*Pages 1--70 from Microsoft Word - 58402.doc* Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) MD Docket No. 06- 68 REPORT AND ORDER Adopted: July 12, 2006 Released: July 17, 2006 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. FY 2006 Regulatory Fee Assessment Methodology........................................................................ 4 1. Development of FY 2006 Regulatory Fees ............................................................................... 5 a. Calculation of Revenue and Fee Requirements .................................................................. 5 b. Additional Adjustments to Payment Units ......................................................................... 6 2. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Messaging Service ............................................. 8 3. Regulatory Fees for Direct Broadcast Service (DBS) Providers and Cable Television Operators ................................................................................................................................. 10 4. Broadband Radio Service (BRS)/ Educational Broadband Service (EBS) .............................. 17 5. International Bearer Circuits ................................................................................................... 18 B. Clarifications.................................................................................................................................. 19 1. Clarification Regarding When Section 9 Regulatory Fees are Collected................................ 19 2. Effective Date of Payment of Multi- Year Wireless Fees ........................................................ 20 3. Clarification Regarding Experimental Licenses...................................................................... 23 C. Administrative and Operational Issues .......................................................................................... 24 1. Mandatory Use of Fee Filer..................................................................................................... 27 2. Proposals for Notification and Collection of Regulatory Fees................................................ 28 a. Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSPs) -- Billed ................................ 30 b. Satellite Space Station Licensees -- Billed ....................................................................... 31 c. Additional Service Categories for Billing or Assessing ................................................... 33 d. Media Services Licensees -- Assessed.............................................................................. 34 e. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Cellular and Mobile Services – Assessed............................................................................................................................ 38 1 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 2 f. Cable Television Subscribers -- Assessed ........................................................................ 44 3. Streamlined Regulatory Fee Payment Process for CMRS Providers ...................................... 48 III. PROCEDURAL MATTERS................................................................................................................ 49 A. Payment of Regulatory Fees .......................................................................................................... 49 1. De Minimis Fee Payment Liability ......................................................................................... 49 2. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates ....................................................................... 50 3. Limitations on Credit Card Transactions ................................................................................ 51 B. Enforcement................................................................................................................................... 52 C. Final Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis......................................................................... 54 D. Congressional Review Act Analysis.............................................................................................. 55 IV. ORDERING CLAUSES....................................................................................................................... 56 ATTACHMENTS Attachment A Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Attachment B Sources of Payment Unit Estimates for FY 2006 Attachment C Calculation of Revenue Requirements and Pro- Rata Fees Attachment D FY 2006 Schedule of Regulatory Fees Attachment E Factors, Measurements, and Calculations that Determine Station Contours and Population Coverages Attachment F FY 2005 Schedule of Regulatory Fees Attachment G List of Commenters Attachment H Rule Changes I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Report and Order, we conclude a proceeding to collect $288,771,000 in regulatory fees, pursuant to section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), and an additional $10,000,000 as required by section 3013 of the Deficit Reduction Act (Public Law 109- 171). Section 9 regulatory 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 II. DISCUSSION 2. We retain the established methods, policies, and procedures for calculating regulatory fees adopted by the Commission in prior years. We have found that this assessment methodology adopted in prior regulatory fee cycles has provided a satisfactory means for collecting the Commission’s annual appropriations. In addition to the assessment methodology, the Commission retains the same administrative measures used for notification and assessment of regulatory fees as in previous years, such as generating pre- completed regulatory fee assessment forms for certain regulatees. 3. The Commission is obligated to collect $288,771,000 in regulatory fees during Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 to fund the Commission’s operations. Consistent with our established practice, we plan to collect these regulatory fees in the August- September 2006 time frame in order to collect the required amount by the end of the fiscal year. In addition to the $288,771,000 amount above, the Commission is required to assess and collect an additional $10,000,000 to contribute toward the Nation’s debt reduction in fiscal year 2006. 2 In our FY 2006 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), we sought comment regarding 1 47 U. S. C. § 159( a). 2 Section 3013 of Public Law 109- 171 reads as follows, “In addition to any fees assessed under the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U. S. C. 151 et seq.), the Federal Communications Commission shall assess extraordinary fees for licenses in the aggregate amount of $10,000, 000, which shall be deposited in the Treasury during fiscal year 2006 as offsetting receipts.” 2 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 3 how the Commission should implement this provision. 3 Specifically, we asked whether the Commission should assess the additional $10,000,000 on application fees, on regulatory fees, or use some other form of assessment. We received no comment on this matter. Additionally, the legislative history of the act provides no guidance as to how Congress intends the Commission to collect these debt reduction funds. We believe that collecting the mandatory $10,000, 000 debt reduction contribution in conjunction with our FY 2006 schedule of section 9 regulatory fees will ensure the most equitable and timely collection of such fees. Therefore, in addition to the amount mandated by Congress in the appropriations law ($ 288,771,000), our FY 2006 schedule of section 9 regulatory fees includes an additional $10,000,000 allocated across all service categories. Hereafter, in this Report and Order, we will refer to the total $298,771,000 as regulatory fees. A. FY 2006 Regulatory Fee Assessment Methodology 4. On March 27, 2006, we released the FY 2006 NPRM. As noted in the FY 2006 NPRM, the section 9 regulatory fee proceeding is an annual process intended to ensure the Commission collects the amounts required by Congress. In the NPRM, we proposed to largely retain the section 9 regulatory fee methodology used in the prior fiscal year. Only six comments and two reply comments were filed. We address our conclusions below. 1. Development of FY 2006 Regulatory Fees a. Calculation of Revenue and Fee Requirements 5. In our FY 2006 regulatory fee assessment, we use the same section 9 regulatory fee assessment methodology that we adopted in FY 2005. Each fiscal year, the Commission proportionally allocates the total amount that must be collected via section 9 regulatory fees. The results of FY 2006 regulatory fee assessment methodology (including a comparison to the prior year’s results) are contained in Attachment C. For FY 2006, the receipts collected through FY 2005 regulatory fees will be the basis for calculating the amount the Commission must collect in FY 2006. To collect the $298,771,000 million required by law, we first adjust the FY 2005 amount upward by 6.67 percent. 4 Consistent with past practice, we then divide the FY 2006 amount by the number of payment units in each fee category to determine the unit fee. 5 As in prior years, for cases involving small fees (e. g., licenses that are renewed over a multiyear term), we divide the resulting unit fee by the term of the license, and then round these unit fees consistent with the requirements of section 9( b)( 2). b. Additional Adjustments to Payment Units 6. In calculating the FY 2006 regulatory fees listed in Attachment D, we further adjusted the FY 2005 list of payment units (see Attachment B for sources of payment units) based upon licensee 3 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 71 FR 17410 at ¶ 3 (April 6, 2006) (FY 2006 NPRM). 4 We were required to collect $280, 098, 000 in FY 2005. We are required to collect $298,771,000 in FY 2006, which is an increase of approximately 6.67 percent. Note that the required increase of approximately 6. 67 percent in FY 2006 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 for individual service categories is sometimes increased by a number other than 6.67 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 many instances, the regulatory 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 fee, etc. 3 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 4 databases and industry and trade group projections to produce the most up- to- date and equitable regulatory fee calculations possible. Whenever possible, we verified these estimates from multiple sources to ensure accuracy. Sources include Commission licensee databases, prior year payment records, and/ or industry and trade association projections. 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 2006, and fluctuations in the number of licensees or station operators due to economic, technical, or other reasons. Therefore, when we state that our estimated FY 2006 payment units are based on FY 2005 actual payment units, the number may have been rounded or adjusted slightly to account for these variables. 7. We consider additional factors in determining regulatory fees for AM and FM radio stations. These factors are facility attributes and the population served by the radio station. The calculation of the population served is determined by coupling current U. S. Census Bureau data with technical and engineering data, as detailed in Attachment E. Consequently, the population served, as well as the class and type of service (AM or FM), determines the regulatory fee amount to be paid for radio stations. 7 2. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Messaging Service 8. In the FY 2006 NPRM, we proposed to continue our policy of maintaining the CMRS Messaging Service regulatory fee at the rate originally calculated in FY 2003 (i. e., $0.08 per subscriber), noting that the subscriber base in this industry has declined more than 75% from 40.8 million to 10.1 million from FY 1997 to FY 2005. 8 We received supporting comments from three entities and no opposing comments. 9 All commenters endorse, at a minimum, maintaining the fee at $0.08 per subscriber. BloostonLaw urges the Commission to reduce the fee to $0.04 per subscriber, citing the paging industry’s declining subscriber base and increasing regulatory obligations and expenditures that have been imposed on this industry since the inception of the section 9 regulatory fee program. 10 9. We are cognizant of the regulatory obligations cited by BloostonLaw. The Commission has already addressed the hardships suffered by the CMRS messaging industry by freezing the fee, which would otherwise have risen significantly. 11 Moreover, the obligations cited by BloostonLaw are associated with significant regulatory costs and benefits that warrant increasing the fee. Therefore, we are not 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. 7 In addition, beginning in FY 2005, we established a procedure by which we set regulatory fees for AM and FM radio and VHF and UHF television Construction Permits each year at an amount no higher than the lowest regulatory fee in that respective service category. For example, the regulatory fee for a Construction Permit for an AM radio station will never be more than the regulatory fee for an AM Class C radio station serving a population of less than 25, 000. 8 See FY 2006 NPRM, ¶ 7. 9 Comments received from the American Association of Paging Carriers (AAPC), the law firm of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Pendergast, LLP (BloostonLaw), and USA Mobility, Inc. 10 BloostonLaw notes the paging industry’s requirement to contribute to the Universal Service Fund, the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) fund, the Local Number Portability (LNP) fund, and the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) fund. See BloostonLaw Comments at 3. 11 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005, Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, 20 FCC Rcd 12259, 12264 ¶ 5 (2005) (FY 2005 R& O and Order on Reconsideration). 4 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 5 persuaded to reduce the regulatory fee amount. In consideration of the financial hardship that could be caused by increasing the fee (shrinking profit margins, additional loss of subscribers, reduced revenue, etc.) for this service category, we adopt our proposal to maintain the CMRS Messaging Service regulatory fee this fiscal year at $0.08 per subscriber. 3. Regulatory Fees for Direct Broadcast Service (DBS) Providers and Cable Television Operators 10. In our FY 2005 regulatory fee proceeding, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and American Cable Association (ACA) submitted comments 12 proposing that the Commission adopt the same per- subscriber assessment for DBS operators that applies to cable television operators. 13 DirecTV, Inc. and Echostar Satellite L. L. C. (DirecTV and Echostar), in joint reply comments, argued that the cable operators failed to make the required showing to satisfy section 9( b)( 3) of the Act for changes to the Commission’s regulatory fee structure, specifically, “In making such amendments, the Commission shall add, delete, or reclassify services in the Schedule to reflect additions, deletions, or changes in the nature of its services as a consequence of Commission rulemaking proceedings or changes in law.” 14 We agreed that the cable commenters did not satisfy section 9 requirements. 11. As a procedural matter, we also found that, because the comments raised issues not contemplated in the FY 2005 NPRM, we had not provided sufficient notice for a change to the fee methodology for DBS operators. 15 Therefore, we stated that we would seek further information on this issue in our FY 2006 regulatory fee proceeding 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. 16 12. In the FY 2006 NPRM, we sought comment on the appropriate regulatory fee structure for both cable operators and DBS providers. 17 We asked that commenters proposing a fee change identify the Commission rulemaking proceeding( s) or change( s) in law that they believe warrant a modification of the fee assessment schedule. NCTA, ACA, and the DBS industry again commented on this issue in FY 2006. While many of the economic, competition, and perceived equity arguments presented in these comments repeated those made in FY 2005, they also provided additional information regarding changes in law and subsequent Commission rulemakings. 