Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for
Fiscal Year 2020
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MD Docket No. 20-105
REPORT AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
Adopted: August 31, 2020 Released: August 31, 2020
Comment Date: [[30]] days after date of publication in the Federal Register
Reply Comment Date: [[45]] days after date of publication in the Federal Register
By the Commission:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1
II. BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 2
III. REPORT AND ORDER ........................................................................................................................ 5
A. Allocating FTEs ............................................................................................................................... 6
B. Direct Broadcast Satellite Regulatory Fees ................................................................................... 12
C. Television Broadcaster Regulatory Fees........................................................................................ 18
D. Radio Broadcaster Regulatory Fees ............................................................................................... 24
E. Toll Free Numbering Regulatory Fees........................................................................................... 28
F. Market Access Space Station Regulatory Fees .............................................................................. 30
G. Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Station Regulatory Fees .............................................................. 48
H. International Bearer Circuit Regulatory Fees ................................................................................ 53
1. Using Capacity to Assess IBC Regulatory Fees ...................................................................... 56
2. Division of IBC Regulatory Fees ............................................................................................ 61
3. IBC Regulatory Fee Tiers ........................................................................................................ 64
4. Submarine Cable IBC Regulatory Fees ................................................................................... 68
I. Flexibility for Regulatory Payors Given the COVID-19 Pandemic .............................................. 76
IV. FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ..................................................................... 88
V. PROCEDURAL MATTERS ................................................................................................................ 94
VI. ORDERING CLAUSES ..................................................................................................................... 113
APPENDIX A—LIST OF COMMENTERS
APPENDIX B—CALCULATION OF FY 2020 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS AND PRO-RATA FEES
APPENDIX C—FY 2020 REGULATORY FEES
APPENDIX D—SOURCES OF PAYMENT UNIT ESTIMATES FOR FY 2020
APPENDIX E—FACTORS, MEASUREMENTS, AND CALCULATIONS THAT DETERMINE
SIGNAL CONTOURS AND ASSOCIATED POPULATION COVERAGES
APPENDIX F—SATELLITE CHARTS
APPENDIX G—FY 2020 FULL-SERVICE BROADCAST TELEVISION STATIONS, BY CALL SIGN
APPENDIX H—FY 2019 REGULATORY FEES
APPENDIX I—FINAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS
APPENDIX J—INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS
APPENDIX K—RULE CHANGES
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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I. INTRODUCTION
1. Each year, the Commission must adopt a new schedule of regulatory fees for regulatory
payors, i.e., those entities required to fund the Commission’s activities. In this Report and Order, we
adopt a schedule to collect the $339,000,000 in congressionally required regulatory fees for fiscal year
(FY) 2020.
1
The regulatory fees for all payors are due in September 2020. In the attached Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking, we seek comment on regulatory fee subcategories for FY 2021, for
nongeostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites, as proposed by several commenters.
II. BACKGROUND
2. The Commission is required by Congress to assess regulatory fees each year in an
amount that can reasonably be expected to equal the amount of its appropriation.
2
Regulatory fees
recover direct costs, such as salary and expenses; indirect costs, such as overhead functions; and support
costs, such as rent, utilities, and equipment.
3
Regulatory fees also cover the costs incurred in regulating
entities that are statutorily exempt from paying regulatory fees (i.e., governmental and nonprofit entities,
amateur radio operators, and noncommercial radio and television stations),
4
de minimis entities,
5
and
entities whose regulatory fees are waived.
6
3. The Commission’s methodology for assessing regulatory fees must “reflect the full-time
equivalent number of employees within the bureaus and offices of the Commission, adjusted to take into
account factors that are reasonably related to the benefits provided to the payor of the fee by the
Commission’s activities.”
7
Since 2012, the Commission has assessed the allocation of full-time
equivalents (FTEs)
8
by first determining the number of FTEs in each core bureau that carries out licensing
activities (i.e., the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Media Bureau, Wireline Competition Bureau,
and International Bureau) and then attributing all other FTEs to payor categories based on these core FTE
allocations.
9
4. Since 2013, the Commission has adopted numerous reforms to the regulatory fee
schedule.
10
Earlier this year, in the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, we adopted several reforms
regarding non-U.S. licensed space stations with U.S. market access grants, the apportionment of FTEs
1
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-93 (appropriating $339,000,000 to the Commission for
salaries and expenses and directing the Commission to assess and collect the same amount in offsetting collections)
(FY 2020 Appropriation).
2
47 U.S.C. § 159(a), (b); FY 2020 Appropriation.
3
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2004, Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 11662, 11666,
para. 11 (2004) (FY 2004 Report and Order).
4
47 U.S.C. § 159(e)(1).
5
47 U.S.C. § 159(e)(2).
6
47 CFR § 1.1166.
7
47 U.S.C. § 159(d).
8
One FTE, a “Full Time Equivalent” or “Full Time Employee,” is a unit of measure equal to the work performed
annually by a full time person (working a 40-hour workweek for a full year) assigned to the particular job, and
subject to agency personnel staffing limitations established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
9
Procedures for Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 27 FCC Rcd 8458,
8460, para. 5 & n.5 (2012) (FY 2012 NPRM).
10
For a summary of the regulatory fee reforms, see Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year
2019, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 34 FCC Rcd 8189, 8191, para. 4 (2019) (FY
2019 Report and Order).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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within the International Bureau for international bearer circuits and satellite issues, the apportionment of
FTEs within the Satellite Division of the International Bureau for geostationary orbit (GSO) and NGSO
space station regulatory fee, and we adopted a limitation on population counts for certain VHF television
broadcast stations.
11
In the accompanying FY 2020 NPRM, we sought comment on a proposed fee
schedule and also on certain issues for International Bureau and Media Bureau regulatees.
12
Specifically,
we sought comment on a schedule of proposed regulatory fees as well as certain issues: adjusting the
allocation of international bearer circuit (IBC) fees between submarine cable and terrestrial and satellite
IBCs from 87.6%-12.4% to 95%-5%; combining the submarine cable regulatory fee tiers with new tiers
for terrestrial and satellite IBCs in a unified tier structure; basing full-power broadcast television fees on
the population covered by the station’s contour; and continuing to increase the direct broadcast satellite
(DBS) regulatory fees by 12 cents, to 72 cents, per subscriber, per year.
13
In addition, we sought
comment on economic effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic on regulatory fee payors.
14
III. REPORT AND ORDER
5. Pursuant to section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications
Act or Act), in this Report and Order we adopt the regulatory fee schedule proposed in the FY 2020
NPRM for FY 2020, as modified herein, to collect $339,000,000 in regulatory fees as required by
Congress.
15
A. Allocating FTEs
6. In the FY 2020 NPRM, the Commission proposed that non-auctions funded FTEs will be
classified as direct only if in one of the four core bureaus, i.e., in the Wireline Competition Bureau, the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the Media Bureau, or the International Bureau.
16
The indirect
FTEs are from the following bureaus and offices: Enforcement Bureau, Consumer and Governmental
Affairs Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Chairman and Commissioners’ offices,
Office of the Managing Director, Office of General Counsel, Office of the Inspector General, Office of
Communications Business Opportunities, Office of Engineering and Technology, Office of Legislative
Affairs, Office of Workplace Diversity, Office of Media Relations, Office of Economics and Analytics,
and Office of Administrative Law Judges, along with some employees in the Wireline Competition
Bureau and the International Bureau that the Commission previously classified as indirect.
17
11
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Rees for Fiscal Year 2020, Report and Order and Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 35 FCC Rcd 4976, 4978-4997, paras. 6-52 (2020) (2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order and FY 2020
NPRM), pet. for review pending, Telesat Canada, Eutelsat S.A., Kineis, Hiber, Inc., and Immarsat Group Holdings
Ltd. v FCC & USA, No. 20-1234 (D.C. Cir.) (Telesat Petition for Review) (Petition for Review filed on July 2,
2020). In the Telesat Petition for Review, petitioners challenge the FCC’s decision to assess regulatory fees on
operators of non-U.S. licensed space stations granted access to the market in the United States under the space
station fee categories.
12
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4997-5005, paras. 53-76.
13
Id..
14
The list of commenters is in Appendix A.
15
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5015, Appendix C.
16
Id. at 4998, paras. 56-58.
17
In 2013, the Commission allocated all FTEs except for 28 in the International Bureau as indirect. Assessment and
Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2013, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 12351, 12355-356, para. 14
(2013) (FY 2013 Report and Order). Subsequently, the Commission allocated an additional four FTEs, working on
market access requests for non-U.S. licensed space stations, as indirect, Assessment and Collection of Regulatory
Fees for Fiscal Year 2015, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 30 FCC Rcd 10268,
10278, para. 24 (2015) (FY 2015 Report and Order); however, those have since been reclassified as direct. In 2017,
the Commission allocated 38 FTEs in the Wireline Competition Bureau who work on non-high cost programs of the
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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7. We will continue to apportion regulatory fees across fee categories based on the number
of direct FTEs in each core bureau and the proportionate number of indirect FTEs and to take into account
factors that are reasonably related to the payor’s benefits.
18
As a general matter, we expect that the work
of the FTEs in the four core bureaus will remain focused on the industry segment regulated by each of
those bureaus. The first step in this process is to allocate appropriated amounts to be recovered
proportionally based on the number of direct FTEs within each core bureau (with indirect FTEs allocated
in proportion to the direct FTEs).
19
Those proportions are then subdivided within each core bureau into
fee categories among the regulatees served by the core bureau. Finally, within each fee category, the
amount to be collected is divided by a unit that allocates the regulatee’s proportionate share based on an
objective measure, such as subscribers or revenue.
8. In sum, there were 311 direct FTEs for FY 2020, distributed among the core bureaus as
follows: International Bureau (28), Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (73), Wireline Competition
Bureau (94), and the Media Bureau (116). This results in 9.00% of the FTE allocation for International
Bureau regulatees; 23.47% of the FTE allocation for Wireless Telecommunications Bureau regulatees;
30.23% of the FTE allocation for Wireline Competition Bureau regulatees; and 37.30% of FTE allocation
for Media Bureau regulatees. There are 911 indirect FTEs that are allocated proportionally to the 311
direct FTEs: Enforcement Bureau (181), Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (113), Public
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (89), part of the International Bureau (56), part of the Wireline
Competition Bureau (38), Chairman and Commissioners’ offices (23), Office of the Managing Director
(132), Office of General Counsel (70), Office of the Inspector General (45), Office of Communications
Business Opportunities (8), Office of Engineering and Technology (72), Office of Legislative Affairs (8),
Office of Workforce Diversity (6), Office of Media Relations (14), Office of Economics and Analytics
(53), and Office of Administrative Law Judges (3). Allocating these indirect FTEs based on the direct
FTE allocations yields an additional 82.0 FTEs attributable to International Bureau regulatees, 213.8
FTEs attributable to Wireless Telecommunications Bureau regulatees, 275.4 FTEs attributable to
Wireline Competition Bureau regulatees, and 339.8 FTEs attributable to Media Bureau regulatees.
9. As in prior years, broadcasters take issue with the Commission’s practice of allocating
costs associated with indirect FTEs in proportion to each core bureau’s direct FTEs. Broadcasters suggest
that the methodology should instead consider whether the functions of specific indirect FTEs benefit
specific regulatory fee payors.
20
We affirm the findings in our FY 2019 regulatory fee proceeding, where
we explained in detail our existing methodology for assessing fees, noted the changes in the statute, and
sought comment on what changes to our regulatory fee methodology, if any, were necessary to implement
Universal Service Fund as indirect. Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2017, Report and
Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 32 FCC Rcd 7057, 7061-64, paras. 10-15 (2017) (FY 2017
Report and Order).
18
The phrase core bureaus was first adopted in the FY 2012 NPRM where the Commission explained that under
(prior) section 9(b)(1)(A), the Commission was instructed to calculate the regulatory fees by determining the FTEs
performing the activities enumerated in section 9(a)(1) within the Private Radio Bureau, Mass Media Bureau, and
Common Carrier Bureau, and other offices of the Commission, and those bureaus had subsequently been renamed as
the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Media Bureau, and Wireline Competition Bureau, and a new
International Bureau had been formed. FY 2012 NPRM, 27 FCC Rcd at 8460, para. 5 & n.5. The Commission
explained that “[f]or simplicity and ease of reference, in this Notice we will refer to these four bureaus as the ‘core’
bureaus or the ‘core licensing’ bureaus.” Id.
19
The Commission observed in the FY 2013 Report and Order that “the high percentage of the indirect FTEs is
indicative of the fact that many Commission activities and costs are not limited to a particular fee category and
instead benefit the Commission as a whole.” See FY 2013 Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd at 12357, para. 17.
20
NAB Comments at 4-6 and Reply at 2-5; Letter from Rick Kaplan, General Counsel and Executive Vice
President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs, National Association of Broadcasters, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission (Aug. 14, 2020) (NAB Ex Parte) at 2-3; State Broadcaster Comments at 6-18.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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the RAY BAUM’S Act amendments to our regulatory fee authority.
21
After review of the comments
received, we determined in the FY 2019 Report and Order that because the new section 9 closely aligned
to how the Commission assessed and collected fees under the prior section 9, we would hew closely to the
existing methodology.
22
In particular, we expressly rejected any suggestion that the Commission should
abandon the step in our process whereby we designate FTEs as either direct or indirect and allocate
indirect FTEs in proportion to the direct FTEs in each of the core bureaus.
23
As the FY 2019 Report and
Order stated, “we must allocate indirect FTEs among regulatees somehow (per Congress’s direction), and
relying on the allocation of direct FTEs gives us an objective, easily administrable measure to do just that.
[The broadcasters do not] identify an objective, easily administrable alternative…. We have long relied
on direct FTE allocations because the Commission has found those allocations because the Commission
has found those allocations best reflect the ‘benefits provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission’s
activities.’”
24
10. We affirm those conclusions here. As we stated in 2019, direct FTE allocations best
reflect “the benefits provided to the payor” – in the case of broadcast licensees, the work Media Bureau
FTEs do to grant licenses and oversee and regulate their operation. As the Commission explained in both
the FY 2015 Report and Order
25
and in the FY 2019 Report and Order,
26
FTEs work on a wide range of
issues and it is difficult to attribute their work to a specific category. Moreover, the wide variety of issues
handled in non-core bureaus may also include services that are not specifically correlated with one core
bureau, let alone one category of regulatees. In addition, most Commission attorneys, engineers, analysts,
and other staff work on a variety of issues even during a single fiscal year. A snapshot of staff
assignments in a single division in any bureau, for example, may misrepresent the work being done six
months or even six weeks later. Thus, even if we could calculate staff assignments at this granular level
with accuracy, such assignments would not be accurate for the entire fiscal year and would result in
significant unplanned shifts in regulatory fees as assignments change over time. And finally, much of the
work that could be assigned to a single category of regulatees is likely to be interspersed with the work
that our staff does on behalf of many entities that do not pay regulatory fees, e.g., governmental entities,
non-profit organizations, and other exempt regulatees.
11. NAB also asserts after evaluating the FTE allocations within the bureaus and offices, the
Commission failed to also consider other factors that reasonably related to the benefits provided to the
21
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2019, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 34 FCC
Rcd 3272, 3275-79, paras. 6-15 (2019) (FY 2019 NPRM).
22
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8192-93, para. 7.
23
Id. at 8193, para. 8.
24
Id. at 8194-95, para. 14. NAB suggests that all indirect FTEs in the Office of Engineering and Technology should
be excluded from the calculation of the radio industry’s allocation percentage claiming that the industry “receives no
benefits whatsoever from OET.” NAB Ex Parte at 3-4. NAB’s contention misses the mark, given that the
Commission has engaged in numerous proceedings in FY 2020 involving the radio industry, which involve a large
number of employees generally in the indirect FTE categories, including employees in the Office of General
Counsel, Office of Economics and Analytics, Office of Communications Business Opportunities, and Office of the
Secretary. See, e.g., Amendment of Section 73.3556 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Duplication of
Programming on Commonly Owned Radio Stations, MB Docket No. 19-310, Report and Order, FCC 20-109,
Statement of Chairman Pai; see also generally MB Docket No. 17-105 (Modernization of Media Regulation
Initiative). The Enforcement Bureau’s portfolio also includes a substantial amount of work on broadcaster issues.
Furthermore, it is undisputed that Media Bureau regulatees as a whole benefit from the work of the Office of
Engineering and Technology. NAB’s attempt to cherry-pick the work of a particular office only demonstrates the
wisdom of our prior conclusion that the current methodology provides the most objective, administrative method of
allocating indirect FTE costs.
25
FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 10274-76, paras. 15-17.
26
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8196, para. 18.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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payors, particularly the radio industry. But as noted above, it has been the Commission’s longstanding
methodology to use direct FTEs as a measure of the benefits provided, and the Commission engages in a
fresh review of the FTE allocations each year as part of its annual proceeding.
27
Furthermore, in
establishing the apportionment of fees between regulatees within the same core bureau and/or within
regulatory fee classes, the Commission is continuously refining its methodology to capture the benefits
afforded the payor. For example, in many regulatory fee categories, the Commission uses an
apportionment methodology that is tied to the benefits of oversight and regulation received by the license
as measured by different criteria.
28
We reject NAB’s suggestion that the Commission should ignore the
statutory requirement to consider full-time employees and provide the radio industry with a downward
adjustment based on its unsubstantiated assertion that there have been no changes in the benefits received
by the radio industry. The methodology described above accounts for those benefits, which are further
reflected in the numerous proceedings the Commission has conducted this year that benefit radio
broadcasters.
29
B. Direct Broadcast Satellite Regulatory Fees
12. Direct broadcast satellite service is a nationally distributed subscription service that
delivers video and audio programming via satellite to a small parabolic dish antenna at the subscriber’s
location. The two DBS providers, AT&T and DISH Network, are multichannel video programming
distributors (MVPDs).
30
In 2015, the Commission adopted an initial regulatory fee for DBS, as a
subcategory in the cable television and IPTV category.
31
In lieu of directly including DBS providers in
the cable television/IPTV category at the same regulatory fee rate, the Commission phased in the new
Media Bureau-based regulatory fee for DBS, starting at 12 cents per subscriber per year.
32
Each year, the
Commission has increased the DBS regulatory fee, bringing it closer to the per-subscriber rate paid by
cable television/IPTV. Accordingly, the Commission increased the regulatory fee for DBS operators
from 12 cents to 24 cents (plus a three cent moving fee), then 36 cents (plus a two cent moving fee), 48
cents,
33
and to 60 cents for FY 2019.
34
For FY 2020, the Commission proposed to increase the fee to 72
cents per subscriber, per year.
35
13. AT&T and DISH—the two DBS operators in the United States—claim that the proposed
fee increase of 12 cents is not “because the nation’s two DBS providers have caused the Commission to
27
See, e.g., FY 2017 Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 7061-7064, paras. 9-15 (the Commission reallocated as
indirect 38 FTEs in the Wireline Competition Bureau assigned to work on non-high cost programs of the Universal
Service Fund); id. at 7064-65, paras. 16-17 (the Commission reallocated for regulatory fee purposes four FTEs
assigned to work on numbering issues from the Wireline Competition Bureau to the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau).
28
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8205, para 43 (“[t]he Commission has long assessed regulatory
fees—larger licensees receive greater benefits from the license and hence should (and are able to) pay a larger
proportion of the costs. That is as true in the context of submarine cables as it is where wireless providers, ITSPs,
and broadcasters are concerned.”).
29
NAB Ex Parte at 4.
30
MVPD is defined in section 602(13) of the Act, 47 U.S.C. § 522(13).
31
FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 10276-77, paras. 19-20.
32
FY 2017 Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 7066, para. 19.
33
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2018, Report and Order and Order, 33 FCC Rcd
8497, 8500, para. 10 (2018) (FY 2018 Report and Order); FY 2017 Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 7067, para.
20; Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2016, Report and Order, 31 FCC Rcd 10339,
10350, para. 30 (2016) (FY 2016 Report and Order).
34
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8198, para. 24.
35
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5004, para. 72.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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incur significant full-time equivalent (‘FTE’) employee costs commensurate with this calculation, but
rather because the Commission apparently desires regulatory fee parity between cable operators and DBS
providers.”
36
These commenters contend that the appropriate level of regulatory fee parity was reached
several years ago and any further increase is unfairly shifting cable-caused FTE costs to the DBS
providers.
37
AT&T and DISH contend that MVPD issues are predominantly cable-specific with no
applicability to DBS providers.
38
14. We reject AT&T’s and DISH’s claim that we should not adopt a fee increase and that
such an increase would result in shifting cable-caused costs to DBS providers. The Media Bureau relies
on a common pool of FTEs to carry out its oversight of MVPDs and other video distribution providers.
When the Commission initially adopted a Media Bureau based regulatory fee for DBS providers of 12
cents, the Commission concluded there was no reasonable basis to continue to exclude DBS providers
from sharing in the cost of MVPD oversight and regulation with cable television/IPTV.
39
15. NCTA and ACA contend that the proposed DBS fee places an unfair burden on
cable/IPTV providers by increasing the DBS fee to 72 cents and the cable/IPTV fee to 89 cents.
40
These
commenters state that this will only marginally close the gap between DBS and the cable/IPTV
providers.
41
A significant number of Media Bureau FTEs work on MVPD issues such as market
modifications, must-carry and retransmission consent disputes, program carriage complaints, media
modernization efforts, and proposed transactions, that affect all MVPDs.
42
For example, NCTA and ACA
observe that AT&T filed lengthy compliance reports regarding merger conditions, AT&T engaged in an
ongoing retransmission consent complaint proceeding, AT&T and DISH filed joint comments in the
Media Modernization docket, DISH has ongoing carriage disputes, and AT&T and/or DISH have
numerous market modification proceedings.
43
In addition, other Media Bureau dockets impact all
MVPDs, including DBS providers.
44
NCTA and ACA also argue that the DBS providers have failed to
demonstrate that the regulatory fees would result in rate shock and there is no justification for the
continued phase-in of the regulatory fee.
45
16. We adopt the proposal in the FY 2020 NPRM to continue to phase in the DBS regulatory
fee by 12 cents, to 72 cents per subscriber, per year. This increase will result in a regulatory fee of 89
cents per subscriber, per year, for cable television/IPTV, and bring DBS closer to parity with cable
television/IPTV. Media Bureau employees dedicate substantially similar amounts of time and resources
to the regulation of DBS as they do to cable television and IPTV and DBS providers participate in
numerous Media Bureau dockets. We find that it is reasonable, based on the record, to continue to phase
in this fee. We do not agree with the DBS providers’ argument that MVPD issues are predominantly
cable specific and that we should not continue to move closer to parity.
17. Finally, the DBS providers contend that the Commission should use an MVPD subscriber
36
AT&T and DISH Comments at 1-2.
37
Id. at 2.
38
Id. at 3.
39
FY 2015 NPRM, 30 FCC Rcd at 5364-68, paras. 28-31.
40
NCTA and ACA Comments at 3; ACA and NCTA Reply at 3-6.
41
NCTA and ACA Comments at 3.
42
NCTA and ACA Comments at 4 (citing FY 2018 Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd at 7057, para. 8); ACA and
NCTA Reply at 6.
43
NCTA and ACA Comments at 4-5.
44
Id. at 5-6.
45
Id. at 6-7.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
8
snapshot closer in time to the regulatory fee order release date due to declining subscriber counts.
46
The
Commission has a number of quantity-based regulatory fees (e.g., Commercial Mobile Radio Service
(CMRS) cell phones, Cable, Paging, Interstate Telecommunications Service Provider (ITSP), Toll Free
Numbers, Submarine Cable, and Terrestrial and Satellite IBCs), and for each of them the fee is based on a
quantity count as of December of the prior year. Thus, using a DBS count in December of the previous
year is consistent with how the Commission measures all of its other quantity-based fees. Furthermore,
many companies use end of calendar year subscriber or customer counts for their year-end official
reports, and this provides the Commission sufficient time to obtain this data and use it to calculate fees at
the time the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is drafted. Use of a more recent customer data, such as in
June or July, would preclude the Commission from retrieving, reviewing, and using the information while
drafting the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and seeking comment on proposed fees, a critical step in the
annual regulatory fee process. Accordingly, we decline to adjust the date of the MVPD subscriber count
snapshot.
C. Television Broadcaster Regulatory Fees
18. Historically, regulatory fees for full-power television stations were based on the Nielsen
Designated Market Area (DMA) groupings 1-10, 11-25, 26-50, 51-100, and remaining markets (DMAs
101-210). In the FY 2018 NPRM, we sought comment on whether using the actual population covered by
the station’s contours instead of DMAs would more accurately reflect the market served by a full-power
broadcast television station for purposes of assessing regulatory fees.
47
In the FY 2018 Report and Order,
we adopted the new methodology. We determined that we would fully transition to the new methodology
by FY 2020, and in the interim, for FY 2019, we adopted a blended fee based partly on the historical
DMA methodology and partly on the new population-based methodology.
48
19. In the FY 2020 NPRM, we proposed to complete the transition to a population-based full-
power broadcast television regulatory fee.
49
We proposed the population-based methodology and began
to phase it in because, on balance, it is more equitable and avoids the numerous problems associated with
stations located at the edge of a DMA. Accordingly, we now adopt FY 2020 fees for full-power
broadcast television stations based on the population covered by a full-power broadcast television
station’s contour, as we proposed in the FY 2020 NPRM. We also adopt a factor of .78 of one cent
($.007837) for FY 2020 full-power broadcast television station fees.
50
The population data for
broadcasters’ service areas are extracted from the TVStudy database, based on a station’s projected noise-
limited service contour.
51
Appendix G lists this population data for each licensee and the population-
based fee (population multiplied by $.007837) for each full-power broadcast television station, including
each satellite station. And we accordingly disagree with NJBA’s attempt to relitigate this issue,
contending that the DMA approach is a more accurate way to assess fees correlating with how a station
derives revenue.
52
We recognize that the adoption of the population-based methodology increases fees
for some licensees and reduces fees for others but in the end the population-based metric better conforms
with the actual service authorized here—broadcasting television to the American people.
46
AT&T and DISH Comments at 4.
47
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2018, Report and Order and Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 33 FCC Rcd 5091, 5102, para. 28 (2018) (FY 2018 NPRM).
48
FY 2018 Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd at para.14.
49
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5002, paras. 66-67.
50
The factor of .78 of one cent ($.007837) was derived by taking the revenue amount required from all television
fee categories and dividing it by the total population count of all feeable call signs.
51
47 CFR § 73.622(e).
52
NJBA Comments at 3.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
9
20. In the FY 2020 NPRM, we also proposed to adjust the fees of Puerto Rico broadcasters in
two discrete ways. First, we proposed to account for the objectively measurable reduction in population
by reducing the population counts used in TVStudy by 16.9%, which reflects the decline between the last
census in 2010 and the current population estimate.
53
Second, we proposed to limit the market served by
a primary television stations and commonly owned satellite broadcast stations in Puerto Rico to no more
than 3.10 million people, the latest population estimate.
54
Under this scenario, the fee for television
broadcasters and commonly owned satellites, using the proposed population fee of $.007837, would not
exceed $24,300.
21. Commenter ACV agrees that the proposed adjustments in the FY 2020 NPRM will
mitigate the burdens of the population decline and the severe and rugged terrain.
55
The Joint Puerto Rico
Commenters also agree with the proposed adjustments.
56
Accordingly, we adopt those adjustments and
the proposed regulatory fees for these television broadcasters.
22. We disagree with arguments attempting to relitigate our treatment of VHF stations.
NJBA, for example, contends that UHF stations should pay a higher fee than VHF stations because VHF
stations have to overcome additional background interference that is prevalent in large cities.
57
In the
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, we declined to categorically lower regulatory fees for VHF stations
to account for signal limitations.
58
We concluded that there is nothing inherent in VHF transmission that
creates signal deficiencies but that environmental noise issues can affect reception in certain areas and
situations.
59
As such, we recognized that the Media Bureau had granted waivers to allow VHF stations
that demonstrate signal disruptions to exceed the maximum power level specified for channels 2-6 in
73.622(f)(6) and for channels 7-13 in 73.622(f)(7)—and that we would not “penalize” such stations by
assessing them at their higher power levels needed to overcome such interference but instead at the power
levels authorized by our rules.
