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated June 4, 1999. 207 See “Multiple Address Systems Spectrum Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 21011 (2001). 33 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 34 all sizes, operating in virtually all U. S. business categories, and by all types of public safety entities. For the majority of private internal users, the definitions developed by the SBA would be more appropriate. The applicable definition of small entity in this instance appears to be the “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications” definition under the SBA rules. This definition provides that a small entity is any entity employing no more than 1,500 persons. 208 The Commission’s licensing database indicates that, as of January 20, 1999, of the 8, 670 total MAS station authorizations, 8,410 authorizations were for private radio service, and of these, 1,433 were for private land mobile radio service. 107. Incumbent 24 GHz Licensees. This analysis may affect incumbent licensees who were relocated to the 24 GHz band from the 18 GHz band, and applicants who wish to provide services in the 24 GHz band. The applicable SBA small business size standard is that of “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications” companies. This category provides that such a company is small if it employs no more than 1,500 persons. 209 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 210 Of this total, 965 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 12 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. 211 Thus, under this size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered small. These broader census data notwithstanding, we believe that there are only two licensees in the 24 GHz band that were relocated from the 18 GHz band, Teligent 212 and TRW, Inc. It is our understanding that Teligent and its related companies have less than 1,500 employees, though this may change in the future. TRW is not a small entity. Thus, only one incumbent licensee in the 24 GHz band is a small business entity. 108. Future 24 GHz Licensees. With respect to new applicants in the 24 GHz band, we have defined “small business” as an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average annual gross revenues for the three preceding years not exceeding $15 million. 213 “Very small business” in the 24 GHz band is defined as an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues not exceeding $3 million for the preceding three years. 214 The SBA has approved these definitions. 215 The Commission will not know how many licensees will be small or very small businesses until the auction, if required, is held. 109. Multipoint Distribution Service, Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service, and Instructional Television Fixed Service. Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) systems, often referred to as “wireless cable,” transmit video programming to subscribers using the microwave frequencies of the Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) and Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS). 216 In connection with the 1996 MDS auction, the Commission defined “small business” as an entity 208 See 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 517212. 209 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 210 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, “Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 1997,” Table 5, NAICS code 513322 (issued October 2000). 211 Id. The census data do not provide a more precise estimate of the number of firms that have employment of 1,500 or fewer employees; the largest category provided is “Firms with 1,000 employees or more.” 212 Teligent acquired the DEMS licenses of FirstMark, the only licensee other than TRW in the 24 GHz band whose license has been modified to require relocation to the 24 GHz band. 213 Amendments to Parts 1, 2, 87 and 101 of the Commission’s Rules To License Fixed Services at 24 GHz, Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 16934, 16967, para. 77 (2000) (24 GHz Report and Order); see also 47 CFR § 101.538( a)( 2). 214 24 GHz Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 16967, para. 77; see also 47 CFR § 101. 538( a)( 1). 215 See Letter to Margaret W. Wiener, Deputy Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Gary M. Jackson, Assistant Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated July 28, 2000. 216 Amendment of Parts 21 and 74 of the Commission’s Rules with Regard to Filing Procedures in the Multipoint Distribution Service and in the Instructional Television Fixed Service and Implementation of Section 309( j) of the Communications Act – Competitive Bidding, Report and Order, 10 FCC Rcd 9589, 9593, para. 7 (1995) (MDS Auction R& O). 34 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 35 that, together with its affiliates, has average gross annual revenues that are not more than $40 million for the preceding three calendar years. 217 The SBA has approved of this standard. 218 The MDS auction resulted in 67 successful bidders obtaining licensing opportunities for 493 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs). 219 Of the 67 auction winners, 61 claimed status as a small business. At this time, we estimate that of the 61 small business MDS auction winners, 48 remain small business licensees. In addition to the 48 small businesses that hold BTA authorizations, there are approximately 392 incumbent MDS licensees that have gross revenues that are not more than $40 million and are thus considered small entities. 220 110. In addition, the SBA has developed a small business size standard for Cable and Other Program Distribution, 221 which includes all such companies generating $12.5 million or less in annual receipts. 222 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were a total of 1,311 firms in this category, total, that had operated for the entire year. 223 Of this total, 1,180 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million, and an additional 52 firms had receipts of $10 million or more but less than $25 million. 224 Consequently, we estimate that the majority of providers in this service category are small businesses that may be affected by the proposed rules and policies. 111. Finally, while SBA approval for a Commission- defined small business size standard applicable to ITFS is pending, educational institutions are included in this analysis as small entities. 225 There are currently 2,032 ITFS licensees, and all but 100 of these licenses are held by educational institutions. Thus, we tentatively conclude that at least 1,932 ITFS licensees are small businesses. 112. Television Broadcasting. The Small Business Administration defines a television broadcasting station that has no more than $12 million in annual receipts as a small business. 226 Business concerns included in this industry are those “primarily engaged in broadcasting images together with sound.” 227 According to Commission staff review of the BIA Publications, Inc. Master Access Television 217 47 CFR § 21. 961( b)( 1). 218 See Letter to Margaret Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Bureau, from Gary Jackson, Assistant Administrator for Size Standards, Small Business Administration, dated March 20, 2003 (noting approval of $40 million size standard for MDS auction). 219 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs) were designed by Rand McNally and are the geographic areas by which MDS was auctioned and authorized. See MDS Auction R& O, 10 FCC Rcd at 9608, paragraph 34. 220 47 U. S. C. § 309( j). Hundreds of stations were licensed to incumbent MDS licensees prior to implementation of Section 309( j) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U. S. C. § 309( j). For these pre- auction licenses, the applicable standard is SBA’s small business size standard for “other telecommunications” (annual receipts of $12.5 million or less). See 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 517910. 221 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517510. 222 Id. 223 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, “Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization),” Table 4 (issued October 2000). 224 Id. 225 In addition, the term “small entity” under SBREFA applies to small organizations (nonprofits) and to small governmental jurisdictions (cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, and special districts with populations of less than 50, 000). 