13. NCTA argues that the Commission should modify the structure for assessing DBS regulatory fees. In particular, NCTA argues that DBS should be assessed on a per- subscriber basis, and 12 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005, Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, 20 FCC Rcd 12259, 12264 ¶ 10 (2005) (FY 2005 R& O and Order on Recon). See also FY 2005 Comments of NCTA and FY 2005 Comments of ACA. 13 Since the inception of the Commission’s regulatory fee program, we have assessed section 9 regulatory fees on cable operators using a per- subscriber approach, which is consistent with the original (1994) statute. By contrast, section 9 regulatory fee assessments for DBS providers are based on a per- license approach, which is also consistent with the Commission’s permitted amendment to the statute that took place in 1996. 14 47 U. S. C. § 159( b)( 3). In addition, 47 U. S. C. § 159( b)( 4) requires that if the Commission revises its fee schedule based upon Commission rulemaking proceedings or changes in law, it must provide Congress with 90 days notice before such an amendment of the fee schedule can be implemented. See 47 U. S. C. § 159( b)( 4). 15 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005, Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, 20 FCC Rcd 12259, 12264 ¶ 10 (2005) (FY 2005 R& O and Order on Reconsideration). 16 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 71 FR 17410 at ¶ 8 (April 6, 2006) (FY 2006 NPRM). 17 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, at ¶ 8. 5 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 6 that cable regulatory fees should be reduced. NCTA argues that the Commission’s per- license fee scheme for DBS rests on an out- dated and faulty premise that the Commission’s regulatory responsibilities with respect to DBS are unrelated to the number of end users of satellite services. 18 It asserts that the regulatory landscape for Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD) has changed significantly in the past 10 years, stating that the Commission’s regulatory responsibilities with respect to the cable industry have substantially diminished, while its responsibilities with respect to the DBS industry have increased. 19 NCTA supports this assertion by noting that cable specific rulemakings at the Commission have been on the wane 20 and that rate regulation of the cable programming service tier (CPST) ended in 1999, along with all of the Commission’s CPST rate review activity. 21 NCTA then highlights areas where DBS and cable are subject to a host of comparable, and in some cases service- specific, regulations. These include mandatory carriage obligations for broadcast signals, retransmission consent for the carriage of broadcast signals, network non- duplication, syndicated exclusivity and sports programming blackout requirements. 22 ACA fully supports NCTA’s recommendation that the Commission impose a per- subscriber fee on DBS. 23 ACA points out the overwhelming disparity in regulatory fee assessments on small and medium- sized cable operators as compared to DBS, and states that the disparity places these operators at a structural disadvantage to their DBS competitors. 24 14. DirecTV, Inc. and Echostar Satellite L. L. C. (DirecTV and Echostar) filed joint reply comments opposing the arguments of NCTA and ACA. The joint commenters claim that NTCA’s proposal is only one part of the cable television industry’s nationwide campaign to raise taxes paid by its DBS rivals. 25 DirecTV and Echostar assert that the cable industry has failed to show that DBS regulatory fees are out of line with the Commission’s DBS regulatory costs and that, accordingly, the cable industry has not made an argument that satisfies 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. 26 Specifically, DirecTV and Echostar maintain that before the Commission can amend the geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite space station fee category, it must, at a minimum, find 27 that new rulemaking proceedings or changes in law have caused additions, deletions, or changes to the nature of the GSO space station fee category such that the space station fee no longer reasonably relates to the regulatory costs caused by the GSO space station service for certain regulatory activities, as those costs may be “adjusted” by the benefits to space station operators of such activities. 28 15. DirecTV and Echostar maintain that the section 9 statutory conditions have not been met. 29 18 NCTA Comments at 2. 19 NCTA Comments at 8. 20 NCTA Comments at 8. 21 NCTA Comments at 8. 22 NCTA Comments at 9. 23 ACA Comments at 2. 24 ACA Comments at 2. 25 DirecTV and Echostar Reply Comments at 1 and fn. 1. 26 DirecTV and Echostar Reply Comments at 1 and 2. 27 Section 9( b)( 3) states: “In making such amendments, the Commission shall add, delete, or reclassify services in the Schedule to reflect additions, deletions, or changes in the nature of its services as a consequence of Commission rulemaking proceedings or changes in law.” DirecTV & Echostar do not provide a citation for their interpretation of this provision. 28 DirecTV and Echostar Reply Comments at 3 and 4. 29 DirecTV & Echostar Reply Comments at 4. 6 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 7 They argue that NCTA’s justifications for raising DBS section 9 fees are unrelated to the standard for amending fees, as those justifications range from items that have nothing to do with the GSO space station category (market and regulatory changes in the cable industry), to items that have nothing to do with rulemakings or law (DBS subscriber gains, cable subscriber losses), or to regulatory proceedings in which DBS participation has not changed significantly in years (video programming competition, closed captioning, etc.) 30 16. We are not persuaded by NCTA’s arguments that modifications to the section 9 regulatory fee structure are warranted at this time. We agree with DirecTV and Echostar that NCTA has not shown that the requirements of section 9 would be better satisfied by the reclassification of DBS and the assessment of the DBS fee on a per subscriber basis, as proposed by NCTA. We therefore will continue to use the section 9 regulatory fee classification of DBS as a GSO service and assess the fee on a per satellite basis as adopted by the Commission in prior fiscal years. The existing regulatory fee classification and related methodology has ensured that regulatory fees are reasonably related to the benefits provided by the Commission’s activities. 31 In addition the existing classification and methodology retained herein has been proven to result in collecting the amount required by Congress in its annual appropriations for the Commission. 32 Finally, as a practical matter, we do not have sufficient time available to modify the section 9 regulatory fee classification and methodology as proposed by NCTA and still comply with the 90- day congressional notification requirement before we start our regulatory fee collections in the August/ September time frame. For these reasons, we decline to adopt the NCTA’s proposals and instead retain the existing section 9 regulatory fee classification and methodology for DBS at this time. 4. Broadband Radio Service (BRS)/ Educational Broadband Service (EBS) 17. On April 27, 2006, the Commission adopted a framework for BRS/ EBS regulatory fees in a BRS/ EBS rulemaking. 33 Briefly, the Commission adopted a MHz- based formula for BRS with tiered fees by markets, similar to our annual scale for broadcast television stations, but on a more simplified scale. 34 As we proposed in the FY 2006 NPRM, 35 we would not implement these changes in our FY 2006 schedule of section 9 regulatory fees because the still- pending nature of the BRS/ EBS rulemaking would not afford us with sufficient notice to do so. Accordingly, for FY 2006, BRS regulatory fees will be assessed using the rules currently in effect. For EBS, the Commission decided that section 9 regulatory fees should not be assessed on this service, 36 which is consistent with our current policy of not assessing section 9 regulatory fees on ITFS (Instructional Television Fixed Service). 5. International Bearer Circuits 18. On February 6, 2006, VSNL Telecommunications (US) Inc. (VSNL) filed a Petition for Rulemaking urging the Commission to modify the current International Bearer Circuit Fee rules and 30 DirecTV & Echostar Reply Comments at 4. 31 47 U. S. C. § 159 (b)( 1)( A) 32 47 U. S. C. § 159 (b)( 1)( B) 33 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., Order on Reconsideration and Fifth Memorandum Opinion and Order and Third Memorandum Opinion and Order and Second Report and Order, FCC 06- 46, ¶¶ 367- 376 (rel. April 27, 2006) (BRS/ EBS Second Report and Order). 34 See id., ¶ 376. 35 See FY 2006 NPRM, 71 FR at 17412 ¶ 9 (April 6, 2006) (proposed not to implement in the FY 2006 schedule of section 9 Regulatory Fees any changes that might be adopted in the BRS/ EBS proceeding). 36 See BRS/ EBS Second Report and Order at ¶ 373. 7 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 8 policies as applied to non- common carrier (i. e., private) submarine cable operators. 37 This Petition remains pending before the Commission, which issued a Public Notice designating the proceeding as RM- 11312 and requesting comment on the Petition. 38 In the FY 2006 NPRM, we stated that the complex issues presented by the VSNL Petition warranted consideration separately from the Commission’s annual regulatory fee proceeding process, and that any comments on these issues arising from the FY 2006 NPRM would be addressed with the record generated by the VSNL Petition. 39 Apollo Submarine Cable System, Ltd. (Apollo), one of the parties that submitted comments on the VSNL Petition, also filed comments on the International Bearer Circuit Fee issue in response to the FY 2006 NPRM. 40 In accordance with our stated intent in the FY 2006 NPRM, we incorporate Apollo’s instant comments into the VSNL Petition proceeding, RM- 11312. B. Clarifications 1. Clarification Regarding When Section 9 Regulatory Fees are Collected 19. We continue to receive many inquiries each year from regulatees as to whether section 9 regulatory fees are collected in advance of our fiscal year, or whether they are collected in arrears. The Commission’s fiscal year is the period of time from October 1 through September 30. 41 The Commission generally collects section 9 regulatory fees in August and/ or September toward the end of the fiscal year, and the Commission will maintain the same regulatory fee schedule in FY 2006. 2. Effective Date of Payment of Multi- Year Wireless Fees 20. The first eleven fee categories in our Attachment D, Schedule of Regulatory Fees, constitute a grouping known as “small wireless fees” for multi- year wireless fees. 42 Regulatory fees for this grouping are generally paid in advance for the entire 5- year or 10- year term of the license at the time that a renewal application (or application for a new license) is filed. Because these regulatory fees are paid when a renewal application (or application for a new license) is filed, these “small wireless fees” can be paid at any time during the fiscal year whenever the relevant application is filed. As a result, there has been some confusion as to whether the prior fiscal year (prior FY) or current fiscal year (current FY) rate applies when a renewal application (or application for a new license) is filed near the effective date of the current FY regulatory fees. The Commission clarified this matter in the FY 2005 R& O and Order on Reconsideration 43 and we provide further clarification below. 21. In general, the applicable fee is the one in effect as of the date that the relevant application is filed. Thus, the current FY regulatory fee is applicable if the official filing date of the application is on or after the effective date of the current fee. The current FY regulatory fees generally become effective 30 or 60 days after publication of the regulatory fees Order in the Federal Register, or in some instances, 90 days after delivery of the Order to Congress. Generally, the "effective date" of the current fiscal year regulatory fees is published in a public notice soon after the Order is released. 37 See Petition for Rulemaking of VSNL Telecommunications (US) Inc., RM- 11312 (filed February 6, 2006). 38 See Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, Public Notice, Report No. 2759 (released February 15, 2006). 39 See FY 2006 NPRM at footnote 20. 40 See Apollo Comment at 2 and at footnote 6. 41 By way of example, our Fiscal Year 2006 began on October 1, 2005 and runs through September 30, 2006. 42 See 47 CFR § 1.1152 (note 1). “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 . . . must be multiplied by the 5- or 10- year license term, as appropriate to arrive at the total amount of the regulatory fees owed . . . .” 43 FY 2005 R& 0 and Order on Reconsideration at ¶ 26. 8 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 9 22. We wish to clarify the applicable filing date for wireless licenses in the fee category above. The Commission’s rules for renewal of wireless licenses provide that licensees may file their renewal applications, and thus make regulatory fee payments, no more than 90 days prior to the expiration date of their licenses. 44 For the small wireless fees categories, the regulatory fee rate that applies depends upon the filing date of the application, i. e., the date that the application is electronically or manually filed with the Commission in accordance with the Commission’s rules. However, applicants filing electronically have varying payment options that in some cases include the option to submit the payment manually with FCC Form 159. In this case, the applicant must submit payment so that it is received within 10 days of filing the application electronically. As a result, an application that is filed shortly before the new FY fee rate becomes effective may result in payment occurring after the new FY fee rate is effective. In such cases, the fee rate will be calculated based on the prior FY fee rate because the application was electronically filed before the effective date of the current FY fee rate. 3. Clarification Regarding Experimental Licenses 23. It has come to our attention that some licensees mistakenly believe that they have a section 9 fee obligation for their experimental licenses. We clarify that holders of experimental licenses are not required to pay regulatory fees for such licenses. Any holder of an experimental license who has mistakenly paid a regulatory fee for such license may submit a refund request in accordance with the Commission’s rules. 45 C. Administrative and Operational Issues 24. In our FY 2006 NPRM, we invited comment on the administrative and operational processes used to collect the annual section 9 regulatory fees. Although these issues do not affect the amount of regulatory fees parties are obligated to submit, administrative and operational issues do impact the process of submitting fee payments. We sought general comment on ways to improve current processes. Mr. Kenneth J. Brown submitted comments on these issues, raising concerns over past practices regarding the accuracy of the Commission’s billing of earth station non- payers. Mr. Brown states that last year the Commission erroneously sent licensees of recently- granted earth stations past- due bills for FY 2005 regulatory fees despite that fact that those earth stations licenses were granted after October 1, 2004 (the effective date for FY 2005 regulatory fees). 46 Because of this, Mr. Brown urges the Commission not to act on its proposal to expand its pre- billing initiatives to the earth station service category. 47 25. In prior years the Commission’s practice for issuing past- due bills was as follows. After the close of each annual regulatory fee collection cycle, we compared the FCC Registration Number (FRN) of those entities who paid with the total number of licensed entities in each fee service category and then sent those entities not having a record of payment a request for late payment or for information that clarifies their payment status. For FY 2006, we have obtained from each licensing system the names of the entities that had been granted licenses on or before October 1, 2005, prior to the start of the regulatory fee collection cycle. Using this information, we anticipate improvements in the post- regulatory fee season billing process that addresses the problem noted by Mr. Brown. Also, this fiscal year we have opted not to expand our pre- billing initiatives to the earth station category nor to any other categories, due to logistical and resource constraints. 