60
Such an approach, we find, more narrowly targets the issue that NJBA
complains about by ensuring that VHF broadcasters that actually experience increased interference can
get the relief they need to reach consumers without sweeping other broadcasters into the mix.
23. We also reject the arguments of PMCM TV, operator of WJLP Channel 3 serving
Middletown Township, NJ and surrounding areas that appear to seek a carve-out for that one station from
our proposed regulatory fees. Its arguments, that it experiences a high degree of interference from
environmental noise and signal blockage from tall buildings near its transmitter and that it had relatively
low revenues compared to major network stations in New York City,
61
lead it to propose a reduction in its
own regulatory fee by 75%, to $41,378.
62
PCPM’s arguments appear to seek a waiver of a portion of their
fee based on its individual financial circumstances and we decline to grant this request—adjudicating the
circumstances of every station in the context of a cross-industrywide rulemaking would be
53
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5003, para. 69.
54
Id. at 5003, para. 70; see United States Census, Quick Facts, Puerto Rico, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/PR
(last visited Aug. 5, 2020).
55
ACV Comments at 3-5.
56
Joint Puerto Rico Comments at 4-5.
57
NJBA Comments at 3-4. NJBA also contends that UHF stations can offer a variety of ATSC 3.0 services in the
future that traditional VHF stations cannot offer. Id. Whatever the merits of that contention, such an argument does
not go to the present benefits that VHF stations enjoy vis-à-vis UHF stations.
58
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4997, para. 52.
59
Id.
60
Id.
61
PMCM TV Comments at 3-5.
62
Id. at 7-8.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
10
administratively impractical, and the Commission’s rule already provide a more appropriate venue for
relief: Parties can seek a waiver, reduction, or deferment, on a case-by-case basis of the fee, interest
charge, or penalty “in any specific instance for good cause shown, where such action would promote the
public interest.”
63
D. Radio Broadcaster Regulatory Fees
24. The FY 2020 NPRM proposed the same methodology for assessing radio broadcasters as
in prior years.
64
This methodology involves first identifying the FTEs doing work directly benefitting
regulatees.
65
Because the work of the FTEs in the indirect bureaus and offices benefits the Commission
and the telecommunications industry generally and is not specifically focused on the regulatees and
licensees of one core bureau, the FY 2020 NPRM proposed that, consistent with past practices, the total
FTEs for each fee category include an allocation of indirect FTEs proportional to the direct FTEs
associated with that category.
66
The total collection target is then allocated across all regulatory fee
categories based on the number of total FTEs. Each regulatee within a fee category then pays its
proportionate share based on an objective measure of size (e.g., revenues or number of subscribers).
67
The Commission adjusted the methodology for assessing regulatory fees on radio stations in FY 2016.
68
The methodology, as is the case with many regulatees, uses both population and type of license as a
metric for benefit afforded the payor.
69
25. Use of this methodology results in net increases in the amount of regulatory fees assessed
to radio broadcast categories compared to FY 2019.
70
In continuing to review our unit numbers, however,
we discovered a computational error and correct it here by increasing the number of units used in the
calculation from 9,636 to 9,831 which results in lower fees than proposed in the FY 2020 NPRM. Below
is a chart showing the regulatory fees by category of radio broadcaster for FY 2020 adjusted to account
for the correction:
63
47 U.S.C. § 159A(d).
64
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4497-87, paras. 53-58.
65
Id. at 4498, para. 56.
66
Id.
67
Id. at 4998, para. 57. The categories and calculations used in assessing regulatory fees were also provided. Id. at
Appendices B, D, and E.
68
FY 2016 Report and Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 10351, para. 33.
69
See FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5015-17, Appendix C.
70
NAB states that radio broadcasters’ proposed regulatory fees would increase by an average of 4 percent for FY
2020. NAB Comments at 4 (further stating that, under the Commission’s proposal, regulatory fees for AM Class A
stations with the smallest reach would increase 5.3 percent, and some FM stations in the largest markets would
increase 4.3 percent increase.”).
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
11
FY 2020 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
$975 $700 $610 $670 $1,075 $1,225
25,001 – 75,000
$1,475 $1,050 $915 $1,000 $1,625 $1,850
75,001 – 150,000
$2,200 $1,575 $1,375 $1,500 $2,425 $2,750
150,001 – 500,000
$3,300 $2,375 $2,050 $2,275 $3,625 $4,150
500,001 – 1,200,000 $4,925
$3,550 $3,075 $3,400 $5,450 $6,200
1,200,001 –
3,000,000
$7,400 $5,325 $4,625 $5,100 $8,175 $9,300
3,000,001 –
6,000,000
$11,100 $7,975 $6,950 $7,625 $12,250 $13,950
>6,000,000
$16,675 $11,975 $10,425 $11,450 $18,375 $20,925
26. Radio broadcasters argue that any increases to their regulatory fees for FY 2020 are
unreasonable because the total amount appropriated to the Commission for FY 2020 did not increase from
FY 2019, and the number of FTEs in the Media Bureau increased by only one from FY 2019.
71
Accordingly, they claim that the regulatory fees for radio broadcast categories for FY 2020 should be
frozen at their FY 2019 levels.
72
The radio broadcasters’ arguments, however, reflect an incomplete
understanding of the methodology that the Commission has used for years. As described above and in the
FY 2020 NPRM, the long-standing methodology for assessing regulatory fees involves multiple factors
besides the amount of appropriation to be recovered and the number of direct FTEs. Specifically, two
factors affecting calculation of radio broadcasters’ fees changed significantly between FY 2019 and FY
2020, and resulted in the increase in regulatory fees for radio broadcasters. First, the Media Bureau’s
allocation percentage increased from 35.9% in FY 2019 to 37.3% in FY 2020.
73
(Mathematically, the
year-to-year change in the absolute number of direct FTEs in a core bureau does not by itself determine
the share of overall regulatory fees that should be borne by regulatees of that bureau, because the bureau’s
allocation percentage also depends on the overall number of Commission direct FTEs, which changes
year to year.) Furthermore, because indirect FTEs are proportionately allocated by a bureau’s share of
direct FTEs, this increase in the percentage of direct FTEs also resulted in an increase in the amount of
indirect FTEs being allocated to Media Bureau fee categories.
74
This then resulted in an increase in the
71
NAB Comments at 1-2, 4.
72
Colorado Broadcasters Comments at 3-6; NAB Comments at 4-6.
73
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4998, para. 58; FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8194, para. 12.
74
As discussed in paragraphs 9-10 above, we reject arguments that the Commission should change its longstanding
methodology for allocating indirect FTEs in proportion to the allocation of direct FTEs, which provides an
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
12
overall fees for radio broadcasters as a group. Second, the total number of radio broadcasters (projected
fee-paying units) unexpectedly dropped by 180 from FY 2019 to FY 2020.
75
The net effect of these two
changes resulted in increased regulatory fees for individual radio broadcaster fee paying units for FY
2020.
27. We disagree with the radio broadcasters that we should ignore our long-standing
methodology in order to freeze regulatory fees for (and thus benefit) radio broadcasters at the expense of
other regulatees (such as television broadcasters). Because the Commission is statutorily obligated to
recover the amount of its appropriation through regulatory fees, these fees are a zero-sum situation. Thus,
if the Commission freezes one set of regulatees’ fees, it would need to increase another set of regulatees’
fees to make up for any resulting shortfall in a way that is inconsistent with the longstanding methodology
described in the FY 2020 NPRM. Such an outcome would be arbitrary and not in the public interest as a
whole, particularly when compared to the alternative of following our long-standing methodology for
assessing regulatory fees. We accordingly decline to freeze the radio broadcaster regulatory fees at their
FY 2019 levels and instead, we adopt the radio broadcaster fees as adjusted in this Report and Order.
76
E. Toll Free Numbering Regulatory Fees
28. Toll free numbers allow callers to reach the called party without being charged for the
call.
77
With toll free calls, the charge for the call is paid by the called party (the toll free subscriber)
instead.
78
For reasons discussed in the FY 2014 Report and Order
79
and the FY 2015 Report and Order,
80
the Commission established a regulatory fee obligation for Responsible Organizations (RespOrgs)
81
that
manage toll free numbers, beginning in FY 2015.
82
These reasons include empowering the Commission
to ensure that toll free numbers, a valuable national public resource, are allocated in an equitable and
objective, administrable standard for implementing the statutory directive that regulatory fees reflect the benefits
provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission’s activities. 47 U.S.C. § 159(d).
75
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8223, Appendix B; FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5012, Appendix
B.
76
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at Appendix C.
77
Toll free numbers are telephone numbers for which the toll charges for completed calls are paid by the toll free
subscriber. See 47 CFR § 52.101(f). These are 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, and 844 numbers. SMS/800 (or the 800
Service Management System) is a centralized system that performs toll free number management. For a list of
RespOrgs on the SMS/800, Inc. website, see http://www.sms800.com/Controls/NAC/Serviceprovider.aspx.
78
47 U.S.C. §§ 52.101 (e), (f).
79
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2014, Report and Order and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, MD Docket No. 14-92, 29 FCC Rcd 10767, 10777-79, paras. 25-28 (2014) (FY 2014 Report
and Order).
80
FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 5362-64, paras. 23-27.
81
A Responsible Organization (RespOrg) is a company that manages toll free telephone numbers for subscribers.
RespOrgs use the SMS/800 data base to verify the availability of specific numbers and to reserve the numbers for
subscribers. See 47 CFR § 52.101(b).
82
Prior to the FY 2014 Report and Order, the Commission did not assess regulatory fees on toll free numbers based
on the assumption that the entities controlling the numbers—wireline and wireless common carriers—were paying
regulatory fees based on either revenues or subscribers. See FY 2014 Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 10777,
para. 25, note 74 (citing Universal Service Contribution Methodology, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 27
FCC Rcd 5357, 5463-64, para. 306 (2012)). In the FY 2014 NPRM, the Commission observed this was no longer
the case because many toll free numbers were controlled or managed by RespOrgs that were not common carriers.
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2014, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Second
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Order, MD Docket Nos. 14-92, 13-140, and 12-201, 29 FCC Rcd
6417, 6435, para 51 (2014) (FY 2014 NPRM).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
13
orderly manner that serves the public interest, a fundamental purpose of section 251(e)(1) of the Act.
83
29. On May 20, 2020, ATL Communications, a RespOrg, filed comments to the
Commission’s proposed regulatory fees for fiscal year 2020. In its comments, ATL does not address the
issues that are the subject of this proceeding, but instead raises specific questions related to international
toll free calls involving Canada, tracking fee exemptions, control and ownership of toll free numbers, and
the consequences for failure to pay assessed regulatory fees.
84
Upon review, we find no convincing
evidence in ATL’s comments that warrants a change to the regulatory fee obligation, as it applies to toll
free numbers.
F. Market Access Space Station Regulatory Fees
30. In the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, we concluded that non-U.S. licensed space
stations granted access to the market in the United States (market access grants) will be included in the
FY 2020 GSO and NGSO space station regulatory fees.
85
In the FY 2020 NPRM, we accordingly
proposed to collect regulatory fees from most, but not all, non-U.S. licensed space stations granted U.S.
market access,
86
and we follow through and adopt such fees here.
31. We disagree with the two commenters that assert that we do not have such authority.
87
We will not repeat the lengthy analysis from the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order here, but will
summarize the issues.
83
FY 2014 Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 10776, para. 26.
84
Although it is outside the scope of this proceeding, we provide the following answers in response to ATL’s
questions. Regarding identification and shared use of Canadian numbers, the Commission clarified in the FY 2014
Report and Order that the regulatory fee, assessed on RespOrgs for toll free numbers is limited to toll free numbers
that are accessible within the United States. See FY 2014 Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 10778, para. 27.
Further, the FY 2015 Report and Order notes that the regulatory fee assessed on RespOrgs for toll free numbers
managed by a RespOrg, is payable for all toll free numbers unless calls from only other countries can be completed
using those toll free numbers. FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 5364, para. 24. Regarding ATL’s
questions about tracking numbers for exemptions and determining control and ownership, as discussed in the FY15
Report and Order, the basis for identifying the toll free number count upon which the regulatory fee is assessed is
derived from data available as of or around December 31st of each year that is provided by SMS/800, Inc, the entity
which provides administration and routing for all toll free numbers in North America. FY 2015 Report and Order,
30 FCC Rcd at 5364, para. 26. Regarding ATL’s question about failure to pay for assessed fees, the Commission
held in the FY 2015 Report and Order that a RespOrg that fails to pay the regulatory fee assessed by the FCC will be
subject to penalties. FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 5363, para. 24. We also note that the FY 2015
Report and Order required the Managing Director to coordinate with the Toll Free Numbering Administrator to
ensure that all RespOrgs owing regulatory fees had sufficient information about the regulatory fee process and
opportunity to pay the regulatory fee before the RespOrg is placed in red light status and enforcement procedures are
initiated. FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 5364, para. 25.
85
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4979-91, paras. 7-34.
86
The Commission adopted this new fee category in 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4979-91,
paras. 7-34; the proposed fees were listed in Appendix C.
87
See, e.g., Telesat Comments at 1-2; Kineis Comments at 2-3. Kineis, who did not participate in the proceeding
below, but is participating in the Petition for Review of the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order pending in the Court
of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, generally repeats arguments previously made by commenters to the Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking attached to the FY 2019 Report and Order. See Kineis Comments at 2-3 (arguing that the
FCC lacks authority to include market access grants in space station regulatory fees and also arguing that the
benefits afforded market grants are different from those afforded U.S. licensees for purposes of regulatory fee
assessments). Compare 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4982, para. 13 (commenters argued that
based on legislative history, the Commission does not have the authority to impose such a fee, citing to Telesat
Comments at 2; Eutelsat Comments at 4-5; Inmarsat Reply at 2-3).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
14
32. In our order, the Commission provided a history of section 9 of the Communications Act,
the legislative history text associated with the original statute enacted in 1993, the subsequent
Commission proceedings
88
discussing the question of assessing regulatory fees on market access grants,
and the recent amendments to the statute.
89
33.
The core of our analysis started with our review of the language of section 9 and our
conclusion that it supported adoption of regulatory fees for non-U.S. licensed space stations with U.S.
market access. We explained that the Act contemplates that we impose fees on regulatees that reflect the
“benefits provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission’s activities.”
90
As part of such review, we
explained that the text of the statute did not support an exemption or exclusion for non-U.S. licensed
space stations granted market access.
91
And we concluded that holders of market access grants clearly
benefit from the activities of the Commission—and nothing in the language of the Act suggests Congress
intended to preclude such entities from the ambit of regulatory fees. We also addressed arguments that
the 1991 legislative history associated with the statute precluded assessing regulatory fees on market
access grants and concluded that it did not.
92
We provided historical context of the 1991 legislative
history language explaining that when viewed in context this legislative history referred to entities such as
INTELSAT and INMARSAT, which were international governmental organizations formed as a result of
international treaties and with explicit support by the United States through statutory and regulatory
mechanisms, and as such did not preclude adopting our proposal.
93
We concluded that the legislative
88
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4979-4991, paras. 7-34.
89
Id. at 4980-4981, para. 10.
90
Id. (explaining 47 U.S.C. § 159(d).
91
Id. at 4980-4981, paras. 10-11. Our conclusions are in line with prior review of the statute in PanAmSat Corp. v.
F.C.C., 198 F.3d 890, 895 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (explaining if Congress intended an exemption for an entity one might
find it in the section of the statute devoted to exemptions).
92
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4982-4985, paras. 14-18. The legislative history is found in
the House and Senate Reports, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 102 H. Rpt. 207, September 17, 1991, in
which the Committee stated: “The Committee intends that fees in this category be assessed on operators of U.S.
facilities, consistent with FCC jurisdiction. Therefore, these fees will apply only to space stations directly licensed
by the Commission under Title III of the Communications Act. Fees will not be applied to space stations operated
by international organizations subject to the International Organizations Immunities Act, 22 U.S.C. Section 288 et
seq.” House and Senate Reports, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 102 H. Rpt. 207, at 33 (Sept. 17, 1991).
The language of the 1991 House and Senate Report was incorporated by reference in the Conference Report
accompanying the 1993 Budget Reconciliation Act, which included the regulatory fee program. See Conference
Report H. Rept. No. 213, 103d Cong., 1st Sess. 499 (1993). The 1991 language related to a comparable bill that
passed the House in 1991 but was not passed into law. See PanAmSat Corp. v. FCC, 198 F.3d 890, 895 (D.C. Cir.
1999).
93
INTELSAT and INMARSAT, however, were fully privatized and now operate as commercial enterprises
INTELSAT became a private company in 2001, Intelsat, Ltd., after 37 years as an International Governmental
Organization, it has corporate headquarters are in Luxembourg and the United States, and a fleet of more than 50
satellites. See Application of Intelsat LLC for Authority to Operate, and to Further Construct, Launch, and Operate
C-band and Ku-band Satellites that Form a Global Communications System in Geostationary Orbit, Memorandum
Opinion, Order and Authorization, 15 FCC Rcd 15460, recon. denied, 15 FCC Rcd 25234 (2000), further
proceedings, 16 FCC Rcd 12280 (2001). INMARSAT, now Inmarsat, Inc., is headquartered in London, England,
has offices in over 40 countries, and owns and operates 13 satellites. See Comsat Corporation et al., Memorandum
Opinion, Order and Authorization, 16 FCC Rcd 21661 (2001); Inmarsat Group Holdings Limited Petition for
Declaratory Ruling Pursuant to Section 621(5)(F) of the ORBIT Act, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 20 FCC Rcd
11366 (2005).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
15
history of the Act posed no bar to assessing regulatory fees on non-U.S. licensed space stations granted
U.S. market access
94
via the formal process first adopted by the Commission in 1997.
95
34. Kineis, which did not previously participate in the proceeding, presents two variations on
arguments raised by other commenters in the underlying proceeding. For procedural reasons we conclude
that we are not required to address these additional arguments. Kineis admits that in challenging (for the
first time here) the Commission’s May 2020 decision assessing regulatory fees on non-U.S. market
grants, it is not responding to anything in the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order.
96
And while we might
nevertheless treat its arguments as a petition for reconsideration of the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform
Order, Kineis has not sought such treatment nor has it met the procedural requirements for a petition for
reconsideration.
97
Thus, we dismiss the Kineis filing to the extent it challenges the basis for our decision
to assess regulatory fees on non-U.S. market grant or seeks reconsideration of that decision.
35.
Turning to comments received in response to the FY 2020 NPRM, on separate and
independent grounds, we reject Kineis’s arguments on their merits. We address the two arguments that
might be considered new under a generous analysis, but we will not rehash the other aspects of our prior
decision. First, Kineis argues that the Commission “conflates ancillary generalized benefits that may
arguably arise from FCC activities with the status of actually being an FCC-regulated entity.”
98
This
argument shows that Kineis misunderstands the focus of the annual regulatory fee proceeding. The
Commission is required by Congress to assess regulatory fees each year in an amount that can reasonably
be expected to equal the amount of its appropriation.
99
The Commission’s methodology for assessing
regulatory fees must “reflect the full-time equivalent number of employees within the bureaus and offices
of the Commission, adjusted to take into account factors that are reasonably related to the benefits
provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission’s activities.”
100
Our order amply explained how
requests for market access have become a significant portion of the applications processed by the
Commission and that holders of market access grants regularly participate in Commission activities.
101
94
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4983, para. 17.
95
Id. at 4982-4983, paras. 14-16 (explaining the history of surrounding the Commission’s adoption in 1997 of a
framework under which to consider requests for access by non-U.S. licensed satellites into the United States known
as DISCO II with many granular details described in note 46, 47, and 49). Under the DISCO II process, requests for
market access include all the same information as operators seeking a Commission license and also information
addressing whether operators are licensed by WTO member nations, with respect to covered services, and if not
sufficient information to determine whether the ECO-SAT analysis is satisfied. Amendment of the Commission's
Regulatory Policies to Allow Non–U.S. Licensed Space Stations to Provide Domestic and International Satellite
Service in the United States, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 24094 (1997) (DISCO II).
96
Kineis Comments at 1.
97
See, e.g., 47 CFR 1.429(b) (requirement to explain why arguments on reconsideration could not have been raised
previously). We also note that Kineis has joined with other parties in filing a petition for judicial review of the 2020
Regulatory Fee Reform Order.
98
Kineis Comments at 4-5.
99
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4977-4978, paras. 2-3; 47 U.S.C. §§ 159(a) (“shall assess and
collect regulatory fees”), 159(b) (“Commission shall assess and collect regulatory fees at such rates as the
Commission shall establish in a schedule of regulatory fees that will result in the collection, in each fiscal year, of an
amount that can reasonably be expected to equal the amounts described in subsection (a) with respect to such fiscal
year.”); see also 47 U.S.C. § 156(b).
100
47 U.S.C. § 159(d).
101
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4983-4986, paras 17, 19, 20, & 21. Space X Comments at 2-
3 (noting that in other proceedings, the non-U.S. operators stress the similarities between grants of market access
and Commission space-station licenses). We also address this point below wherein we discuss the rationale for
assessing the same fee on market access grants as space station licenses.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
16
Thus, such entities derive many benefits from the activities of Commission staff. Adding market access
grants to the space station regulatory fee category thus will fulfill Congress’s mandate that the
Commission recover through regulatory fees the FTE resources costs associated with its activities.
102
In
this regard, we note that the Commission generally measures the benefits provided to regulatory fee
payors in section 9 through analysis of FTE time devoted to the activities of the Commission funded by
our salaries and expense appropriation.
103
Additionally, Kineis argues that non-U.S.-licensed space
stations are not subject to regulatory fees because they provide “nonregulated services.”
104
The argument
ignores the fact that operators of non-U.S.-licensed space stations granted market access are subject to the
same service rules and operating conditions as those that apply to U.S. licensed operators.
105
Moreover,
as explained in detail in our 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, we have re-evaluated our prior
conclusions stemming from the legislative history.
106
36. Finally, turning to the suggestion that the Commission should adopt a contingency plan in
the event our decision is reversed on appeal, we decline to do so. In the event of reversal on appeal, a
remand or other similar possibilities, the FCC would review the decision and abide by any court order as
well as its statutory duties.
37. We also disagree with arguments that the proposed regulatory fees for non-U.S licensed
space stations with U.S. market access grants are too high because we set the same regulatory fee for U.S.
licensed and non-U.S. licensed space stations.
107
As we discussed in the FY 2020 NPRM, the number of
space stations seeking U.S. market access has continued to increase each year; in 2019 there were more
market access petitions than U.S. space station applications.
108
In addition, as we noted, foreign-licensed
space station operators participate actively in Commission rulemaking proceedings and benefit from
Commission monitoring and enforcement activities.
109
We concluded that the Commission devotes
significant resources to processing the growing number of market access petitions of non-U.S. licensed
satellites and that those foreign licensed satellites with U.S. market access benefit from much of the same
102
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4988, para. 26. In discussion of the benefit conferred on
regulatory fee payors, it is important to note that the benefit in this context is measured in FTE time, the burden
imposed on the FCC in order to exercising its statutory responsibilities. FY 2007 Report and Order, 22 FCC Rcd at
15719-15720, para. 19.
103
47 U.S.C. §§ 156 (a) (b) (authorizes appropriations to carry out the functions of the Commission to be derived
from fees authorized by section 159); 159(a)(“Commission shall assess and collect regulatory fees to recover the
costs of carrying out the activities described in section 156(a) of this title only to the extent, and in the total amounts,
provided for in Appropriations Acts.”); 159(b) (“The Commission shall assess and collect regulatory fees at such
rates as the Commission shall establish in a schedule of regulatory fees that will result in the collection, in each
fiscal year, of an amount that can reasonably be expected to equal the amounts described in subsection (a) with
respect to such fiscal year.”); FY 2020 Appropriation (providing a salaries and expenses appropriation and further
providing “…, That the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced as such offsetting collections are received during
fiscal year 2020 so as to result in a final fiscal year 2020 appropriation estimated at $0:”).
104
Kineis Comments at 3 (citing Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2013, Report and
Order, 28 FCC Rcd 12351, 12352-53, para. 6 & n.10 (2013)).
105
The request for U.S. market access requires the submission and review of the same legal and technical
information for the non-U.S. licensed space station as would be required in a license application for that space
station. 47 CFR § 25.137; DISCO II.
106
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4982-4985, at paras. 14-18.
107
Eutelsat Comments at 7; Myriota Comments at 8; Kineis Reply at 4-5.
108
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4985, para. 19 & note 67.
109
Id. at 4986, para. 21.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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oversight and regulation by the Commission as the U.S. licensed satellites.
110
For that reason, we
concluded that assessing the same regulatory fees on non-U.S. licensed space stations with market access
grants as we assess on U.S. licensed space stations will better reflect the benefits received by these
operators through the Commission’s adjudicatory, enforcement, regulatory, and international coordination
activities and will promote regulatory parity and fairness among space station operators by evenly
distributing the regulatory cost recovery. And we disagree that the recategorization of four FTEs five
years ago from direct to indirect should determine the space station regulatory fee for FY 2020.
111
Whatever the relative apportionment of work between U.S. licensees and non-U.S. licensed space stations
with market access, our current assessment of the work performed by FTEs leads us to find that equal
treatment is in order.
38. Finally, the non-U.S. licensed satellite operators argue that they should not pay the same
amount of indirect costs as the U.S. licensed satellite operators because they receive fewer benefits from
the Commission.
112
They contend that the Commission’s regulatory activity at international organizations
is designed to promote and protect the interests of U.S. satellite operators and that the indirect FTEs
across the agency largely support U.S. telecommunications policy.
113
Commenters contend that FTE-
based costs associated with non-U.S. licensed space stations are a fraction of those associated with U.S.
licensed space stations, imposing the same regulatory fee would require the foreign-licensed space
stations to subsidize U.S. licensed satellite operators.
114
39. U.S. licensed satellite operators disagree and observe that the non-U.S. licensed satellite
operators receive the same or more benefits from the Commission as do U.S. licensed satellite
operators.
115
They observe that in another proceeding the non-U.S. licensed operators in the C-Band
Alliance have stressed the practical similarities between the market access grants and U.S. licensed space
stations.
116
SpaceX contends that the foreign licensed operators overlook the tremendous benefit of
access to the U.S market and that the Commission’s regulatory activities maximize the value of the
market access.
117
40. We find that the non-U.S. licensed operators are ignoring the fact that the Commission
devotes significant resources to processing the growing number of market access petitions of foreign
licensed satellites and that the foreign licensed satellite operators benefit from much of the same oversight
and regulation by the Commission as the U.S. licensed satellites. For example, processing a petition for
market access requires evaluation of the same legal and technical information as required of U.S. licensed
applicants. The operators of non-U.S. licensed space stations also benefit from the Commission’s
oversight efforts regarding all space and earth station operations in the U.S. market, since enforcement of
Commission rules and policies in connection with all operators provides a fair and safe environment for
all participants in the U.S. marketplace. The Commission’s adjudication, rulemaking, and international
coordination efforts benefit all U.S. marketplace participants by evaluating and minimizing the risks of
radiofrequency interference, increasing the number of participants in the U.S. satellite market, opening up
additional frequency bands for use by satellite services, providing a level and uniform regime for
mitigating the danger of orbital debris, and streamlining Commission rules that apply to all providers of
110
Id.
111
Eutelsat Comments at 7; Myriota Comments at 8; Kineis Reply at 4-5.
112
Eutelsat Comments at 11; Myriota Reply at 6-7.
113
Eutelsat Comments at 11-12; Myriota Reply at 6.
114
Eutelsat Comments at 10; Myriota Comments at 9.
115
SpaceX Reply at 2-5.
116
Id. at 2-3 (citing the C-Band Alliance Comments in GN Docket No. 18-122, filed July 3, 2019).
117
Id. at 3-5.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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satellite services in the United States.
118
The active participation of operators of non-U.S. licensed space
stations in these adjudications and rulemakings demonstrates that they recognize benefits from
Commission action to their operations within the U.S. market.
119
Thus, the significant benefits to non-
U.S. licensed satellites with U.S. market access support including them in the GSO and NGSO regulatory
fee categories for U.S. licensed space stations.
41. To the extent some commenters argue that foreign licensed space stations do not benefit
from Commission regulatory activity after the space station is operational,
120
and that compliance with
market access conditions are pre-operational assessments that occur before the licensee is subject to any
regulatory fees, we disagree. Both U.S. licensed space stations and non-U.S. licensed space stations often
make changes to their operations after they have been brought into service, through modification
applications or petitions.