5 U. S. C. §§ 601( 4)-( 6). We do not collect annual revenue data on ITFS licensees. 226 See OMB, North American Industry Classification System: United States, 1997 at 509 (1997) (NAICS code 513120, which was changed to code 515120 in October 2002) 227 OMB, North American Industry Classification System: United States, 1997, at 509 (1997) (NAICS code 513120, which was changed to code 51520 in October 2002). This category description continues, “These establishments operate television broadcasting studios and facilities for the programming and transmission of programs to the public. These establishments also produce or transmit visual programming to affiliated broadcast television stations, which in turn broadcast the programs to the public on a predetermined schedule. Programming may originate in their own studios, from an affiliated network, or from external sources.” Separate census categories pertain to businesses primarily engaged in producing programming. See id. at 502- 05, NAICS code 51210. Motion Picture and Video Production: 35 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 36 Analyzer Database as of May 16, 2003, about 814 of the 1,220 commercial television stations in the United States have revenues of $12 million or less. We note, however, that, in assessing whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above definition, business (control) affiliations 228 must be included. Our estimate, therefore, likely overstates the number of small entities that might be affected by our action, because the revenue figure on which it is based does not include or aggregate revenues from affiliated companies. There are also 2,053 low power television stations (LPTV). 229 Given the nature of this service, we will presume that all LPTV licensees qualify as small entities under the SBA definition. 113. In addition, an element of the definition of “small business” is that the entity not be dominant in its field of operation. We are unable at this time to define or quantify the criteria that would establish whether a specific television station is dominant in its field of operation. Accordingly, the estimate of small businesses to which rules may apply do not exclude any television station from the definition of a small business on this basis and are therefore over- inclusive to that extent. Also as noted, an additional element of the definition of “small business” is that the entity must be independently owned and operated. We note that it is difficult at times to assess these criteria in the context of media entities and our estimates of small businesses to which they apply may be over- inclusive to this extent. 114. Radio Broadcasting. The SBA defines a radio broadcast entity that has $6 million or less in annual receipts as a small business. 230 Business concerns included in this industry are those “primarily engaged in broadcasting aural programs by radio to the public. 231 According to Commission staff review of the BIA Publications, Inc., Master Access Radio Analyzer Database, as of May 16, 2003, about 10,427 of the 10,945 commercial radio stations in the United States have revenue of $6 million or less. We note, however, that many radio stations are affiliated with much larger corporations with much higher revenue, and that in assessing whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above definition, such business (control) affiliations 232 are included. 233 Our estimate, therefore likely overstates the number of small businesses that might be affected by our action. 115. Auxiliary, Special Broadcast and Other Program Distribution Services. This service involves a variety of transmitters, generally used to relay broadcast programming to the public (through translator and booster stations) or within the program distribution chain (from a remote news gathering unit back to the station). The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities applicable to broadcast auxiliary licensees. The applicable definitions of small entities are those, noted previously, under the SBA rules applicable to radio broadcasting stations and television broadcasting stations. 234 code 512120, Motion Picture and Video Distribution, code 512191, Teleproduction and Other Post- Production Services, and code 512199, Other Motion Picture and Video Industries. 228 “Concerns are affiliates of each other when one concern controls or has the power to control the other or a third party or parties controls or has to power to control both.” 13 CFR § 121. 103( a)( 1). 229 FCC News Release, “Broadcast Station Totals as of September 30, 2004.” 230 See OMB, North American Industry Classification System: United States, 1997, at 509 (1997) (Radio Stations) (NAICS code 513111, which was changed to code 515112 in October 2002). 231 Id. 232 “Concerns are affiliates of each other when one concern controls or has the power to control the other, or a third party or parties controls or has the power to control both.” 13 CFR § 121. 103( a)( 1). 233 “SBA counts the receipts or employees of the concern whose size is at issue and those of all its domestic and foreign affiliates, regardless of whether the affiliates are organized for profit, in determining the concern’s size.” 13 CFR § 121( a)( 4). 234 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS codes 513111 and 513112. 36 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 37 116. The Commission estimates that there are approximately 3,868 FM translators and boosters. 235 The Commission does not collect financial information on any broadcast facility, and the Department of Commerce does not collect financial information on these auxiliary broadcast facilities. We believe that most, if not all, of these auxiliary facilities could be classified as small businesses by themselves. We also recognize that most commercial translators and boosters are owned by a parent station which, in some cases, would be covered by the revenue definition of small business entity discussed above. These stations would likely have annual revenues that exceed the SBA maximum to be designated as a small business ($ 5 million for a radio station or $10.5 million for a TV station). Furthermore, they do not meet the Small Business Act's definition of a "small business concern" because they are not independently owned and operated. 236 117. Cable and Other Program Distribution. This category includes cable systems operators, closed circuit television services, direct broadcast satellite services, multipoint distribution systems, satellite master antenna systems, and subscription television services. The SBA has developed small business size standard for this census category, which includes all such companies generating $12.5 million or less in revenue annually. 237 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were a total of 1,311 firms in this category, total, that had operated for the entire year. 238 Of this total, 1,180 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million and an additional 52 firms had receipts of $10 million or more but less than $25 million. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of providers in this service category are small businesses that may be affected by the rules and policies herein. 118. Cable System Operators (Rate Regulation Standard). The Commission has developed its own small business size standard for cable system operators, for purposes of rate regulation. Under the Commission’s rules, a “small cable company” is one serving fewer than 400,000 subscribers nationwide. 239 The most recent estimates indicate that there were 1,439 cable operators who qualified as small cable system operators at the end of 1995. 240 Since then, some of those companies may have grown to serve over 400, 000 subscribers, and others may have been involved in transactions that caused them to be combined with other cable operators. Consequently, the Commission estimates that there are now fewer than 1,439 small entity cable system operators that may be affected by the rules and policies herein. 119. Cable System Operators (Telecom Act Standard). The Communications Act of 1934, as amended, also contains a size standard for small cable system operators, which is “a cable operator that, directly or through an affiliate, serves in the aggregate fewer than 1 percent of all subscribers in the United States and is not affiliated with any entity or entities whose gross annual revenues in the aggregate exceed $250, 000, 000.” 241 The Commission has determined that there are 65,000,000 subscribers in the United States. 