44 See 47 CFR § 1.949( a). 45 See 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1160( d), 1.1162. Refund requests should be sent via surface mail to: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Managing Director, 445 12 th Street, S. W, Room 1- A625, Washington, DC 20554, Attention: Regulatory Fee Refund Request. 46 Comments of Kenneth J. Brown at 1- 2. 47 Comments of Kenneth J. Brown at 1. 9 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 10 26. In his comments, Mr. Brown also states that he erroneously overpaid a regulatory fee obligation through Fee Filer and complains of the length of time it has taken for the Commission to process his refund request. Entities who do not receive a timely response to their refund request should call ARINQUIRES via the FCC Financial Operations Help Desk at 1- 877- 480- 3201, Option 4, or email ARINQUIRES@ fcc. gov to obtain a status update. 1. Mandatory Use of Fee Filer 27. In our FY 2006 NPRM, we sought comment on the impact of instituting a mandatory usage requirement for our electronic Fee Filer software application for large- volume section 9 regulatory fee payers. We invited comments solely to establish a record on this topic, stating that any such requirement would not be put into effect until FY 2007 or later. 48 We received no comments supporting such action, one comment unfavorable to the use of Fee Filer in general, 49 and one comment requesting that, if Fee Filer usage becomes mandatory, cable television operators serving less than 5,000 subscribers should have the option to mail their regulatory fee payments instead of using Fee Filer. 50 In view of the foregoing, we will not mandate use of our Fee Filer software for large- volume section 9 regulatory fee payers either in FY 2006 or FY 2007. We continue to encourage regulatees to use Fee Filer, especially those that would otherwise submit more than twenty- five (25) hardcopy Form 159- Cs. 2. Proposals for Notification and Collection of Regulatory Fees 28. In this section, we sought comment on the administrative processes that the Commission uses to notify regulatees and collect regulatory fees. 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. Consistent with our established practice, we will provide public notices, fact sheets and all other relevant material on our website at http:// www. fcc. gov/ fees/ regfees. html for the FY 2006 regulatory fee cycle. As a general practice, we will not send such material via surface mail. However, in the event that regulatees do not have access to the Internet, we will mail public notices and other relevant material upon request. Regulatees and the general public may request such information by contacting the FCC Financial Operations Help Desk at (877) 480- 3201, Option 4. 29. Although we will not send public notices and fact sheets to regulatees en masse, we will send specific regulatory fee bills or assessments via surface mail or e- mail to select fee categories discussed below. 51 We are pursuing our billing initiatives as part of our effort to modernize our financial practices. These initiatives also serve the purpose of providing licensees with notification of upcoming regulatory fees. Eventually, we intend to expand our billing initiatives to include all regulatory fee service categories. a. Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSPs) -- Billed 30. 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. 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 48 FY 2006 NPRM at ¶ 11. 49 Comments of Kenneth J. Brown at 3. 50 American Cable Association (ACA) Comments at 6. 51 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) but it is not entered into the Commission’s accounts receivable system as a current debt. By contrast, a bill is automatically recognized as a debt owed to the Commission. Bills reflect the amount owed and have a Fee Due Date of the last day of the regulatory fee payment window. Consequently, if a bill is not paid by the Fee Due Date, it becomes delinquent and is subject to our debt collection procedures. See 47 C. F. R. §§ 1. 1161( c), 1. 1164( f)( 5), and 1. 1910. 10 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 11 159- W to simplify the regulatory fee payment process. 52 Beginning in FY 2004, the pre- completed FCC Form 159- W was sent to carriers as a bill, rather than as an assessment of amount due. 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 ITSP regulatory fees. In the FY 2006 NPRM, we sought comment on this billing initiative and ways to improve it. We received no comments or reply comments on our ITSP billing initiative, and will therefore continue our ITSP, Form 159- W, billing initiative in FY 2006. b. Satellite Space Station Licensees -- Billed 31. Beginning in FY 2004, we mailed regulatory fee bills via surface mail to licensees in our two satellite space station service categories. Specifically, geostationary orbit space station (GSO) licensees receive bills requesting regulatory fee payment for satellites that (1) were licensed by the Commission and operational on or before October 1 of the respective fiscal year; and (2) were not co-located with and technically identical to another operational satellite on that date (i. e., were not functioning as a spare satellite). Non- geostationary orbit space station (NGSO) licensees received bills requesting regulatory fee payment for systems that were licensed by the Commission and operational on or before October 1 of the respective fiscal year. 32. In the FY 2006 NPRM, we sought comment on this billing initiative and on ways to improve it. We received no comments or reply comments on the satellite billing initiative, and will therefore continue our practice of billing GSO and NGSO satellite space station fee categories for FY 2006. We emphasize that the bills that we generate for our GSO and NGSO licensees will only be for the satellite or system aspects of their respective operations. GSO and NGSO licensees typically have regulatory fee obligations in other service categories (such as earth stations, broadcast facilities, etc.), and we expect satellite operators to meet their full fee payment obligations for their entire portfolio of FCC licenses. c. Additional Service Categories for Billing or Assessing 33. We initially explored the feasibility of expanding our FY 2006 section 9 regulatory fee billing initiatives to include three additional service categories: Earth Stations, Cable Television Relay Service Stations (CARS), and the Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS). We did not receive any comments supporting the billing of these three additional categories, and therefore will not pursue these additional billing initiatives in this fiscal year. d. Media Services Licensees -- Assessed 34. Beginning in FY 2003, we sent fee assessment postcards via surface mail to media services entities on a per- facility basis. The postcards notified licensees of the date when fee payments were due; provided the assessed fee amount for the facility, as well as other data attributes that we used to determine the fee amount; and, beginning in FY 2004, provided licensees with a telephone number to call (Financial Operations Help Desk) in the event that they needed customer assistance. We received no comments or reply comments to improve our assessment initiative for media services licensees. Therefore, we will continue our postcard initiative in the manner originally planned for FY 2006. 53 52 Beginning in FY 2002, Form 159- W included a payment section at the bottom of the form that allowed carriers the opportunity to send in Form 159- W in lieu of completing Form 159 Remittance Advice Form. 53 Fee assessments are proposed to be 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 Television Stations, Low Power Television (LPTV) Stations and LPTV Translators/ Boosters, to the extent that applicants, permittees and licensees of such facilities do not qualify as government entities or non- profit entities. Fee assessments have not been issued for broadcast auxiliary stations in prior years, nor will they be issued in FY 2006. 11 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 12 35. Consistent with the procedures we used last year, we will mail a single round of postcards to licensees and their other known points of contact listed in CDBS (Consolidated Database System) and in CORES (Commission Registration System), the Commission’s two official databases for media services. By doing so, licensees and their other points of contact will be furnished the same information for each facility in question so that they can designate among themselves the payer of this year’s fee. Mailing postcards to all interested parties at different addresses on file for each facility also encourages all parties to visit a Commission- authorized web site to update or correct any information concerning the facility, or to certify their fee- exempt status, if appropriate. The web site will be available to licensees throughout this summer. 54 36. In the past, some media services licensees have mistakenly mailed their postcards back to the Commission stapled to payment checks. We emphasize that licensees must still submit a completed FCC Form 159 Remittance Advice with their fee payments, despite having received an assessment postcard. The postcards may not be used as a substitute for a completed Form 159. If the licensee does not submit a completed Form 159 along with its fee payment, we will not be able to guarantee that a licensee’s regulatory fee payment will be posted accurately to the licensee’s account. 37. We also emphasize that the most important data element that media services licensees need to include on their Form 159 is their facility ID number. The facility ID number is a unique identifier that remains constant over the course of a facility’s existence. Despite the fact that we prominently display a facility ID number on the facility’s postcard, and our Form 159 filing instructions require payers to provide their facility ID number (and associated call sign) for the facility in question, we continue to receive many incomplete Form 159s that do not provide the facility ID number for the facility for which the fee is being paid. If the facility ID number is not provided, we will not be able to guarantee that a licensee’s regulatory fee payment will be posted accurately to the licensee’s account. e. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) Cellular and Mobile Services – Assessed 38. In FY 2004, the Commission began using telephone number data from the Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast (NRUF) form to assess regulatory fees on CMRS providers. Specifically, telephone number data is used to determine the number of subscribers upon which a regulatory fee assessment will be based. In both FY 2004 and FY 2005, we sought and received comments and reply comments from licensees that helped us to improve the CMRS cellular/ mobile assessment process. For FY 2006, we again solicited, but did not receive, any comments or reply comments regarding the use of telephone number data to determine the subscriber count of CMRS providers. We continue to find telephone numbers to be a reliable, accurate method for determining subscriber counts for regulatory fee purposes. Based on our review of FY 2005 results, the Commission first assessed regulatory fees on 184.7 million numbers. The adjustment process resulted in a minor reduction of only 0.2 percent, or approximately 0.3 million telephone numbers. Therefore, as in prior years, 55 we will send an assessment letter to CMRS providers using telephone number data based on the Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast (NRUF) form, which includes a list of the carrier’s Operating Company Telephone Numbers (OCNs) upon which the assessment is based. 56 Consistent with existing practice, the letters will not include OCNs with their respective assigned number counts, but rather, an aggregate total of assigned numbers for each carrier. We will also continue our procedure of giving entities an opportunity to amend their subscriber counts by sending two rounds of assessment letters – an initial assessment and a final assessment letter. 54 The Commission- authorized web site for media services licensees is http:// www. fccfees. com. 55 See FY 2005 R& O and Order on Reconsideration, 20 FCC Rcd 12259, 12264 ¶¶ 38- 44. 56 As described below, the NRUF figure will be adjusted for porting. 12 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 13 39. If the number of subscribers on the initial assessment letter differs from the subscriber count the service provider provided on its NRUF form, the carrier can correct its subscriber count by returning the assessment letter or by contacting (a telephone number will be provided in the letter) the Commission and stating a reason for the change, such as the purchase or the sale of a subsidiary, including the date of the transaction, and any other information that will help to justify a reason for the change. 40. If we receive no response to our initial assessment letter, we will assume that the initial assessment is correct and will expect the fee payment to be based on the number of subscribers listed on the initial assessment as calculated using telephone number data from the NRUF report. We will review all responses to initial assessment letters and determine whether a change in the number of subscribers is warranted. We will then generate a final assessment letter that informs carriers as to whether or not we accept the changed number of subscribers. 41. As in previous years, operators will certify their subscriber counts in Block 30 of the FCC Form 159 Remittance Advice when making their regulatory fee payments. As an additional enhancement this year to this assessment process, we will include porting information (e. g., information on the number of “ports in” and “ports out”) in our “initial” assessment letter so that licensees can account for any differences between the telephone number data submitted in their NRUF report and the Commission’s assessment count. 42. Although an initial and a final assessment letter will be mailed to carriers that have filed an NRUF form, some carriers may not be sent any letters of assessment because they did not file the NRUF form. These carriers should compute their fee payment using the standard methodology 57 that is currently in place for CMRS Wireless services (e. g., compute their subscriber counts as of December 31, 2005), and submit their payment accordingly on FCC Form 159. However, regardless of whether a carrier receives an assessment letter or computes the subscriber count themselves, the Commission reserves the right, under the Communications Act, to audit the number of subscribers for which regulatory fees are paid. In the event that the Commission determines that the number of subscribers is inaccurate or that an insufficient reason is given for making a correction on the initial assessment letter, we note that the Commission reserves the right to assess the carrier for the difference between what was paid and what should have been paid. 43. In summary, we will (1) derive the subscriber count from NRUF telephone data based on “assigned” telephone number counts that have been adjusted for porting to net Type 0 ports (“ in” and “out”), which should reflect a more accurate subscriber count; (2) provide carriers with the opportunity to revise the subscriber count listed on the initial assessment letter, and (3) require carriers to confirm their subscriber counts on an aggregate basis using telephone number data in the NRUF report. f. Cable Television Subscribers -- Assessed 44. We adopt our proposal to generate fee assessment letters for the cable television industry consistent with the process the Commission used in FY 2005. We received one reply comment from the American Cable Association supporting the Commission’s initiative “to send out the fee assessment letters and emails to remind cable operators of their fee payment obligations.” 