121
Ongoing U.S. licensed and non-U.S. licensed space station operations are
subject to, and benefit from, the rulemaking and other regulatory activities described above during the
entire service period of the space station. In addition, we do not agree that the relevant processing costs
incurred should only be assessed in the country where the space station is licensed, and that assessing fees
in the United States for the same processing costs would be duplicative.
122
The processing costs assessed
by the licensing country correspond to work that is independent to that performed by the Commission.
Moreover, the Commission’s substantial regulatory efforts for satellite services benefit non-U.S. licensed
space station operators with market access and it would be inequitable to continue charging only U.S.
licensees for these benefits to foreign operators.
42. Commenters also argue that we should exempt or adopt a reduced fee for non-U.S.
licensed GSO satellites in certain circumstances. We adopt one of these proposals and reject the others.
43. Eutelsat argues that U.S. licensed earth stations onboard vessels (ESVs) operating outside
U.S. territorial waters and communicating with foreign licensed satellites should not be subject to
118
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8212-13, para. 63 (citing Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New
Space Age, IB Docket No. 18-313, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on Reconsideration, 33 FCC Rcd
11352 (2018) (Orbital Debris NPRM); Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the
Use of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating with Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in Frequency Bands
Allocated to the Fixed-Satellite Service, IB Docket No. 18-315, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 33 FCC Rcd 11416
(2018) (ESIM NPRM); Amendment of the Commission’s Policies and Rules for Processing Applications in the
Direct Broadcast Satellite Service, IB Docket No. 06-160, Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 33 FCC Rcd
11303 (2018); Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Use of Earth Stations in
Motion Communicating with Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in Frequency Bands Allocated to the Fixed
Satellite Service, IB Docket No 17-95, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 32 FCC Rcd
9327 (2018); Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services, IB Docket No. 18-314, Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, 33 FCC Rcd 11502 (2018) (Part 25 Further Streamlining NPRM); Streamlining Licensing
Procedures for Small Satellites, IB Docket No. 18-86, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 33 FCC Rcd 4152 (2018);
Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Non-Geostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems and Related Matters, IB
Docket No. 16-408, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 32 FCC Rcd 7809 (2017);
Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Use of Earth Stations in Motion
Communicating with Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in Frequency Bands Allocated to the Fixed-Satellite
Service, IB Docket No. 17-95, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 32 FCC Rcd 4239 (2017).
119
Market access recipients filed comments in nearly all of the Commission’s recent satellite rulemaking
proceedings. See, e.g., Comments of WorldVu Satellites Limited d/b/a OneWeb, SES Americom and Eutelsat in
Orbital Debris NPRM, (filings made Apr. 5, 2019); ESIM NPRM (filings made Feb. 11, 2019) and Part 25 Further
Streamlining NPRM (filings made Mar. 18, 2019).
120
Kineis Comments at 3-5; Eutelsat Comments at 9-10.
121
See generally 47 CFR §§ 25.117, 25.137.
122
Kineis Comments at 4.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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regulatory fees.
123
These operations are similar, in regulatory treatment, to those of earth stations aboard
aircraft (ESAAs) operating outside the United States and communicating with non-U.S. licensed space
stations. In the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, the Commission excluded from regulatory fee
obligations operators of non-U.S. licensed space stations that are listed as a point of communication on
ESAA licenses, if the ESAA license clearly limits U.S. licensed ESAA terminals’ access to these non-
U.S. licensed space stations to situations in which these terminals are in foreign territories and/or over
international waters and the license does not otherwise allow the non-U.S. licensed space station access to
the U.S. market.
124
We agree that the same rationale also applies here. Accordingly, non-U.S. licensed
space stations that are listed as a point of communication on ESV licenses are exempt from the regulatory
fee obligations if the ESV license clearly limits U.S. licensed ESV terminals’ access to these non-U.S.
licensed space stations to situations in which these terminals are in foreign territories and/or international
waters and the license does not otherwise allow the non-U.S. licensed space station access to the U.S.
market.
44. Two commenters propose fee exemptions for certain non-U.S. licensed satellite systems
based on the theory that they are not actually providing services in the United States.
125
Astranis proposes
that foreign licensed satellites accessing U.S. gateway/feeder link earth stations should be exempt from
regulatory fees, because these satellites are not providing commercial services to the U.S. market but are
just obtaining services from the U.S.-based earth stations.
126
Like the earth stations only providing
telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) services that were exempted from regulatory fees, Astranis
argues, the provision of gateway or feeder link services to foreign satellites is a benefit to the earth station
operators.
127
AWS proposes that non-U.S. licensed NGSO systems that downlink traffic to U.S. licensed
earth stations, solely for immediate transit outside the United States and not intended for U.S. customers,
should be exempt from regulatory fees.
128
45. We disagree with both proposals. Unlike the limited exemptions adopted for operations
exclusively outside the United States or for TT&C operations that are directed to the safe and effective
operation of the satellite in orbit, the proposed exceptions are for services provided in the United States
and involve data operations unrelated to the safe and effective satellite operations in orbit. These data
services could involve significant data exchange traffic in the United States. Feeder link earth stations are
located in the United States and carry data to and from various users. Further, the direction of the data
flow is irrelevant in the context of regulatory fees. Whether the U.S. market access is allowing an earth
station to provide service to a space station, or a space station is providing service to an earth station does
not affect our cost of regulating GSOs and NSGOs. Space stations also benefit from our regulatory
actions regardless of the direction of the data flow or whether services are provided ultimately to end
users in the United States. We see no basis to exempt this half of the satellite data link for regulatory fee
purposes. Further, the fact that data is immediately transferred out of the United States does not affect the
spectrum usage or the need for Commission efforts to ensure interference-free operations for links from
NGSO systems in the United States. We therefore reject both proposals.
46. Two commenters propose exemptions or reduced fees based on coverage area. Astranis
proposes that we adopt a tiered fee structure based on the U.S. population with the satellite’s coverage
123
Eutelsat Comments at 16.
124
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4990, para. 30.
125
See AWS Comments at 3; Astranis Reply at 6-7.
126
Astranis Reply at 6-7.
127
Id. at 7.
128
AWS Comments at 3. Alternatively, AWS suggests that we assess a nominal fee for NGSO systems with five or
fewer U.S. licensed earth stations for TT&C and non-domestic data downlink purposes. AWS Comments at 6. We
are seeking comment on this proposal in the attached Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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area, so that the non-U.S. licensed satellite regulatory fee can more directly relate to the costs incurred by
the Commission and benefits received by the U.S. and foreign licensed payors.
129
SES proposes that
foreign licensed satellites whose U.S. coverage is limited to one or more territories in the Pacific Ocean
(Guam, American Samoa, Midway Island, Wake Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands) be exempt
from regulatory fees because of the distance from mainland United States and the few number of potential
customers located on these islands.
130
According to SES, while this is not a concrete problem in the
current regulatory fee cycle, it is a recurring issue that will arise when a customer on a U.S. territory in
the Pacific needs satellite capacity and the regulatory fee would create an economic barrier to providing
access.
131
Astranis contends that similar considerations apply to other remote and underserved areas, such
as Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Caribbean territories.
132
It argues an exception for these areas would allow
satellite operators to better meet the Commission’s goal of affordable, high-speed Internet access in those
underserved areas.
133
Astranis proposes that we exempt from regulatory fees a satellite with a service area
outside the contiguous United States comprising less than one percent of the U.S. population.
134
47. Telesat disagrees with this proposal to exempt non-U.S. licensed satellites from
regulatory fees because these factors would apply equally to U.S. licensed satellites and also to other
geographic areas.
135
Telesat suggests that if a foreign or U.S. licensed operator contends that under
certain facts it would be inappropriate to pay regulatory fees, they should request a waiver.
136
We agree
with Telesat and reject the argument for exemptions or reduced fees based on the U.S. geographic areas
served by the space station. Commenters have not shown that providing service to a remote area would
reduce the International Bureau’s costs or affect the benefits to the regulatee.
G. Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Station Regulatory Fees
48. In the 2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order we decided to allocate 80% of space station
fees to GSO space stations and 20% of space stations fees to NGSO space stations based upon the number
of applications processed, the rulemakings, and the number of FTEs working on oversight for each
category of operators.
137
In response to the proposed GSO and NGSO regulatory fees in the FY 2020
NRPM, commenters assert that we should adopt separate fee categories for distinct types of NGSO
systems,
138
argue we should phase in the NGSO fee increase and not increase by more than 7.5% per
year,
139
and question the accuracy of our list of non-U.S. licensed space stations granted market access
that would be subject to regulatory fees.
140
We find that there is not sufficient evidence in the record to
establish different fees for NGSO systems at this time and are seeking comment on the issue in the
attached Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We decline to phase in the NGSO fee increase as
inconsistent with section 9 of the Act and adopt the proposed fees, adjusted to take into account changes
to the number of assessible satellites. We agree, however, with the suggestion to publish a list of the
129
Astranis Reply at 6.
130
SES Comments at 2.
131
Id. at 2-3.
132
Astranis Reply at 4-5.
133
Id. at 5.
134
Id.
135
Telesat Replys at 2-3.
136
Id. at 3.
137
2020 Regulatory Fee Reform Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 4993-4995, paras. 40-45.
138
Kineis Comments at 5-10; Myriota Comments at 4-7 & Reply at 2.
139
Planet Comments at 2; SpaceX Reply at 7.
140
Eutelsat Comments at 16; SES Comments at 4; SpaceX Reply at 7-8.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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space stations and systems in operation that would be subject to regulatory fees and attach such list in
Appendix F.
49. We disagree with commenters that object to the proposed fees for NGSO systems as too
high for certain NGSOs and contend that the Commission should adopt separate fee categories for distinct
types of NGSO systems,
141
that the Commission should apportion the FTEs based on different types of
NGSOs,
142
or that we have not established that the actual benefits provided to NGSO payors are equal.
143
That NGSO systems may differ in size or other characteristics does not preclude grouping them in the
same fee category. The Commission groups similar services for regulatory fee purposes, regardless of the
varying regulatory obligations of each entity and without calculating how many FTEs are devoted to each
individual regulation, because activity levels and participation in specific proceedings may change from
year to year. As the Commission discussed in the FY 2017 Report and Order,
144
services that are not
identical nevertheless warrant placement in the same regulatory fee category, e.g., ITSP includes a range
of carriers that may not be regulated identically but must pay fees on the same basis.
145
When
interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers were added to the ITSP category in a
permitted amendment the Commission observed that “the costs and benefits associated with our
regulation of interconnected VoIP providers are not identical as those associated with regulating interstate
telecommunications service and CMRS [Commercial Mobile Radio Service].”
146
IPTV is not regulated
in all the same ways as cable television, and yet the Commission requires them to pay fees on the same
basis.
147
Neither the Communications Act nor Commission precedent require an entity to pay regulatory
fees exactly equal to an entity’s FTE interaction with a Bureau or Commission office.
148
We did not
propose differential treatment of NGSOs in the FY 2020 NPRM, and we do not see compelling reasons to
deviate from our traditional assessment methods based on the record before us now.
50. Some contend that given the broad range of NGSO networks serving or planning to serve
the United States market, the Commission should adopt a multi-tiered approach based on total number of
satellites deployed and total transmit bandwidth.
149
SpaceX contends that these commenters have not
shown any meaningful tie between the number of satellites in an NGSO system and the use of
Commission resources.
150
We agree that there is not sufficient evidence in the record to establish
different fees for sized NGSO systems. Accordingly, we seek further comment in the attached Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
51. We disagree with commenters who argue that the proposed increase in NGSO regulatory
141
Kineis Comments at 5-10; Myriota Comments at 4-7 & Reply at 2.
142
Myriota Reply at 7-9.
143
Id. at 4, 8.
144
FY 2017 Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 7068, para. 24.
145
ITSP, regulated by the Wireline Competition Bureau, includes interexchange carriers (IXCs), incumbent local
exchange carriers (LECs), toll resellers, Voice over Internet Providers (VoIP), and other service providers, all of which
involve different degrees of regulatory oversight.
146
See Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2007, Report and Order and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, 22 FCC Rcd 15712, 15719, para. 19 (2007) (FY 2007 Report and Order).
147
FY 2013 Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd at 12362, para. 32.
148
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2016, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC
Rcd 5757, para. 9 & n.41 (2016) (FY 2016 NPRM); FY 2015 NPRM, 30 FCC Rcd at 5369, para. 33.
149
Kineis Comments at 9.
150
SpaceX Reply at 6-7.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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fees requires us to phase in the fee increase over time, and not increase by more than 7.5% per year.
151
SpaceX argues that the significant increase in fees for NGSO systems justify a 7.5% cap.
152
We disagree.
A cap for one fee category would result in an increase in the other fee categories. We are required under
section 9 of the Act to adopt fees that “reflect the full-time equivalent number of employees within the
bureaus and offices of the Commission, adjusted to take into account factors that are reasonably related to
the benefits provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission’s activities.”
153
And given the large
amount of work the Commission has done on NGSO systems over the past year,
154
we find the benefits of
Commission oversight for such systems substantial. For these reasons, we decline to adopt a phased in
approach or a cap in regulatory fees. Parties can seek a waiver, reduction, or deferment, on a case-by-
case basis of the fee, interest charge, or penalty “in any specific instance for good cause shown, where
such action would promote the public interest.”
155
52. Finally, commenters raise issues with the accuracy of our list of non-U.S. licensed space
stations granted market access that would be subject to regulatory fees. Eutelsat contends that the
Commission erroneously included Eutelsat 172B as both U.S. and foreign licensed and it should be
removed from the foreign licensed list.
156
Commenters propose that the Commission identify the U.S.
licensed and foreign licensed GSO and NGSO space stations that will be subject to regulatory fees to
enable operators to review the list for accuracy.
157
Telesat disagrees and suggests that any errors can be
resolved by discussions with individual operators.
158
We agree with the suggestion to publish list the
space stations and systems in operation that would be subject to regulatory fees. We have attached the list
of U.S. licensed operators and foreign licensed operators with U.S. market access in Appendix F and any
party identifying an error should advise Commission staff by contacting the Financial Operations Help
Desk at 877-480-3201, Option 6.
H. International Bearer Circuit Regulatory Fees
53. In the FY 2020 NPRM, we sought comment on the allocation of IBC fees and adopting
new tiers for the fees.
159
As discussed below, we find that capacity is an appropriate measure by which to
assess IBC fees. We also find that the allocation between submarine cables and terrestrial and satellite
circuits should be changed to reflect the changing distribution of international capacity as more and larger
submarine cables are put into service. We do not adopt a unified tier structure at this time but will
continue to assess fees based on active terrestrial and satellite circuits and on lit capacity of submarine
151
Planet Comments at 2; SpaceX Reply at 7.
152
SpaceX Reply at 7.
153
47 U.S.C. § 159(d).
154
See, e.g., Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 35 FCC Rcd 4156 (2020); Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate the
Use of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating with Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in Frequency Bands
Allocated to the Fixed Satellite Service and Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion with Non-
Geostationary Orbit Space Stations, Second Report and Order, Report and Order, and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 35 FCC Rcd 5137 (2020); Kuiper Systems, LLC Application for Authority to Deploy and Operate a
Ka-Band Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit System, Order and Authorization, FCC 20-102, 2020 WL 4436490 (July
30, 2020); ViaSat, Inc. Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting Access for a Non-U.S.-Licensed Non-
Geostationary Orbit Satellite Network, Order and Declaratory Ruling, 35 FCC Rcd 4324 (2020).
155
47 U.S.C. § 159A(d).
156
Eutelsat Comments at 16.
157
SES Comments at 4; SpaceX Reply at 7-8.
158
Telesat Reply at 3-4.
159
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4998-5002, paras. 59-65.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
23
cables. We do, however, adjust the tiers for submarine cables.
54. IBC regulatory fees reflect the work performed by the International Bureau, primarily the
Telecommunications and Analysis Division and the Office of the Bureau Chief, for the benefit of all U.S.
international telecommunications service providers, and our submarine cable licensees. International
telecommunications service is provided over terrestrial, satellite, and submarine cable facilities. In the
2020 Regulatory Reform Order, we concluded, based on a review by the International Bureau, that eight
FTEs should be allocated to IBCs for regulatory fee purposes, and 20 FTEs to the satellite category.
160
55. IBC fees consist of (1) active terrestrial and satellite circuits, and (2) lit submarine cable
systems.
161
Prior to 2009, IBC fees were collected based on the number of 64 kbps circuits for each of the
three types of facilities used to provide international service. In 2009, the Commission changed the
methodology for assessing IBC fees from basing the fee on 64 kbps circuits for all types of IBCs to
assessing fees for submarine cable operators on a per cable landing license basis, with higher fees for
larger capacity submarine cable systems and lower fees for smaller capacity submarine cable systems.
162
The Commission concluded that this methodology served the public interest and was competitively
neutral because it included both common carriers and non-common carriers.
163
Under this bifurcated
approach, based on the 2009 Consensus Proposal from the submarine cable operators, 87.6% of IBC fees
were assessed to submarine cable systems and 12.4% to terrestrial and satellite facilities based on relative
capacity at the time.
164
The Commission adopted a five-tier structure for assessing fees on submarine
cables systems, with larger systems paying more based on lit capacity, and a per gigabits per second
(Gbps) assessment for terrestrial and satellite facilities based on active circuits.
165
The fee assessment on
submarine cables cover the costs for regulatory activity concerning submarine cables as well as the
services provided over the submarine cables.
166
1. Using Capacity to Assess IBC Regulatory Fees
56. We start by reaffirming that IBC regulatees with higher capacity receive a greater benefit
160
Id. at 4992, para. 36. Previously, we had determined that 6.9 FTEs were allocated to IBCs. The total number of
direct FTEs in the International Bureau is 28.
161
Regulatory fees for terrestrial and satellite IBCs are paid based on active (used or leased) international bearer
circuits as of December 31 of the previous year in any terrestrial or satellite transmission facility for the provision of
service to an end user or resale carrier. Active circuits include backup and redundant circuits as of December 31.
Whether circuits are used specifically for voice or data is not relevant for purposes of determining that they are
active circuits.
162
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2008, Second Report and Order, 24 FCC Rcd
4208, 4214-17, paras. 13-22 (2009) (Submarine Cable Order). The Commission did not change the methodology of
assessing regulatory fees for terrestrial and satellite facilities on a per bearer circuit basis and did not change the
87.6/12.4 apportionment. Id. at 4223, para. 20.
163
Submarine Cable Order, 24 FCC Rcd at 4212-13, paras. 8-9.
164
Initially, this fee category was for common carrier IBCs. The Commission added non-common carrier satellite
IBCs to this regulatory fee category in 1997. See FY 1997 Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 17189, para. 71. More
recently, the Commission added non-common carrier terrestrial IBCs to this regulatory fee category in 2017. See FY
2017, 32 FCC Rcd at 7071-72, paras. 34-35.
165
See FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8203-04, paras. 37, 40.
166
See, e.g., FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 RCC Rcd 10268, 10273, para. 12 (“The International Bureau’s
regulatory activity concerning submarine cable includes licensing, reviewing the Circuit Capacity Reports and filed
quarterly reports. In addition, all International Bureau services provided to common carriers using the submarine
cable circuits, such as benchmarks enforcement, protection from anticompetitive actions by foreign carriers, foreign
ownership rulings (Petitions for Declaratory Rulings, or PDRs), section 214 authorizations, and bilateral and
multilateral negotiations and representation of U.S. interests at international organizations, are all provided by the
International Bureau on behalf of the common carriers using submarine cable circuits.”) (Footnotes omitted).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
24
from the Commission’s work and should be assessed accordingly. The Commission has historically used
capacity to assess IBCs. When Congress established the Commission’s regulatory fee authority in 1993 it
adopted a statutory schedule of regulatory fees that included assessing a fee on carriers based on active 64
kbps international circuits.
167
The Commission continued to assess IBC fees on active 64 kbps circuits
until 2009 when it adopted a new fee structure that assesses fees on international submarine cable
systems, but that new structure still used capacity of the cable system for determining the fees with
smaller submarine cable systems paying a lower fee than larger systems.
168
Terrestrial and satellite
facilities continued to have IBC fees assessed on a 64 kbps circuit capacity basis until 2018 when the
Commission began assessing the fees based on Gbps.
169
57. This year the International Bureau undertook a review of its work, staffing, and
distribution of responsibilities benefiting its fee payors, between the Telecommunications and Analysis
Division and the Satellite Division and based on this review, we allocated eight FTEs to the international
bearer circuit category.
170
The Commission found that almost all of the IBC work benefits all
international telecommunications service providers no matter what facilities those services are provided
over—submarine cable systems, terrestrial facilities, or satellites.
171
Submarine cable licensees benefit
from work that includes among others, maintaining the licensing database,
enforcing benchmarks,
coordination with other U.S. government agencies, including coordinating with other U.S. agencies’
undersea activities to protect submarine cables, protecting U.S. customers and consumers from
anticompetitive actions by foreign carriers, licensing international section 214 authorizations and
submarine cables including review of transactions, and representing U.S. interests at bilateral and
multilateral negotiations and at international organizations.
172
The Commission’s activities make it
possible for submarine cable operators and other IBC providers to provide service to their customers.
Those operators of facilities with larger capacity to carry more data derive a greater benefit from the
Commission’s work in this regard.
173
58. Several commenters retread well-trodden ground to object to this assessment, but we find
yet again that they have not provided a rationale to alter our assessment of fees within the IBC category
based on capacity.
174
Contrary to the Submarine Cable Coalition’s argument that basing fees on capacity
is unlawful,
175
use of capacity is a fundamental premise of how the Commission assesses regulatory fees.
Licensees with larger facilities benefit more from the Commission’s work and thus should pay a larger
proportion of the Commission’s costs—just as we have found that licensees with more customers (like
MVPD subscribers or CMRS subscribers) or with more revenues (such as ITSPs) benefit more from the
167
Section 6002(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. See Pub. L. No. 103–66, Title VI, § 6002(a),
107 Stat. 397 (approved Aug. 10, 1993).
168
Submarine Cable Order¸ 24 FCC Rcd 4208. The Commission established five tiers for the assessment of fees on
submarine cable systems. Id. at 4214-15, para. 16.
169
FY 2018 Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd 8501, para. 12.
170
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4992, para. 36.
171
Id. at 4992, 4999, paras. 37, 61. One exception is the work in the Telecommunications and Analysis Division on
foreign ownership issues under section 310 of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 310, which benefits domestic
common carrier wireless providers by facilitating foreign investment in wireless carriers. The work of those FTEs is
not included in the eight FTEs allocated to IBCs.
172
Id. at 4999-5000, para. 61.
173
CenturyLink Reply at 3.
174
PC Landing Comments at 2,4; NASCA Comments at 6; Submarine Cable Coalition Comments at 5.
175
Submarine Cable Coalition Comments at 3-8 & Reply at 3.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
25
Commission’s activities.
176
CenturyLink states that to the extent that those FTEs working on issues that
benefit IBC regulates as a whole, it is reasonable to use capacity to allocate the fees among the
regulatees.
177
It further states that the Commission’s activities make it possible for submarine cable
operators and other IBC providers to provide service and the entities that carry more traffic are greater
beneficiaries of the Commission’s work.
178
We agree (as the Commission has long held) that capacity is a
reasonable basis in the context of IBCs to assess those costs among the regulatees that benefit from that
work.
59. We also once again reject assertions that only the work of two FTEs benefits submarine
cable operators.
179
NASCA points to a 2014 order, arguing that the Commission found that only two
FTEs work to the benefit of submarine cable operators and that should be reflected in the regulatory
fees.
180
Although the Commission explained in 2015 that this was a misstatement,
181
NASCA continues
to cite this as part of its arguments.
182
The Submarine Cable Coalition similarly argues that the
Commission provides limited benefits to submarine cable operators.
183
CenturyLink disagrees and argues
the commenters have not provided a sound explanation why using capacity is unreasonable or prohibited
by section 9.
184
It notes that the Commission has determined the number of FTEs that should be assigned
to IBCs after an analysis of the work done within the International Bureau.
185
And indeed, we reject
NASCA’s and the Submarine Cable Coalition’s arguments that submarine cables benefit only from a
limited number of FTEs as suggested six years ago—we conducted an FTE reevaluation prior to setting
the FY 2020 IBC fees and the benefits attributable submarine cables are reflected in the proposed fees.
60. We also reject the argument that submarine cables do not benefit from the Commission’s
IBC work because most submarine cables operate on a non-common carriage (or private carriage)
basis.
186
Since 2009, the Commission has assessed regulatory fees on both common carrier and non-
common carrier submarine cable systems, as requested by industry in the Consensus Plan, and because
both benefit from the landing licenses issued by the Commission.
187
We also note that terrestrial and
176
See FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5000, para. 61 (citing FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8205,
para. 43).
177
CenturyLink Reply at 3.
178
Id.
179
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 4992, para. 37.
180
NASCA Comments at 8-9 (citing FY 2014 Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd 10767, 10772, para. 11, stating that
only two FTEs in the International Bureau work on submarine cable issues).
181
FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 10273, para. 12 (“Upon this further analysis, we conclude that our
previous estimate of two FTEs working on IBC issues, discussed in FY 2014 Report and Order, did not take these
issues into account” of all of the services provided to international carriers using submarine cables.).
182
NASCA Comments at 8.
183
Submarine Cable Coalition Comments at 4.
184
CenturyLink Reply at 4. CenturyLink notes that other measures of benefits may also be reasonable. Id. at 3-4.
185
Id. at 3.
186
NASCA Comments at 9.
187
Submarine Cable Order, 24 FCC Rcd at 4212, para. 6. The Commission found the Consensus Proposal to be
competitively neutral because it treats common carrier and non-common carrier submarine cables identically. Id. at
4213, para. 9.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
26
satellite IBC fees are assessed on both common carrier and non-common carrier circuits.
188
Further, while
a submarine cable may operate on a non-common carrier basis, the traffic carried on the submarine cable
includes common carrier traffic.
2. Division of IBC Regulatory Fees
61. In the FY 2020 NPRM, we proposed to change the allocation of the IBC fees between
submarine cable systems and terrestrial and satellite facilities.
189
Since 2009, 87.6% of IBC fees have
been allocated to submarine cables and 12.4% to terrestrial and satellite facilities. This allocation was
adopted in the Submarine Cable Order and was based on the relative circuits in 2008.
190
62. Based on the minimum capacity for the 2019 rate tiers for regulatory fees paid for
submarine cables in FY 2019 (meaning a licensee that paid the rate for a capacity of 4000 Gbps or higher
on the submarine cable is presumed to have a capacity of 4000 Gbps), the Commission calculated that the
ratio between submarine cable and terrestrial and satellite IBCs is at least 90.8% submarine cable and no
more than 9.8% terrestrial and satellite circuits. This calculation, assuming lit capacity at the minimum
capacity in the tier, substantially undercounts actual lit capacity in these submarine cables therefore an
upward adjustment of 5% more closely approximates actual lit capacity numbers. The Commission
concluded that a ratio attributing 95% to submarine cables and 5% to terrestrial and satellite circuits
would be more reasonable than the historic ratio and sought comment on this reallocation.
191
63. CenturyLink supports the proposal to allocate 95% of IBC fees to submarine cable and
5% to satellite and terrestrial IBCs.
192
SIA argues that the 95%/5% allocation continues to underestimate
submarine cable capacity and that the allocation should be closer to 98.3%/1.7%, but it does not provide
any support for this proposed allocation.
193
Based on the record, we are adopting our proposed
reallocation between submarine cable and satellite and terrestrial IBCs, as we proposed in the FY 2020
NPRM.
3. IBC Regulatory Fee Tiers
64. In the FY 2020 NPRM, we also sought comment on combining the submarine cable and
terrestrial and satellite IBC categories and assessing IBC fees based on a unified fee structure.
194
Under
this proposal, terrestrial and satellite IBC owners would pay regulatory fees based on the number of active
international circuits using the rates set out in the proposed tiers. Submarine cable operators would
continue to pay regulatory fees for each international submarine cable system based on the lit capacity of
the cable system using the same tiers. Commenters generally oppose the proposal to unify the two
categories and we decline to adopt it here.