242 Therefore, an operator serving fewer than 650,000 subscribers shall be deemed a small operator, if its annual revenues, when combined with the total annual revenues of all its affiliates, do not exceed $250 million in the aggregate. 243 Based on available data, the Commission estimates that the number of cable 235 FCC News Release, “Broadcast Station Totals as of September 30, 2004.” 236 15 U. S. C. 632. 237 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513220 (changed to 517510 in October 2002). 238 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, “Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization)”, Table 4, NAICS code 513220 (issued October 2000). 239 47 CFR § 76. 901( e). The Commission developed this definition based on its determination that a small cable system operator is one with annual revenues of $100 million or less. Implementation of Sections of the 1992 Cable Act: Rate Regulation, Sixth Report and Order and Eleventh Order on Reconsideration, 10 FCC Rcd 7393 (1995), 60 FR 10534 (February 27, 1995). 240 Paul Kagan Associates, Inc., Cable TV Investor, February 29, 1996 (based on figures for December 30, 1995). 241 47 U. S. C. § 543( m)( 2). 242 See FCC Announces New Subscriber Count for the Definition of Small Cable Operator, Public Notice, DA 01- 158 (January 24, 2001). 243 47 CFR § 76. 901( f). 37 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 38 operators serving 650,000 subscribers or fewer, totals 1,450. 244 The Commission neither requests nor collects information on whether cable system operators are affiliated with entities whose gross annual revenues exceed $250 million, 245 and therefore are unable, at this time, to estimate more accurately the number of cable system operators that would qualify as small cable operators under the size standard contained in the Communications Act of 1934. 120. Open Video Services. Open Video Service (OVS) systems provide subscription services. 246 The SBA has created a small business size standard for Cable and Other Program Distribution. 247 This standard provides that a small entity is one with $12.5 million or less in annual receipts. The Commission has certified approximately 25 OVS operators to serve 75 areas, and some of these are currently providing service. 248 Affiliates of Residential Communications Network, Inc. (RCN) received approval to operate OVS systems in New York City, Boston, Washington, D. C., and other areas. RCN has sufficient revenues to assure that they do not qualify as a small business entity. Little financial information is available for the other entities that are authorized to provide OVS and are not yet operational. Given that some entities authorized to provide OVS service have not yet begun to generate revenues, the Commission concludes that up to 24 OVS operators (those remaining) might qualify as small businesses that may be affected by the rules and policies herein. 121. Cable Television Relay Service. This service includes transmitters generally used to relay cable programming within cable television system distribution systems. The SBA has defined a small business size standard for Cable and other Program Distribution, consisting of all such companies having annual receipts of no more than $12.5 million. 249 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 1,311 firms in the industry category Cable and Other Program Distribution, total, that operated for the entire year. 250 Of this total, 1,180 firms had annual receipts of $10 million or less, and an additional 52 firms had receipts of $10 million or more but less than $25 million. 251 Thus, under this standard, we estimate that the majority of providers in this service category are small businesses that may be affected by the rules and policies herein. 122. Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service. MVDDS is a terrestrial fixed microwave service operating in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz band. No auction has yet been held in this service, although an action has been scheduled for January 14, 2004. 252 Accordingly, there are no licensees in this service. 123. Amateur Radio Service. These licensees are believed to be individuals, and therefore are not small entities. 124. Aviation and Marine Services. Small businesses in the aviation and marine radio services use a very high frequency (VHF) marine or aircraft radio and, as appropriate, an emergency position- 244 See FCC Announces New Subscriber Count for the Definition of Small Cable Operators, Public Notice, DA- 01- 0158 (released January 24, 2001). 245 The Commission does receive such information on a case- by- case basis if a cable operator appeals a local franchise authority’s finding that the operator does not qualify as a small cable operator pursuant to § 76.901( f) of the Commission’s rules. See 47 CFR § 76. 909( b). 246 See 47 U. S. C. § 573. 247 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 513220 (changed to 517510 in October 2002). 248 See http:// www. fcc. gov/ csb/ ovs/ csovscer. html (current as of March 2002). 249 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517510. 250 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, “Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization),” Table 4 (issued October 2000). 251 Id. 252 “Auctions of Licenses in the Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service Rescheduled for January 14, 2004,” Public Notice, DA 03- 2354 (August 28, 2003). 38 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 39 indicating radio beacon (and/ or radar) or an emergency locator transmitter. The Commission has not developed a small business size standard specifically applicable to these small businesses. For purposes of this analysis, the Commission uses the SBA small business size standard for the category “Cellular and Other Telecommunications,” which is 1,500 or fewer employees. 253 Most applicants for recreational licenses are individuals. Approximately 581,000 ship station licensees and 131,000 aircraft station licensees operate domestically and are not subject to the radio carriage requirements of any statute or treaty. For purposes of our evaluations in this analysis, we estimate that there are up to approximately 712,000 licensees that are small businesses (or individuals) under the SBA standard. In addition, between December 3, 1998 and December 14, 1998, the Commission held an auction of 42 VHF Public Coast licenses in the 157.1875- 157.4500 MHz (ship transmit) and 161. 775- 162.0125 MHz (coast transmit) bands. For purposes of the auction, the Commission defined a “small” business as an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues for the preceding three years not to exceed $15 million dollars. In addition, a “very small” business is one that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues for the preceding three years not to exceed $3 million dollars. 254 There are approximately 10,672 licensees in the Marine Coast Service, and the Commission estimates that almost all of them qualify as “small” businesses under the above special small business size standards. 125. Personal Radio Services. Personal radio services provide short- range, low power radio for personal communications, radio signaling, and business communications not provided for in other services. The Personal Radio Services include spectrum licensed under Part 95 of our rules. 255 These services include Citizen Band Radio Service (CB), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Radio Control Radio Service (R/ C), Family Radio Service (FRS), Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS), Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS), Low Power Radio Service (LPRS), and Multi- Use Radio Service (MURS). 256 There are a variety of methods used to license the spectrum in these rule parts, from licensing by rule, to conditioning operation on successful completion of a required test, to site- based licensing, to geographic area licensing. Under the RFA, the Commission is required to make a determination of which small entities are directly affected by these rules. Since all such entities are wireless, we apply the definition of cellular and other wireless telecommunications, pursuant to which a small entity is defined as employing 1,500 or fewer persons. 257 Many of the licensees in these services are individuals, and thus are not small entities. In addition, due to the mostly unlicensed and shared nature of the spectrum utilized in many of these services, the Commission lacks direct information upon which to base an estimation of the number of small entities under an SBA definition that might be directly affected by these rules. 