58 Under our proposal, we will generate fee assessment letters for the cable operators who are on file as having paid regulatory fees the previous fiscal year for their basic cable subscribers, and request that they access a Commission- authorized web site to provide their aggregate basic cable subscriber count as of December 31, 2005. Also, as an additional means of notifying cable television regulatees of their section 9 regulatory fee payment obligations for FY 2006, we will send an e- mail reminder to all operators that have an e- mail address 57 Federal Communications Commission, Regulatory Fees Fact Sheet: What You Owe - Commercial Wireless Services for FY 2005 at 1 (rel. July 2005). (http:// www. fcc. gov/ fees/ regfees. html) 58 Reply comments from the American Cable Association at 6. 13 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 14 populated in the Media Bureau’s Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS). 45. Our assessment letter to each operator will (1) announce the due date for payment of regulatory fees; (2) reflect the subscriber count for which the operator paid regulatory fees in FY 2005, thereby certifying the subscriber count as of December 31, 2004; and (3) request that the operator access a Commission- authorized web site to provide its aggregate subscriber count as of December 31, 2005. If the number of subscribers as of December 31, 2005 differs from that as reported for last year, operators will 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 will be able to contact the FCC Financial Operations Help Desk at (877) 480- 3201, Option 4 to provide their subscriber count as of December 31, 2005. 46. Some cable operators may not have made regulatory fee payments in FY 2005 and, as a result, will not receive an assessment letter for FY 2006 regulatory fees. For example, a new company may have become operational after the first day of the fiscal year and therefore did not have a regulatory fee obligation in FY 2005; or an existing company did not make a payment because it filed a petition for waiver of regulatory fees for FY 2005 based on financial hardship. Regardless of the circumstance, we emphasize that not receiving a regulatory fee assessment letter in FY 2006 does not excuse an operator from its obligation to pay FY 2006 regulatory fees. All non- exempt cable operators, not only those that made payments in FY 2005 and/ or receive assessment letters for FY 2006 fees, are required to make payments. 47. We will also retain the payment procedures for cable television operators that we have had in place for the past two fiscal years. That is, we will continue to permit cable television operators to base their payment on their company’s aggregate subscriber count as of December 31, 2005, rather than requiring them to report subscriber counts on a per community unit identifier (CUID) basis on the FCC Form 159 Remittance Advice. After providing their company’s aggregate subscriber count in Block 25A of the FCC Form 159, operators will still be required to certify the accuracy of the subscriber count in Block 30. 3. Streamlined Regulatory Fee Payment Process for CMRS Providers 48. We proposed in our FY 2006 NPRM to permit CMRS Cellular, Mobile, and Messaging service providers using an FCC Form 159 or the automated Fee Filer system to pay their subscriber totals at the aggregate level without having to identify and associate their subscriber counts with calls signs. Because we are requiring CMRS Cellular/ Mobile providers to use the aggregate subscriber totals from their Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast report (NRUF), 59 netted for porting, it would be consistent for providers to pay their subscriber totals at the aggregate level as well without having to associate subscriber counts with their individual call signs. We received one comment from the American Association of Paging Carriers supporting the Commission’s effort to eliminate the requirement of having to allocate the subscriber count with their respective call signs. 60 We believe that eliminating this requirement will improve the Commission’s efficiency in processing regulatory fee payments, as well as reduce the administrative burden on licensees during the payment process. As a result, we eliminate the requirement for CMRS providers to identify their individual call signs when making their regulatory fee payment if they pay their regulatory fees at the aggregate subscriber level. 59 For more information on our proposed regulatory fee assessment initiative for CMRS providers this fiscal year, see also Section II. C. 2. e. of this Report and Order. 60 Comments of American Association of Paging Carriers at 3. 14 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 15 III. PROCEDURAL MATTERS A. Payment of Regulatory Fees 1. De Minimis Fee Payment Liability 49. Consistent with past practice, regulatees whose total FY 2006 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 2006 regulatory fees. 2. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates 50. The Commission will, for the convenience of payers, accept fee payments made in advance of the normal formal window for the payment of regulatory fees. Licensees are reminded that, under our current rules, the responsibility for payment of fees by service category is as follows: a) Media Services: Regulatory fees must be paid for AM/ FM radio station and VHF/ UHF television station initial construction permits that were issued on or before October 1, 2005, and for all broadcast facility licenses granted on or before October 1, 2005. However, in instances where a permit or license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2005, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit or license as of the Fee Due Date. b) Wireline (Common Carrier) Services: Fees must be paid for any authorization that was granted on or before October 1, 2005. However, in instances where a permit or license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2005, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit or license as of the Fee Due Date. 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 that was issued on or before October 1, 2005. The number of subscribers, units or circuits on December 31, 2005 will be used as the basis from which to calculate the fee payment. The first eleven fee categories in our Attachment D, Schedule of Regulatory Fees, pay what the Commission refers to as “small multi- year wireless regulatory fees.” Entities pay these regulatory fees in advance for the entire amount of the 5- year or 10- year term of initial license, and only pay fees again at the time of license renewal. As a result, the Commission does not collect regulatory fees for these eleven fee categories on an annual basis. d) Multichannel Video Programming Distributor Services (cable television operators and CARS licensees): The number of basic cable television subscribers on December 31, 2005 will be used as the basis from which to calculate the fee payment. 61 For CARS licensees, fees must be paid for any license that was granted on or before October 1, 2005. In instances where a CARS license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2005, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of 61 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. Note: Bulk- Rate Customers = Total annual bulk- rate charge divided by basic annual subscription rate for individual households. Operators may base their count on "a typical day in the last full week" of December 2005, rather than on a count as of December 31, 2005. 15 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 16 the license as of the Fee Due Date. e) International Services: For earth stations and geostationary orbit space stations, regulatory fees must be paid for stations that were licensed and operational on or before October 1, 2005. In instances where a license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2005, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the license as of the Fee Due Date. For non- geostationary orbit satellite systems, fees must be paid for systems that were licensed and operational on or before October 1, 2005. In instances where a license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2005, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the license as of the Fee Due Date. For international bearer circuits, payment is calculated on a per- active circuit basis as of December 31, 2005. 62 3. Limitations on Credit Card Transactions 51. The U. S. Treasury has advised the Commission that it will reject 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 52. 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 penalty will subject regulatees to sanctions, including the Commission’s Red Light Rule (see 47 C. F. R. § 1.1910) and 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 not timely paid, the 25 percent late charge penalty will be 62 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 2005 at 3 (rel. July 2005) (the fact sheet is available on the FCC web- site at: http:// hraunfoss. fcc. gov/ edocs_ public/ attachmatch/ DOC- 249904A4. pdf). 16 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 17 assessed on the portion that is not paid in a timely manner. 53. Furthermore, our regulatory fee rules 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. 63 Failure to pay regulatory fees can also result in the initiation of a proceeding to revoke any and all authorizations held by the entity responsible for paying the delinquent fee( s). C. Final Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis 54. This Report and Order does not contain proposed or modified information collection( s) subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104- 13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified “information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees,” pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107- 198, see 44 U. S. C. 3506( c)( 4). D. Congressional Review Act Analysis 55. The Commission will send a copy of this Report and Order in MD Docket No. 06- 68 in a report to be sent to Congress and the General Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U. S. C. 801( a)( 1)( A). IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 56. 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 2006 section 9 regulatory fee assessment requirements ARE ADOPTED as specified herein. 57. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules ARE AMENDED as set forth in Attachment H, and the these Rules shall become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. 58. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, SHALL SEND a copy of this Report and Order in MD Docket No. 06- 68, including the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the U. S. Small Business Administration. 59. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this proceeding is TERMINATED. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Marlene H. Dortch Secretary 63 See 47 CFR §§ 1. 1161( c), 1. 1164( f)( 5), and 1. 1910. 17 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 18 ATTACHMENT A FINAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS 1. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 1 the Commission prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact on small entities by the policies and rules proposed in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, In the Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006. 2 Written public comments were sought on the FY 2006 fees proposal, including comments on the IRFA. This present Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) conforms to the RFA. 3 I. Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules: 2. This rulemaking proceeding is initiated to amend the Schedule of Regulatory Fees in the amount of $298,771,000, the amount that Congress has required the Commission to recover, which includes the collection of an additional $10,000,000 by the Commission to contribute toward the Nation’s debt reduction in fiscal year 2006. 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: 3. None. III. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to which the Proposed Rules Will Apply: 4. 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, herein adopted. 4 The RFA generally defines the term “small entity” as having the same meaning as the terms “small business,” “small organization,” and “small governmental jurisdiction.” 5 In addition, the term “small business” has the same meaning as the term “small business concern” under the Small Business Act. 6 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. 7 1 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). 2 See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 71 FR 17410 at ¶ 7 (April 6, 2006) (FY 2006 NPRM). 3 5 U. S. C. § 604. 4 5 U. S. C. § 603( b)( 3). 5 5 U. S. C. § 601( 6). 6 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.” 7 15 U. S. C. § 632. 18 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 19 5. Small Businesses. Nationwide, there are a total of 22.4 million small businesses, according to SBA data. 8 6. Small Organizations. Nationwide, there are approximately 1.6 million small organizations. 9 7. 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.” 10 As of 1997, there were approximately 87, 453 governmental jurisdictions in the United States. 11 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. 8. 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.” 12 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. 13 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. 9. Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs). 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. 14 According to Commission data, 15 1,303 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of incumbent local exchange services. Of these 1,303 carriers, an estimated 1,020 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 283 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. 10. 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 8 See SBA, Programs and Services, SBA Pamphlet No. CO- 0028, at page 40 (July 2002). 9 Independent Sector, The New Nonprofit Almanac & Desk Reference (2002). 10 5 U. S. C. § 601( 5). 11 U. S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2000, Section 9, pages 299- 300, Tables 490 and 492. 12 15 U. S. C. § 632. 13 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 C. F. R. § 121.102( b). 14 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 15 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, Page 5- 5 (June 2005) (hereinafter “Trends in Telephone Service”). This source uses data that are current as of October 1, 2004. 19 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 20 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. 16 According to Commission data, 17 820 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of either competitive access provider services or competitive local exchange carrier services. Of these 820 carriers, an estimated 726 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 94 have more than 1,500 employees. In addition, 12 carriers have reported that they are “Shared- Tenant Service Providers,” and all 12 are estimated to have 1.500 or fewer employees. In addition, 39 carriers have reported that they are “Other Local Service Providers.” Of the 39, an estimated 38 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. 11. 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. 18 According to Commission data, 19 143 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of local resale services. Of these, an estimated 141 have 1,500 or fewer employees and two 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. 12. 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. 20 According to Commission data, 21 770 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of toll resale services. Of these, an estimated 747 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 23 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. 13. 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. 22 According to Commission data, 23 654 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of payphone services. Of these, an estimated 652 have 1,500 or fewer employees and two 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. 14. 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. 24 According to Commission data, 25 16 13 C. F. R. § 121.201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 17 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 18 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517310 (changed from 513330 in October 2002). 