65. Commenters oppose the proposed unified tier structure.
195
SES and SIA argue that a
unified tier structure designed to address submarine cable systems that carry the vast majority of
188
The Commission added non-common carrier satellite IBCs to this regulatory fee category in 1997. See FY 1997
Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 17189, para. 71. In 2017, the Commission added non-common carrier terrestrial
IBCs. FY 2017 Report and Order, 32 FCC Rcd at 7071-72, paras. 34-35.
189
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5000, para. 62.
190
Submarine Cable Order, 24 FCC Rcd at 4212, para 6.
191
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5000, para. 62.
192
CenturyLink Comments at 1-2; CenturyLink Reply at 1.
193
SIA Comments at 3.
194
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5000-5001, para. 63.
195
CenturyLink Comments at 8-10; SES Comments at 5; SIA Comments at 4-5; AT&T Reply at 1-3.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
27
international traffic would increase IBC fees paid by satellite operators.
196
AT&T similarly notes that
satellite and terrestrial circuit providers would obtain no benefit from a tiered fee system designed to
accommodate the much larger capacities of submarine cables and would be better served by the more
straightforward per Gbps fee that the Commission alternatively proposes for these circuits.
197
SES and
SIA further contend that we should eliminate regulatory fees for satellite IBCs.
198
They observe that we
previously rejected tiers for terrestrial and satellite IBCs due to the wide range of numbers of circuits
among carriers and that tiers could result in large increases in fees.
199
SIA argues that if we are imposing
regulatory fees for satellite IBCs, we should continue to do so on a per Gbps circuit basis to avoid
unjustified increases.
200
CenturyLink argues that it is not clear that the benefits of moving to a single,
unified tiered mechanism for all IBCs would be substantial, or that they would outweigh the potential
costs.
201
Instead, CenturyLink contends that the Commission should retain the current two-category
approach.
202
CenturyLink argues that using a per Gbps fee for terrestrial and satellite IBC providers is
reasonable because operators who have greater capacity take greater advantage of the work the
Commission has done to enable them to provide service.
203
66. Based on the comments, we decline to adopt the proposed unified tier structure at this
time. Instead, we adopt the alternative proposal in the FY 2020 NPRM to maintain our current fee
structure and will continue to assess regulatory fees for terrestrial and satellite IBCs on a per Gbps circuit
basis.
204
We will use a six tier structure for fees assessed to submarine cable systems, using lit capacity of
the cable system.
67. We reject, again, using a flat rate for submarine cables. NASCA contends that the
industry proposal that the Commission adopted in 2009 was meant to replace capacity-based fees with a
flat fee per submarine cable system.
205
The Commission has previously addressed this issue and rejected
adopting a flat fee for submarine cables.
206
Contrary to NASCA’s assertion, the Commission never
indicated in the Submarine Cable Order that it intended to move to a flat fee and indeed it specifically
stated that over time the categories of small and large systems will change as systems grow in capacity.
207
The Commission updated the tiers in 2018 to reflect the increasing capacity of submarine cable systems
and we do so again this year.
208
4. Submarine Cable IBC Regulatory Fees
68. Since FY 2009, when the Commission established a new methodology for assessing
196
SES Comments at 5; SIA Comments at 4-5.
197
AT&T Reply at 4.
198
SES Comments at 5; SIA Comments at 2-4.
199
SES Comments at 5; SIA Comments at 4-5.
200
SIA Comments at 5-6.
201
CenturyLink Comments at 8-10.
202
CenturyLink Comments at 8; CenturyLink Reply at 4.
203
CenturyLink Reply at 4.
204
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5001, para. 63 (“As an alternative, we seek comment on maintaining the current
fee structure for international bearer circuits and having the fees for submarine cable based on the proposed tier
structure and assessing fees for terrestrial and satellite capacity at $41 per Gbps circuits.”).
205
NASCA Comments at 6-7.
206
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8205-06, para. 44.
207
Submarine Cable Order, 24 FCC Rcd at 4215, para. 18.
208
FY 2018 Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd at 8516, Appendix C.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
28
submarine cable fees, the level of capacity for submarine cable systems has increased by leaps and
bounds. The Commission has expanded the different tiers to accommodate for this rapid expansion in
growth. However, the basic methodology for calculating submarine cable fees has not changed since FY
2009. Submarine cable fees are still calculated on the basis of “1” unit, “.5” units, “.25” units and so
forth. In the FY 2020 NPRM, the proposed basic unit of fees remained at “1” unit, and this “1” unit is at
the fee level of $295,000 and at the tier threshold of 3,500 – 6,500 Gbps. The tier threshold at 2,000 –
3,500 Gbps constituted “.5” units ($147,500), while the tier level above 6,500 Gbps ($590,000), as
proposed, was double the “1” unit fee and constituted “2” units. The basic methodology for calculating
submarine cable fees had not changed, just expanded to include a level above “1” unit due to increases in
capacity.
69. Some commenters argue that calculations underlying this year’s regulatory fees are
incorrect. CenturyLink states that the proposed fees have calculation errors and will result in an
overcollection of over $11 million.
209
NASCA contends that the wrong denominator was used in the
calculation of submarine cable fee—the number of licensed cables, 53, should be the denominator instead
of the number of payment units.
210
This erroneous calculation would lead to an overcollection of
$14,128,475.
211
And AT&T does its own calculations to come up with its own tier structure.
212
70. Submarine cable system operators are not currently required to disclose the lit capacity of
their submarine cable systems to the Commission. In the absence of such data, the Commission must rely
on estimates based on the submarine cable system fee payor’s past certifications that accompany their
regulatory fee payments. Both NASCA and the Submarine Cable Coalition have filed data about the
current lit capacity of their members’ submarine cable systems to provide a factual basis for us to
conclude a higher number of fee payors will be paying at the highest level.
213
Taking the new information
into account and applying the new top tier ratio, we adopt the following submarine cable systems
regulatory fee tiers:
FY 2020 International Bearer Circuits - Submarine Cable Systems
209
CenturyLink Comments at 3-6; CenturyLink Reply at 2. CenturyLink also states that the top tier for submarine
cable should be 10 Tbps, not 6.5 Tbps, with revised lower tiers. CenturyLink Comments at 7. Letter from Joseph C.
Cavender, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Federal Regulatory Affairs, CenturyLink, to Marlene H.
Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (July 24, 2020) (CenturyLink and NASCA Ex Parte).
210
NASCA Comments at 3-4. We note that the number of submarine cables subject to FY 2020 fees is 52 as of
October 1, 2019.
211
NASCA Comments at 4.
212
Id. at 5.
213
See CenturyLink and NASCA Ex Parte; Letter from Andrew D. Lipman, Ulises R. Pin, and Joshua M. Bobeck,
counsel for the Submarine Cable Coalition, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission
(July 23, 2020) (Submarine Cable Coalition Ex Parte).
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
29
Submarine Cable Systems
(capacity as of December 31, 2019)
Fee Ratio
FY 2020 Regulatory Fees
Less than 50 Gbps
.0625 Units
$13,450
50 Gbps or greater, but less than 250
Gbps
.125 Units
$26,875
250 Gbps or greater, but less than
1,500 Gbps
.25 Units
$53,750
1,500 Gbps or greater, but less than
3,500 Gbps
.5 Units
$107,500
3,500 Gbps or greater, but less than
6,500 Gbps
1.0 Unit
$215,000
6,500 Gbps or greater
2.0 Units
$430,000
71. With these adjustments, the new fees for submarine cable systems are: $430,000 for
capacities of 6,500 Gbps or greater; $215,000 for capacities of 3,500 Gbps or greater but less than 6,500
Gbps; $107,500 for capacities of 1,500 Gbps or greater but less than 3,500 Gbps; $53,750 for capacities
of 250 Gbps or greater but less than 1,500 Gbps, $26,875 for capacities of 50 Gbps or greater but less
than 250 Gbps; and $13,450 for capacities less than 50 Gbps.
72. These changes reduce the highest tier from $590,000 to $430,000 using a “2” unit fee, the
“1” unit fee from $295,000 to $215,000, the “.5” unit fee from $147,500 to $107,500, the “.25” unit fee
from $73,750 to $53,750, the “.125” unit fee from $36,875 to $26,875, and the “.0625” unit fee from
$18,450 to $13,450.
73. The Submarine Cable Coalition contends that the high regulatory fees impact the
competitiveness and desirability of United States as a landing location.
214
These commenters argue that
an operator may elect to obtain licenses in Canada or Mexico, even if a significant portion of the traffic on
the cable is intended for or would originate from destinations in the United States.
215
While we recognize
that regulatory fees are a factor for the industry to consider in their business plans, we cannot adjust
regulatory fees based on fees assessed in other countries. Instead, we are required by section 9 of the Act
to base regulatory fees on the FTEs in the bureaus and offices in the Commission “adjusted to take into
account factors that are reasonably related to the benefits provided.”
216
74. Finally, NASCA argues that the Commission should charge fees based on active capacity
rather than lit capacity.
217
NASCA notes that “active” capacity is revenue-generating while “lit” capacity
is merely electronically enabled capacity and does not equate to revenue-generating capacity.
218
NASCA
and the Submarine Cable Coalition assert that failure to define and distinguish between “active” and “lit”
capacity in the FY 2020 NPRM creates ambiguities that could lead to gamesmanship if regulated parties
seek to lower regulatory fees owed.
219
214
Submarine Cable Coalition Reply at 5.
215
Id. at 6.
216
47 U.S.C.§ 159(a),(b),(d); FY 2020 Appropriation.
217
NASCA Comments at 2.
218
Id..
219
Id.; Submarine Cable Coalition Comments at 3.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
30
75. We clarify that submarine cables will be assessed IBC fees based on “lit” capacity.
220
As
the Commission explained in the FY 2019 Report and Order, the submarine cable IBCs are based on the
lit capacity of the submarine cable as of December 31 of the previous year, in this case December 31,
2019.
221
The Commission uses lit capacity “because that is the amount of capacity that submarine cable
operators are able to provide services over and the regulatory fee is in part recovering the costs related to
the regulation and oversight of such services.”
222
We believe that the term “lit capacity” is a well-
established industry terminology and its use will less likely to create any ambiguity that may lead to
gamesmanship.
223
I. Flexibility for Regulatory Payors Given the COVID-19 Pandemic
76. In the FY 2020 NPRM, we sought comment on providing relief to regulatees whose
businesses have suffered financial harm due to the pandemic. At the outset, we noted the statutory
constraints the Commission faces in providing relief from fee payment—its obligations to collect
$339,000,000 in FY 2020 regulatory fees and to fairly and proportionately allocate the burden of those
fees among regulatees, and the Commission’s inability to exempt regulatees other than those expressly
exempt in the statute. We asked commenters to suggest relief measures the Commission might
implement within the statutory limitations we described.
77. All of the comments we received in response to our request support the provision of
regulatory relief to regulatees financially harmed by the pandemic.
224
The majority of comments were
filed by or on behalf of broadcasters and of those, all oppose increasing FY 2020 broadcaster regulatory
fees, urging the Commission to either suspend the fee increases or waive altogether FY 2020 broadcaster
regulatory fees.
225
Commenters also suggest the Commission waive the 25% penalty for broadcasters that
do not pay their fee by September 30, 2020
226
and extend the September 30 deadline.
227
78. Several commenters suggest that the Commission relax its standard for waiver requests,
including to permit consideration of waiver requests by parties that are red lighted for other debt owed to
the Commission and to allow waiver of the portion of fees attributable to any month a station has been off
the air.
228
Others suggest simplifying the waiver filing process to be more “easily navigable and
220
FY 2020 NPRM, 35 FCC Rcd at 5000, paras. 62-63. We note that the description of the fee calculation for
submarine cable systems stated that “[r]egulatory fees for submarine cable systems are to be paid on a per cable
landing license basis based on lit circuit capacity as of December 31, 2019.” Id. at 5007, para. 80. We regret any
confusion caused by the inadvertent use of “active or lit capacity” in the FY 2020 NPRM.
221
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8204-05, para. 41.
222
Id.
223
The submarine cable industry also uses the term “lit capacity” for measuring the capacity available for use on
submarine cables. See
https://www2.telegeography.com/submarine-cable-faqs-frequently-asked-questions (stating
that there are two principal ways of measuring a cable’s capacity: (1) Potential capacity; and (2) Lit capacity).
224
See SBA Comments, NAB Comments, Redrock Comments, Mentor Comments, NJBA Comments, Morton
Comments, CBA, et al. Comments, Dish and AT& T Comments, Myriota Comments, and OneWeb Comments.
225
SBA Comments at 3, 6; NBA Comments at 3; Redrock Comments at 2; Mentor Comments at 2; NJBA
Comments at 2, 5; Morton Comments at 1-2; CBA Comments at 1-2.
226
Morton Comments at 2; CBA Comments at 2.
227
Mentor Comments at 2.
228
CBA Comments at 2 (suggesting that the Commission “relax and/or expand” the standards for broadcasters to
obtain financial hardship waivers of their regulatory fee obligations”); Morton Comments at 2 (relax or expand the
standards applied for stations seeking a waiver or deferral of the fees incurred.”); SBA Comments at 5 (“[T]he FCC
should grant waivers of the fees due for any month(s) a broadcaster was off the air, in recognition of the fact that a
silent station cannot earn the advertising revenues with which to pay its regulatory fees.”).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
31
inexpensive” for small broadcasters in particular,
229
including to permit a single letter filing for both
waiver and deferral requests.
230
Another commenter urges the Commission to modify the financial
documentation it considers germane to demonstrate financial hardship, to account for current
circumstances in which previously financially healthy broadcasters are experiencing significant financial
distress owing to the pandemic.
231
79. Several commenters support the expanded use of the Commission’s installment payment
program for regulatees unable to pay their fees by the September 30 deadline, urging the Commission to
offer installment payment terms of 6-12 months and beyond, deferred lump sum payments, nominal
interest rates, no down payment, and simplify the documents required to obtain an installment payment
agreement.
232
80. We take several steps to address the concerns raised by commenters. First, we simplify
our filing requirements for waiver, reduction, and deferral requests for FY 2020 fees to ensure that
regulatees needing assistance are not precluded from requesting it on procedural grounds. Section
1.1166(a) of the Commission’s rules requires requests for waiver, reduction, or deferral to be filed as
separate pleadings and states that “any such request that is not filed as a separate pleading will not be
considered by the Commission.” Given the ongoing pandemic, we temporarily waive this rule to permit
parties seeking fee waiver and deferral for financial hardship reasons to make a single request for both
waiver and deferral.
233
We also temporarily waive section 1.1166(a) of our rules to direct requests to be
submitted electronically to the following Commission email address: [email protected].
81. Second, we temporarily waiver our rules to the extent necessary so that parties seeking
extended payment terms for FY 2020 regulatory fees may do so by submitting an email request to the
same email address: [email protected]. Installment payment requests may be combined with
waiver, reduction, and deferral requests in a single request.
82. Third, we exercise our discretion under section 3717(a) of the Debt Collection
Improvement Act of 1996, as amended,
234
to reduce the interest rate the Commission charges on
installments payments to a nominal rate—and we exercise our discretion to forego the down payment
normally required before granting an installment payment request.
83. Fourth, we recognize that demonstrating financial hardship caused by the pandemic may
require different financial documentation than the documentation the Commission has traditionally
accepted. While the burden of proving financial hardship remains with the party requesting it, we direct
the Managing Director to work with individual regulatees that have filed requests if additional documents
are needed to render a decision on the request.
84. Fifth, we waive in part our red light rule to allow debtors that are experiencing financial
hardship to nonetheless request relief with respect to their regulatory fees. Under the red light rule, the
229
Mentor Comments at 3.
230
SBA Comments at 19.
231
CBA Comments at 6.
232
Myriota Comments at 10; OneWeb Comments at 2 (encouraging the Commission to consider different extended
payment terms, including a six-month deferral for lump sum payment, and nominal interest rates.); NAB Comments
at 9 (“[T]he Commission should liberally exercise its authority to provide broadcasters extended payment terms . . .
[of] at least six to nine months. and additional time . . . [for] stations demonstrating more severe hardship.”); CBA
Comments at 6 (arguing that the required financial documentation, down payment and administrative costs are
unreasonable).
233
With this temporary waiver, parties seeking alternative or multiple requests for relief may do so in the form of
one consolidated filing, or may instead file separate pleadings in accordance with section 1.1166(a) of our rules.
234
31 U.S.C. § 3717(a).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
32
Commission will not act on any application or request for relief if the requesting party has not paid a debt
owed to the Commission.
235
In light of the pandemic, we find that temporary waiver of the red light rule,
at the Managing Director’s discretion, to permit regulatees that are experiencing financial difficulties and
that owe other debt to the Commission to request waivers, reductions, deferrals, and installment payment
terms for FY 2020 fees is appropriate. However, those regulatees for whom the red light is waived will
be required to resolve all delinquent debt by paying it in full, entering into an installment agreement to
repay the debt, and/or if applicable, curing all payment and other defaults under existing installment
agreements.
85. We direct the Managing Director to release one or more public notices describing in more
detail the enhanced relief we will provide to regulatees whose businesses have been affected by the
pandemic, with filing and other instructions as needed.
86. Finally, we address the suggestions that would contravene the statute or our precedent.
We cannot waive FY 2020 fees or the 25% late payment penalty for any group of broadcasters because
doing so would effectively exempt the group, when the statute does not permit such an exemption,
236
but
instead requires a case-by-case determination in order to waive a fee or penalty.
237
Similarly, we cannot
reduce broadcaster fees except on a case-by-case basis.
238
And we cannot suspend the FY 2020 fee
increases solely because advertising revenues have dropped. We cannot extend the September 30
deadline, as September 30 marks the end of our fiscal year and we are required to collect FY 2020 fees by
fiscal year end.
239
87. We also cannot relax the standard we employ for fee waiver, reduction, or deferral based
on financial hardship grounds. Section 9A of the Act permits the Commission to waive a regulatory fee,
penalty or interest for good cause if the waiver is in the public interest.
240
Where financial hardship is the
asserted basis for a waiver, the Commission has consistently interpreted that to require a showing that the
requesting party “lacks sufficient funds to pay the regulatory fees and to maintain its service to the
public.”
241
We believe the existing waiver standard together with the measures described above will work
as designed, to provide fee relief to those regulatees most in need. Regulatees whose businesses have
been hurt by the pandemic, but not to the extent required to receive a waiver, reduction, or deferral, will
be eligible to pay their FY 2020 fees in installments if they show that they cannot pay the fee in lump
sum, but can do so with extended payment terms.
242
IV. FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
88. In this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, we invite comment on four proposals
from commenters in this proceeding to differentiate regulatory fees for different types of NGSO systems
in future years. First, Kineis notes the Commission has already concluded that a separate fee for small
235
47 CFR §1.1910.
236
47 U.S.C. §§ 159(e).
237
47 U.S.C. §§ 159(d).
238
Id.
239
47 U.S.C. § 159(b) (“The Commission shall assess and collect regulatory fees at such rates as the Commission
shall establish in a schedule of regulatory fees that will result in the collection, in each fiscal year, of an amount that
can reasonably be expected to equal the amounts described in subsection (a) with respect to such fiscal year.”)
240
47 U.S.C. § 159A(d).
241
FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at 8207, para. 50.
242
47 CFR § 1.1914. This standard by its own terms is an easier one to meet than the waiver standard. In 2019, the
Commission explained that the application of our waiver authority remained unchanged since 1994 and is an
essential aspect of the Commission’s satisfaction of its statutory duty. FY 2019 Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd at
8207, paras. 49-50.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
33
satellites would be appropriate; the NGSO systems vary dramatically in size, number of space stations,
spectrum required, and services offered; the proposed fee increase for NGSO systems is substantial; and
the Commission has not addressed this issue in many years.
243
Kineis therefore proposes a formula to
determine NGSO regulatory fees: x (number of operating satellites) multiplied by y (total transmit
bandwidth) = index value.
244
Kineis suggests fee tiers based on groupings of index values and basing the
difference in fees on the average index value for each tier.
245
We seek comment on this proposal.
89. Second, Eutelsat contends that the fees assessed on NGSO systems should be separated
into small and large NGSO systems, based on the number of satellites in the system.
246
According to
Eutelsat, large and complex NGSO systems require more staff time to oversee and receive greater benefits
from the Commission.
247
Smaller NGSO systems in more established bands, Eutelsat suggests, represent
a smaller burden on Commission staff because they have greater sharing capabilities and operate in less
congested and less contested frequency bands.
248
We seek comment on this proposal.
90. Third, Myriota proposes we divide NGSO systems into three categories: fixed-satellite
service (FSS); mobile-satellite service (MSS); and remote sensing, Earth-exploration satellite service
(EESS), and other NGSO systems.
249
Myriota explains that the Commission has spent multiple years on
the NGSO FSS processing round for more than ten applicants and some applicants seeking constellations
of tens of thousands of satellites.
250
Myriota contends that other types of NGSO systems, such as MSS or
EESS systems, require fewer resources because they have fewer applicants and less complex issues,
relative to the FSS systems.
251
In addition, NGSO rulemakings from 2017-2019 primarily benefited
NGSO FSS systems and the Commission has not updated the rules for MSS or remote sensing during that
time period.
252
Myriota argues that the Commission’s rules for NGSO FSS systems generally reflect a
level of complexity not present for other NGSO systems due to the extremely large constellations and
complex sharing and coordination requirements.
253
We seek comment on this proposal.
91. Finally, AWS suggests that we assess a nominal fee for NGSO systems with five or
fewer U.S. licensed earth stations for TT&C and non-domestic data downlink purposes.
254
AWS proposes
that the regulatory fee would be assessed on a per earth station basis at the same rate as earth station
licenses.
255
We seek comment on this proposal.
243
Kineis Comments at 8. Kineis also observes that in 1999 the Commission stated that establishing distinct fees for
different types of NGSO networks “may warrant consideration.” Kineis Reply at 3 (quoting FY 1999 Report and
Order, 14 FCC Rcd at 9885, para. 46); Myriota Reply Comments at 2 (same). Kineis contends that the issue of
using multiple fee categories for different types of NGSO networks is ripe for renewed consideration now that the
Commission has adopted the small satellite class of NGSO satellite networks. Kineis Reply at 2.
244
Kineis Comments at 9.
245
Id. at 10.
246
Eutelsat Comments at 12-13.
247
Id. at 13-14.
248
Id.at 14.
249
Myriota Comments at 5 & Reply at 5-6.
250
Myriota Comments at 5 & Reply at 5.
251
Myriota Comments at 6.
252
Id..
253
Id.at 7.
254
AWS Comments at 6.
255
Id..
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
34
92. The Commission considers the adoption of a new fee category or a change in fee
categories only when it develops sufficient basis for making the change. Commenters should address
whether the proposal are in accord with the requirements of section 9. Commenters should also address
whether such proposals serve the goal of ensuring that our actions in assessing regulatory fees are fair,
administrable, and sustainable.
256
93. It has not been the experience of Commission staff reviewing satellite applications that
certain broad categories of NGSO systems require substantially more time to process than others under
the current rules. A smaller NGSO system in bands shared with other services may require greater staff
efforts to approve than a larger NGSO system in bands without coordination difficulties. NGSO FSS
systems, while occupying substantial staff time to review in the past few years, have also benefited from
streamlining rulemakings that have eliminated some of the most cumbersome technical demonstrations,
such as equivalent power-flux density showings. In contrast, systems operating in services that are
allegedly easier to license, such as EESS, have involved complicated, multi-year coordination, phased
deployments, multiple application amendments, and frequent grants in part, with the associated staff
investment.
257
Nonetheless, we recognize that the Commission has created the regulatory category for
small satellites, in part, to charge different fees for certain systems. Accordingly, we invite comment on
the proposals above regarding other categories of NGSO systems for FY 2021.
V. PROCEDURAL MATTERS
94. Included below are procedural items as well as our current payment and collection
methods. We include these payments and collection procedures here as a useful way of reminding
regulatory fee payors and the public about these aspects of the annual regulatory fee collection process.
95. Credit Card Transaction Levels. Since June 1, 2015, in accordance with Treasury
Financial Manual, Volume I, Part 5, Chapter 7000, Section 7045—Limitations on Card Collection
Transactions. the highest amount that can be charged on a credit card for transactions with federal
agencies is $24,999.99.
258
Transactions greater than $24,999.99 will be rejected. This limit applies to
single payments or bundled payments of more than one bill. Multiple transactions to a single agency in
one day may be aggregated and treated as a single transaction subject to the $24,999.99 limit. Customers
who wish to pay an amount greater than $24,999.99 should consider available electronic alternatives such
as Visa or MasterCard debit cards, ACH debits from a bank account, and wire transfers. Each of these
payment options is available after filing regulatory fee information in Fee Filer. Further details will be
provided regarding payment methods and procedures at the time of FY 2019 regulatory fee collection in
Fact Sheets, https://www.fcc.gov/regfees.
96. Payment Methods. Pursuant to an Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
256
See FY 2012 NPRM, 27 FCC Rcd at 8464-65, paras. 14-16. The concept of administrability includes the
difficulty in collecting regulatory fees under a system that could have unpredictable dramatic shifts in assessed fees
in certain categories from year to year.
257
See, e.g., Spire Global Application for an NGSO EESS license, IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20151123-00078 (filed
Nov. 23, 2015), granted in part and deferred in part Mar. 18, 2016, granted in part and deferred in part June 16,
2016, granted in part and deferred in part Oct. 14, 2016, amended Nov. 14, 2016, granted in part and deferred in part
Apr. 7, 2017, granted in part and deferred in part May 18, 2017, amended Jan. 2, 2018, granted in part and deferred
in part July 13, 2018, granted in part and deferred in part Nov. 29, 2018, modification application pending in IBFS
File No. SAT-MOD-20200603-00065.
258
Customers who owe an amount on a bill, debt, or other obligation due to the federal government are prohibited
from splitting the total amount due into multiple payments. Splitting an amount owed into several payment
transactions violates the credit card network and Fiscal Service rules. An amount owed that exceeds the Fiscal
Service maximum dollar amount, $24,999.99, may not be split into two or more payment transactions in the same
day by using one or multiple cards. Also, an amount owed that exceeds the Fiscal Service maximum dollar amount
may not be split into two or more transactions over multiple days by using one or more cards.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
35
directive,
259
the Commission is moving towards a paperless environment, extending to disbursement and
collection of select federal government payments and receipts.
260
In 2015, the Commission stopped
accepting checks (including cashier’s checks and money orders) and the accompanying hardcopy forms
(e.g., Forms 159, 159-B, 159-E, 159-W) for the payment of regulatory fees.
261
During the fee season for
collecting regulatory fees, regulatees can pay their fees by credit card through Pay.gov,
262
ACH, debit
card,
263
or by wire transfer. Additional payment instructions are posted on the Commission’s website at
http://transition.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.html. The receiving bank for all wire payments is the U.S. Treasury,
New York, NY (TREAS NYC). Any other form of payment (e.g., checks, cashier’s checks, or money
orders) will be rejected. For payments by wire, a Form 159-E should still be transmitted via fax so that
the Commission can associate the wire payment with the correct regulatory fee information. The fax
should be sent to the Federal Communications Commission at (202) 418-2843 at least one hour before
initiating the wire transfer (but on the same business day) so as not to delay crediting their account.
Regulatees should discuss arrangements (including bank closing schedules) with their bankers several
days before they plan to make the wire transfer to allow sufficient time for the transfer to be initiated and
completed before the deadline. Complete instructions for making wire payments are posted at
http://transition.fcc.gov/fees/wiretran.html.
97. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates.—The Commission will accept fee
payments made in advance of the window for the payment of regulatory fees. The responsibility for
payment of fees by service category is as follows:
Media Services: Regulatory fees must be paid for initial construction permits that were granted
on or before October 1, 2019 for AM/FM radio stations, VHF/UHF broadcast television stations,
and satellite television stations. Regulatory fees must be paid for all broadcast facility licenses
granted on or before October 1, 2019.
Wireline (Common Carrier) Services: Regulatory fees must be paid for authorizations that were
granted on or before October 1, 2019. In instances where a permit or license is transferred or
assigned after October 1, 2019, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit or
license as of the fee due date. Audio bridging service providers are included in this category.
264
For Responsible Organizations (RespOrgs) that manage Toll Free Numbers (TFN), regulatory
fees should be paid on all working, assigned, and reserved toll free numbers as well as toll free
numbers in any other status as defined in section 52.103 of the Commission’s rules.