126. Public Safety Radio Services. Public Safety radio services include police, fire, local government, forestry conservation, highway maintenance, and emergency medical services. 258 There are a 253 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212in October 2002). 254 Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Maritime Communications, Third Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 19853 (1998). 255 47 CFR Part 90. 256 The Citizens Band Radio Service, General Mobile Radio Service, Radio Control Radio Service, Family Radio Service, Wireless Medical Telemetry Service, Medical Implant Communications Service, Low Power Radio Service, and Multi- Use Radio Service are governed by Subpart D, Subpart A, Subpart C, Subpart B, Subpart H, Subpart I, Subpart G, and Subpart J, respectively, of Part 95 of the Commission’s rules. See generally 47 CFR Part 95. 257 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS Code 517212. 258 With the exception of the special emergency service, these services are governed by Subpart B of part 90 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 CFR §§ 90. 15- 90. 27. The police service includes approximately 27,000 licensees that serve state, county, and municipal enforcement through telephony (voice), telegraphy (code) and teletype and facsimile (printed material). The fire radio service includes approximately 23,000 licensees comprised of private volunteer or professional fire companies as well as units under governmental control. The local government service that is presently comprised of approximately 41, 000 licensees that are state, county, or municipal entities that use the radio for official purposes not covered by other public safety services. There are approximately 7,000 licensees within the forestry service 39 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 40 total of approximately 127,540 licensees in these services. Governmental entities 259 as well as private businesses comprise the licensees for these services. All governmental entities with populations of less than 50,000 fall within the definition of a small entity. 260 IV. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTED REPORTING, RECORDKEEPING AND OTHER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS: 127. With certain exceptions, the Commission's Schedule of Regulatory Fees applies to all Commission licensees and regulatees. Most licensees will be required to count the number of licenses or call signs authorized, complete and submit an FCC Form 159 (" FCC Remittance Advice"), and pay a regulatory fee based on the number of licenses or call signs. 261 Interstate telephone service providers must compute their annual regulatory fee based on their interstate and international end- user revenue using information they already supply to the Commission in compliance with the Form 499- A, Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, and they must complete and submit the FCC Form 159. Compliance with the fee schedule will require some licensees to tabulate the number of units (e. g., cellular telephones, pagers, cable TV subscribers) they have in service, and complete and submit an FCC Form 159. Licensees ordinarily will keep a list of the number of units they have in service as part of their normal business practices. No additional outside professional skills are required to complete the FCC Form 159, and it can be completed by the employees responsible for an entity's business records. 128. Each licensee must submit the FCC Form 159 to the Commission's lockbox bank after computing the number of units subject to the fee. Licensees may also file electronically to minimize the burden of submitting multiple copies of the FCC Form 159. Applicants who pay small fees in advance and provide fee information as part of their application must use FCC Form 159. 129. Licensees and regulatees are advised that failure to submit the required regulatory fee in a timely manner will subject the licensee or regulatee to a late payment penalty of 25 percent in addition to the which is comprised of licensees from state departments of conservation and private forest organizations who set up communications networks among fire lookout towers and ground crews. The approximately 9,000 state and local governments are licensed to highway maintenance service provide emergency and routine communications to aid other public safety services to keep main roads safe for vehicular traffic. The approximately 1,000 licensees in the Emergency Medical Radio Service (EMRS) use the 39 channels allocated to this service for emergency medical service communications related to the delivery of emergency medical treatment. 47 CFR §§ 90. 15- 90. 27. The approximately 20, 000 licensees in the special emergency service include medical services, rescue organizations, veterinarians, handicapped persons, disaster relief organizations, school buses, beach patrols, establishments in isolated areas, communications standby facilities, and emergency repair of public communications facilities. 47 CFR §§ 90. 33- 90. 55. 259 47 CFR § 1.1162. 260 5 U. S. C. § 601( 5). 261 The following categories are exempt from the Commission's Schedule of Regulatory Fees: Amateur radio licensees (except applicants for vanity call signs) and operators in other non- licensed services (e. g., Personal Radio, part 15, ship and aircraft). Governments and non- profit (exempt under section 501( c) of the Internal Revenue Code) entities are exempt from payment of regulatory fees and need not submit payment. Non- commercial educational broadcast licensees are exempt from regulatory fees as are licensees of auxiliary broadcast services such as low power auxiliary stations, television auxiliary service stations, remote pickup stations and aural broadcast auxiliary stations where such licenses are used in conjunction with commonly owned non- commercial educational stations. Emergency Alert System licenses for auxiliary service facilities are also exempt as are instructional television fixed service licensees. Regulatory fees are automatically waived for the licensee of any translator station that: (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 or contributions from members of the community served for support. Receive only earth station permittees are exempt from payment of regulatory fees. A regulatee will be relieved of its fee payment requirement if its total fee due, including all categories of fees for which payment is due by the entity, amounts to less than $10. 40 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 41 required fee. 262 If payment is not received, new or pending applications may be dismissed, and existing authorizations may be subject to rescission. 263 Further, in accordance with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, federal agencies may bar a person or entity from obtaining a federal loan or loan insurance guarantee if that person or entity fails to pay a delinquent debt owed to any federal agency. 264 Nonpayment of regulatory fees is a debt owed the United States pursuant to 31 U. S. C. 3711 et seq., and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law 194- 134. Appropriate enforcement measures as well as administrative and judicial remedies, may be exercised by the Commission. Debts owed to the Commission may result in a person or entity being denied a federal loan or loan guarantee pending before another federal agency until such obligations are paid. 265 130. The Commission's rules currently provide for relief in exceptional circumstances. Persons or entities may request a waiver, reduction or deferment of payment of the regulatory fee. 266 However, timely submission of the required regulatory fee must accompany requests for waivers or reductions. This will avoid any late payment penalty if the request is denied. The fee will be refunded if the request is granted. In exceptional and compelling instances (where payment of the regulatory fee along with the waiver or reduction request could result in reduction of service to a community or other financial hardship to the licensee), the Commission will defer payment in response to a request filed with the appropriate supporting documentation. V. STEPS TAKEN TO MINIMIZE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON SMALL ENTITIES, AND SIGNIFICANT ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: 131. The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant alternatives that it has considered in reaching its proposed approach, which may include the following four alternatives: (1) the establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the resources available to small entities; (2) the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance or reporting requirements under the rule for small entities; (3) the use of performance, rather than design, standards; and (4) an exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small entities. As described in Section III of this FRFA, supra, we have created procedures in which all fee- filing licensees and regulatees use a single form, FCC Form 159, and have described in plain language the general filing requirements. We have sought comment on other alternatives that might simplify our fee procedures or otherwise benefit small entities, while remaining consistent with our statutory responsibilities in this proceeding. 