19 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 20 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517310 (changed to 513330 in October 2002). 21 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 22 3 C. F. R. § 121.201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 23 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 24 13 C. F. R. § 121.201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 20 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 21 316 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of interexchange service. Of these, an estimated 292 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 24 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. 15. 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. 26 According to Commission data, 27 23 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of operator services. Of these, an estimated 20 have 1,500 or fewer employees and three have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of OSPs are small entities that may be affected by these rules. 16. 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. 28 According to Commission data, 29 89 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of prepaid calling cards. Of these, an estimated 88 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. 17. 800 and 800- Like Service Subscribers. 30 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. 31 The most reliable source of information regarding the number of these service subscribers appears to be data the Commission receives from Database Service Management on the 800, 866, 877, and 888 numbers in use. 32 According to our data, at the end of December 2004, the number of 800 numbers assigned was 7,540,453; the number of 888 numbers assigned was 5,947,789; the number of 877 numbers assigned was 4,805,568; and the number of 866 numbers assigned was 5,011,291. 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 7,540,453 or fewer small entity 800 subscribers; 5,947,789 or fewer small entity 888 subscribers; 4,805,568 or fewer small entity 877 subscribers, and 5,011,291 or fewer entity 866 subscribers. 18. 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. (... continued from previous page) 25 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 26 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517110 (changed from 513310 in October 2002). 27 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 28 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517310 (changed from 513330 in October 2002). 29 “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3. 30 We include all toll- free number subscribers in this category, including those for 888 numbers. 31 13 C. F. R. § 121.201, NAICS code 517310 (changed from 513330 in October 2002). 32 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service”, Tables 18.4, 18.5, 18.6, and 18.7, (June 2005). 21 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 22 Under both categories, such a business is small if it has $12.5 million or less in average annual receipts. 33 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. 34 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. 19. 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.” 35 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 439 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. 36 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. 20. Wireless Service Providers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for wireless firms within the two broad economic census categories of “Paging” 37 and “Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications.” 38 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. 39 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. 40 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, U. S. Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 41 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. 42 Thus, under this second category and size standard, the great majority of firms can, again, be considered small. 33 13 CFR. § 121.201, NAICS codes 517410 and 517910 (changed from 513340 and 513390 in October 2002). 34 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). 35 Office of Management and Budget, North American Industry Classification System, page 513 (1997) (NAICS code 513390, changed to 517910 in October 2002). 36 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). 37 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513321 (changed to 517211 in October 2002). 38 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 39 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). 40 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.” 41 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). 42 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.” 22 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 23 21. 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.” 43 Under the SBA size standard, such a business is small if it has average annual receipts of $21 million or less. 44 According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 2,751 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. 45 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. 46 Thus, under this size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered small entities. 22. 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.” 47 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, U. S. Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 48 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. 49 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, 604 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. 50 We have estimated that 427 of these are small, under the SBA small business size standard. 51 23. Common Carrier Paging. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for wireless firms within the broad economic census categories of “Paging.” 52 Under this SBA category, a wireless business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. For the census category of Paging, U. S. Census Bureau data for 1997 show that there were 1,320 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 53 Of this total, 1,303 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 17 43 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). 44 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 518111. 45 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). 46 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). 47 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 48 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). 49 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.” 50 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, page 5- 5 (June 2005). This source uses data that are current as of October 1, 2004. 51 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, page 5- 5 (June 2005). This source uses data that are current as of October 1, 2004. 52 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 53 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). 23 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 24 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. 54 Thus, under this category and associated small business size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered small. 24. 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. 55 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. 56 The SBA has approved this definition. 57 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. 58 Fifty- seven companies claiming small business status won 440 licenses. 59 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. 60 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. 61 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. 62 Of these, we estimate that 589 are small, under the SBA- approved small business size standard. 63 We estimate that the majority of common carrier paging providers would qualify as small entities under the SBA definition. 25. 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. 64 The SBA has approved these definitions. 65 54 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.” 55 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). 56 Paging Second Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 2811, para. 179. 57 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. 58 See “929 and 931 MHz Paging Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 4858 (WTB 2000). 59 See “929 and 931 MHz Paging Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 4858 (WTB 2000). 60 See “Lower and Upper Paging Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 21821 (WTB 2002). 61 See “Lower and Upper Paging Bands Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 11154 (WTB 2003). 62 See Trends in Telephone Service, Industry Analysis Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Table 5.3 (Number of Telecommunications Service Providers by Size of Business) (June 2005). 63 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517211. 64 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). 24 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 25 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. 26. 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. 66 Under the SBA small business size standard, a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 67 According to the most recent Trends in Telephone Service data, 719 carriers reported that they were engaged in wireless telephony. 68 We have estimated that 427 of these are small under the SBA small business size standard. 27. 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. 69 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. 70 These small business size standards, in the context of broadband PCS auctions, have been approved by the SBA. 71 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. 72 On March 23, 1999, the Commission reauctioned 155 C, D, E, and F Block licenses; there were 113 small business winning bidders. 73 28. 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 (... continued from previous page) 65 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. 66 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 67 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 68 FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, “Trends in Telephone Service” at Table 5.3, page 5- 5 (June 2005). This source uses data that are current as of October 1, 2004. 69 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 C. F. R. § 24. 720( b). 70 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. 71 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. 72 FCC News, “Broadband PCS, D, E and F Block Auction Closes,” No. 71744 (released January 14, 1997). 73 See “C, D, E, and F Block Broadband PCS Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 14 FCC Rcd 6688 (WTB 1999). 25 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 26 small” businesses. 74 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. 29. 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. 75 Through these auctions, the Commission awarded a total of 41 licenses, 11 of which were obtained by four small businesses. 76 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. 77 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. 78 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. 79 The SBA has approved these small business size standards. 80 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. 81 Three of these claimed status as a small or very small entity and won 311 licenses. 30. 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. 82 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. 83 A “very small business” 74 See “C and F Block Broadband PCS Auction Closes; Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 2339 (2001). 75 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). 76 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). 77 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). 78 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). 79 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). 80 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. 81 See “Narrowband PCS Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 18663 (WTB 2001). 82 See Reallocation and Service Rules for the 698- 746 MHz Spectrum Band (Television Channels 52- 59), Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 1022 (2002). 83 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). 26 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 27 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. 84 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. 85 The SBA has approved these small size standards. 86 An auction of 740 licenses (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. 87 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. 88 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. 89 31. Upper 700 MHz Band Licenses. The Commission released a Report and Order, authorizing service in the upper 700 MHz band. 90 This auction, previously scheduled for January 13, 2003, has been postponed. 91 32. 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. 92 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. 93 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. 94 SBA approval of these definitions is not required. 95 An auction of 84 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). 85 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). 86 See Letter to Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated August 10, 1999. 87 See “Lower 700 MHz Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 17 FCC Rcd 17272 (WTB 2002). 88 See “Lower 700 MHz Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 11873 (WTB 2003). 89 See “Lower 700 MHz Band Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 11873 (WTB 2003). 90 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). 91 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). 92 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). 93 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). 94 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). 95 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 (continued....) 27 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 28 52 Major Economic Area (MEA) licenses commenced on September 6, 2000, and closed on September 21, 2000. 96 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. 97 33. 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. 98 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. 99 The SBA has approved these small business size standards for the 900 MHz Service. 100 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. 101 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. 102 34. 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. 103 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. 104 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 (... continued from previous page) is exempt from 15 U. S. C. § 632, which requires Federal agencies to obtain SBA approval before adopting small business size standards). 96 See “700 MHz Guard Bands Auction Closes: Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 18026 (2000). 97 See “700 MHz Guard Bands Auction Closes: Winning Bidders Announced,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 4590 (WTB 2001). 98 47 C. F. R. § 90.814( b)( 1). 99 47 C. F. R. § 90. 814( b)( 1). 100 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. 101 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). 102 See “Multi- Radio Service Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 17 FCC Rcd 1446 (WTB 2002). 103 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). 104 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 06- 102 29 business. 35. 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. 36. 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 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. 105 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. 106 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. 37. 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. 107 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. 108 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. 109 The SBA has approved these small size standards. 110 Auctions of Phase II licenses commenced on September 15, 1998, and closed on October 22, 1998. 