265
The unit
count should be based on toll free numbers managed by RespOrgs on or about December 31,
2019.
Wireless Services: CMRS cellular, mobile, and messaging services (fees based on number of
259
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-10-06, Open Government Directive, Dec. 8, 2009;
see also http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/13/executive-order-13576-delivering-efficient-
effective-and-accountable-gov.
260
See U.S. Department of the Treasury, Open Government Plan 2.1, Sept. 2012.
261
FY 2015 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 10282-83, para. 35. See 47 CFR § 1.1158.
262
In accordance with U.S. Treasury Financial Manual, Volume I, Part 5, Chapter 7000, Section 7045—Limitations
on Card Collection Transactions., the amount that may be charged on a credit card for transactions with federal
agencies has been reduced to $24,999.99.
263
In accordance with U.S. Treasury Financial Manual Announcement No. A-2012-02, the maximum dollar-value
limit for debit card transactions is eliminated. Only Visa and MasterCard branded debit cards are accepted by
Pay.gov. For a list of acceptable credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets, see
https://www.pay.gov/WebHelp/HTML/payments_what.html.
264
Audio bridging services are toll teleconferencing services.
265
47 CFR § 52.103.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
36
subscribers or telephone number count): Regulatory fees must be paid for authorizations that
were granted on or before October 1, 2019. The number of subscribers, units, or telephone
numbers on December 31, 2019 will be used as the basis from which to calculate the fee
payment. In instances where a permit or license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2019,
responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit or license as of the fee due date.
Wireless Services, Multi-year fees: The first eight regulatory fee categories in our Schedule of
Regulatory Fees pay “small multi-year wireless regulatory fees.” Entities pay these regulatory
fees in advance for the entire amount period covered by the five-year or ten-year terms of their
initial licenses, and pay regulatory fees again only when the license is renewed, or a new license
is obtained. We include these fee categories in our rulemaking to publicize our estimates of the
number of “small multi-year wireless” licenses that will be renewed or newly obtained in FY
2020.
Multichannel Video Programming Distributor Services (cable television operators, CARS
licensees, DBS, and IPTV): Regulatory fees must be paid for the number of basic cable
television subscribers as of December 31, 2019.
266
Regulatory fees also must be paid for CARS
licenses that were granted on or before October 1, 2019. In instances where a permit or license
is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2019, responsibility for payment rests with the holder
of the permit or license as of the fee due date. For providers of DBS service and IPTV-based
MVPDs, regulatory fees should be paid based on a subscriber count on or about December 31,
2019. In instances where a permit or license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2019,
responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit or license as of the fee due date.
International Services (Earth Stations, Space Stations (GSO and NGSO): Regulatory fees must
be paid for (1) earth stations and (2) geostationary orbit space stations and non-geostationary
orbit satellite systems that were U.S licensed, or non-U.S. licensed but granted U.S. market
access, and operational on or before October 1, 2019. In instances where a permit or license is
transferred or assigned after October 1, 2019, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of
the permit or license as of the fee due date.
o For FY 2020 only, non-U.S. licensed GSO and NGSO satellites that have been granted
market access to the U.S. through a Petition for Declaratory Ruling (PDR) or through an
earth station had until July 15, 2020 to relinquish their market access status to avoid
having to pay FY 2020 regulatory fees in September 2020. If non-U.S. licensed GSO
and NGSO satellites, either through a PDR or an earth station, still have market access
after July 15, 2020, regulatory fees will be assessed, and payment will be required by the
due date of FY 2020 regulatory fees.
International Services (Submarine Cable Systems, Terrestrial and Satellite Services):
Regulatory fees for submarine cable systems are to be paid on a per cable landing license basis
based on lit circuit capacity as of December 31, 2019. Regulatory fees for terrestrial and
satellite IBCs are to be paid based on active (used or leased) international bearer circuits as of
December 31, 2019 in any terrestrial or satellite transmission facility for the provision of service
to an end user or resale carrier. When calculating the number of such terrestrial and satellite
active circuits, entities must include circuits used by themselves or their affiliates. For these
purposes, “active circuits” include backup and redundant circuits as of December 31, 2019.
266
Cable television system operators should compute their number of 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 2019, rather than on a count as
of December 31, 2019.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
37
Whether circuits are used specifically for voice or data is not relevant for purposes of
determining that they are active circuits.
267
In instances where a permit or license is transferred
or assigned after October 1, 2019, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit
or license as of the fee due date.
98. Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) and Mobile Services Assessments. The
Commission will compile data from the Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast (NRUF) report that is
based on “assigned” telephone number (subscriber) counts that have been adjusted for porting to net Type
0 ports (“in” and “out”).
268
This information of telephone numbers (subscriber count) will be posted on
the Commission’s electronic filing and payment system (Fee Filer) along with the carrier’s Operating
Company Numbers (OCNs).
99. A carrier wishing to revise its telephone number (subscriber) count can do so by
accessing Fee Filer and follow the prompts to revise their telephone number counts. Any revisions to the
telephone number counts should be accompanied by an explanation or supporting documentation.
269
The
Commission will then review the revised count and supporting documentation and either approve or
disapprove the submission in Fee Filer. If the submission is disapproved, the Commission will contact
the provider to afford the provider an opportunity to discuss its revised subscriber count and/or provide
additional supporting documentation. If we receive no response from the provider, or we do not reverse
our initial disapproval of the provider’s revised count submission, the fee payment must be based on the
number of subscribers listed initially in Fee Filer. Once the timeframe for revision has passed, the
telephone number counts are final and are the basis upon which CMRS regulatory fees are to be paid.
Providers can view their final telephone counts online in Fee Filer. A final CMRS assessment letter will
not be mailed out.
100. Because some carriers do not file the NRUF report, they may not see their telephone
number counts in Fee Filer. In these instances, the carriers should compute their fee payment using the
standard methodology that is currently in place for CMRS Wireless services (i.e., compute their telephone
number counts as of December 31, 2019), and submit their fee payment accordingly. Whether a carrier
reviews its telephone number counts in Fee Filer or not, the Commission reserves the right to audit the
number of telephone numbers for which regulatory fees are paid. In the event that the Commission
determines that the number of telephone numbers that are paid is inaccurate, the Commission will bill the
carrier for the difference between what was paid and what should have been paid.
101. Enforcement. Regulatory fee payments must be paid by their due date. Section 9A(c)(1)
of the Act requires the Commission to impose a late payment penalty of 25% of unpaid regulatory fee
debt, to be assessed on the first day following the deadline for payment of the fees. Section 9A(c)(2) of
the Act requires the Commission to assess interest at the rate set forth in 31 U.S.C. § 3717 on all unpaid
regulatory fees, including the 25% penalty, until the debt is paid in full.
270
The RAY BAUM’S Act,
however, prohibits the Commission from assessing the administrative costs of collecting delinquent
regulatory fee debt.
271
Thus, while section 9A(c) of the Act leaves intact those parts of section 1.1940 of
267
We encourage terrestrial and satellite service providers to seek guidance from the International Bureau’s
Telecommunications and Analysis Division to verify their particular IBC reporting processes to ensure that their
calculation methods comply with our rules.
268
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005, Report and Order, 20 FCC Rcd 12259,
12264, paras. 38-44 (2005).
269
In the supporting documentation, the provider will need to state a reason for the change, such as a purchase or
sale of a subsidiary, the date of the transaction, and any other pertinent information that will help to justify a reason
for the change.
270
47 U.S.C. § 159A(c)(1).
271
Section 9A(c)(2) provides that “section 3717 shall not otherwise apply to such a fee or penalty.”
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
38
the Commission’s rules pertaining to penalty and interest charges, the Commission will no longer assess
administrative costs on delinquent regulatory fee debts.
272
102. The Commission will pursue collection of all past due regulatory fees, including penalties
and accrued interest, using collection remedies available to it under the Debt Collection Improvement Act
of 1996, its implementing regulations and federal common law. These remedies include offsetting
regulatory fee debt against monies owed to the debtor by the Commission, and referral of the debt to the
United States Treasury for further collection efforts, including centralized offset against monies other
federal agencies may owe the debtor.
273
103. Failure to timely pay regulatory fees, penalties or accrued interest will also subject
regulatees to the Commission’s “red light” rule, which generally requires the Commission to withhold
action on and subsequently dismiss applications and other requests for benefits by any entity owing debt,
including regulatory fee debt, to the Commission.
274
104. In addition to financial penalties, section 9(c)(3) of the Act, and section 1.1164(f) of the
Commission’s rules grant the Commission the authority to revoke authorizations for failure to pay
regulatory fees in a timely fashion.
275
Should a fee delinquency not be rectified in a timely manner the
Commission may require the licensee to file with documented evidence within sixty (60) calendar days
that full payment of all outstanding regulatory fees has been made, plus any associated penalties as
calculated by the Secretary of Treasury in accordance with section 1.1164(a) of the Commission’s
rules,
276
or show cause why the payment is inapplicable or should be waived or deferred. Failure to
provide such evidence of payment or to show cause within the time specified may result in revocation of
the station license.
277
105. Effective Date. Providing a 30-day period after Federal Register publication before this
Report and Order becomes effective as normally required by 5 U.S.C. § 553(d) will not allow sufficient
time to collect the FY 2020 fees before FY 2020 ends on September 30, 2020. For this reason, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. § 553(d)(3), we find there is good cause to waive the requirements of section 553(d), and this
Report and Order will become effective upon publication in the Federal Register. Because payments of
the regulatory fees will not actually be due until late September, persons affected by this Report and
Order will still have a reasonable period in which to make their payments and thereby comply with the
rules established herein.
106. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis. This document does not contain new or modified
information collection requirements 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).
107. Congressional Review Act. The Commission has determined, and the Administrator of
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, concurs that these
rules are non-major under the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. § 804(2). The Commission will send
a copy of this Report & Order to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to 5
272
See FY 2018 Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd at 8502-8503, paras. 16-17 (adopting this amendment to section
1.1940 of our rules to conform to the RAY BAUM’S Act).
273
31 U.S.C. §§ 3701 et seq.; 31 CFR §§ 901 et seq.; 47 CFR §§ 1.1901 et seq.
274
See 47 CFR § 1.1910.
275
47 U.S.C. § 159(c)(3); 47 CFR § 1.1164(f).
276
47 CFR § 1.1164(a).
277
See, e.g., Cortaro Broadcasting Corp., Order to Pay or Show Cause, 32 FCC Rcd 9336 (MB 2017).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
39
U.S.C. § 801(a)(1)(A).
108. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980 (RFA)
278
the Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) relating to
this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The IRFA is contained in Appendix J.
109. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980 (RFA)
279
the Commission has prepared a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) relating to
this Report and Order. The FRFA is contained in Appendix I.
110. Filing Instructions. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47
CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply comments to the Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. Comments
may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
280
or by paper. All
filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission.
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically by accessing ECFS
at http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each
filing.
Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier or by first-class or overnight U.S.
Postal Service mail.
281
All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary,
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority
Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12
th
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.
111. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with
disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to [email protected] or call
the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 1-888-835-5322 (tty).
112. Ex Parte Information. This proceeding shall be treated as a permit-but-disclose
proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations
278
See 5 U.S.C. § 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. §§ 601-612, has been amended by the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Pub. L. No. 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 847 (1996). The SBREFA
was enacted as Title II of the Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 (CWAAA).
279
See 5 U.S.C. § 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. §§ 601-612, has been amended by the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Pub. L. No. 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 847 (1996). The SBREFA
was enacted as Title II of the Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 (CWAAA).
280
See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
281
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC has closed its current hand-delivery filing location at FCC
Headquarters. We encourage outside parties to take full advantage of the Commission’s electronic filing
system. Any party that is unable to meet the filing deadline due to the building closure may request a waiver of the
comment or reply comment deadline, to the extent permitted by law. FCC Announces Closure of FCC
Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Filing, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2788 (MD 2020),
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
40
must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within
two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period
applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the
presentation must list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte
presentation was made, and summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If
the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in
the presenter’s written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may
provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings
(specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in
lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during
ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with
section 1.1206(b) of the Commission’s rules. In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) of the
Commission’s rules or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing,
written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all
attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that
proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in
this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules.
VI. ORDERING CLAUSES
113. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 9(a), (b), (e), (f), and (g) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 159(a), (b), (e), (f), and (g), this Report and
Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking IS HEREBY ADOPTED.
114. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Report and Order SHALL BE EFFECTIVE upon
publication in the Federal Register.
115. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the FY 2020 section 9 regulatory fees assessment
requirements and the rules set forth in Appendix K ARE ADOPTED as specified herein.
116. 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, including
the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis in Appendix I, to Congress and the Government Accountability
Office pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 801(a)(1)(A).
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Marlene H. Dortch
Secretary
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
APPENDIX A
Commenter—Initial Comments Abbreviated Name
America-CV Station Group ACV
ATL Communications ATL
CenturyLink CenturyLink
Colorado Broadcasters Association, Florida
Association of Broadcasters, Oregon
Association of Broadcasters, Puerto Rico
Broadcasters Association
Colorado Broadcasters
Dish Network L.L.C. and AT&T Services,
Inc.
AT&T and DISH
Eutelsat Communications S.A. Eutelsat
Kineis Kineis
Fred R. Morton Morton
Myriota Pty. Ltd. Myriota
National Association of Broadcasters NAB
NCTA—The Internet & Television
Association and ACA Connects—America’s
Communications Association
NCTA and ACA
New Jersey Broadcasters Association NJBA
North American Submarine Cable Association NASCA
PC Landing Corp. PC Landing
Planet Labs, Inc. Planet
PMCM TV, LLC PMCM
Redrock Broadcasting, Inc. and Media
Advisors, LLC
Redrock
Satellite Industry Association SIA
SES Americom, Inc. SES
State Broadcasters Associations State Broadcasters
Spanish Broadcasting System Holding
Company, Inc. and Televicentro of Puerto
Rico. LLC
Joint Puerto Rico Commenters
Submarine Cable Coalition, comprised of the
following: Cable & Wireless Networks,
GlobeNet Cabos Submarinos America, Inc.,
GU Holdings, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary
of Google LLC), Hawaiki Submarine Cable
USA LLC, Servicio di Telecomunicacion di
Aruba (SETAR) N.V., and Tata
Submarine Cable Coalition
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
42
Communications (America), Inc.
Telesat Canada Telesat
WorldVu Satellites Limited, Debtor-in-
Possession
OneWeb
Commenter—Reply Comments Abbreviated Name
ACA Connects—America’s Communications
Association and NCTA—The Internet &
Television Association
ACA and NCTA
Amazon Web Services, Inc. AWS
Astranis Space Technologies Corp. Astranis
CenturyLink CenturyLink
CTIA—The Wireless Association® CTIA
Kineis Kineis
Mentor Partners, Inc. Mentor
Myriota Pty. Ltd. Myriota
National Association of Broadcasters NAB
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX
Submarine Cable Coalition, comprised of the
following: Cable & Wireless Networks,
GlobeNet Cabos Submarinos America, Inc.,
GU Holdings, Inc. (a wholly owned
subsidiary of Google LLC), Hawaiki
Submarine Cable USA LLC, Servicio di
Telecomunicacion di Aruba (SETAR) N.V.,
and Tata Communications (America), Inc.
Submarine Cable Coalition
Telesat Canada Telesat
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
43
APPENDIX B
Calculation of FY 2020 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 at the time the application is filed.
Fee Category FY 2020
Payment Units
Yrs
FY 2019
Revenue
Estimate
Pro-Rated
FY 2020
Revenue
Require-
ment
Computed
FY 2020
Regulatory
Fee
Rounded
FY 2020
Reg. Fee
Expected
FY 2020
Revenue
PLMRS (Exclusive Use) 750 10 112,500 187,500 25.00 25 187,500
PLMRS (Shared use) 11,700 10 1,240,000 1,170,000 10.00 10 1,170,000
Microwave 12,600 10 2,500,000 3,150,000 25.00 25 3,150,000
Marine (Ship)
7,100 10 1,065,000 1,065,000 15.00 15 1,065,000
Aviation (Aircraft) 5,500 10 450,000 550,000 10.00 10 550,000
Marine (Coast) 90 10 24,000 36,000 40.00 40 36,000
Aviation (Ground)
1,100 10 220,000 220,000 20.00 20 220,000
AM Class A
1
63 1 285,200 296,501 4,706 4,700 296,100
AM Class B
1
1,458 1 3,541,950 3,678,692 2,523 2,525 3,681,450
AM Class C
1
819 1 1,266,000 1,317,039 1,608 1,600 1,310,400
AM Class D
1
1,372 1 4,200,800 4,351,447 3,172 3,175 4,356,100
FM Classes A, B1 & C3
1
2,973 1 8,823,375 9,156,345 3,080 3,075 9,141,975
FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 &
C2
1
3,146 1 10,833,000 11,216,626 3,565 3,575 11,246,950
AM Construction Permits
2
6 1 1,785 3,660 610 610 3,660
FM Construction Permits
2
60 1 67,000 64,500 1,075 1,075 64,500
Digital Television
5
(including Satellite TV)
3.25 billion
population
1 24,294,675 25,473,855 .00783665 .007837 25,473,855
Digital TV Construction
Permits
2
3 1 13,350 14,850 4,950 4,950 14,850
LPTV/Translators/
Boosters/Class A TV
5,340 1 1,621,500 1,684,648 315.5 315 1,682,100
CARS Stations
160 1 202,125 208,683 1,304 1,300 208,000
Cable TV Systems,
including IPTV
55,500,000 1 49,020,000 49,207,472 .887 .89 49,395,000
Direct Broadcast Satellite
(DBS)
27,800,000 1 18,000,000 20,117,050 .724 .72 20,116,000
Interstate
Telecommunication
Service Providers
$30,700,000,000 1 102,708,000 98,504,384 0.003209 0.00321 98,547,000
Toll Free Numbers 33,000,000 1 3,960,000 3,975,316 0.1205 0.12 3,960,000
CMRS Mobile Services
(Cellular/Public Mobile)
425,000,000 1 79,990,000 72,127,369 0.1697 0.17 72,250,000
CMRS Messaging Services 1,900,000 1 152,000 152,000 0.0800 0.080 152,000
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
44
Fee Category
FY 2020
Payment Units
Yrs
FY 2019
Revenue
Estimate
Pro-Rated
FY 2020
Revenue
Require-
ment
Computed
FY 2020
Regulatory
Fee
Rounded
FY 2020
Reg. Fee
Expected
FY 2020
Revenue
BRS/
3
LMDS
1,280
340
1
1
869,400
96,600
716,800
190,400
560
560
560
560
716,800
190,400
Per Gbps circuit Int’l
Bearer Circuits
Terrestrial (Common &
Non-Common) & Satellite
(Common & Non-
Common)
10,700 1 900,240 436,293 40.8 41 438,700
Submarine Cable Providers
(See chart at bottom of
Appendix C)
4
38.5625 1 6,363,741 8,280,414 214,727 214,725 8,280,333
Earth Stations
3,000 1 1,402,500 1,678,050 559 560 1,680,000
Space Stations
(Geostationary)
164 1 15,643,250 16,092,194 98,123.1 98,125 16,092,500
Space Stations (Non-
Geostationary)
18 1
1,084,125 4,023,049 223,503 223,500 4,023,000
****** Total Estimated
Revenue to be Collected
340,929,616 338,686,759 338,940,733
****** Total Revenue
Requirement
339,000,000 339,000,000 339,000,000
Difference 1,929,616 (313,241) (59,267)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
45
Notes on Appendix B
1
The fee amounts listed in the column entitled “Rounded New FY 2020 Regulatory Fee” constitute a
weighted average broadcast regulatory fee by class of service. The actual FY 2020 regulatory fees for
AM/FM radio station are listed on a grid located at the end of Appendix C.
2
The AM and FM Construction Permit revenues and the Digital (VHF/UHF) Construction Permit
revenues were adjusted, respectively, to set the regulatory fee to an amount no higher than the lowest
licensed fee for that class of service. Reductions in the Digital (VHF/UHF) Construction Permit
revenues, and in the AM and FM Construction Permit revenues, were offset by increases in the revenue
totals for Digital television stations by market size, and in the AM and FM radio stations by class size and
population served, respectively.
3
The 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, Report
& Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 19 FCC Rcd 14165, 14169, para. 6 (2004).
4
The chart at the end of Appendix C lists the submarine cable bearer circuit regulatory fees (common and
non-common carrier basis) that resulted from the adoption of the Assessment and Collection of
Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2008, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 24
FCC Rcd 6388 (2008) and Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2008, Second
Report and Order, 24 FCC Rcd 4208 (2009). The Submarine Cable fee in Appendix B is a weighted
average of the various fee payers in the chart at the end of Appendix C.
5
The actual digital television regulatory fees to be paid by call sign are identified in Appendix G.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
46
APPENDIX C
Regulatory Fees
FY 2020
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 at the time the application is filed.
Fee Category
Annual
Regulatory Fee
(U.S. $s)
PLMRS (per license) (Exclusive Use) (47 CFR part 90) 25
Microwave (per license) (47 CFR part 101) 25
Marine (Ship) (per station) (47 CFR part 80) 15
Marine (Coast) (per license) (47 CFR part 80) 40
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) 10
Aviation (Ground) (per license) (47 CFR part 87) 20
CMRS Mobile/Cellular Services (per unit) (47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24, 27,
80 and 90)
.17
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)
560
560
AM Radio Construction Permits 610
FM Radio Construction Permits 1,075
AM and FM Broadcast Radio Station Fees See Table Below
Digital TV (47 CFR part 73) VHF and UHF Commercial Fee Factor $.007837
See Appendix.
G for fee
amounts due,
also available at
https://www.fcc.
gov/licensing-
databases/fees/re
gulatory-fees
Digital TV Construction Permits 4,950
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
47
Fee Category
Annual
Regulatory Fee
(U.S. $s)
Low Power TV, Class A TV, TV/FM Translators & Boosters (47 CFR
part 74)
315
CARS (47 CFR part 78) 1,300
Cable Television Systems (per subscriber) (47 CFR part 76), Including
IPTV
.89
Direct Broadcast Service (DBS) (per subscriber) (as defined by section
602(13) of the Act)
.72
Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers (per revenue dollar) .00321
Toll Free (per toll free subscriber) (47 CFR section 52.101 (f) of the rules) .12
Earth Stations (47 CFR part 25) 560
Space Stations (per operational station in geostationary orbit) (47 CFR
part 25) also includes DBS Service (per operational station) (47 CFR part
100)
98,125
Space Stations (per operational system in non-geostationary orbit) (47
CFR part 25)
223,500
International Bearer Circuits - Terrestrial/Satellites (per Gbps circuit) $41
Submarine Cable Landing Licenses Fee (per cable system) See Table Below
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
48
FY 2020 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
$975 $700 $610 $670 $1,075 $1,225
25,001 – 75,000
$1,475 $1,050 $915 $1,000 $1,625 $1,850
75,001 – 150,000
$2,200 $1,575 $1,375 $1,500 $2,425 $2,750
150,001 – 500,000
$3,300 $2,375 $2,050 $2,275 $3,625 $4,150
500,001 – 1,200,000 $4,925
$3,550 $3,075 $3,400 $5,450 $6,200
1,200,001 –
3,000,000
$7,400 $5,325 $4,625 $5,100 $8,175 $9,300
3,000,001 –
6,000,000
$11,100 $7,975 $6,950 $7,625 $12,250 $13,950
>6,000,000
$16,675 $11,975 $10,425 $11,450 $18,375 $20,925
FY 2020 International Bearer Circuits - Submarine Cable Systems
Submarine Cable Systems
(capacity as of December 31, 2019)
Fee Ratio
FY 2020 Regulatory Fees
Less than 50 Gbps
.0625 Units
$13,450
50 Gbps or greater, but less than 250
Gbps
.125 Units
$26,875
250 Gbps or greater, but less than
1,500 Gbps
.25 Units
$53,750
1,500 Gbps or greater, but less than
3,500 Gbps
.5 Units
$107,500
3,500 Gbps or greater, but less than
6,500 Gbps
1.0 Unit
$215,000
6,500 Gbps or greater
2.0 Units
$430,000
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
49
APPENDIX D
Sources of Payment Unit Estimates for FY 2020
In order to calculate individual service fees for FY 2020, we adjusted FY 2020 payment units for each
service to more accurately reflect expected FY 2020 payment liabilities. We obtained our updated
estimates through a variety of means and sources. 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 our Universal Licensing System (ULS), International Bureau Filing
System (IBFS), Consolidated Database System (CDBS), Licensing and Management System (LMS) and
Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS), as well as reports generated within the Commission
such as the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast.
Regulatory fee payment units are not all the same for all fee categories. For most fee categories, the term
“units” reflect licenses or permits that have been issued, but for other fee categories, the term “units”
reflect quantities such as subscribers, population counts, circuit counts, telephone numbers, and revenues.
We sought verification for these estimates from multiple sources and, in all cases, we compared FY 2020
estimates with actual FY 2019 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 with sufficient accuracy.
These include an unknown number of waivers and/or exemptions that may occur in FY 2020 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. When we note, for example, that our estimated FY 2020 payment
units are based on FY 2019 actual payment units, it does not necessarily mean that our FY 2020 projection
is exactly the same number as in FY 2019. We have either rounded the FY 2019 number or adjusted it
slightly to account for these variables.
FEE CATEGORY SOURCES OF PAYMENT UNIT ESTIMATES
Land Mobile (All),
Microwave, Marine (Ship &
Coast), Aviation (Aircraft &
Ground), Domestic Public
Fixed
Based on Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB)
projections of new applications and renewals taking into
consideration existing Commission licensee data bases.
Aviation (Aircraft) and Marine (Ship) estimates have been
adjusted to take into consideration the licensing of portions
of these services on a voluntary basis.
CMRS Cellular/Mobile
Services
Based on WTB projection reports, and FY 2019 payment
data.
CMRS Messaging Services Based on WTB reports, and FY 2019 payment data.
AM/FM Radio Stations
Based on CDBS data, adjusted for exemptions, and actual
FY 2019 payment units.
Digital TV Stations
(Combined VHF/UHF units)
Based on LMS data, fee rate adjusted for exemptions, and
population figures are calculated based on individual station
parameters.
AM/FM/TV Construction
Permits
Based on CDBS data, adjusted for exemptions, and actual
FY 2019 payment units.
LPTV, Translators and
Boosters, Class A Television
Based on LMS data, adjusted for exemptions, and actual FY
2019 payment units.
BRS (formerly Based on WTB reports and actual FY 2019 payment units.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
50
MDS/MMDS)LMDS Based on WTB reports and actual FY 2019 payment units.
Cable Television Relay
Service (CARS) Stations
Based on data from Media Bureau’s COALS database and
actual FY 2019 payment units.
Cable Television System
Subscribers, Including IPTV
Subscribers
Based on publicly available data sources for estimated
subscriber counts and actual FY 2019 payment units.
Interstate Telecommunication
Service Providers
Based on FCC Form 499-Q data for the four quarters of
calendar year 2019, the Wireline Competition Bureau
projected the amount of calendar year 2019 revenue that will
be reported on the 2020 FCC Form 499-A worksheets due in
April 2020.
Earth Stations Based on International Bureau licensing data and actual FY
2019 payment units.
Space Stations (GSOs &
NGSOs)
Based on International Bureau data reports and actual FY
2019 payment units.
International Bearer Circuits Based on International Bureau reports and submissions by
licensees, adjusted as necessary, and actual FY 2019
payment units.
Submarine Cable Licenses Based on International Bureau license information, and
actual FY 2019 payment units.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
51
APPENDIX E
Factors, Measurements, and Calculations that Determine Station Signal Contours and Associated
Population Coverages
AM Stations
For stations with nondirectional daytime antennas, the theoretical radiation was used at all
azimuths. For stations with directional daytime antennas, specific information on each day tower,
including field ratio, phase, 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 augmented
standard if pertinent, horizontal plane radiation pattern was calculated using techniques and
methods specified in sections 73.150 and 73.152 of the Commission’s rules. 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.