132. The Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY 2005, Public Law 108- 447, requires the Commission to revise its Schedule of Regulatory Fees in order to recover the amount of regulatory fees that Congress, pursuant to Section 9( a) of the Communications Act, as amended, has required the Commission to collect for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005. 267 As noted, we sought comment on the proposed methodology for implementing these statutory requirements and any other potential impact of these proposals on small entities. 133. We have previously used cost accounting data for computation of regulatory fees, but found that some fees which were very small in previous years would have increased dramatically and would have a disproportionate impact on smaller entities. The methodology we are using in this Report and Order minimizes this impact by limiting the amount of increase and shifting costs to other services which, for the most part, are larger entities. 262 47 CFR § 1.1164. 263 47 CFR § 1.1164( c). 264 Public Law 104- 134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996). 265 31 U. S. C. § 7701( c)( 2)( B). 266 47 CFR § 1.1166. 267 47 U. S. C. § 159( a). 41 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 42 134. Several categories of licensees and regulatees are exempt from payment of regulatory fees. See, e. g., footnote 261, supra. 135. Report to Small Business Administration: The Commission will send a copy of this Report and Order, including a copy of the FRFA to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. The Report and Order and FRFA (or summaries thereof) will also be published in the Federal Register. 136. Report to Congress: The Commission will send a copy of this Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA), along with this Report and Order, in a report to Congress pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, 5 U. S. C. 801( a)( 1)( A). 42 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 43 ATTACHMENT B SOURCES OF PAYMENT UNIT ESTIMATES FOR FY 2005 In order to calculate individual service fees for FY 2005, we adjusted FY 2004 payment units for each service to more accurately reflect expected FY 2005 payment liabilities. We obtained our updated estimates through a variety of means. For example, we used Commission licensee data bases, actual prior year payment records and industry and trade association projections when available. The databases we consulted include the Commission’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), International Bureau Filing System (IBFS), and Consolidated Database System (CDBS). The industry sources we consulted include, but are not limited to, Television & Cable Factbook by Warren Publishing, Inc. and the Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook by Reed Elsevier, Inc, as well as reports generated within the Commission such as the Wireline Competition Bureau’s Trends in Telephone Service and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast. We tried to obtain verification for these estimates from multiple sources and, in all cases, we compared FY 2005 estimates with actual FY 2004 payment units to ensure that our revised estimates were reasonable. Where appropriate, we adjusted and/ or rounded our final estimates to take into consideration the fact that certain variables that impact on the number of payment units cannot yet be estimated exactly. These include an unknown number of waivers and/ or exemptions that may occur in FY 2005 and the fact that, in many services, the number of actual licensees or station operators fluctuates from time to time due to economic, technical or other reasons. Therefore, when we note, for example, that our estimated FY 2005 payment units are based on FY 2004 actual payment units, it does not necessarily mean that our FY 2005 projection is exactly the same number as FY 2004. It means that we have either rounded the FY 2005 number or adjusted it slightly to account for these variables. FEE CATEGORY SOURCES OF PAYMENT UNIT ESTIMATES Land Mobile (All), Microwave, 218- 219 MHz, Marine (Ship & Coast), Aviation (Aircraft & Ground), GMRS, Amateur Vanity Call Signs, Domestic Public Fixed Based on Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) projections of new applications and renewals taking into consideration existing Commission licensee data bases. Aviation (Aircraft) and Marine (Ship) estimates have been adjusted to take into consideration the licensing of portions of these services on a voluntary basis. CMRS Cellular/ Mobile Services Based on Wireless Telecommunications Bureau estimates. CMRS Messaging Services Based on Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Competition Report estimates. AM/ FM Radio Stations Based on estimates from Media Services Bureau estimates, adjusted for exemptions, and actual FY 2004 payment units. UHF/ VHF Television Stations Based on Media Services Bureau estimates and actual FY 2004 payment units. AM/ FM/ TV Construction Permits Based on Media Services Bureau estimates and actual FY 2004 payment units. LPTV, Translators and Boosters Based on actual FY 2004 payment units. Broadcast Auxiliaries Based on actual FY 2004 payment units. BRS (formerly MDS/ MMDS) Based on Wireless Telecommunications Bureau estimates and actual FY 2004 payment units. Cable Television Relay Service (CARS) Stations Based on actual FY 2004 payment units. Cable Television System Based on Media Services Bureau industry estimates of 43 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 44 Subscribers subscribership, and actual FY 2004 payment units. Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers Based on actual FY 2004 interstate revenues reported on Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, adjusted for FY 2005 revenue growth/ decline for industry, and projections by the Wireline Competition Bureau. Earth Stations Based on actual FY 2004 payment estimates and projected FY 2005 units. Space Stations (GSOs & NGSOs) Based on International Bureau licensee data base estimates. International Bearer Circuits Based on FY 2004 actual paid units, and adjusted for growth. International HF Broadcast Stations, International Public Fixed Radio Service Based on International Bureau estimates. 44 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 45 ATTACHMENT C CALCULATION OF FY 2005 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS AND PRO- RATA FEES Regulatory fees for the categories shaded in gray are collected by the Commission in advance to cover the term of the license and are submitted along with the application at the time the application is filed. Fee Category FY 2005 Payment Units Years FY 2004 Revenue Estimate Pro- Rated FY 2005 Revenue Require-ment* Computed New FY 2005 Regulatory Fee Rounded New FY 2005 Regula-tory Fee Expected FY 2005 Revenue PLMRS (Exclusive Use) 3,700 10 340,000 349,068 9 10 370,000 PLMRS (Shared use) 46, 000 10 2,300,000 2,361,342 5 5 2,300,000 Microwave 2,600 10 1,500,000 1,540,006 59 60 1,560,000 218- 219 MHz (Formerly IVDS) 3 10 1,500 1,540 51 50 1,500 Marine (Ship) 7,000 10 585,000 600,602 9 10 700,000 GMRS 21, 000 5 375,000 385,001 4 5 525,000 Aviation (Aircraft) 7,400 10 155,000 159,134 2 5 370,000 Marine (Coast) 1,000 10 96, 200 98, 766 10 10 100,000 Aviation (Ground) 1,600 5 120,000 123,200 15 15 120,000 Amateur Vanity Call Signs 7,600 10 162,119 166,443 2.19 2.19 166,443 AM Class A 66 1 198,375 203, 666 3,086 3, 075 202,950 AM Class B 1,592 1 2,421,075 2, 485, 646 1,561 1, 550 2,467,600 AM Class C 956 1 841,500 863, 943 904 900 860,400 AM Class D 1,769 1 2,784,800 2, 859, 072 1,616 1, 625 2,874,625 FM Classes A, B1 & C3 3,045 1 5,715,500 5, 980, 390 1,964 1, 975 6,013,875 FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 & C2 2,963 1 7,026,150 7, 321, 585 2,471 2, 475 7,333,425 AM Construction Permits 113 1 33, 945 34, 850 308 310 35, 030 FM Construction Permits 1 98 1 267,300 53, 929 550 550 53, 900 Satellite TV 123 1 128, 100 131, 516 1, 069 1, 075 132, 225 Satellite TV Construction Permit 3 1 1,560 1, 602 534 535 1,605 VHF Markets 43 1 2,596,125 2, 665, 365 61, 985 61, 975 2,664,925 45 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 46 Fee Category FY 2005 Payment Units Years FY 2004 Revenue Estimate Pro- Rated FY 2005 Revenue Require-ment* Computed New FY 2005 Regulatory Fee Rounded New FY 2005 Regula-tory Fee Expected FY 2005 Revenue 1- 10 VHF Markets 11- 25 61 1 2,654,400 2, 725, 194 44, 675 44, 675 2,725,175 VHF Markets 26- 50 72 1 2,246,475 2, 306, 389 32, 033 32, 025 2,305,800 VHF Markets 51- 100 118 1 2,161,725 2, 219, 379 18, 808 18, 800 2,218,400 VHF Remaining Markets 211 1 951,750 977, 134 4,631 4, 625 975,875 VHF Construction Permits 9 1 27, 900 28, 644 3,183 3, 175 28, 575 UHF Markets 1- 10 84 1 1,599,750 1, 682, 187 20, 026 20, 025 1,682,100 UHF Markets 11- 25 79 1 1,310,175 1, 384, 889 17, 530 17, 525 1,384,475 UHF Markets 26- 50 115 1 1,088,100 1, 156, 891 10, 060 10, 050 1,155,750 UHF Markets 51- 100 162 1 943,500 993, 971 6,136 6, 125 992,250 UHF Remaining Markets 181 1 301,950 310, 003 1,713 1, 725 312,225 UHF Construction Permits 1 31 1 192,950 53, 475 1,725 1, 725 53, 475 Broadcast Auxiliaries 25, 000 1 250,000 256, 668 10 10 250,000 LPTV/ Trans- lators/ Boosters 2,900 1 1,116,500 1, 146, 277 395 395 1,145,500 CARS Stations 900 1 135,000 138, 601 154 155 139,500 Cable TV Systems 65, 000, 000 1 45,500,000 46, 713, 502 0.719 0. 72 46, 800, 000 Interstate Tele- communication Service Providers 54,000,000, 000 1 127,530,000 130, 931,273 0. 002425 0. 00243 131, 220,000 CMRS Mobile Services (Cellular/ Public Mobile) 179,000,000 1 38,250,000 39, 565, 080 0.221 0. 22 39, 380, 000 CMRS Messaging 11, 200, 000 1 1,160,000 896, 000 0.08 0.08 896,000 46 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 47 Fee Category FY 2005 Payment Units Years FY 2004 Revenue Estimate Pro- Rated FY 2005 Revenue Require-ment* Computed New FY 2005 Regulatory Fee Rounded New FY 2005 Regula-tory Fee Expected FY 2005 Revenue Services BRS 2 LMDS 3 1,800 330 1 1 432,000 91, 800 455,400 83, 490 253 253 255 255 459,000 84, 150 International Bearer Circuits 5,300,000 1 7,056,000 7, 244, 186 1.37 1.37 7,261,000 International Public Fixed 1 1 1,750 1, 797 1,797 1, 800 1,800 Earth Stations 3,400 1 680,000 698, 136 205 205 697,000 International HF Broadcast 5 1 3,725 3, 824 765 765 3,825 Space Stations (Geostationary) 81 1 8,829,975 9, 065, 474 111,919 111, 925 9,065,925 Space Stations (Non- Geostationary 6 1 657,000 674, 522 112,420 112, 425 674,550 ****** Total Estimated Revenue to be Collected 272,821,674 280, 099,050 280, 765,853 ****** Total Revenue Requirement 272, 958,000 280, 098,000 280, 098,000 Difference (136, 326) 1,050 667,853 * 1. 02615787 factor applied based on the amount Congress designated for recovery through regulatory fees (Public Law 108- 7 and 47 U. S. C. § 159( a)( 2)). 1 The FM Construction Permit and UHF Construction Permit revenues were adjusted so that the construction permit fee is no higher than the level of the lowest licensed fee for that class of service. 2 MDS/ MMDS category was renamed Broadband Radio Service (BRS). See Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 and 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Provision of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, Educational and Other Advanced Services in the 2150- 2162 and 2500- 2690 MHz Bands et al, Report & Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 19 FCC Rcd 14165 (2004). 3 Although we are tracking BRS (formerly MDS/ MMDS) and LMDS separately in terms of payment units, the FY 2005 regulatory fee for BRS and LMDS is calculated by combining the units and the “Pro- Rated Revenue Requirements” of both BRS and LMDS. 47 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 48 ATTACHMENT D FY 2005 SCHEDULE OF REGULATORY FEES Regulatory fees for the categories shaded in gray are collected by the Commission in advance to cover the term of the license and are submitted along with the application at the time the application is filed. Fee Category Annual Regulatory Fee (U. S. $'s) PLMRS (per license) (Exclusive Use) (47 CFR part 90) 10 Microwave (per license) (47 CFR part 101) 60 218- 219 MHz (Formerly Interactive Video Data Service) (per license) (47 CFR part 95) 50 Marine (Ship) (per station) (47 CFR part 80) 10 Marine (Coast) (per license) (47 CFR part 80) 10 General Mobile Radio Service (per license) (47 CFR part 95) 5 Rural Radio (47 CFR part 22) (previously listed under the Land Mobile category) 5 PLMRS (Shared Use) (per license) (47 CFR part 90) 5 Aviation (Aircraft) (per station) (47 CFR part 87) 5 Aviation (Ground) (per license) (47 CFR part 87) 15 Amateur Vanity Call Signs (per call sign) (47 CFR part 97) 2.19 CMRS Mobile/ Cellular Services (per unit) (47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24, 27, 80 and 90) .22 CMRS Messaging Services (per unit) (47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24 and 90) .08 Broadband Radio Service (formerly MMDS/ MDS) (per license) (47 CFR part 21) Local Multipoint Distribution Service (47 CFR, part 101) 255 255 AM Radio Construction Permits 310 FM Radio Construction Permits 550 TV (47 CFR part 73) VHF Commercial Markets 1- 10 61, 975 Markets 11- 25 44, 675 Markets 26- 50 32, 025 Markets 51- 100 18, 800 Remaining Markets 4,625 48 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 49 Fee Category Annual Regulatory Fee (U. S. $'s) Construction Permits 3,175 TV (47 CFR part 73) UHF Commercial Markets 1- 10 20, 025 Markets 11- 25 17, 525 Markets 26- 50 10, 050 Markets 51- 100 6,125 Remaining Markets 1,725 Construction Permits 1,725 Satellite Television Stations (All Markets) 1, 075 Construction Permits – Satellite Television Stations 535 Low Power TV, TV/ FM Translators & Boosters (47 CFR part 74) 395 Broadcast Auxiliaries (47 CFR part 74) 10 CARS (47 CFR part 78) 155 Cable Television Systems (per subscriber) (47 CFR part 76) .72 Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers (per revenue dollar) .00243 Earth Stations (47 CFR part 25) 205 Space Stations (per operational station in geostationary orbit) (47 CFR part 25) also includes DBS Service (per operational station) (47 CFR part 100) 111,925 Space Stations (per operational system in non- geostationary orbit) (47 CFR part 25) 112,425 International Bearer Circuits (per active 64KB circuit) 1. 37 International Public Fixed (per call sign) (47 CFR part 23) 1,800 International (HF) Broadcast (47 CFR part 73) 765 49 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 50 FY 2005 SCHEDULE OF REGULATORY FEES (continued) FY 2005 RADIO STATION REGULATORY FEES Population Served AM Class A AM Class B AM Class C AM Class D FM Classes A, B1 & C3 FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 & C2 <= 25,000 625 475 375 450 550 725 25, 001 – 75, 000 1,225 925 550 675 1, 125 1,250 75, 001 – 150,000 1,825 1,150 750 1,125 1, 550 2,300 150, 001 – 500, 000 2,750 1,950 1, 125 1,350 2, 375 3,000 500, 001 – 1,200, 000 3,950 2,975 1, 875 2,250 3, 750 4,400 1,200,001 – 3, 000,00 6,075 4,575 2, 825 3,600 6, 100 7,025 >3, 000, 000 7,275 5,475 3, 575 4,500 7, 750 9,125 50 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 51 ATTACHMENT E FACTORS, MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS THAT GO INTO DETERMINING STATION SIGNAL CONTOURS AND ASSOCIATED POPULATION COVERAGES AM Stations For stations with nondirectional daytime antennas, the theoretical radiation was used at all azimuths. For stations with directional daytime antennas, specific information on each day tower, including field ratio, phasing, spacing and orientation was retrieved, as well as the theoretical pattern root-mean- square of the radiation in all directions in the horizontal plane (RMS) figure milliVolt per meter (mV/ m) @ 1 km) for the antenna system. The standard, or modified standard if pertinent, horizontal plane radiation pattern was calculated using techniques and methods specified in §§ 73.150 and 73.152 of the Commission's rules. 