111 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. 112 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 105 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 106 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). 107 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). 108 Id. at 11068, paras. 291. 109 Id. 110 See Letter to Daniel Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated January 6, 1998. 111 See generally “220 MHz Service Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 14 FCC Rcd 605 (WTB 1998). 112 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). 29 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 30 companies claiming small business status won 158 licenses. 113 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. 114 38. 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 more than 1,500 persons. 115 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. 116 39. The Commission’s 1994 Annual Report on PLMRs 117 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. 40. Fixed Microwave Services. Fixed microwave services include common carrier, 118 private operational- fixed, 119 and broadcast auxiliary radio services. 120 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. 121 The Commission does not have data specifying the number of these licensees 113 See “Phase II 220 MHz Service Spectrum Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 14 FCC Rcd 11218 (WTB 1999). 114 See “Multi- Radio Service Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 17 FCC Rcd 1446 (WTB 2002). 115 See 13 C. F. R. § 121.201, NAICS code 517212. 116 See generally 13 C. F. R. § 121.201. 117 Federal Communications Commission, 60th Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1994, at ¶ 116. 118 See 47 C. F. R. §§ 101 et seq. (formerly, Part 21 of the Commission’s Rules) for common carrier fixed microwave services. 119 Persons eligible under parts 80 and 90 of the Commission’s Rules can use Private Operational- Fixed Microwave services. See 47 C. F. R. 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. 120 Auxiliary Microwave Service is governed by Part 74 of Title 47 of the Commission’s Rules. See 47 C. F. R. 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. 121 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 30 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 31 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 adopted herein. We noted, however, that the common carrier microwave fixed licensee category includes some large entities. 41. 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. 122 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. 123 The SBA has approved these small business size standards. 124 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 adopted herein. 42. 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. 125 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. 126 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. 127 The SBA has approved these small business size standards in the context of LMDS auctions. 128 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 122 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). 123 Id. 124 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). 125 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). 126 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). 127 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). 128 See Letter to Dan Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA (Jan. 6, 1998). 31 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 32 387 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. 43. 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). 129 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. 130 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. 131 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 affiliates, has average annual gross revenues not exceeding $3 million for the preceding three years. 132 The SBA has approved of these definitions. 133 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. 44. 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. 134 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. 135 These definitions have been approved by the SBA. 136 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. 45. Rural Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a size standard for 129 See “Interactive Video and Data Service (IVDS) Applications Accepted for Filing,” Public Notice, 9 FCC Rcd 6227 (1994). 130 Implementation of Section 309( j) of the Communications Act – Competitive Bidding, Fourth Report and Order, 9 FCC Rcd 2330 (1994). 131 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). 132 Id. 133 See Letter to Daniel Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated January 6, 1998. 134 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. 135 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. 136 See Letter to Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated February 22, 1999. 32 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 33 small businesses specific to the Rural Radiotelephone Service. 137 A significant subset of the Rural Radiotelephone Service is the Basic Exchange Telephone Radio System (BETRS). 138 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. 139 There are approximately 1,000 licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone Service, and the Commission estimates that there are 500 or fewer small entity licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone Service that may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein. 46. Air- Ground Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a small business size standard specific to the Air- Ground Radiotelephone Service. 140 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. 141 There are fewer than 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. 47. 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 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. 142 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. 143 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. 48. 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. 144 There is presently one licensee 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. 145 Under that SBA small 137 The service is defined in § 22. 99 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 22. 99. 138 BETRS is defined in §§ 22. 757 and 22. 759 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 22. 757 and 22. 759. 139 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 140 The service is defined in § 22. 99 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 22. 99. 141 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS codes 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 142 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 143 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). 144 This service is governed by Subpart I of Part 22 of the Commission’s Rules. See 47 C. F. R. §§ 22. 1001- 22.1037. 145 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 33 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 34 business size standard, a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. 146 49. 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. 147 “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. 148 The SBA has approved of these definitions. 149 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. 150 Seven winning bidders claimed status as small or very small businesses and won 611 licenses. 50. 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 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. 151 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. 51. 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. 152 According to U. S. Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. 153 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. 154 Thus, under this size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered small. These broader census data 146 Id. 147 See Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Multiple Address Systems, Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 11956, 12008, para. 123 (2000). 148 Id. 149 See Letter to Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration, dated June 4, 1999. 150 See “Multiple Address Systems Spectrum Auction Closes,” Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 21011 (2001). 151 See 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517212. 152 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 153 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). 154 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.” 34 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 35 notwithstanding, we believe that there are only two licensees in the 24 GHz band that were relocated from the 18 GHz band, Teligent 155 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. 52. 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. 156 “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. 157 The SBA has approved these definitions. 158 The Commission will not know how many licensees will be small or very small businesses until the auction, if required, is held. 53. Multipoint Distribution Service (now known as Broadband Radio 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). 159 In connection with the 1996 MDS auction, the Commission defined “small business” as an entity that, together with its affiliates, has average gross annual revenues that are not more than $40 million for the preceding three calendar years. 160 The SBA has approved of this standard. 161 The MDS auction resulted in 67 successful bidders obtaining licensing opportunities for 493 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs). 162 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. 163 155 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. 156 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 C. F. R. § 101.538( a)( 2). 157 24 GHz Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 16967, para. 77; see also 47 C. F. R. § 101.538( a)( 1). 158 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. 159 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). 160 47 C. F. R. § 21.961( b)( 1). 161 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). 162 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, para. 34 (1995). 163 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 (continued....) 35 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 36 54. In addition, the SBA has developed a small business size standard for Cable and Other Program Distribution, 164 which includes all such companies generating $12.5 million or less in annual receipts. 165 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. 166 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. 167 Consequently, we estimate that the majority of providers in this service category are small businesses that may be affected by the rules and policies, herein adopted. 55. 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. 168 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. 56. 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. 169 Business concerns included in this industry are those “primarily engaged in broadcasting images together with sound.” 170 According to Commission staff review of the BIA Publications, Inc. Master Access Television Analyzer Database as of May 16, 2003, about 814 of the 1,370 commercial television stations (December 31, 2005) 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 171 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 2,145 low power television stations (LPTV). 172 Given the nature of this service, we will presume that all LPTV licensees qualify as small entities under the SBA (... continued from previous page) less). See 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517910. 164 13 C. F. R. § 121.201, NAICS code 517510. 165 Id. 166 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, “Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization),” Table 4 (issued October 2000). 167 Id. 168 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. 169 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) 170 See 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: code 512120, Motion Picture and Video Distribution, code 512191, Teleproduction and Other Post- Production Services, and code 512199, Other Motion Picture and Video Industries. 171 “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). 172 FCC News Release, “Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2005.” 36 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 37 definition. 57. 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. 58. Radio Broadcasting. The SBA defines a radio broadcast entity that has $6 million or less in annual receipts as a small business. 173 Business concerns included in this industry are those “primarily engaged in broadcasting aural programs by radio to the public. 174 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 10,988 commercial radio stations (December 31, 2005) in the United States have revenue of $6 million or less. We note, however, that many radio stations are affiliated with much larger corporations with much higher revenue, and that in assessing whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above definition, such business (control) affiliations 175 are included. 176 Our estimate, therefore likely overstates the number of small businesses that might be affected by our action. 59. Auxiliary, Special Broadcast and Other Program Distribution Services. This service involves a variety of transmitters, generally used to relay broadcast programming to the public (through translator and booster stations) or within the program distribution chain (from a remote news gathering unit back to the station). The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities applicable to broadcast auxiliary licensees. The applicable definitions of small entities are those, noted previously, under the SBA rules applicable to radio broadcasting stations and television broadcasting stations. 177 60. The Commission estimates that there are approximately 3,995 FM translators and boosters. 178 The Commission does not collect financial information on any broadcast facility, and the Department of Commerce does not collect financial information on these auxiliary broadcast facilities. We believe that most, if not all, of these auxiliary facilities could be classified as small businesses by themselves. We also recognize that most commercial translators and boosters are owned by a parent station which, in some cases, would be covered by the revenue definition of small business entity discussed above. These stations would likely have annual revenues that exceed the SBA maximum to be designated as a small business ($ 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. 179 173 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). 174 Id. 175 “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). 176 “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). 177 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS codes 513111 and 513112. 178 FCC News Release, “Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2005.” 179 15 U. S. C. 632. 37 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 38 61. 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. 180 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. 181 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 adopted. 62. 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. 182 The most recent estimates indicate that there were 1,439 cable operators who qualified as small cable system operators at the end of 1995. 183 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 adopted. 63. 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.” 184 The Commission has determined that there are 63,000,000 subscribers in the United States. 185 Therefore, an operator serving fewer than 630,000 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. 186 Based on available data, the Commission estimates that the number of cable operators serving 630,000 subscribers or fewer, totals 1,450. 187 The Commission neither requests nor collects information on whether cable system operators are affiliated with entities whose gross annual revenues exceed $250 million, 188 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. 