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 2010 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 CFR § 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. The resulting distance to principal community contours were used to form a
geographical polygon. Population counting was accomplished by determining which 2010 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.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
52
APPENDIX F
Satellite Charts for FY 2020 Regulatory Fees
U.S.-Licensed Space Stations
LICENSEE
CALLSIGN SATELLITENAME TYPE
Astro Digital U.S., Inc. S3014 LANDMAPPER-BC NGSO
BlackSky Global, LLC S3032 Global 1, 2, 3, & 4 NGSO
DG Consents Sub, Inc. S2129 WORLDVIEW-LEGION NGSO
DG Consents Sub, Inc. S2348 WORLDVIEW-4 NGSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2922 SKY-B1 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2640 DIRECTV T11 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2711 DIRECTV RB-1 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2869 DIRECTV T14 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2132 DIRECTV T8(K) GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2632 DIRECTV T8(D) GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2669 DIRECTV T9S GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2641 DIRECTV T10 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2796 DIRECTV RB-2A GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2797 DIRECTV T12 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2930 DIRECTV T15 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2673 DIRECTV T5 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2455 DIRECTV T7S GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S2133 SPACEWAY 2 GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC S3039 DIRECTV T16 GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C. S2931 ECHOSTAR 18 GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C. S2738 ECHOSTAR 11 GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C. S2694 ECHOSTAR 10 GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C. S2740 ECHOSTAR 7 GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C. S2790 ECHOSTAR 14 GSO
EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation S2811 ECHOSTAR 15 GSO
EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation S2844 ECHOSTAR 16 GSO
EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation S2653 ECHOSTAR 12 GSO
EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C. S2179 ECHOSTAR 9 GSO
ES 172 LLC S2610 EUTELSAT 174A GSO
ES 172 LLC S3021 EUTELSAT 172B GSO
Globalstar License LLC S2115 GLOBALSTAR NGSO
HawkEye 360, Inc. S3042 HAWKEYE NGSO
Horizon-3 Satellite LLC S2947 HORIZONS-3e GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC S2663 SPACEWAY 3 GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC S2834 ECHOSTAR 19 GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC S2753 ECHOSTAR XVII GSO
Intelsat License LLC/ViaSat, Inc. S2160 GALAXY 28 GSO
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
53
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2414 INTELSAT 10-02 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2972 INTELSAT 37e GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2854 NSS-7 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2409 INELSAT 905 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2411 INTELSAT 907 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2405 INTELSAT 901 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2408 INTELSAT 904 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2804 INTELSAT 25 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2407 INTELSAT 903 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2959 INTELSAT 35e GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2237 INTELSAT 11 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2785 INTELSAT 14 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2913 INTELSAT 29E GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2380 INTELSAT 9 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2831 INTELSAT 23 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2915 INTELSAT 34 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2863 INTELSAT 21 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2750 INTELSAT 16 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2715 GALAXY 17 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2154 GALAXY 25 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2253 GALAXY 11 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2381 GALAXY 3C GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2887 INTELSAT 30 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2924 INTELSAT 31 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2647 GALAXY 19 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2687 GALAXY 16 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2733 GALAXY 18 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2385 GALAXY 14 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2386 GALAXY 13 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2422 GALAXY 12 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2387 GALAXY 15 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2704 INTELSAT 5 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2817 INTELSAT 18 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2960 JCSAT-RA GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2850 INTELSAT 19 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2368 INTELSAT 1R GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2988 TELKOM-2 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2789 INTELSAT 15 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2423 HORIZONS 2 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2846 INTELSAT 22 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2847 INTELSAT 20 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2948 INTELSAT 36 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2814 INTELSAT 17 GSO
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
54
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2410 INTELSAT 906 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2406 INTELSAT 902 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2939 INTELSAT 33e GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2382 INTELSAT 10 GSO
Intelsat License LLC, Debto
r
-in-Possession S2751 NEW DAWN GSO
Iridium Constellation LLC S2110 IRIDIUM NGSO
Leidos, Inc. S2371 LM-RPS2 GSO
Ligado Networks Subsidiary, LLC S2358 SKYTERRA-1 GSO
Ligado Networks Subsidiary, LLC AMSC-1 MSAT-2 GSO
Novavision Group, Inc. S2861 DIRECTV KU-79W GSO
ORBCOMM License Corp. S2103 ORBCOMM NGSO
Planet Labs, Inc. S2862 SKYSAT NGSO
Planet Labs, Inc. S2912 PLANET LABS FLOC
K
NGSO
Satellite CD Radio LLC S2812 FM-6 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2415 NSS-10 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2162 AMC-3 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2347 AMC-6 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2134 AMC-2 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2826 SES-2 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2807 SES-1 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2892 SES-3 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2180 AMC-15 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2445 AMC-1 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2135 AMC-4 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2155 AMC-7 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2713 AMC-18 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2433 AMC-11 GSO
SES Americom, Inc.
/
Alascom, Inc. S2379 AMC-8 GSO
SES Americom, Inc./EchoStar Satellite
Services L.L.C. S2181 AMC-16 GSO
Sirius XM Radio Inc. S2710 FM-5 GSO
Skynet Satellite Corporation S2933 TELSTAR 12V GSO
Skynet Satellite Corporation S2357 TELSTAR 11N GSO
Skynet Satellite Corporation S2462 TELSTAR 12 GSO
Space Exploration Holdings, LLC S2983/S3018 SPACEX Ku/Ka-BAND NGSO
Spire Global, Inc. S2946 LEMUR NGSO
ViaSat, Inc. S2747 VIASAT-1 GSO
XM Radio LLC S2617 XM-3 GSO
XM Radio LLC S2786 XM-5 GSO
XM Radio LLC S2616 XM-4 GSO
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
55
Non-U.S.-Licensed Space Stations – Market Access Through Petition for Declaratory Ruling
SATELLITE SATELLITE
LICENSEE CALLSIGN COMMONNAME TYPE
ABS Global Ltd. S2987 ABS-3A GSO
DBSD Services Ltd S2651 DBSD G1 GSO
Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales
S.A. S2956 ARSAT-2 GSO
European Telecommunications Satellite
Organization S2596 Atlantic Bird 2 GSO
European Telecommunications Satellite
Organization S3031 EUTELSAT 133 WEST A GSO
Gamma Acquisition L.L.C. S2633 TerreStar 1 GSO
Hispamar Satélites, S.A. S2793 AMAZONAS-2 GSO
Hispamar Satélites, S.A. S2886 AMAZONAS-3 GSO
Hispasat, S.A. S2969 HISPASAT 30W-6 GSO
Horizons-1 Satellite LLC S2970/S3049 HORIZONS-1 GSO
Inmarsat PLC S2780 I2F1 GSO
Inmarsat PLC S2932 Inmarsa
t
-4 F3 GSO
Inmarsat PLC S2949 Inmarsa
t
-3 F5 GSO
Intelsat License LLC S2592/S2868 Galaxy 23 GSO
Intelsat License LLC S3058 HISPASAT 143W-1 GSO
Kepler Communications Inc. S2981 KEPLER NGSO
New Skies Satellites B.V. S2756 NSS-9 GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V. S2870 SES-6 GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V. S3048 NSS-6 GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V. S2463 NSS-7 GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V. S2828 SES-4
GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V. S2950 SES-10
GSO
O3B Ltd. S2935 O3B NGSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. S2695 EUTELSAT 113 WEST A GSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. S2926 EUTELSAT 117 WEST B GSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. S2938 EUTELSAT 115 WEST B GSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. S2873 EUTELSAT 117 WEST A GSO
SES Satellites (Gibraltar) Ltd. S2676 AMC 21 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S3037 NSS-11 GSO
SES Americom, Inc. S2964 SES-11 GSO
SES DTH do Brasil Ltda S2974 SES-14 GSO
SES Satellites (Gibralta
r
) Ltd. S2951 SES-15
GSO
Spire Global, Inc. S3045 MINAS NGSO
Star One S.A. S2677 STAR ONE C1 GSO
Star One S.A. S2678 STAR ONE C2 GSO
Star One S.A. S2845 STAR ONE C3 GSO
Telesat Brasil Capacidade de Satelites Ltda. S2821 ESTRELA DO SUL 2 GSO
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
56
Telesat Canada S2674 ANIK F1R GSO
Telesat Canada S2745 ANIK F1 GSO
Telesat Canada S2703 ANIK F3 GSO
Telesat Canada S2646/S2472 ANIK F2 GSO
Telesat Canada S2976 TELESAT Ku/Ka-BAND NGSO
Telesat International Ltd. S2955 TELSTAR 19 VANTAGE GSO
Viasat, Inc. S2902 VIASAT-2 GSO
WorldVu Satellites Ltd. S2963 ONEWEB NGSO
Non-U.S.-Licensed Space Stations - Market Access Through Earth Station Licenses
ITU Name (if available)
Common Name Call Sign GSO/NGSO
APSTAR VI APSTAR 6 M292090 GSO
AUSSAT B 152E OPTUS D2 M221170 GSO
CAN-BSS3 and CAN-BSS ECHOSTAR 23 SM1987 GSO
Ciel Satellite Group Ciel-2 E050029 GSO
CIEL-6i CIEL-6i E140100 GSO
ECHOSTAR 23 ECHOSTAR 23 SM2975 GSO
ECHOSTAR 8 (MEX) ECHOSTAR 8 NUS1108 GSO
Eutelsat 65 West A Eutelsat 65 West A E160081 GSO
EXACTVIEW-1 EXACTVIEW-1 SM2989 NGSO
INMARSAT 3F3 INMARSAT 3F3 E000284 GSO
INMARSAT 4F1 INMARSAT 4F1 KA25 GSO
JCSAT-2B JCSAT-2B M174163 GSO
NIMIQ 5 NIMIQ 5 E080107 GSO
MSAT-1 MSAT-1 E980179 GSO
QUETZSAT-1(MEX) QUETZSAT-1 NUS1101 GSO
Superbird C2 Superbird C2 M334100 GSO
WILDBLUE-1 WILDBLUE-1 E040213 GSO
Yamal 300
K
Yamal 300
K
M174162 GSO
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
57
APPENDIX G
FY 2020 Full-Service Broadcast Television Stations by Call Sign
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
3246 KAAH-TV 955,391 879,906 $6,896
18285 KAAL 589,502 568,169 $4,453
11912 KAAS-TV 220,262 219,922 $1,724
56528 KABB 2,474,296 2,456,689 $19,253
282 KABC-TV* 17,540,791 16,957,292 $132,894
1236 KACV-TV 372,627 372,330 $2,918
33261 KADN-TV 877,965 877,965 $6,881
8263 KAEF-TV 138,085 122,808 $962
2728 KAET 4,217,217 4,184,386 $32,793
2767 KAFT 1,204,376 1,122,928 $8,800
62442 KAID 711,035 702,721 $5,507
4145 KAII-TV 188,810 165,396 $1,296
67494 KAIL 1,967,744 1,948,341 $15,269
13988 KAIT 861,149 845,812 $6,629
40517 KAJB 383,886 383,195 $3,003
65522 KAKE 803,937 799,254 $6,264
804 KAKM 380,240 379,105 $2,971
148 KAKW-DT 2,615,956 2,531,813 $19,842
51598 KALB-TV 943,307 942,043 $7,383
51241 KALO 948,683 844,503 $6,618
40820 KAMC 391,526 391,502 $3,068
8523 KAMR-TV 366,476 366,335 $2,871
65301 KAMU-TV 346,892 342,455 $2,684
2506 KAPP 319,797 283,944 $2,225
3658 KARD 703,234 700,887 $5,493
23079 KARE 3,924,944 3,907,483 $30,623
33440 KAR
K
-TV 1,212,038 1,196,196 $9,375
37005 KARZ-TV 1,066,386 1,050,270 $8,231
32311 KASA-TV 1,161,789 1,119,108 $8,770
41212 KASN 1,175,627 1,159,721 $9,089
7143 KASW 4,174,437 4,160,497 $32,606
55049 KASY-TV 1,144,839 1,099,825 $8,619
33471 KATC 1,348,897 1,348,897 $10,571
13813 KATN 97,466 97,128 $761
21649 KATU 2,978,043 2,845,632 $22,301
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
58
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
33543 KATV 1,257,777 1,234,933 $9,678
50182 KAUT-TV 1,637,333 1,636,330 $12,824
6864 KAUZ-TV 381,671 379,435 $2,974
73101 KAVU-TV 320,484 320,363 $2,511
49579 KAWB 186,919 186,845 $1,464
49578 KAWE 136,033 133,937 $1,050
58684 KAYU-TV 809,464 750,766 $5,884
29234 KAZA-TV 14,973,535 13,810,130 $108,230
17433 KAZD 6,747,915 6,744,517 $52,857
1151 KAZQ 1,097,010 1,084,327 $8,498
35811 KAZT-TV 436,925 359,273 $2,816
4148 KBA
K
-TV 1,510,400 1,263,910 $9,905
16940 KBCA 479,260 479,219 $3,756
53586 KBCB 1,256,193 1,223,883 $9,592
69619 KBCW 8,020,424 6,962,363 $54,564
22685 KBDI-TV* 4,042,177 3,683,394 $28,867
56384 KBEH* 17,736,497 17,695,306 $138,678
65395 KBFD-DT 953,207 834,341 $6,539
169030 KBGS-TV 159,269 156,802 $1,229
61068 KBHE-TV 140,860 133,082 $1,043
48556 KBIM-TV 205,701 205,647 $1,612
29108 KBIN-TV 912,921 911,725 $7,145
33658 KBJR-TV 275,585 271,298 $2,126
83306 KBLN-TV 297,384 134,927 $1,057
63768 KBLR 1,964,979 1,915,859 $15,015
53324 KBME-TV 123,571 123,485 $968
10150 KBMT 743,009 742,369 $5,818
22121 KBMY 119,993 119,908 $940
49760 KBOI-TV* 715,191 708,374 $5,552
55370 KBRR 149,869 149,868 $1,175
66414 KBSD-DT 155,012 154,891 $1,214
66415 KBSH-DT 102,781 100,433 $787
19593 KBSI 752,366 751,025 $5,886
66416 KBSL-DT 49,814 48,483 $380
4939 KBSV 1,352,166 1,262,708 $9,896
62469 KBTC-TV 3,697,981 3,621,965 $28,385
61214 KBTV-TV 734,008 734,008 $5,752
6669 KBTX-TV 4,048,516 4,047,275 $31,718
35909 KBVO 1,498,015 1,312,360 $10,285
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
59
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
58618 KBVU 135,249 120,827 $947
6823 KBYU-TV 2,389,548 2,209,060 $17,312
33756 KBZ
K
116,485 106,020 $831
21422 KCAL-TV* 17,499,483 16,889,157 $132,360
11265 KCAU-TV* 714,315 706,224 $5,535
14867 KCBA 3,094,778 2,278,552 $17,857
27507 KCBD 414,804 414,091 $3,245
9628 KCBS-TV 17,853,152 16,656,778 $130,539
49750 KCBY-TV 89,156 73,211 $574
33710 KCCI 1,102,130 1,095,326 $8,584
9640 KCCW-TV 284,280 276,935 $2,170
63158 KCDO-TV 2,798,103 2,650,225 $20,770
62424 KCDT 694,584 638,366 $5,003
83913 KCEB 1,163,228 1,159,665 $9,088
57219 KCEC 3,874,159 3,654,445 $28,640
10245 KCEN-TV 1,795,767 1,757,018 $13,770
13058 KCET 16,875,019 15,402,588 $120,710
18079 KCFW-TV 148,162 129,122 $1,012
132606 KCGE-DT 123,930 123,930 $971
60793 KCHF 1,118,671 1,085,205 $8,505
33722 KCIT 382,477 381,818 $2,992
62468 KCKA 953,680 804,362 $6,304
41969 KCLO-TV 138,413 132,157 $1,036
47903 KCNC-TV 3,794,400 3,541,089 $27,752
71586 KCNS 8,048,427 7,069,903 $55,407
33742 KCOP-TV* 17,386,133 16,647,708 $130,468
19117 KCOS 1,014,396 1,014,205 $7,948
63165 KCOY-TV 664,655 459,468 $3,601
86208 KCPM 90,266 90,266 $707
33894 KCPQ 4,439,875 4,311,994 $33,793
53843 KCPT 2,507,879 2,506,224 $19,641
33875 KCRA-TV 10,612,483 6,500,774 $50,947
9719 KCRG-TV* 1,136.762 1,107,130 $8,677
60728 KCSD-TV 273,553 273,447 $2,143
59494 KCSG 174,814 164,765 $1,291
33749 KCTS-TV 4,177,824 4,115,603 $32,254
41230 KCTV 2,547,456 2,545,645 $19,950
58605 KCVU 630,068 616,068 $4,828
10036 KCWC-DT 44,216 39,439 $309
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
60
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
64444 KCWE 2,460,172 2,458,913 $19,271
51502 KCWI-TV 1,043,811 1,042,642 $8,171
42008 KCWO-TV 50,707 50,685 $397
166511 KCWV 207,398 207,370 $1,625
24316 KCWX* 3,961,268 3,954,787 $30,994
68713 KCWY-DT 79,948 79,414 $622
22201 KDAF 6,648,507 6,645,226 $52,079
33764 KDBC-TV 1,015,564 1,015,162 $7,956
79258 KDC
K
43,088 43,067 $338
166332 KDCU-DT 796,251 795,504 $6,234
38375 KDEN-TV 3,376,799 3,351,182 $26,263
17037 KDFI 6,684,439 6,682,487 $52,371
33770 KDFW 6,658,976 6,656,502 $52,167
29102 KDIN-TV 1,088,376 1,083,845 $8,494
25454 KDKA-TV 3,611,796 3,450,690 $27,043
60740 KDKF 71,413 64,567 $506
4691 KDLH 263,422 260,394 $2,041
41975 KDLO-TV 208,354 208,118 $1,631
55379 KDLT-TV 639,284 628,281 $4,924
55375 KDLV-TV 96,873 96,620 $757
25221 KDMD 374,951 372,727 $2,921
78915 KDMI 1,141,990 1,140,939 $8,942
56524 KDNL-TV 2,987,219 2,982,311 $23,372
24518 KDOC-TV* 17,503,793 16,701,233 $130,888
1005 KDOR-TV 1,112,060 1,108,556 $8,688
60736 KDRV 519,706 440,002 $3,448
61064 KDSD-TV 64,314 59,635 $467
53329 KDSE 42,896 41,432 $325
56527 KDSM-TV 1,096,220 1,095,478 $8,585
49326 KDTN 6,602,327 6,600,186 $51,726
83491 KDTP 26,564 24,469 $192
33778 KDTV-DT 7,921,124 6,576,672 $51,541
67910 KDTX-TV 6,680,738 6,679,424 $52,347
126 KDVR 3,430,717 3,394,796 $26,605
18084 KECI-TV* 211,745 193,803 $1,519
51208 KECY-TV 399,372 394,379 $3,091
58408 KEDT 513,683 513,683 $4,026
55435 KEET 177,313 159,960 $1,254
41983 KELO-TV 705,364 646,126 $5,064
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
61
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
34440 KEMO-TV 8,048,427 7,069,903 $55,407
2777 KEMV 619,889 559,135 $4,382
26304 KENS 2,544,094 2,529,382 $19,823
63845 KENV-DT 47,220 40,677 $319
18338 KENW 87,017 87,017 $682
50591 KEPB-TV 576,964 523,655 $4,104
56029 KEPR-TV 453,259 433,260 $3,395
49324 KERA-TV 6,681,083 6,677,852 $52,334
40878 KERO-TV 1,285,357 1,164,979 $9,130
61067 KESD-TV 166,018 159,195 $1,248
25577 KESQ-TV 1,334,172 572,057 $4,483
50205 KETA-TV 1,702,441 1,688,227 $13,231
62182 KETC 2,913,924 2,911,313 $22,816
37101 KETD 3,098,889 3,058,327 $23,968
2768 KETG 426,883 409,511 $3,209
12895 KETH-TV 6,088,821 6,088,677 $47,717
55643 KET
K
-TV 1,031,567 1,030,122 $8,073
2770 KETS 1,185,111 1,166,796 $9,144
53903 KETV 1,355,714 1,350,740 $10,586
92872 KETZ 526,890 523,877 $4,106
68853 KEYC-TV 544,900 531,079 $4,162
33691 KEYE-TV 2,732,257 2,652,529 $20,788
60637 KEYT-TV 1,419,564 1,239,577 $9,715
83715 KEYU 339,348 339,302 $2,659
34406 KEZI 1,113,171 1,065,880 $8,353
34412 KFBB-TV 93,519 91,964 $721
125 KFCT 795,114 788,747 $6,181
51466 KFDA-TV 385,064 383,977 $3,009
22589 KFDM 732,665 732,588 $5,741
65370 KFDX-TV 381,703 381,318 $2,988
49264 KFFV 3,783,380 3,717,323 $29,133
12729 KFFX-TV 409,952 403,692 $3,164
83992 KFJX 515,708 505,647 $3,963
42122 KFMB-TV 3,947,735 3,699,981 $28,997
53321 KFME 393,045 392,472 $3,076
74256 KFNB 80,382 79,842 $626
21613 KFNE 54,988 54,420 $426
21612 KFNR 10,988 10,965 $86
66222 KFOR-TV 1,616,459 1,615,614 $12,662
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
62
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
33716 KFOX-TV 1,023,999 1,018,549 $7,982
41517 KFPH-DT 347,579 282,838 $2,217
81509 KFPX-TV 963,969 963,846 $7,554
31597 KFQX 186,473 163,637 $1,282
59013 KFRE-TV 1,721,275 1,705,484 $13,366
51429 KFSF-DT 7,348,828 6,528,430 $51,163
66469 KFSM-TV 906,728 884,919 $6,935
8620 KFSN-TV 1,836,607 1,819,585 $14,260
29560 KFTA-TV 818,859 809,173 $6,341
83714 KFTC 61,990 61,953 $486
60537 KFTH-DT 6,080,688 6,080,373 $47,652
60549 KFTR-DT 17,560,679 16,305,726 $127,788
61335 KFTS 74,936 65,126 $510
81441 KFTU-DT 113,876 109,731 $860
34439 KFTV-DT 1,807,731 1,793,418 $14,055
36917 KFVE 953,895 851,585 $6,674
592 KFVS-TV 810,574 782,713 $6,134
29015 KFWD 6,610,836 6,598,496 $51,712
35336 KFXA 875,538 874,070 $6,850
17625 KFXB-TV 373,280 368,466 $2,888
70917 KFX
K
-TV 934,043 931,791 $7,302
84453 KFXL-TV 361,632 361,097 $2,830
41427 KFYR-TV 130,881 128,301 $1,005
25685 KGAN 1,083,213 1,057,597 $8,288
34457 KGBT-TV 1,230,798 1,230,791 $9,646
52593 KGBY 270,089 218,544 $1,713
7841 KGCW 888,054 886,499 $6,947
24485 KGEB 1,186,225 1,150,201 $9,014
34459 KGET-TV 917,927 874,332 $6,852
53320 KGFE 114,564 114,564 $898
7894 KGIN 230,535 228,338 $1,789
83945 KGLA-DT 1,645,641 1,645,641 $12,897
34445 KGMB 953,398 851,088 $6,670
23302 KGMC 1,824,786 1,803,796 $14,136
36914 KGMD-TV 94,323 93,879 $736
36920 KGMV 193,564 162,230 $1,271
10061 KGNS-TV 267,236 259,548 $2,034
34470 KGO-TV 8,283,429 7,623,657 $59,747
56034 KGPE 1,699,131 1,682,082 $13,182