268 Radiation values were calculated for each of 360 radials around the transmitter site. Next, estimated soil conductivity data was retrieved from a database representing the information in FCC Figure R3 269 . Using the calculated horizontal radiation values, and the retrieved soil conductivity data, the distance to the city grade (5 mV/ m) contour was predicted for each of the 360 radials. The resulting distance to city grade contours were used to form a geographical polygon. Population counting was accomplished by determining which 2000 block centroids were contained in the polygon. (A block centroid is the center point of a small area containing population as computed by the U. S. Census Bureau.) The sum of the population figures for all enclosed blocks represents the total population for the predicted city grade coverage area. FM Stations The greater of the horizontal or vertical effective radiated power (ERP) (kW) and respective height above average terrain (HAAT) (m) combination was used. Where the antenna height above mean sea level (HAMSL) was available, it was used in lieu of the average HAAT figure to calculate specific HAAT figures for each of 360 radials under study. Any available directional pattern information was applied as well, to produce a radial- specific ERP figure. The HAAT and ERP figures were used in conjunction with the Field Strength (50- 50) propagation curves specified in 47 C. F. R. § 73. 313 of the Commission's rules to predict the distance to the city grade (70 dBu (decibel above 1 microVolt per meter) or 3.17 mV/ m) contour for each of the 360 radials. 270 The resulting distance to city grade contours were used to form a geographical polygon. Population counting was accomplished by determining which 2000 block centroids were contained in the polygon. The sum of the population figures for all enclosed blocks represents the total population for the predicted city grade coverage area. 268 47 C. F. R. §§ 73. 150 and 73. 152. 269 See Map of Estimated Effective Ground Conductivity in the United States, 47 C. F. R. § 73. 190 Figure R3. 270 47 C. F. R. § 73.313. 51 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 52 ATTACHMENT F Parties Filing Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast (“ BMDDP”) Cingular Wireless LLC (“ Cingular”) National Cable & Telecommunications Association (“ NCTA”) Satellite Industry Association (“ SIA”) Tyco Communications (US) Inc. (“ Tyco”) XO Communications, Inc. (“ XO”) Parties Filing Reply Comments American Cable Association (“ ACA”) Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (“ CTIA”) DIRECTV, Inc. and EchoStar Satellite (“ DirecTV & Echostar”) Level 3 Communications (“ Level 3”) Tyco Communications (US) Inc. (“ Tyco”) Parties Filing a Notice of Oral Ex Parte Presentation Tyco Telecommunications (“ Tyco Telecom”) Filed by Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, LLP Satellite company representatives from Intelsat, PanAmSat, and SES Americom Filed by Hogan & Hartson, LLP XO Communications (“ XO”) Files by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, PC 52 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 53 ATTACHMENT G FY 2004 SCHEDULE OF REGULATORY FEES Fee Category Annual Regulatory Fee (U. S. $'s) PLMRS (per license) (Exclusive Use) (47 CFR part 90) 10 Microwave (per license) (47 CFR part 101) 50 218- 219 MHz (Formerly Interactive Video Data Service) (per license) (47 CFR part 95) 50 Marine (Ship) (per station) (47 CFR part 80) 15 Marine (Coast) (per license) (47 CFR part 80) 10 General Mobile Radio Service (per license) (47 CFR part 95) 5 Rural Radio (47 CFR part 22) (previously listed under the Land Mobile category) 5 PLMRS (Shared Use) (per license) (47 CFR part 90) 5 Aviation (Aircraft) (per station) (47 CFR part 87) 5 Aviation (Ground) (per license) (47 CFR part 87) 15 Amateur Vanity Call Signs (per call sign) (47 CFR part 97) 2.08 CMRS Mobile/ Cellular Services (per unit) (47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24, 27, 80 and 90) .25 CMRS Messaging Services (per unit) (47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24 and 90) .08 Multipoint Distribution Services (MMDS/ MDS) (per call sign) (47 CFR part 21) Local Multipoint Distribution Service (per call sign) (47 CFR, part 101) 270 270 AM Radio Construction Permits 465 FM Radio Construction Permits 1,650 TV (47 CFR part 73) VHF Commercial Markets 1- 10 60, 375 Markets 11- 25 41, 475 Markets 26- 50 29, 175 Markets 51- 100 17, 575 Remaining Markets 4,050 Construction Permits 4,650 TV (47 CFR part 73) UHF Commercial Markets 1- 10 17, 775 53 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 54 Fee Category Annual Regulatory Fee (U. S. $'s) Markets 11- 25 16, 175 Markets 26- 50 9,300 Markets 51- 100 5,550 Remaining Markets 1,650 Construction Permits 5,675 Satellite Television Stations (All Markets) 1, 050 Construction Permits – Satellite Television Stations 520 Low Power TV, TV/ FM Translators & Boosters (47 CFR part 74) 385 Broadcast Auxiliary (47 CFR part 74) 10 CARS (47 CFR part 78) 135 Cable Television Systems (per subscriber) (47 CFR part 76) .70 Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers (per revenue dollar) .00218 Earth Stations (47 CFR part 25) 200 Space Stations (per operational station in geostationary orbit) (47 CFR part 25) also includes Direct Broadcast Satellite Service (per operational station) (47 CFR part 100) 114,675 Space Stations (per operational system in non- geostationary orbit) (47 CFR part 25) 131,400 International Bearer Circuits (per active 64KB circuit) 2. 52 International Public Fixed (per call sign) (47 CFR part 23) 1,750 International (HF) Broadcast (47 CFR part 73) 745 54 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 55 FY 2004 SCHEDULE OF REGULATORY FEES (continued) FY 2004 RADIO STATION REGULATORY FEES Population Served AM Class A AM Class B AM Class C AM Class D FM Classes A, B1 & C3 FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 & C2 <= 25,000 600 450 350 425 525 675 25, 001 – 75, 000 1,200 900 525 625 1, 050 1,175 75, 001 – 150,000 1,800 1,125 700 1,075 1, 450 2,200 150, 001 – 500, 000 2,700 1,925 1, 050 1,275 2, 225 2,875 500, 001 – 1,200, 000 3,900 2,925 1, 750 2,125 3, 550 4,225 1,200,001 – 3, 000,00 6,000 4,500 2, 625 3,400 5, 775 6,750 >3, 000, 000 7,200 5,400 3, 325 4,250 7, 350 8,775 55 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 56 ATTACHMENT H RULE CHANGES Part 1 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended to read as follows: PART 1 – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE 1. The authority citation for Part 1 continues to read as follows: Authority: 47 U. S. C. 151, 154( i), 154( j), 155, 225, 303, 309. 2. Section 1.1152 is revised to read as follows: § 1.1152 Schedule of annual regulatory fees and filing locations for wireless radio services. Exclusive use services (per license) Fee Amount 271 Address 1. Land Mobile (Above 470 MHz and 220 MHz Local, Base Station & SMRS) (47 CFR, Part 90) a) New, Renew/ Mod $10.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 271 Note that "small fees" are collected in advance for the entire license term. Therefore, the annual fee amount shown in this table that is a small fee (categories 1 through 5) must be multiplied by the 5- or 10- year license term, as appropriate, to arrive at the total amount of regulatory fees owed. It should be further noted that application fees may also apply as detailed in §1.1102 of this chapter. 56 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 57 220 MHz Nationwide $10.00 FCC a) New, Renew/ Mod P. O. Box 358130 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 2. Microwave (47 CFR Pt. 101) (Private) a) New, Renew/ Mod $60.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $60.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $60.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $60.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 3. 218- 219 MHz Service a) New, Renew/ Mod $50.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $50.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 57 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 58 c) Renewal Only $50.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $50.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 4. Shared Use Services Land Mobile (Frequencies Below 470 MHz – except 220 MHz) a) New, Renew/ Mod $5.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $5.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $5.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $5.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 General Mobile Radio Service a) New, Renew/ Mod $5.00 FCC (FCC 605 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $5.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $5.00 FCC (FCC 605 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 58 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 59 d) Renewal Only $5.