180 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513220 (changed to 517510 in October 2002). 181 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). 182 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). 183 Paul Kagan Associates, Inc., Cable TV Investor, February 29, 1996 (based on figures for December 30, 1995). 184 47 U. S. C. § 543( m)( 2). 185 See FCC Announces New Subscriber Count for the Definition of Small Cable Operator, Public Notice, DA 01- 158 (January 24, 2001). 186 47 CFR § 76. 901( f). 187 See FCC Announces New Subscriber Count for the Definition of Small Cable Operators, Public Notice, DA- 01-0158 (released January 24, 2001). 188 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). 38 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 39 64. Open Video Services. Open Video Service (OVS) systems provide subscription services. 189 The SBA has created a small business size standard for Cable and Other Program Distribution. 190 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. 191 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 adopted. 65. 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. 192 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. 193 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. 194 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 adopted. 66. 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. 195 Accordingly, there are no licensees in this service. 67. Amateur Radio Service. These licensees are believed to be individuals, and therefore are not small entities. 68. 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- 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. 196 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 189 See 47 U. S. C. § 573. 190 13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 513220 (changed to 517510 in October 2002). 191 See http:// www. fcc. gov/ csb/ ovs/ csovscer. html (current as of March 2002). 192 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, NAICS code 517510. 193 U. S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: Information, “Establishment and Firm Size (Including Legal Form of Organization),” Table 4 (issued October 2000). 194 Id. 195 “Auctions of Licenses in the Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service Rescheduled for January 14, 2004,” Public Notice, DA 03- 2354 (August 28, 2003). 196 13 CFR § 121. 201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in October 2002). 39 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 40 712,000 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. 197 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. 69. 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. 198 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). 199 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 the rules being proposed. 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. 200 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 the rules adopted herein. 70. Public Safety Radio Services. Public Safety radio services include police, fire, local government, forestry conservation, highway maintenance, and emergency medical services. 201 There are a 197 Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Maritime Communications, Third Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 19853 (1998). 198 47 CFR Part 90. 199 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 C. F. R. Part 95. 200 13 C. F. R. § 121.201, NAICS Code 517212. 201 With the exception of the special emergency service, these services are governed by Subpart B of part 90 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 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 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 (continued....) 40 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 41 total of approximately 127,540 licensees in these services. Governmental entities 202 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. 203 IV. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements: 71. 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. 204 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. 72. 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. 73. 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 required fee. 205 If payment is not received, new or pending applications may be dismissed, and existing authorizations may be subject to rescission. 206 Further, in accordance with the Debt Collection (... continued from previous page) 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. 202 47 CFR § 1.1162. 203 5 U. S. C. § 601( 5). 204 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. 205 47 CFR § 1.1164. 206 47 CFR § 1.1164( c). 41 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 42 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. 207 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. 208 74. 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. 209 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: 75. 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. 76. The Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY 2006, Public Law 109- 108, 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) 2006. 210 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. 77. 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. 78. Several categories of licensees and regulatees are exempt from payment of regulatory fees. See, e. g., footnote 204, supra. 207 Public Law 104- 134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996). 208 31 U. S. C. § 7701( c)( 2)( B). 209 47 CFR § 1.1166. 210 47 U. S. C. § 159( a). 42 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 43 79. 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. 80. Report to Congress: The Commission will send a copy of this 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). 43 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 44 ATTACHMENT B SOURCES OF PAYMENT UNIT ESTIMATES FOR FY 2006 In order to calculate individual service fees for FY 2006, we adjusted FY 2005 payment units for each service to more accurately reflect expected FY 2006 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), Consolidated Database System (CDBS), and the Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS), 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 2006 estimates with actual FY 2005 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 2006 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 2006 payment units are based on FY 2005 actual payment units, it does not necessarily mean that our FY 2006 projection is exactly the same number as FY 2005. It means that we have either rounded the FY 2006 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 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 derived from CDBS, as adjusted for exemptions, and actual FY 2005 payment units. UHF/ VHF Television Stations Based on data listed in the 2006 Edition of the Television & Cable Factbook, as well as actual FY 2005 payment units. AM/ FM/ TV Construction Permits Based on estimates derived from CDBS, as well as actual FY 2005 payment units. LPTV, Translators and Boosters Based on actual FY 2005 payment units. Broadcast Auxiliaries Based on actual FY 2005 payment units. BRS (formerly MDS/ MMDS) Based on Wireless Telecommunications Bureau estimates and actual FY 2005 payment units. Cable Television Relay Service (CARS) Stations Based on actual FY 2005 payment units. Cable Television System Subscribers Based on industry estimates of subscriber counts, and actual FY 2005 payment units. 44 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 45 Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers Based on actual FY 2005 interstate revenues reported on Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, adjusted for FY 2006 revenue growth/ decline for industry, and projections by the Wireline Competition Bureau. Earth Stations Based on actual FY 2005 payment estimates and projected FY 2006 units. Space Stations (GSOs & NGSOs) Based on International Bureau licensee data base estimates. International Bearer Circuits Based on FY 2005 actual units. International HF Broadcast Stations, International Public Fixed Radio Service Based on International Bureau estimates. 45 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 46 ATTACHMENT C CALCULATION OF FY 2006 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 2006 Payment Units Year s FY 2005 Revenue Estimate Pro- Rated FY 2006 Revenue Require-ment* Computed New FY 2006 Regulatory Fee Rounded New FY 2006 Regula-tory Fee Expected FY 2006 Revenue PLMRS (Exclusive Use) 2,200 10 370,000 393,725 18 20 440,000 PLMRS (Shared use) 25, 000 10 2,300,000 2,447,482 10 10 2,500,000 Microwave 2,000 10 1,560,000 1,660,031 83 85 1,700,000 218- 219 MHz (Formerly IVDS) 3 10 1,500 1,596 53 55 1,650 Marine (Ship) 8,000 10 700,000 744,886 9 10 800,000 GMRS 17, 000 5 525,000 558,664 7 5 425,000 Aviation (Aircraft) 6,000 10 370,000 393,725 7 5 300,000 Marine (Coast) 600 10 100,000 106,412 18 20 120,000 Aviation (Ground) 1,500 10 120,000 127,695 9 10 150,000 Amateur Vanity Call Signs 8,500 10 166,443 177,116 2.08 2.08 177,116 AM Class A 69 1 202,950 217, 032 3,145 3, 150 217,350 AM Class B 1,612 1 2,467,600 2, 638, 824 1,637 1, 625 2,619,500 AM Class C 950 1 860,400 920, 102 969 970 921,500 AM Class D 1,769 1 2,874,625 3, 074, 092 1,738 1, 750 3,095,750 FM Classes A, B1 & C3 3,068 1 6,013,875 6, 518, 302 2,125 2, 125 6,519,500 FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 & C2 2,908 1 7,333,425 7, 925, 998 2,726 2, 725 7,924,300 AM Construction Permits 95 1 35, 030 37, 461 394 395 37, 525 FM Construction Permits 1 200 1 267,300 115, 000 575 575 115,000 Satellite TV 123 1 132, 225 141, 400 1, 150 1, 150 141, 450 Satellite TV Construction Permit 3 1 1,605 1, 716 572 570 1,710 VHF Markets 1- 10 44 1 2,664,925 2, 849, 841 64, 769 64, 775 2,850,100 46 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 47 Fee Category FY 2006 Payment Units Year s FY 2005 Revenue Estimate Pro- Rated FY 2006 Revenue Require-ment* Computed New FY 2006 Regulatory Fee Rounded New FY 2006 Regula-tory Fee Expected FY 2006 Revenue VHF Markets 11- 25 61 1 2,725,175 2, 914, 272 47, 775 47, 775 2,914,275 VHF Markets 26- 50 75 1 2,305,800 2, 465, 797 32, 877 32, 875 2,465,625 VHF Markets 51- 100 116 1 2,218,400 2, 372, 332 20, 451 20, 450 2,372,200 VHF Remaining Markets 208 1 975,875 1, 043, 590 5,017 5, 025 1,045,200 VHF Construction Permits 9 1 28, 575 30, 558 3,395 3, 400 30, 600 UHF Markets 1- 10 89 1 1,682,100 1, 846, 288 20, 745 20, 750 1,846,750 UHF Markets 11- 25 80 1 1,384,475 1, 528, 011 19, 100 19, 100 1,528,000 UHF Markets 26- 50 117 1 1,155,750 1, 283, 415 10, 969 10, 975 1,284,075 UHF Markets 51- 100 168 1 992,250 1, 091, 308 6,496 6, 500 1,092,000 UHF Remaining Markets 187 1 312,225 333, 890 1,786 1, 775 331,925 UHF Construction Permits 1 19 1 192,950 33, 725 1,775 1, 775 33, 725 Broadcast Auxiliaries 24, 000 1 250,000 267, 347 11 10 240,000 LPTV/ Trans-lators/ Boosters 2,900 1 1,145,500 1, 224, 985 422 420 1,218,000 CARS Stations 850 1 139,500 149, 180 176 175 148,750 Cable TV Systems 63, 000, 000 subscribers 1 46,800,000 50, 047, 394 0.794 0. 79 49, 770, 000 Interstate Tele- communication Service Providers $53,100,000, 000 1 131,220,000 140, 325,193 0. 00264266 0. 00264 140, 184,000 CMRS Mobile Services (Cellular/ Public Mobile) 210,000,000 subscribers 1 39,380,000 42, 547, 534 0.203 0. 20 42, 000, 000 CMRS Messaging Services 6,500,000 subscribers 1 896,000 523, 167 0.08 0.08 520,000 47 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 48 Fee Category FY 2006 Payment Units Year s FY 2005 Revenue Estimate Pro- Rated FY 2006 Revenue Require-ment* Computed New FY 2006 Regulatory Fee Rounded New FY 2006 Regula-tory Fee Expected FY 2006 Revenue BRS 2 LMDS 1,767 330 1 1 459,000 84, 150 489,416 91, 422 277 277 275 275 485,925 90, 750 International Bearer Circuits 64kb circuits 5,300,000 1 7,261,000 7, 764, 832 1.47 1.47 7,791,000 International Public Fixed 1 1 1,800 1, 925 1,925 1, 925 1,925 Earth Stations 3,500 1 697,000 745, 364 213 215 752,500 International HF Broadcast 5 1 3,825 4, 090 818 820 4,100 Space Stations (Geostationary) 87 1 9,065,925 9, 694, 998 111,437 111, 425 9,693,975 Space Stations (Non-Geostationary 6 1 674,550 721, 356 120,226 120, 225 721,350 ****** Total Estimated Revenue to be Collected 281,118,728 300, 592,490 299, 624,101 ****** Total Revenue Requirement 280, 098,000 298, 771,000 298, 771,000 Difference 4 1,020,728 1,821,490 853,101 * 1.066665953 factor applied based on the amount Congress designated for recovery through regulatory fees (Public Law 109- 108 and 47 U. S. C. § 159( a)( 2)). The factor also includes an additional $10 million to be collected to reduce the Nation’s debt per section 3013 of Public Law 109- 171. 1 The FM Construction Permit and the UHF Construction Permit revenues were adjusted to set the regulatory fee to an amount no higher than the lowest licensed fee for that class of service, which was reduced to $575 for FM Construction Permits and $1, 775 for UHF Construction Permits. 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, 14169 ¶ 6 (2004) (R& O and FNPRM). 3 The “FY 2005 Revenue Estimate” column was adjusted for the FM Construction Permit service category from $53, 900 to $267, 300 to reflect the correct percentage revenue allocation for this service category before the 6.67% increase in fees was applied. In this same column and for the same reason, the UHF Construction Permit service category was adjusted from $53, 475 to $192,950. 4 Because of rounding, there are differences in the “Expected FY 2006 Revenue” column between the “Total Estimated Revenue to be Collected” and the “Total Revenue Requirement.” 48 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 49 ATTACHMENT D FY 2006 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) 20 Microwave (per license) (47 CFR part 101) 85 218- 219 MHz (Formerly Interactive Video Data Service) (per license) (47 CFR part 95) 55 Marine (Ship) (per station) (47 CFR part 80) 10 Marine (Coast) (per license) (47 CFR part 80) 20 General Mobile Radio Service (per license) (47 CFR part 95) 5 Rural Radio (47 CFR part 22) (previously listed under the Land Mobile category) 10 PLMRS (Shared Use) (per license) (47 CFR part 90) 10 Aviation (Aircraft) (per station) (47 CFR part 87) 5 Aviation (Ground) (per license) (47 CFR part 87) 10 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) .20 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 27) Local Multipoint Distribution Service (per call sign) (47 CFR, part 101) 275 275 AM Radio Construction Permits 395 FM Radio Construction Permits 575 TV (47 CFR part 73) VHF Commercial Markets 1- 10 64, 775 Markets 11- 25 47, 775 Markets 26- 50 32, 875 Markets 51- 100 20, 450 49 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 50 Fee Category Annual Regulatory Fee (U. S. $'s) Remaining Markets 5,025 Construction Permits 3,400 TV (47 CFR part 73) UHF Commercial Markets 1- 10 20, 750 Markets 11- 25 19, 100 Markets 26- 50 10, 975 Markets 51- 100 6,500 Remaining Markets 1,775 Construction Permits 1,775 Satellite Television Stations (All Markets) 1, 150 Construction Permits – Satellite Television Stations 570 Low Power TV, Class A TV, TV/ FM Translators & Boosters (47 CFR part 74) 420 Broadcast Auxiliaries (47 CFR part 74) 10 CARS (47 CFR part 78) 175 Cable Television Systems (per subscriber) (47 CFR part 76) .79 Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers (per revenue dollar) .00264 Earth Stations (47 CFR part 25) 215 Space Stations (per operational station in geostationary orbit) (47 CFR part 25) also includes DBS Service (per operational station) (47 CFR part 100) 111,425 Space Stations (per operational system in non- geostationary orbit) (47 CFR part 25) 120,225 International Bearer Circuits (per active 64KB circuit) 1. 47 International Public Fixed (per call sign) (47 CFR part 23) 1,925 International (HF) Broadcast (47 CFR part 73) 820 50 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 51 FY 2006 SCHEDULE OF REGULATORY FEES (continued) FY 2006 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 <= 25,000 625 500 400 475 575 750 25, 001 – 75, 000 1,225 950 600 725 1, 150 1,325 75, 001 – 150,000 1,850 1,200 800 1,200 1, 575 2,450 150, 001 – 500, 000 2,775 2,025 1, 200 1,425 2, 450 3,200 500, 001 – 1,200, 000 4,000 3,100 2, 000 2,375 3, 875 4,700 1,200,001 – 3, 000,00 6,150 4,750 3, 000 3,800 6, 325 7,500 >3, 000, 000 7,375 5,700 3, 800 4,750 8, 050 9,750 51 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 52 ATTACHMENT E FACTORS, MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS THAT DETERMINE STATION CONTOURS AND 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. 