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
63
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
81694 KGPX-TV 685,626 624,955 $4,898
25511 KGTF 161,885 160,568 $1,258
40876 KGTV 3,960,667 3,682,219 $28,858
36918 KGUN-TV* 1,398,527 1,212,484 $9,502
34874 KGW 3,058,216 2,881,387 $22,581
63177 KGWC-TV 80,475 80,009 $627
63162 KGWL-TV 38,125 38,028 $298
63166 KGWN-TV 469,467 440,388 $3,451
63170 KGWR-TV 51,315 50,957 $399
4146 KHAW-TV 95,204 94,851 $743
34846 KHBC-TV 74,884 74,884 $587
60353 KHBS 631,770 608,052 $4,765
27300 KHCE-TV 2,353,883 2,348,391 $18,404
26431 KHET 959,060 944,568 $7,403
21160 KHGI-TV 233,973 229,173 $1,796
29085 KHIN 1,041,244 1,039,383 $8,146
17688 KHME 181,345 179,706 $1,408
47670 KHMT 175,601 170,957 $1,340
47987 KHNE-TV 203,931 202,944 $1,590
34867 KHNL 953,398 851,088 $6,670
60354 KHOG-TV 765,360 702,984 $5,509
4144 KHON-TV 953,207 886,431 $6,947
34529 KHOU* 6,083,336 6,081,785 $47,663
4690 KHQA-TV 318,469 316,134 $2,478
34537 KHQ-TV 822,371 774,821 $6,072
30601 KHRR 1,227,847 1,166,890 $9,145
34348 KHSD-TV 188,735 185,202 $1,451
24508 KHSL-TV 625,904 608,850 $4,772
69677 KHSV* 2,059,794 2,020,045 $15,831
64544 KHVO 94,226 93,657 $734
23394 KIAH 6,099,694 6,099,297 $47,800
34564 KICU-TV 8,233,041 7,174,316 $56,225
56028 KID
K
305,509 302,535 $2,371
58560 KIDY 116,614 116,596 $914
53382 KIEM-TV 174,390 160,801 $1,260
66258 KIFI-TV* 324,422 320,118 $2,509
10188 KIII 569,864 566,796 $4,442
29095 KIIN 1,365,215 1,335,707 $10,468
34527 KIKU 953,896 850,963 $6,669
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
64
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
63865 KILM 17,256,205 15,804,489 $123,860
56033 KIMA-TV 308,604 260,593 $2,042
66402 KIMT 654,083 643,384 $5,042
67089 KINC 2,002,066 1,920,903 $15,054
34847 KING-TV 4,063,674 4,018,832 $31,496
51708 KINT-TV 1,015,582 1,015,274 $7,957
26249 KION-TV 2,400,317 855,808 $6,707
62427 KIPT 171,405 170,455 $1,336
66781 KIRO-TV 4,058,846 4,027,262 $31,562
62430 KISU-TV 311,827 307,651 $2,411
12896 KITU-TV 712,362 712,362 $5,583
64548 KITV 953,207 839,906 $6,582
59255 KIVI-TV 710,819 702,619 $5,506
47285 KIXE-TV* 467,518 428,118 $3,355
13792 KJJC-TV 82,749 81,865 $642
14000 KJLA 17,929,100 16,794,896 $131,622
20015 KJNP-TV 98,403 98,097 $769
53315 KJRE 16,187 16,170 $127
59439 KJRH-TV 1,416,108 1,397,311 $10,951
55364 KJRR 45,515 44,098 $346
42640 KJRW 137,375 126,743 $993
7675 KJTL 379,594 379,263 $2,972
55031 KJTV-TV 406,283 406,260 $3,184
13814 KJUD 31,229 30,106 $236
36607 KJZZ-TV 2,388,054 2,204,525 $17,277
83180 KKAI 955,203 941,214 $7,376
58267 KKAP 957,786 923,172 $7,235
24766 KKCO 206,018 172,628 $1,353
35097 KKJB 629,939 624,784 $4,896
22644 KKPX-TV 7,902,064 6,849,907 $53,683
35037 KKTV 2,795,275 2,293,502 $17,974
35042 KLAS-TV 2,094,297 1,940,030 $15,204
52907 KLAX-TV 367,212 366,839 $2,875
3660 KLB
K
-TV 387,783 387,743 $3,039
65523 KLBY 34,288 34,279 $269
38430 KLCS 16,875,019 15,402,588 $120,710
77719 KLCW-TV 381,889 381,816 $2,992
51479 KLDO-TV 250,832 250,832 $1,966
37105 KLEI 175,045 138,087 $1,082
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
65
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
56032 KLEW-TV 164,908 148,256 $1,162
35059 KLFY-TV 1,355,890 1,355,409 $10,622
54011 KLJB 960,055 947,716 $7,427
11264 KLKN 932,757 895,101 $7,015
47975 KLNE-TV 120,338 120,277 $943
38590 KLPA-TV 414,699 414,447 $3,248
38588 KLPB-TV 749,053 749,053 $5,870
749 KLRN 2,374,472 2,353,440 $18,444
11951 KLRT-TV 1,171,678 1,152,541 $9,032
8564 KLRU 2,614,658 2,575,518 $20,184
8322 KLSR-TV 564,415 508,157 $3,982
31114 KLST 199,067 169,551 $1,329
24436 KLTJ 6,034,131 6,033,867 $47,287
38587 KLTL-TV 423,574 423,574 $3,320
38589 KLTM-TV 694,280 688,915 $5,399
38591 KLTS-TV 883,661 882,589 $6,917
68540 KLTV 1,069,690 1,051,361 $8,240
12913 KLUJ-TV 1,195,751 1,195,751 $9,371
57220 KLUZ-TV 1,079,718 1,019,302 $7,988
11683 KLVX 2,044,150 1,936,083 $15,173
82476 KLWB 1,065,748 1,065,748 $8,352
40250 KLWY 541,043 538,231 $4,218
64551 KMAU 213,060 188,953 $1,481
51499 KMAX-TV 10,644,556 6,974,200 $54,657
65686 KMBC-TV 2,507,895 2,506,661 $19,645
56079 KMBH 1,225,732 1,225,732 $9,606
35183 KMCB 69,357 66,203 $519
41237 KMCC 2,064,592 2,010,262 $15,754
42636 KMCI-TV 2,429,392 2,428,626 $19,033
38584 KMCT-TV 267,004 266,880 $2,092
22127 KMCY 71,797 71,793 $563
162016 KMDE 35,409 35,401 $277
26428 KMEB 221,810 203,470 $1,595
39665 KMEG 708,748 704,130 $5,518
35123 KMEX-DT 17,628,354 16,318,720 $127,890
40875 KMGH-TV 3,815,253 3,574,365 $28,012
35131 KMID 383,449 383,439 $3,005
16749 KMIR-TV 2,760,914 730,764 $5,727
63164 KMIZ 550,860 548,402 $4,298
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
66
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
53541 KMLM-DT 293,290 293,290 $2,299
52046 KMLU 711,951 708,107 $5,549
47981 KMNE-TV 47,232 44,189 $346
24753 KMOH-TV 199,885 184,283 $1,444
4326 KMOS-TV 804,745 803,129 $6,294
41425 KMOT 81,517 79,504 $623
70034 KMOV 3,035,077 3,029,405 $23,741
51488 KMPH-TV 1,725,397 1,697,871 $13,306
73701 KMPX 6,678,829 6,674,706 $52,310
44052 KMSB 1,321,614 1,039,442 $8,146
68883 KMSP-TV 3,832,040 3,805,141 $29,821
12525 KMSS-TV 1,068,120 1,066,388 $8,357
43095 KMTP-TV 5,097,701 4,378,276 $34,313
35189 KMTR 589,948 520,666 $4,080
35190 KMTV-TV 1,346,549 1,344,796 $10,539
77063 KMTW 761,521 761,516 $5,968
35200 KMVT 184,647 176,351 $1,382
32958 KMVU-DT 308,150 231,506 $1,814
86534 KMYA-DT 200,764 200,719 $1,573
51518 KMYS 2,273,888 2,267,913 $17,774
54420 KMYT-TV 1,314,197 1,302,378 $10,207
35822 KMYU 133,563 130,198 $1,020
993 KNAT-TV 1,157,630 1,124,619 $8,814
24749 KNAZ-TV 332,321 227,658 $1,784
47906 KNBC 17,859,647 16,555,232 $129,743
81464 KNBN 145,493 136,995 $1,074
9754 KNCT 2,247,724 2,233,513 $17,504
82611 KNDB 118,154 118,122 $926
82615 KNDM 72,216 72,209 $566
12395 KNDO 314,875 270,892 $2,123
12427 KNDU 475,612 462,556 $3,625
17683 KNEP 101,389 95,890 $751
48003 KNHL 277,777 277,308 $2,173
125710 KNIC-DT 2,398,296 2,383,294 $18,678
59363 KNIN-TV* 708,289 703,838 $5,516
48525 KNLC 2,944,530 2,939,956 $23,040
48521 KNLJ 655,000 642,705 $5,037
84215 KNMD-TV 1,120,286 1,100,869 $8,628
55528 KNME-TV 1,149,036 1,103,695 $8,650
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
67
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
47707 KNMT 2,887,142 2,794,995 $21,904
48975 KNOE-TV 733,097 729,703 $5,719
49273 KNOP-TV 87,904 85,423 $669
10228 KNPB 604,614 462,732 $3,626
55362 KNRR 25,957 25,931 $203
35277 KNSD 3,861,660 3,618,321 $28,357
19191 KNSN-TV 611,981 459,485 $3,601
58608 KNSO* 1,976,317 1,931,825 $15,140
35280 KNTV 8,022,662 7,168,995 $56,183
144 KNVA 2,550,225 2,529,184 $19,821
33745 KNVN 495,403 464,031 $3,637
69692 KNVO 1,241,165 1,241,165 $9,727
29557 KNWA-TV 815,678 796,488 $6,242
16950 KNXT 2,166,688 2,116,003 $16,583
59440 KNXV-TV 4,183,943 4,173,022 $32,704
59014 KOAA-TV 1,391,946 1,087,809 $8,525
50588 KOAB-TV 207,070 203,371 $1,594
50590 KOAC-TV 1,957,282 1,543,401 $12,096
58552 KOAM-TV 595,307 584,921 $4,584
53928 KOAT-TV* 1,132,372 1,105,116 $8,661
35313 KOB 1,152,841 1,113,162 $8,724
35321 KOBF 201,911 166,177 $1,302
8260 KOBI* 562,463 519,063 $4,068
62272 KOBR 211,709 211,551 $1,658
50170 KOCB 1,629,783 1,629,152 $12,768
4328 KOCE-TV 17,447,903 16,331,792 $127,992
84225 KOCM 1,434,325 1,433,605 $11,235
12508 KOCO-TV 1,716,569 1,708,085 $13,386
83181 KOCW 83,807 83,789 $657
18283 KODE-TV 740,156 731,512 $5,733
66195 KOED-TV* 1,497,297 1,459,833 $11,441
50198 KOET 658,606 637,640 $4,997
51189 KOFY-TV 5,097,701 4,378,276 $34,313
34859 KOGG 190,829 161,310 $1,264
166534 KOHD 201,310 197,662 $1,549
35380 KOIN 2,983,136 2,851,968 $22,351
35388 KOKH-TV 1,627,116 1,625,246 $12,737
11910 KOKI-TV 1,366,220 1,352,227 $10,597
48663 KOLD-TV 1,216,228 887,754 $6,957
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
68
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
7890 KOLN 1,225,400 1,190,178 $9,327
63331 KOLO-TV 959,178 826,985 $6,481
28496 KOLR 1,076,144 1,038,613 $8,140
21656 KOMO-TV 4,123,984 4,078,485 $31,963
65583 KOMU-TV 551,658 542,544 $4,252
35396 KONG 4,006,008 3,985,271 $31,233
60675 KOOD 113,416 113,285 $888
50589 KOPB-TV 3,059,231 2,875,815 $22,538
2566 KOPX-TV 1,501,110 1,500,883 $11,762
64877 KORO 560,983 560,983 $4,396
6865 KOSA-TV 340,978 338,070 $2,649
34347 KOTA-TV 174,876 152,861 $1,198
8284 KOTI 298,175 97,132 $761
35434 KOTV-DT 1,417,675 1,403,021 $10,995
56550 KOVR 10,759,811 7,100,710 $55,648
51101 KOZJ 429,982 427,991 $3,354
51102 KOZ
K
836,532 825,077 $6,466
3659 KOZL-TV 992,495 963,281 $7,549
35455 KPAX-TV 206,895 193,201 $1,514
67868 KPAZ-TV 4,190,080 4,176,323 $32,730
6124 KPBS 3,584,237 3,463,189 $27,141
50044 KPBT-TV 340,080 340,080 $2,665
77452 KPCB-DT 30,861 30,835 $242
35460 KPDX 2,970,703 2,848,423 $22,323
12524 KPEJ-TV 368,212 368,208 $2,886
41223 KPHO-TV 4,195,073 4,175,139 $32,721
61551 KPIC 156,687 105,807 $829
86205 KPIF 255,766 250,517 $1,963
25452 KPIX-TV 8,340,753 7,480,594 $58,625
58912 KPJ
K
7,672,473 6,652,674 $52,137
166510 KPJR-TV 3,402,088 3,372,831 $26,433
13994 KPLC 1,406,085 1,403,853 $11,002
41964 KPLO-TV 55,827 52,765 $414
35417 KPLR-TV 2,968,619 2,965,673 $23,242
12144 KPMR 1,731,370 1,473,251 $11,546
47973 KPNE-TV 92,675 89,021 $698
35486 KPNX 4,215,834 4,184,428 $32,793
77512 KPNZ 2,394,311 2,208,707 $17,310
73998 KPOB-TV 144,525 143,656 $1,126
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
69
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
26655 KPPX-TV 4,186,998 4,171,450 $32,692
53117 KPRC-TV 6,099,422 6,099,076 $47,798
48660 KPRY-TV 42,521 42,426 $332
61071 KPSD-TV 19,886 18,799 $147
53544 KPTB-DT 322,780 320,646 $2,513
81445 KPTF-DT 84,512 84,512 $662
77451 KPTH 660,556 655,373 $5,136
51491 KPTM 1,414,998 1,414,014 $11,082
33345 KPTS 832,000 827,866 $6,488
50633 KPTV 2,998,460 2,847,263 $22,314
82575 KPTW 80,374 80,012 $627
1270 KPVI-DT 271,379 264,204 $2,071
58835 KPXB-TV 6,062,472 6,062,271 $47,510
68695 KPXC-TV 3,362,518 3,341,951 $26,191
68834 KPXD-TV 6,555,157 6,553,373 $51,359
33337 KPXE-TV 2,437,178 2,436,024 $19,091
5801 KPXG-TV 3,026,219 2,882,598 $22,591
81507 KPXJ 1,138,632 1,135,626 $8,900
61173 KPXL-TV 2,257,007 2,243,520 $17,582
35907 KPXM-TV 3,507,312 3,506,503 $27,480
58978 KPXN-TV 17,256,205 15,804,489 $123,860
77483 KPXO-TV 953,329 913,341 $7,158
21156 KPXR-TV 828,915 821,250 $6,436
10242 KQCA 9,931,378 5,931,341 $46,484
41430 KQCD-TV 35,623 33,415 $262
18287 KQC
K
3,220,160 3,162,711 $24,786
78322 KQCW-DT 1,128,198 1,123,324 $8,803
35525 KQDS-TV 305,747 302,246 $2,369
35500 KQED 8,195,398 7,283,828 $57,083
35663 KQEH 8,195,398 7,283,828 $57,083
8214 KQET 2,981,040 2,076,157 $16,271
5471 KQIN 596,371 596,277 $4,673
17686 KQME 188,783 184,719 $1,448
61063 KQSD-TV 32,526 31,328 $246
8378 KQSL* 196,316 133,564 $1,047
20427 KQTV 1,494,987 1,401,160 $10,981
78921 KQUP 697,016 551,824 $4,325
306 KRBC-TV 229,395 229,277 $1,797
166319 KRB
K
983,888 966,187 $7,572
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
70
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
22161 KRCA* 17,540,791 16,957,292 $132,894
57945 KRCB 5,320,127 4,552,911 $35,681
41110 KRCG 684,989 662,418 $5,191
8291 KRCR-TV* 423,000 402,594 $3,155
10192 KRCW-TV 2,966,577 2,842,523 $22,277
49134 KRD
K
-TV 349,941 349,915 $2,742
52579 KRDO-TV 2,622,603 2,272,383 $17,809
70578 KREG-TV 149,306 95,141 $746
34868 KREM 817,619 752,113 $5,894
51493 KREN-TV 810,039 681,212 $5,339
70596 KREX-TV 145,700 145,606 $1,141
70579 KREY-TV 74,963 65,700 $515
48589 KREZ-TV 148,079 105,121 $824
43328 KRGV-TV 1,247,057 1,247,029 $9,773
82698 KRII 133,840 132,912 $1,042
29114 KRIN 949,313 923,735 $7,239
25559 KRIS-TV 561,825 561,718 $4,402
22204 KRIV 6,078,936 6,078,846 $47,640
14040 KRMA-TV 3,722,512 3,564,949 $27,939
14042 KRMJ 174,094 159,511 $1,250
20476 KRMT 2,956,144 2,864,236 $22,447
84224 KRMU 85,274 72,499 $568
20373 KRMZ 36,293 33,620 $263
47971 KRNE-TV 47,473 38,273 $300
60307 KRNV-DT 981,687 825,465 $6,469
65526 KRON-TV 8,050,508 7,087,419 $55,544
53539 KRPV-DT 65,943 65,943 $517
48575 KRQE* 1,135,461 1,105,093 $8,661
57431 KRSU-TV 1,000,289 998,310 $7,824
82613 KRTN-TV 96,062 74,452 $583
35567 KRTV 92,687 90,846 $712
84157 KRWB-TV 111,538 110,979 $870
35585 KRWF 85,596 85,596 $671
55516 KRWG-TV 894,492 661,703 $5,186
48360 KRXI-TV 725,391 548,865 $4,301
307 KSAN-TV 135,063 135,051 $1,058
11911 KSAS-TV 752,513 752,504 $5,897
53118 KSAT-TV 2,530,706 2,495,317 $19,556
35584 KSAX 365,209 365,209 $2,862
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
71
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
35587 KSAZ-TV* 4,203,126 4,178,448 $32,746
38214 KSBI 1,577,231 1,575,865 $12,350
19653 KSBW 5,083,461 4,429,165 $34,711
19654 KSBY 535,029 495,562 $3,884
82910 KSCC 502,915 502,915 $3,941
10202 KSCE 1,015,148 1,010,581 $7,920
35608 KSCI 17,447,903 16,331,792 $127,992
72348 KSCW-DT 915,691 910,511 $7,136
46981 KSD
K
2,986,764 2,979,035 $23,347
35594 KSEE 1,749,448 1,732,516 $13,578
48658 KSFY-TV 670,536 607,844 $4,764
17680 KSGW-TV 62,178 57,629 $452
59444 KSHB-TV 2,432,205 2,431,273 $19,054
73706 KSHV-TV 943,947 942,978 $7,390
29096 KSIN-TV 340,143 338,811 $2,655
664 KSIX-TV 82,902 73,553 $576
35606 KSKN 731,818 643,590 $5,044
70482 KSLA 1,009,108 1,008,281 $7,902
6359 KSL-TV 2,390,742 2,206,920 $17,296
71558 KSMN 320,813 320,808 $2,514
33336 KSMO-TV 2,401,201 2,398,686 $18,799
28510 KSMQ-TV 524,391 507,983 $3,981
35611 KSMS-TV 1,589,263 882,948 $6,920
21161 KSNB-TV 658,560 656,650 $5,146
72359 KSNC 174,135 173,744 $1,362
67766 KSNF 621,919 617,868 $4,842
72361 KSNG 145,058 144,822 $1,135
72362 KSN
K
48,715 45,414 $356
67335 KSNT 622,818 594,604 $4,660
10179 KSNV 1,967,781 1,919,296 $15,042
72358 KSNW 789,136 788,882 $6,182
61956 KSPS-TV* 819,101 769,852 $6,033
52953 KSPX-TV 6,745,180 4,966,590 $38,923
166546 KSQA 382,328 374,290 $2,933
53313 KSRE 75,181 75,181 $589
35843 KSTC-TV 3,843,788 3,835,674 $30,060
63182 KSTF 51,317 51,122 $401
28010 KSTP-TV 3,788,898 3,782,053 $29,640
60534 KSTR-DT 6,617,736 6,615,573 $51,846
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
72
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
64987 KSTS 7,645,340 6,333,303 $49,634
22215 KSTU 2,384,996 2,201,716 $17,255
23428 KSTW 4,265,956 4,186,266 $32,808
5243 KSVI 175,390 173,667 $1,361
58827 KSWB-TV 3,677,190 3,488,655 $27,341
60683 KSW
K
79,012 78,784 $617
35645 KSWO-TV 483,132 458,057 $3,590
74449 KSWT 398,681 393,135 $3,081
61350 KSYS 519,209 443,204 $3,473
59988 KTAB-TV 270,967 268,579 $2,105
999 KTAJ-TV 2,343,843 2,343,227 $18,364
35648 KTAL-TV 1,094,332 1,092,958 $8,566
12930 KTAS 471,882 464,149 $3,638
81458 KTAZ 4,182,503 4,160,481 $32,606
35649 KTBC 3,242,215 2,956,614 $23,171
67884 KTBN-TV 17,795,677 16,510,302 $129,391
67999 KTBO-TV 1,585,283 1,583,664 $12,411
35652 KTBS-TV 1,163,228 1,159,665 $9,088
28324 KTBU 6,035,927 6,035,725 $47,302
67950 KTBW-TV 4,202,104 4,113,420 $32,237
35655 KTBY 348,080 346,562 $2,716
68594 KTCA-TV 3,693,877 3,684,081 $28,872
68597 KTCI-TV 3,606,606 3,597,183 $28,191
35187 KTCW 100,392 83,777 $657
36916 KTDO 1,015,336 1,010,771 $7,921
2769 KTEJ 419,750 417,368 $3,271
83707 KTEL-TV 53,423 53,414 $419
35666 KTEN 566,422 564,096 $4,421
24514 KTFD-TV 3,210,669 3,172,543 $24,863
35512 KTFF-DT 2,225,169 2,203,398 $17,268
20871 KTF
K
-DT 6,969,307 5,211,719 $40,844
68753 KTFN 1,017,335 1,013,157 $7,940
35084 KTFQ-TV 1,151,433 1,117,061 $8,754
29232 KTGM 159,358 159,091 $1,247
2787 KTHV* 1,275,062 1,246,348 $9,768
29100 KTIN 281,096 279,385 $2,190
66170 KTIV 751,089 746,274 $5,849
49397 KTKA-TV 567,958 566,406 $4,439
35670 KTLA 18,156,910 16,870,262 $132,212
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
73
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
62354 KTLM 1,014,202 1,014,186 $7,948
49153 KTLN-TV 5,209,087 4,490,249 $35,190
64984 KTMD 6,095,741 6,095,606 $47,771
14675 KTMF 187,251 168,526 $1,321
10177 KTMW 2,261,671 2,144,791 $16,809
21533 KTNC-TV 8,048,427 7,069,903 $55,407
47996 KTNE-TV 100,341 95,324 $747
60519 KTNL-TV 8,642 8,642 $68
74100 KTNV-TV 2,094,506 1,936,752 $15,178
71023 KTNW 450,926 432,398 $3,389
8651 KTOO-TV 31,269 31,176 $244
7078 KTPX-TV 1,066,196 1,063,754 $8,337
68541 KTRE 441,879 421,406 $3,303
35675 KTR
K
-TV 6,114,259 6,112,870 $47,907
28230 KTRV-TV 714,833 707,557 $5,545
69170 KTSC 3,124,536 2,949,795 $23,118
61066 KTSD-TV 83,645 82,828 $649
37511 KTSF 7,921,124 6,576,672 $51,541
67760 KTSM-TV 1,015,348 1,011,264 $7,925
35678 KTTC 815,213 731,919 $5,736
28501 KTTM 76,133 73,664 $577
11908 KTTU 1,324,801 1,060,613 $8,312
22208 KTTV* 17,380,551 16,693,085 $130,824
28521 KTTW 329,557 326,309 $2,557
65355 KTTZ-TV 380,240 380,225 $2,980
35685 KTUL 1,416,959 1,388,183 $10,879
10173 KTUU-TV 380,240 379,047 $2,971
77480 KTUZ-TV 1,668,531 1,666,026 $13,057
49632 KTVA 342,517 342,300 $2,683
34858 KTVB* 714,865 707,882 $5,548
31437 KTVC 137,239 100,204 $785
68581 KTVD 3,800,970 3,547,607 $27,803
35692 KTVE 641,139 640,201 $5,017
49621 KTVF 98,068 97,929 $767
5290 KTVH-DT 228,832 184,264 $1,444
35693 KTVI 2,979,889 2,976,494 $23,327
40993 KTV
K
4,184,825 4,173,024 $32,704
22570 KTVL 415,327 358,979 $2,813
18066 KTVM-TV* 260,105 217,694 $1,706
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
74
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
59139 KTVN* 955,490 800,420 $6,273
21251 KTVO 148,780 148,647 $1,165
35694 KTVQ 179,797 173,271 $1,358
50592 KTVR 147,808 54,480 $427
23422 KTVT 6,912,366 6,908,715 $54,144
35703 KTVU 7,913,996 6,825,643 $53,493
35705 KTVW-DT 4,173,111 4,159,807 $32,600
68889 KTVX 2,389,392 2,200,520 $17,245
55907 KTVZ 201,828 198,558 $1,556
18286 KTWO-TV 80,426 79,905 $626
70938 KTWU 1,703,798 1,562,305 $12,244
51517 KTXA 6,876,811 6,873,221 $53,865
42359 KTXD-TV 6,706,651 6,704,781 $52,545
51569 KTXH 6,092,710 6,092,525 $47,747
10205 KTXL 7,355,088 5,411,484 $42,410
308 KTXS-TV 247,603 246,760 $1,934
69315 KUAC-TV 98,717 98,189 $770
51233 KUAM-TV 159,358 159,358 $1,249
2722 KUAS-TV 994,802 977,391 $7,660
2731 KUAT-TV 1,485,024 1,253,342 $9,822
60520 KUBD 14,817 13,363 $105
70492 KUBE-TV 6,090,970 6,090,817 $47,734
1136 KUCW 2,388,889 2,199,787 $17,240
69396 KUED 2,388,995 2,203,093 $17,266
69582 KUEN 2,364,481 2,184,483 $17,120
82576 KUES 30,925 25,978 $204
82585 KUEW 132,168 120,411 $944
66611 KUFM-TV 187,680 166,697 $1,306
169028 KUGF-TV 86,622 85,986 $674
68717 KUHM-TV 154,836 145,241 $1,138
69269 KUHT* 6,090,213 6,089,665 $47,725
62382 KUID-TV 432,855 284,023 $2,226
169027 KUKL-TV 124,505 115,844 $908
35724 KULR-TV 177,242 170,142 $1,333
41429 KUMV-TV 41,607 41,224 $323
81447 KUNP 130,559 43,472 $341
4624 KUNS-TV 4,023,436 4,002,433 $31,367
86532 KUO
K
28,974 28,945 $227
66589 KUON-TV 1,375,257 1,360,005 $10,658
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
75
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
86263 KUPB 318,914 318,914 $2,499
65535 KUP
K
149,642 148,180 $1,161
27431 KUPT 87,602 87,602 $687
89714 KUPU 956,178 948,005 $7,430
57884 KUPX-TV 2,374,672 2,191,229 $17,173
23074 KUSA 3,803,461 3,561,587 $27,912
61072 KUSD-TV 460,480 460,277 $3,607
10238 KUSI-TV 3,572,818 3,435,670 $26,925
43567 KUSM-TV 115,864 106,398 $834
69694 KUTF 1,210,774 1,031,870 $8,087
81451 KUTH-DT 2,219,788 2,027,174 $15,887
68886 KUTP 4,191,015 4,176,014 $32,727
35823 KUTV 2,388,211 2,192,182 $17,180
63927 KUVE-DT 1,294,971 964,396 $7,558
7700 KUVI-DT 1,204,490 1,009,943 $7,915
35841 KUVN-DT 6,680,126 6,678,157 $52,337
58609 KUVS-DT 4,043,413 4,005,657 $31,392
49766 KVAL-TV 1,016,673 866,173 $6,788
32621 KVAW 76,153 76,153 $597
58795 KVCR-DT* 18,215,524 17,467,140 $136,890
35846 KVCT 288,221 287,446 $2,253
10195 KVCW 1,967,550 1,918,811 $15,038
64969 KVDA 2,400,582 2,391,810 $18,745
19783 KVEA 17,423,429 16,146,250 $126,538
12523 KVEO-TV 1,244,504 1,244,504 $9,753
2495 KVEW 476,720 464,347 $3,639
35852 KVHP 747,917 747,837 $5,861
49832 KVIA-TV 1,015,350 1,011,266 $7,925
35855 KVIE* 10,759,440 7,467,369 $58,522
40450 KVIH-TV 91,912 91,564 $718
40446 KVII-TV 379,042 378,218 $2,964
61961 KVLY-TV 350,732 350,449 $2,746
16729 KVMD 6,145,526 4,116,524 $32,261
83825 KVME-TV 26,711 22,802 $179
25735 KVOA 1,317,956 1,030,404 $8,075
35862 KVOS-TV 2,019,168 1,954,667 $15,319
69733 KVPT 1,744,349 1,719,318 $13,474
55372 KVRR 356,645 356,645 $2,795
166331 KVSN-DT 2,706,244 2,283,409 $17,895
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
76
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
608 KVTH-DT 303,755 299,230 $2,345
2784 KVTJ-DT 1,466,426 1,465,802 $11,487
607 KVTN-DT 936,328 925,884 $7,256
35867 KVUE 2,661,290 2,611,314 $20,465
78910 KVUI 257,964 251,872 $1,974
35870 KVVU-TV 2,042,029 1,935,466 $15,168
36170 KVYE 396,495 392,498 $3,076
35095 KWBA-TV 1,129,524 1,073,029 $8,409
78314 KWBM 657,822 639,560 $5,012
27425 KWBN 953,207 840,455 $6,587
76268 KWBQ 1,148,810 1,105,600 $8,665
66413 KWCH-DT 883,647 881,674 $6,910
71549 KWCM-TV 252,284 244,033 $1,912
35419 KWD