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Rural Radio (Part 22) a) New, Additional Facility, $5.00 FCC Major Renew/ Mod P. O. Box 358994 (Electronic Filing) Pittsburgh, PA (FCC 601 & 159) 15251- 5994 b) Renewal, Minor Renew/ Mod $5.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Marine Coast a) New Renewal/ Mod $10.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 c) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Aviation Ground a) New, Renewal/ Mod $15.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) Renewal Only $15.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 c) Renewal Only $15.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Marine Ship a) New, Renewal/ Mod $10.00 FCC (FCC 605 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 59 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 60 b) New, Renewal/ Mod $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (FCC 605 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Aviation Aircraft a) New, Renew/ Mod $5.00 FCC (FCC 605 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $5.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $5.00 FCC (FCC 605 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $5.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 5. Amateur Vanity Call Signs $2.19 FCC a) Initial or Renew P. O. Box 358130 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) Initial or Renew $2.19 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 60 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 61 6. CMRS Mobile Services $ .22 272 FCC (per unit) P. O. Box 358835 (FCC 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 7. CMRS Messaging Services $ .08 273 FCC (per unit) P. O. Box 358835 (FCC 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 8. Multipoint Distribution $ 255 FCC, Multipoint (Includes MMDS and MDS) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 9. Local Multipoint Distribution Service $ 255 FCC, Multipoint P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 3. Section 1. 1153 is revised to read as follows: § 1.1153 Schedule of annual regulatory fees and filing locations for mass media services. Radio [AM and FM] (47 CFR, Part 73) Fee Amount Address 1. AM Class A <= 25,000 population $625 FCC, Radio 25,001- 75,000 population $1,225 P. O. Box 358835 75,001- 150, 000 population $1,825 Pittsburgh, PA 150,001- 500, 000 population $2,750 15251- 5835 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $3,950 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $6,075 >3,000,000 population $7,275 2. AM Class B <= 25,000 population $475 25,001- 75,000 population $925 75,001- 150, 000 population $1,150 150,001- 500, 000 population $1,950 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $2,975 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $4,575 >3,000,000 population $5,475 272 These are standard fees that are to be paid in accordance with § 1.1157( b) of this chapter. 273 These are standard fees that are to be paid in accordance with § 1.1157( b) of this chapter. 61 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 62 3. AM Class C <= 25,000 population $375 25,001- 75,000 population $550 75,001- 150, 000 population $750 150,001- 500, 000 population $1,125 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $1,875 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $2,825 >3,000,000 population $3,575 4. AM Class D <= 25,000 population $450 25,001- 75,000 population $675 75,001- 150, 000 population $1,125 150,001- 500, 000 population $1,350 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $2,250 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $3,600 >3,000,000 population $4,500 5. AM Construction Permit $310 6. FM Classes A, B1 and C3 <= 25,000 population $550 25,001- 75,000 population $1,125 75,001- 150, 000 population $1,550 150,001- 500, 000 population $2,375 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $3,750 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $6,100 >3,000,000 population $7,750 7. FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 and C2 <= 25,000 population $725 25,001- 75,000 population $1,250 75,001- 150, 000 population $2,300 150,001- 500, 000 population $3,000 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $4,400 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $7,025 >3,000,000 population $9,125 8. FM Construction Permits $550 TV (47 CFR, Part 73) VHF Commercial 1. Markets 1 thru 10 $61,975 FCC, TV Branch 2. Markets 11 thru 25 $44,675 P. O. Box 358835 3. Markets 26 thru 50 $32,025 Pittsburgh, PA 4. Markets 51 thru 100 $18,800 15251- 5835 5. Remaining Markets $ 4,625 6. Construction Permits $ 3,175 62 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 63 UHF Commercial 1. Markets 1 thru 10 $20,025 FCC, UHFCommercial 2. Markets 11 thru 25 $17,525 P. O. Box 358835 3. Markets 26 thru 50 $10,050 Pittsburgh, PA 4. Markets 51 thru 100 $ 6,125 15251- 5835 5. Remaining Markets $ 1,725 6. Construction Permits $ 1,725 Satellite UHF/ VHF Commercial 1. All Markets $1,075 FCC Satellite TV 2. Construction Permits $ 535 P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Low Power TV, TV/ FM $ 395 FCC, Low Power Translator,& TV/ FM Booster P. O. Box 358835 (47 CFR Part 74) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Broadcast Auxiliary $ 10 FCC, Auxiliary P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 4. Section 1.1154 is revised to read as follows: § 1.1154 Schedule of annual regulatory charges and filing locations for common carrier services. Radio Facilities Fee Amount Address 1. Microwave (Domestic Public Fixed) $60.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC Form 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Carriers 1. Interstate Telephone Service Providers $ .00243 FCC, Carriers (per interstate and international end- user P. O. Box 358835 revenues (see FCC Form 499- A) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 5. Section 1.1155 is revised to read as follows: § 1.1155 Schedule of regulatory fees and filing locations for cable television services. 63 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 64 Fee Amount Address 1. Cable Television Relay Service $155 FCC, Cable 2. Cable TV System $ .72 P. O. Box 358835 (per subscriber) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 6. Section 1.1156 is revised to read as follows: § 1.1156 Schedule of regulatory fees and filing locations for international services. Radio Facilities Fee Amount Address 1. International (HF) $765 FCC, International Broadcast P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 2. International Public $1,800 FCC, International Fixed P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Space Stations $111,925 FCC, Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Space Stations $112,425 FCC, Space Stations (Non- Geostationary Orbit) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Earth Stations $205 FCC, Earth Station Transmit/ Receive & P. O. Box 358835 Transmit Only (per authorization or registration) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Carriers International Bearer Circuits $ 1.37 FCC, International (per active 64KB circuit or equivalent) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 64 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 65 STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL COPPS, CONCURRING Re: Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005 As in past years, I concur to emphasize that the Commission should consider initiating a proceeding to address when or how it would adjust the regulatory fees pursuant to section 9( b)( 3) of the Act. As technology advances and our regulatory activities change, we must continue to look for ways to improve our regulatory fee methodology to ensure that we continue to comply fully with the Act’s requirements. 65 Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 137 66 STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER JONATHAN ADELSTEIN APPROVING IN PART, CONCURRING IN PART Re: Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005; MD Docket No. 05- 59 As in years past, I must concur to portions of our Regulatory Fee Order because I remain troubled with the Commission’s inability to consider changes that undoubtedly occur from time to time in the costs of regulatory fees for individual services. I encourage the Commission to continue to improve its regulatory fee assessment processes so that in the future we are more able to make these adjustments as appropriate. 66