1 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 2 . Using the calculated horizontal radiation values, and the retrieved soil conductivity data, the distance to the principal community (5 mV/ m) contour was predicted for each of the 360 radials. The resulting distance to principal community 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 principal community 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 principal community (70 dBu (decibel above 1 microVolt per meter) or 3.17 mV/ m) contour for each of the 360 radials. 3 The resulting distance to principal community contours were used to form a geographical polygon. 1 47 C. F. R. §§ 73. 150 and 73. 152. 2 See Map of Estimated Effective Ground Conductivity in the United States, 47 C. F. R. § 73. 190 Figure R3. 3 47 C. F. R. § 73.313. 52 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 53 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 principal community coverage area. 53 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 54 ATTACHMENT F FY 2005 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) 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 Multipoint Distribution Services (MMDS/ MDS) (per license sign) (47 CFR part 21) Local Multipoint Distribution Service (per call sign) (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 Construction Permits 3,175 TV (47 CFR part 73) UHF Commercial Markets 1- 10 20, 025 54 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 55 Fee Category Annual Regulatory Fee (U. S. $'s) 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 Auxiliary (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 Direct Broadcast Satellite 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 55 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 56 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 56 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 57 ATTACHMENT G Parties Filing Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking American Association of Paging Carriers (“ AAPC”) Apollo Submarine Cable System Ltd. (“ Apollo”) Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast (“ BloostonLaw”) Kenneth J. Brown (“ Brown”) National Cable & Telecommunications Association (“ NCTA”) USA Mobility, Inc. (“ USA Mobility”) Parties Filing Reply Comments American Cable Association (“ ACA”) DIRECTV, Inc. and EchoStar Satellite (“ DirecTV & Echostar”) Parties Filing a Notice of Oral Ex Parte Presentation National Cable & Telecommunications Association (“ NCTA”) DIRECTV, Inc. and EchoStar Satellite (“ DirecTV & Echostar”) 57 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 58 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 277 Address 1. Land Mobile (Above 470 MHz and 220 MHz Local, Base Station & SMRS) (47 CFR, Part 90) a) New, Renew/ Mod $20.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $20.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $20.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $20.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 277 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. 58 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 59 220 MHz Nationwide $20.00 FCC a) New, Renew/ Mod P. O. Box 358130 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $20.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $20.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $20.00 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 $85.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $85.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 c) Renewal Only $85.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $85.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 3. 218- 219 MHz Service a) New, Renew/ Mod $55.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) New, Renew/ Mod $55.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 59 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 60 c) Renewal Only $55.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 d) Renewal Only $55.00 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 $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 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 60 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 61 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, $10.00 FCC Major Renew/ Mod P. O. Box 358994 (Electronic Filing) Pittsburgh, PA (FCC 601 & 159) 15251- 5994 b) Renewal, Minor Renew/ Mod $10.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Marine Coast a) New Renewal/ Mod $20.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) Renewal Only $20.00 FCC (FCC 601 & 159) P. O. Box 358245 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5245 c) Renewal Only $20.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Aviation Ground 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 Marine Ship a) New, Renewal/ Mod $10.00 FCC (FCC 605 & 159) P. O. Box 358130 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 61 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 62 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 $2.08 FCC a) Initial or Renew P. O. Box 358130 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5130 b) Initial or Renew $2.08 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC 605 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 62 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 63 6. CMRS Mobile Services $ .20 278 FCC (per unit) P. O. Box 358835 (FCC 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 7. CMRS Messaging Services $ .08 279 FCC (per unit) P. O. Box 358835 (FCC 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 8. Broadband Radio Service $ 275 FCC, Multipoint (formerly MMDS and MDS) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 9. Local Multipoint Distribution Service $ 275 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 $1,850 Pittsburgh, PA 150,001- 500, 000 population $2,775 15251- 5835 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $4,000 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $6,150 >3,000,000 population $7,375 2. AM Class B <= 25,000 population $500 25,001- 75,000 population $950 75,001- 150, 000 population $1,200 150,001- 500, 000 population $2,025 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $3,100 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $4,750 >3,000,000 population $5,700 278 These are standard fees that are to be paid in accordance with § 1.1157( b) of this chapter. 279 These are standard fees that are to be paid in accordance with § 1.1157( b) of this chapter. 63 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 64 3. AM Class C <= 25,000 population $400 25,001- 75,000 population $600 75,001- 150, 000 population $800 150,001- 500, 000 population $1,200 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $2,000 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $3,000 >3,000,000 population $3,800 4. AM Class D <= 25,000 population $475 25,001- 75,000 population $725 75,001- 150, 000 population $1,200 150,001- 500, 000 population $1,425 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $2,375 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $3,800 >3,000,000 population $4,750 5. AM Construction Permit $395 6. FM Classes A, B1 and C3 <= 25,000 population $575 25,001- 75,000 population $1,150 75,001- 150, 000 population $1,575 150,001- 500, 000 population $2,450 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $3,875 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $6,325 >3,000,000 population $8,050 7. FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 and C2 <= 25,000 population $750 25,001- 75,000 population $1,325 75,001- 150, 000 population $2,450 150,001- 500, 000 population $3,200 500,001- 1,200, 000 population $4,700 1,200,001- 3,000,000 population $7,500 >3,000,000 population $9,750 8. FM Construction Permits $575 TV (47 CFR, Part 73) VHF Commercial 1. Markets 1 thru 10 $64,775 FCC, TV Branch 2. Markets 11 thru 25 $47,775 P. O. Box 358835 3. Markets 26 thru 50 $32,875 Pittsburgh, PA 4. Markets 51 thru 100 $20,450 15251- 5835 5. Remaining Markets $ 5,025 6. Construction Permits $ 3,400 64 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 65 UHF Commercial 1. Markets 1 thru 10 $20,750 FCC, UHFCommercial 2. Markets 11 thru 25 $19,100 P. O. Box 358835 3. Markets 26 thru 50 $10,975 Pittsburgh, PA 4. Markets 51 thru 100 $ 6,500 15251- 5835 5. Remaining Markets $ 1,775 6. Construction Permits $ 1,775 Satellite UHF/ VHF Commercial 1. All Markets $1,150 FCC Satellite TV 2. Construction Permits $ 570 P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Low Power TV, Class A TV, TV/ FM $ 420 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) $85.00 FCC (Electronic Filing) P. O. Box 358994 (FCC Form 601 & 159) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994 Carriers 1. Interstate Telephone Service Providers $ .00264 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. 65 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 66 Fee Amount Address 1. Cable Television Relay Service $175 FCC, Cable 2. Cable TV System $ .79 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) $820 FCC, International Broadcast P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 2. International Public $1,925 FCC, International Fixed P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Space Stations $111,425 FCC, Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Space Stations $120,225 FCC, Space Stations (Non- Geostationary Orbit) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Earth Stations $215 FCC, Earth Station Transmit/ Receive & P. O. Box 358835 Transmit Only (per authorization or registration) Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 Carriers International Bearer Circuits $ 1.47 FCC, International (per active 64KB circuit or equivalent) P. O. Box 358835 Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5835 7. Section 1. 1162 is amended by revising paragraphs (e) through (h) to read as follows: §1.1162 (e) from: (e) Applicants, permittees or licensees of noncommercial educational broadcast stations in the FM or TV services, as well as AM applicants, permittees or licensees operating in accordance with § 73.503 of this chapter. 66 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 67 to: (e) Applicants, permittees or licensees of noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast stations in the FM or TV services, as well as AM applicants, permittees or licensees operating in accordance with § 73.503 of this chapter. §1.1162 (f) from: (f) Applicants, permittees, or licensees qualifying under paragraph (e) of this section requesting Commission authorization in any other mass media radio service (except the international broadcast (HF) service), wireless radio service, common carrier radio service, or international radio service requiring payment of a regulatory fee, if the service is used in conjunction with their noncommercial educational broadcast station on a noncommercial educational basis. to: (f) Applicants, permittees, or licensees qualifying under paragraph (e) of this section requesting Commission authorization in any other mass media radio service (except the international broadcast (HF) service), wireless radio service, common carrier radio service, or international radio service requiring payment of a regulatory fee, if the service is used in conjunction with their NCE broadcast station on an NCE basis. §1.1162 (g) from: (g) Other applicants, permittees or licensees providing, or proposing to provide, a noncommercial educational or instructional service, but not qualifying under paragraph (e) of this section, may be exempt from regulatory fees, or be entitled to a refund, in the following circumstances: (1) The applicant, permittee or licensee is an organization that, like the Public Broadcasting Service or National Public Radio, receives funding directly or indirectly through the Public Broadcasting Fund, 47 U. S. C. 396( k), distributed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, where the authorization requested will be used in conjunction with the organization on a noncommercial educational basis; (2) An applicant, permittee or licensee of a translator or low power television station operating or proposing to operate a noncommercial educational service who, after grant, provides proof that it has received funding for the construction of the station through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) or other showings as required by the Commission; or (3) An applicant, permittee, or licensee provided a fee refund under Sec. 1.1160 and operating as a noncommercial education station, is exempt from fees for broadcast auxiliary stations (subparts D, E, and F of part 74 of this chapter) or stations in the wireless radio, common carrier, or international services where such authorization is to be used in conjunction with the noncommercial educational translator or low power station. to: (g) Other applicants, permittees or licensees providing, or proposing to provide, a NCE or instructional service, but not qualifying under paragraph (e) of this section, may be exempt from regulatory 67 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 68 fees, or be entitled to a refund, in the following circumstances: (1) The applicant, permittee or licensee is an organization that, like the Public Broadcasting Service or National Public Radio, receives funding directly or indirectly through the Public Broadcasting Fund, 47 U. S. C. 396( k), distributed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, where the authorization requested will be used in conjunction with the organization on an NCE basis; (2) An applicant, permittee or licensee of a translator or low power television station operating or proposing to operate an NCE service who, after grant, provides proof that it has received funding for the construction of the station through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) or other showings as required by the Commission; or (3) An applicant, permittee, or licensee provided a fee refund under Sec. 1.1160 and operating as an NCE station, is exempt from fees for broadcast auxiliary stations (subparts D, E, F, and G of part 74 of this chapter) or stations in the wireless radio, common carrier, or international services where such authorization is to be used in conjunction with the NCE translator or low power station. §1.1162 (h) from: (h) An applicant, permittee or licensee that is the licensee of an instructional television fixed station (§§ 74.901 through 74.996 of this chapter) is exempt from regulatory fees where the authorization requested will be used by the applicant in conjunction with the provision of the instructional service. to: (h) An applicant, permittee or licensee that is the licensee in the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) (formerly, Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS)) (Parts 27 and 74, e. g., §§ 27. 1200, et seq., and 74.832( b), of this chapter) is exempt from regulatory fees where the authorization requested will be used by the applicant in conjunction with the provision of the EBS. 68 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 69 CONCURRING STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS Re: Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006, Report and Order in MD Docket No 06- 68 I concur in today’s item to emphasize my long- held and oft- repeated belief that the Commission should consider opening a rulemaking to address the adjustment of regulatory fees pursuant to section 9( b)( 3) of the Act. In a rapidly- evolving communications marketplace, we need to look for ways to ensure that our regulatory fee methodologies continue to reflect the industries we regulate. 69 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 102 70 STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER JONATHAN ADELSTEIN APPROVING IN PART, CONCURRING IN PART Re: Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006, Report and Order in MD Docket No. 06- 68 As in years past, I must concur to portions of our Regulatory Fee Order because I remain troubled with the Commission’s inability and reluctance 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. 70