K
4,196,263 4,118,699 $32,278
42007 KWES-TV 424,862 423,544 $3,319
50194 KWET 127,976 112,750 $884
35881 KWEX-DT 2,376,463 2,370,469 $18,577
35883 KWGN-TV 3,706,495 3,513,577 $27,536
37099 KWHB 979,393 978,719 $7,670
37103 KWHD 97,959 94,560 $741
36846 KWHE 952,966 834,341 $6,539
26231 KWHY-TV* 17,736,497 17,695,306 $138,678
35096 KWKB 1,121,676 1,111,629 $8,712
162115 KWKS 39,708 39,323 $308
12522 KWKT-TV 1,010,550 1,010,236 $7,917
21162 KWNB-TV 91,093 89,332 $700
67347 KWOG 512,412 505,049 $3,958
56852 KWPX-TV 4,220,008 4,148,577 $32,512
6885 KWQC-TV 1,080,156 1,067,249 $8,364
29121 KWSD 280,675 280,672 $2,200
53318 KWSE 54,471 53,400 $418
71024 KWSU-TV 725,554 468,295 $3,670
25382 KWTV-DT 1,628,106 1,627,198 $12,752
35903 KWTX-TV 2,071,023 1,972,365 $15,457
593 KWWL* 1,089,498 1,078,458 $8,452
84410 KWWT 293,291 293,291 $2,299
14674 KWYB 86,495 69,598 $545
10032 KWYP-DT 128,874 126,992 $995
35920 KXAN-TV 2,678,666 2,624,648 $20,569
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
77
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
49330 KXAS-TV 6,774,295 6,771,827 $53,071
24287 KXGN-TV 14,217 13,883 $109
35954 KXII 2,323,974 2,264,951 $17,750
55083 KXLA 17,929,100 16,794,896 $131,622
35959 KXLF-TV 258,100 217,808 $1,707
53847 KXLN-DT 6,085,891 6,085,712 $47,694
35906 KXLT-TV 348,025 347,296 $2,722
61978 KXLY-TV* 772,116 740,960 $5,807
55684 KXMA-TV 32,005 31,909 $250
55686 KXMB-TV 142,755 138,506 $1,085
55685 KXMC-TV 97,569 89,483 $701
55683 KXMD-TV 37,962 37,917 $297
47995 KXNE-TV 300,021 298,839 $2,342
81593 KXNW 602,168 597,747 $4,685
35991 KXRM-TV 1,843,363 1,500,689 $11,761
1255 KXTF 121,558 121,383 $951
25048 KXTV 10,759,864 7,477,140 $58,598
35994 KXTX-TV 6,721,578 6,718,616 $52,654
62293 KXVA 185,478 185,276 $1,452
23277 KXVO 1,404,703 1,403,380 $10,998
9781 KXXV 1,771,620 1,748,287 $13,701
31870 KYAZ 6,038,257 6,038,071 $47,320
21488 KYES-TV 381,413 380,355 $2,981
29086 KYIN 581,748 574,691 $4,504
60384 KYLE-TV 324,032 324,025 $2,539
33639 KYMA-DT 396,278 391,619 $3,069
47974 KYNE-TV 929,406 929,242 $7,282
53820 KYOU-TV 651,334 640,935 $5,023
36003 KYTV 1,095,904 1,083,524 $8,492
55644 KYTX 927,327 925,550 $7,254
13815 KYUR 379,943 379,027 $2,970
5237 KYUS-TV 12,496 12,356 $97
33752 KYVE 301,951 259,559 $2,034
55762 KYVV-TV 67,201 67,201 $527
25453 KYW-TV 11,061,941 10,876,511 $85,239
69531 KZJL 6,037,458 6,037,272 $47,314
69571 KZJO 4,179,154 4,124,424 $32,323
61062 KZSD-TV 41,207 35,825 $281
33079 KZTV 567,635 564,464 $4,424
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
78
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
57292 WAAY-TV 1,498,006 1,428,197 $11,193
1328 WABC-TV* 20,948,273 20,560,001 $161,129
43203 WABG-TV 393,020 392,348 $3,075
17005 WABI-TV 530,773 510,729 $4,003
16820 WABM 1,703,202 1,675,700 $13,132
23917 WABW-TV 1,097,560 1,096,376 $8,592
19199 WACH 1,317,429 1,316,792 $10,320
189358 WACP 9,415,263 9,301,049 $72,892
23930 WACS-TV 621,686 616,443 $4,831
60018 WACX 3,967,118 3,966,535 $31,086
361 WACY-TV 946,580 946,071 $7,414
455 WADL 4,610,514 4,602,962 $36,073
589 WAFB 1,857,882 1,857,418 $14,557
591 WAFF 1,197,068 1,110,122 $8,700
70689 WAGA-TV 6,000,355 5,923,191 $46,420
48305 WAGM-TV 64,721 63,331 $496
37809 WAGV 1,193,158 1,060,935 $8,315
706 WAIQ 611,733 609,794 $4,779
701 WAKA 799,637 793,645 $6,220
4143 WALA-TV 1,320,419 1,318,127 $10,330
70713 WALB 773,899 772,467 $6,054
60536 WAMI-DT 5,449,193 5,449,193 $42,705
70852 WAND 1,400,271 1,398,521 $10,960
39270 WANE-TV 1,108,844 1,108,844 $8,690
52280 WAOE 613,812 613,784 $4,810
64546 WAOW 636,957 629,068 $4,930
52073 WAPA-TV 3,764,742 3,363,102 $21,902
49712 WAPT 793,621 791,620 $6,204
67792 WAQP 1,992,340 1,983,143 $15,542
13206 WATC-DT 5,637,070 5,616,513 $44,017
71082 WATE-TV 1,874,433 1,638,059 $12,837
22819 WATL 5,882,837 5,819,099 $45,604
20287 WATM-TV 937,438 785,510 $6,156
11907 WATN-TV 1,787,595 1,784,560 $13,986
13989 WAVE 1,846,212 1,836,231 $14,391
71127 WAVY-TV 2,039,358 2,039,341 $15,982
54938 WAWD 553,676 553,591 $4,338
65247 WAWV-TV 705,549 699,377 $5,481
12793 WAXN-TV 2,677,951 2,669,224 $20,919
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
79
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
65696 WBAL-TV 9,596,587 9,190,139 $72,023
74417 WBAY-TV 1,225,928 1,225,335 $9,603
71085 WBBH-TV 2,046,391 2,046,391 $16,038
65204 WBBJ-TV 662,148 658,016 $5,157
9617 WBBM-TV* 9,914,233 9,907,806 $77,647
9088 WBBZ-TV 1,269,256 1,260,686 $9,880
70138 WBDT 3,660,544 3,646,874 $28,581
51349 WBEC-TV 5,421,355 5,421,355 $42,487
10758 WBFF 8,509,757 8,339,882 $65,360
12497 WBFS-TV 5,349,613 5,349,613 $41,925
6568 WBGU-TV 1,343,816 1,343,816 $10,531
81594 WBIF 309,707 309,707 $2,427
84802 WBIH 736,501 724,345 $5,677
717 WBIQ 1,563,080 1,532,266 $12,008
46984 WBIR-TV 1,978,347 1,701,857 $13,337
67048 WBKB-TV 136,823 130,625 $1,024
34167 WBKI 1,983,992 1,968,048 $15,424
4692 WBKO 963,413 862,651 $6,761
76001 WBKP 55,655 55,305 $433
68427 WBMM 562,284 562,123 $4,405
73692 WBNA 1,699,683 1,666,248 $13,058
23337 WBNG-TV* 1,442,745 1,060,329 $8,310
71217 WBNS-TV 2,847,721 2,784,795 $21,824
72958 WBNX-TV 3,642,304 3,629,347 $28,443
71218 WBOC-TV 813,888 813,888 $6,378
71220 WBOY-TV 711,302 621,367 $4,870
60850 WBPH-TV* 10,613,847 9,474,797 $74,254
7692 WBPX-TV 6,833,712 6,761,949 $52,993
5981 WBRA-TV 1,726,408 1,677,204 $13,144
71221 WBRC 1,884,007 1,849,135 $14,492
71225 WBRE-TV* 2,879,196 2,244,735 $17,592
38616 WBRZ-TV 2,223,336 2,222,309 $17,416
82627 WBSF 1,836,543 1,832,446 $14,361
30826 WBTV 4,433,020 4,295,962 $33,667
66407 WBTW 1,975,457 1,959,172 $15,354
16363 WBUI 981,884 981,868 $7,695
59281 WBUP 126,472 112,603 $882
60830 WBUY-TV 1,569,254 1,567,815 $12,287
72971 WBXX-TV 2,142,759 1,984,544 $15,553
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
80
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
25456 WBZ-TV 7,764,394 7,616,633 $59,692
63153 WCAU 11,269,831 11,098,540 $86,979
363 WCAV 949,729 727,455 $5,701
46728 WCAX-TV 784,748 661,547 $5,185
39659 WCBB 964,079 910,222 $7,133
10587 WCBD-TV 1,149,489 1,149,489 $9,009
12477 WCBI-TV 680,511 678,424 $5,317
9610 WCBS-TV 21,713,751 21,187,849 $166,049
49157 WCCB 3,542,464 3,489,260 $27,345
9629 WCCO-TV 3,837,442 3,829,714 $30,013
14050 WCCT-TV 5,818,471 5,307,612 $41,596
69544 WCCU 395,106 395,102 $3,096
3001 WCCV-TV 3,391,703 2,482,544 $16,168
23937 WCES-TV 1,098,868 1,097,706 $8,603
65666 WCET 3,122,924 3,108,328 $24,360
46755 WCFE-TV 445,131 411,198 $3,223
71280 WCHS-TV 1,352,824 1,274,766 $9,990
42124 WCIA 796,609 795,428 $6,234
711 WCIQ* 3,181,068 3,033,573 $23,774
71428 WCIU-TV 9,891,328 9,888,390 $77,495
9015 WCIV 1,152,800 1,152,800 $9,034
42116 WCIX 554,002 549,682 $4,308
16993 WCJB-TV 977,492 977,492 $7,661
11125 WCLF 4,097,389 4,096,624 $32,105
68007 WCLJ-TV 2,258,426 2,256,937 $17,688
50781 WCMH-TV 2,756,260 2,712,989 $21,262
9917 WCML 233,439 224,255 $1,757
9908 WCMU-TV 707,702 699,551 $5,482
9922 WCMV 418,707 407,222 $3,191
9913 WCMW 106,975 104,859 $822
32326 WCNC-TV 3,822,849 3,747,880 $29,372
53734 WCNY-TV 1,358,685 1,290,632 $10,115
73642 WCOV-TV 862,899 859,333 $6,735
40618 WCPB 560,426 560,426 $4,392
59438 WCPO-TV 3,328,920 3,311,833 $25,955
10981 WCPX-TV 9,674,477 9,673,859 $75,814
71297 WCSC-TV 1,028,018 1,028,018 $8,057
39664 WCSH 1,682,955 1,457,618 $11,423
69479 WCTE 612,760 541,314 $4,242
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
81
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
18334 WCTI-TV 1,680,664 1,678,237 $13,152
31590 WCTV 1,049,825 1,049,779 $8,227
33081 WCTX 7,844,936 7,332,431 $57,464
65684 WCVB-TV 7,741,540 7,606,326 $59,611
9987 WCVE-TV 1,582,094 1,581,725 $12,396
83304 WCVI-TV 50,601 50,495 $396
34204 WCVN-TV 2,108,475 2,100,226 $16,459
9989 WCVW 1,461,748 1,461,643 $11,455
73042 WCWF 1,040,984 1,040,525 $8,155
35385 WCWG 3,630,551 3,299,114 $25,855
29712 WCWJ 1,582,959 1,582,959 $12,406
73264 WCWN 1,698,469 1,512,848 $11,856
2455 WCYB-TV* 2,363,002 2,057,404 $16,124
11291 WDAF-TV 2,539,581 2,537,411 $19,886
21250 WDAM-TV 512,594 500,343 $3,921
22129 WDAY-TV 339,239 338,856 $2,656
22124 WDAZ-TV 151,720 151,659 $1,189
71325 WDBB 1,669,214 1,646,336 $12,902
71326 WDBD 940,665 939,489 $7,363
71329 WDBJ 1,606,844 1,439,716 $11,283
51567 WDCA 8,070,491 8,015,328 $62,816
16530 WDCQ-TV 1,269,199 1,269,199 $9,947
30576 WDCW 8,155,998 8,114,847 $63,596
54385 WDEF-TV 1,731,483 1,508,250 $11,820
32851 WDFX-TV 271,499 270,942 $2,123
43846 WDHN 452,377 451,978 $3,542
71338 WDIO-DT 341,506 327,469 $2,566
714 WDIQ 663,062 620,124 $4,860
53114 WDIV-TV 5,425,162 5,424,963 $42,515
71427 WDJT-TV 3,085,540 3,081,475 $24,150
39561 WDKA 621,903 620,169 $4,860
64017 WDKY-TV 1,204,817 1,173,579 $9,197
67893 WDLI-TV 4,147,298 4,114,920 $32,249
72335 WDPB 596,888 596,888 $4,678
83740 WDPM-DT 1,365,977 1,364,744 $10,695
1283 WDPN-TV* 11,594,463 11,467,616 $89,872
6476 WDPX-TV 6,833,712 6,761,949 $52,993
28476 WDRB 1,987,708 1,971,926 $15,454
12171 WDSC-TV 3,376,247 3,376,247 $26,460
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
82
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
17726 WDSE 330,994 316,643 $2,482
71353 WDSI-TV 1,100,302 1,042,191 $8,168
71357 WDSU 1,613,076 1,613,076 $12,642
7908 WDTI 2,095,312 2,094,395 $16,414
65690 WDTN 3,660,544 3,646,874 $28,581
70592 WDTV 962,532 850,394 $6,665
25045 WDVM-TV 3,074,837 2,646,508 $20,741
4110 WDWL 2,638,361 2,379,555 $15,497
49421 WEAO 3,919,602 3,892,146 $30,503
71363 WEAR-TV 1,524,131 1,523,479 $11,940
7893 WEAU 991,019 952,513 $7,465
61003 WEBA-TV 645,039 635,967 $4,984
19561 WECN 2,886,669 2,596,015 $16,907
48666 WECT 1,134,918 1,134,918 $8,894
13602 WEDH 5,328,800 4,724,167 $37,023
13607 WEDN 3,451,170 2,643,344 $20,716
69338 WEDQ 4,882,446 4,881,322 $38,255
21808 WEDU 5,379,887 5,365,612 $42,050
13594 WEDW 5,996,408 5,544,708 $43,454
13595 WEDY 5,328,800 4,724,167 $37,023
24801 WEE
K
-TV 698,238 698,220 $5,472
6744 WEFS 3,380,743 3,380,743 $26,495
24215 WEHT 847,299 835,128 $6,545
721 WEIQ 1,046,465 1,046,116 $8,198
18301 WEIU-TV 462,775 462,711 $3,626
69271 WEKW-TV 1,072,240 546,881 $4,286
60825 WELF-TV 1,491,382 1,414,528 $11,086
26602 WELU 2,248,146 2,020,075 $13,156
40761 WEMT 1,726,085 1,186,706 $9,300
69237 WENH-TV 4,500,498 4,328,222 $33,920
71508 WENY-TV 543,162 413,668 $3,242
83946 WEPH 604,105 602,833 $4,724
81508 WEPX-TV 859,535 859,535 $6,736
25738 WESH* 4,059,180 4,048,459 $31,728
65670 WETA-TV 7,607,834 7,576,217 $59,375
69944 WET
K
670,087 558,842 $4,380
60653 WETM-TV 721,800 620,074 $4,860
18252 WETP-TV 2,087,588 1,791,130 $14,037
2709 WEUX 380,569 373,680 $2,929
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
83
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
72041 WEVV-TV 752,417 750,555 $5,882
59441 WEWS-TV 4,112,984 4,078,299 $31,962
72052 WEYI-TV 3,715,686 3,652,991 $28,628
72054 WFAA* 6,927,782 6,918,595 $54,221
81669 WFBD 814,185 813,564 $6,376
69532 WFDC-DT 8,155,998 8,114,847 $63,596
10132 WFFF-TV 592,012 506,744 $3,971
25040 WFFT-TV 1,088,489 1,088,354 $8,529
11123 WFGC 2,759,457 2,759,457 $21,626
6554 WFGX 1,440,245 1,437,744 $11,268
13991 WFIE 731,856 729,985 $5,721
715 WFIQ 546,563 544,258 $4,265
64592 WFLA-TV 5,450,176 5,446,917 $42,687
22211 WFLD 9,957,301 9,954,828 $78,016
72060 WFLI-TV 1,272,913 1,125,349 $8,819
39736 WFLX 5,740,086 5,740,086 $44,985
72062 WFMJ-TV 3,504,955 3,262,270 $25,566
72064 WFMY-TV 4,772,783 4,740,684 $37,153
39884 WFMZ-TV* 10,613,847 9,474,797 $74,254
83943 WFNA 1,391,519 1,390,447 $10,897
47902 WFOR-TV 5,398,266 5,398,266 $42,306
11909 WFOX-TV 1,602,888 1,602,888 $12,562
40626 WFPT 5,829,226 5,442,352 $42,652
21245 WFPX-TV 2,637,949 2,634,141 $20,644
25396 WFQX-TV 537,340 534,314 $4,187
9635 WFRV-TV 1,201,204 1,200,502 $9,408
53115 WFSB 4,752,788 4,370,519 $34,252
6093 WFSG 364,961 364,796 $2,859
21801 WFSU-TV 576,105 576,093 $4,515
11913 WFTC 3,787,177 3,770,207 $29,547
64588 WFTS-TV 5,077,970 5,077,719 $39,794
16788 WFTT-TV 4,523,828 4,521,879 $35,438
72076 WFTV 3,849,576 3,849,576 $30,169
70649 WFTX-TV 1,775,097 1,775,097 $13,911
60553 WFTY-DT 5,678,755 5,560,460 $43,577
25395 WFUP 217,655 216,861 $1,700
60555 WFUT-DT 19,992,096 19,643,518 $153,946
22108 WFWA 1,035,114 1,034,862 $8,110
9054 WFXB 1,393,865 1,393,510 $10,921
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
84
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
3228 WFXG 1,070,032 1,057,760 $8,290
70815 WFXL 793,637 785,106 $6,153
19707 WFXP 583,315 562,500 $4,408
24813 WFXR 1,426,061 1,286,450 $10,082
6463 WFXT 7,494,070 7,400,830 $58,000
22245 WFXU 211,721 211,721 $1,659
43424 WFXV 633,597 558,968 $4,381
25236 WFXW 274,078 270,967 $2,124
41397 WFYI 2,389,627 2,388,970 $18,722
53930 WGAL* 6,287,688 5,610,833 $43,972
2708 WGBA-TV 1,170,375 1,170,127 $9,170
24314 WGBC 249,415 249,235 $1,953
72099 WGBH-TV* 7,711,842 7,601,732 $59,575
12498 WGBO-DT 9,771,815 9,769,552 $76,564
72098 WGBX-TV 7,476,751 7,378,958 $57,829
72096 WGBY-TV 4,470,009 3,739,675 $29,308
72120 WGCL-TV 6,027,276 5,961,471 $46,720
62388 WGCU 1,403,602 1,403,602 $11,000
54275 WGEM-TV* 361,598 356,682 $2,795
27387 WGEN-TV 43,037 43,037 $337
7727 WGFL 759,234 759,234 $5,950
25682 WGGB-TV 3,443,447 3,005,875 $23,557
11027 WGGN-TV 1,991,462 1,969,331 $15,434
9064 WGGS-TV 2,759,326 2,705,067 $21,200
72106 WGHP 3,774,522 3,734,200 $29,265
710 WGIQ 363,849 363,806 $2,851
12520 WGMB-TV 1,739,804 1,739,640 $13,634
25683 WGME-TV 1,495,724 1,325,465 $10,388
24618 WGNM 742,533 741,501 $5,811
72119 WGNO 1,641,765 1,641,765 $12,867
9762 WGNT 1,875,612 1,875,578 $14,699
72115 WGN-TV 9,942,959 9,941,552 $77,912
40619 WGPT 578,294 344,300 $2,698
65074 WGPX-TV 2,765,350 2,754,743 $21,589
64547 WGRZ 1,878,725 1,812,309 $14,203
63329 WGTA 1,061,654 1,030,538 $8,076
66285 WGTE-TV 2,210,496 2,208,927 $17,311
59279 WGTQ 95,618 92,019 $721
59280 WGTU 358,543 353,477 $2,770
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
85
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
23948 WGTV 5,880,594 5,832,714 $45,711
7623 WGTW-TV 807,797 807,797 $6,331
24783 WGV
K
2,439,225 2,437,526 $19,103
24784 WGVU-TV* 1,825,744 1,784,264 $13,983
21536 WGWG 986,963 986,963 $7,735
56642 WGWW 1,677,166 1,647,976 $12,915
58262 WGXA 779,955 779,087 $6,106
73371 WHAM-TV 1,323,785 1,275,674 $9,997
32327 WHAS-TV* 1,955,983 1,925,901 $15,093
6096 WHA-TV 1,636,473 1,629,171 $12,768
13950 WHBF-TV* 1,712,339 1,704,072 $13,355
12521 WHBQ-TV 1,736,335 1,708,345 $13,388
10894 WHBR 1,302,764 1,302,041 $10,204
65128 WHDF 1,553,469 1,502,852 $11,778
72145 WHDH 7,319,659 7,236,210 $56,710
83929 WHDT 5,640,324 5,640,324 $44,203
70041 WHEC-TV 1,322,243 1,279,606 $10,028
67971 WHFT-TV 5,417,409 5,417,409 $42,456
41458 WHIO-TV 3,896,757 3,879,363 $30,403
713 WHIQ 1,278,174 1,225,940 $9,608
61216 WHIZ-TV 910,864 831,894 $6,520
65919 WHKY-TV 3,038,732 2,974,919 $23,314
18780 WHLA-TV 467,264 443,002 $3,472
48668 WHLT 484,432 483,532 $3,789
24582 WHLV-TV 3,825,468 3,825,468 $29,980
37102 WHMB-TV 2,847,719 2,828,250 $22,165
61004 WHMC 943,543 942,807 $7,389
36117 WHME-TV 1,271,796 1,271,715 $9,966
37106 WHNO 1,499,653 1,499,653 $11,753
72300 WHNS 2,549,397 2,266,911 $17,766
48693 WHNT-TV 1,569,885 1,487,578 $11,658
66221 WHO-DT* 1,120,480 1,099,818 $8,619
6866 WHOI 679,446 679,434 $5,325
72313 WHP-TV 4,030,693 3,538,096 $27,728
51980 WHPX-TV 5,579,464 5,114,336 $40,081
73036 WHRM-TV 495,398 495,174 $3,881
25932 WHRO-TV 2,149,481 2,149,410 $16,845
68058 WHSG-TV 5,870,314 5,808,605 $45,522
4688 WHSV-TV 845,013 711,912 $5,579
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
86
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
9990 WHTJ 723,698 490,045 $3,840
72326 WHTM-TV 2,829,585 2,367,000 $18,550
11117 WHTN 1,872,713 1,856,716 $14,551
27772 WHUT-TV 7,649,763 7,617,337 $59,697
18793 WHWC-TV 994,710 946,335 $7,416
72338 WHYY-TV 10,379,045 9,982,651 $78,234
5360 WIAT 1,837,072 1,802,810 $14,129
63160 WIBW-TV 1,089,708 1,050,918 $8,236
25684 WICD 1,238,332 1,237,046 $9,695
25686 WICS 1,011,833 1,007,132 $7,893
24970 WICU-TV 740,115 683,435 $5,356
62210 WICZ-TV 976,771 780,174 $6,114
18410 WIDP 2,559,306 2,286,123 $14,888
26025 WIFS 1,400,358 1,397,144 $10,949
720 WIIQ 353,241 347,685 $2,725
68939 WILL-TV 1,178,545 1,158,147 $9,076
6863 WILX-TV 3,378,644 3,218,221 $25,221
22093 WIN
K
-TV 1,851,105 1,851,105 $14,507
67787 WINM 1,001,485 971,031 $7,610
41314 WINP-TV 2,804,646 2,748,454 $21,540
3646 WIPB 1,962,078 1,961,899 $15,375
48408 WIPL 850,656 799,165 $6,263
53863 WIPM-TV 2,196,157 1,870,057 $2,269
53859 WIPR-TV 3,596,802 3,382,849 $22,031
10253 WIPX-TV 2,258,426 2,256,937 $17,688
39887 WIRS 1,153,382 916,310 $4,706
71336 WIRT-DT 127,001 126,300 $990
13990 WIS 2,644,715 2,600,887 $20,383
65143 WISC-TV 1,830,642 1,811,579 $14,197
13960 WISE-TV 1,070,155 1,070,155 $8,387
39269 WISH-TV 2,912,963 2,855,253 $22,377
65680 WISN-TV 2,938,180 2,926,133 $22,932
73083 WITF-TV 2,412,561 2,191,501 $17,175
73107 WITI 3,117,342 3,107,791 $24,356
594 WITN-TV 1,768,040 1,754,388 $13,749
61005 WITV 1,081,393 1,081,393 $8,475
7780 WIVB-TV 1,538,108 1,502,969 $11,779
11260 WIVT 856,453 607,256 $4,759
60571 WIWN* 3,338,845 3,323,941 $26,050
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
87
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
62207 WIYC 526,556 525,826 $4,121
73120 WJAC-TV 2,219,529 1,897,986 $14,875
10259 WJAL* 8,750,706 8,446,074 $66,192
50780 WJAR 6,537,858 6,428,263 $50,378
35576 WJAX-TV 1,630,782 1,630,782 $12,780
27140 WJBF 1,601,531 1,585,550 $12,426
73123 WJB
K
5,748,623 5,711,224 $44,759
37174 WJCL 938,086 938,086 $7,352
73130 WJCT 1,624,624 1,624,033 $12,728
29719 WJEB-TV 1,607,510 1,607,510 $12,598
65749 WJET-TV 747,431 717,721 $5,625
7651 WJFB 1,744,291 1,736,932 $13,612
49699 WJFW-TV 277,530 268,295 $2,103
73136 WJHG-TV 864,121 859,823 $6,738
57826 WJHL-TV* 2,037,793 1,428,213 $11,193
68519 WJKT 654,460 653,378 $5,121
1051 WJLA-TV* 8,750,706 8,447,643 $66,204
86537 WJLP 21,384,863 21,119,366 $165,512
9630 WJMN-TV 160,991 154,424 $1,210
61008 WJPM-TV 623,965 623,813 $4,889
58340 WJPX 3,254,481 3,008,658 $19,594
21735 WJRT-TV 2,788,684 2,543,446 $19,933
23918 WJSP-TV 4,225,860 4,188,428 $32,825
41210 WJTC 1,347,474 1,346,205 $10,550
48667 WJTV 987,206 980,717 $7,686
73150 WJW 3,977,148 3,905,325 $30,606
61007 WJWJ-TV 1,008,890 1,008,890 $7,907
58342 WJWN-TV 1,962,885 1,690,961 $4,706
53116 WJXT 1,608,682 1,608,682 $12,607
11893 WJXX 1,618,191 1,617,272 $12,675
32334 WJYS 9,647,321 9,647,299 $75,606
25455 WJZ-TV* 9,253,891 8,902,229 $69,767
73152 WJZY 4,432,745 4,301,117 $33,708
64983 WKAQ-TV 3,697,088 3,287,110 $21,407
6104 WKAR-TV 1,693,373 1,689,830 $13,243
34171 WKAS 503,790 476,158 $3,732
51570 WKBD-TV 5,065,617 5,065,350 $39,697
73153 WKBN-TV 4,898,622 4,535,576 $35,545
13929 WKBS-TV 831,411 682,182 $5,346
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
88
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
74424 WKBT-DT 866,325 824,795 $6,464
54176 WKBW-TV 2,033,929 1,942,743 $15,225
53465 WKCF 4,032,154 4,031,823 $31,597
73155 WKEF 3,623,762 3,619,081 $28,363
34177 WKGB-TV 384,474 382,825 $3,000
34196 WKHA 511,281 400,721 $3,140
34207 WKLE 837,269 825,691 $6,471
34212 WKMA-TV 454,447 453,482 $3,554
71293 WKMG-TV 3,803,492 3,803,492 $29,808
34195 WKMJ-TV 1,426,739 1,417,865 $11,112
34202 WKMR 463,316 428,462 $3,358
34174 WKMU 329,306 328,918 $2,578
42061 WKNO 1,645,867 1,642,092 $12,869
83931 WKNX-TV 1,684,178 1,459,493 $11,438
34205 WKOH 550,854 547,801 $4,293
67869 WKOI-TV 3,660,544 3,646,874 $28,581
34211 WKON 905,003 895,953 $7,022
18267 WKOP-TV 1,555,654 1,382,098 $10,832
64545 WKOW 1,918,224 1,899,746 $14,888
21432 WKPC-TV 1,489,989 1,481,948 $11,614
65758 WKPD 242,844 241,796 $1,895
34200 WKPI-TV 469,081 408,968 $3,205
27504 WKPT-TV 1,131,213 887,806 $6,958
58341 WKPV 1,132,932 879,902 $4,706
11289 WKRC-TV 3,281,914 3,229,223 $25,307
73187 WKRG-TV 1,526,600 1,526,075 $11,960
73188 WKRN-TV 2,410,573 2,388,802 $18,721
34222 WKSO-TV 586,871 573,741 $4,496
40902 WKTC 1,386,422 1,385,850 $10,861
60654 WKTV 1,573,503 1,342,387 $10,520
73195 WKYC 4,154,903 4,099,508 $32,128
24914 WKYT-TV 1,174,615 1,156,978 $9,067
71861 WKYU-TV 411,448 409,310 $3,208
34181 WKZT-TV 957,158 927,375 $7,268
18819 WLAE-TV 1,397,967 1,397,967 $10,956
36533 WLAJ 1,865,669 1,858,982 $14,569
2710 WLAX 513,319 488,216 $3,826
68542 WLBT 948,671 947,857 $7,428
39644 WLBZ 373,129 364,346 $2,855
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
89
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
69328 WLED-TV 338,110 159,958 $1,254
63046 WLEF-TV 192,283 191,149 $1,498
73203 WLEX-TV 969,543 964,107 $7,556
37806 WLFB 808,036 680,534 $5,333
37808 WLFG 1,614,321 1,282,063 $10,048
73204 WLFI-TV 2,243,009 2,221,313 $17,408
73205 WLFL 3,640,360 3,636,542 $28,500
11113 WLGA 950,018 943,236 $7,392
19777 WLII-DT 2,801,102 2,591,533 $16,877
37503 WLIO* 1,067,232 1,050,170 $8,230
38336 WLIW 14,117,756 13,993,724 $109,669
27696 WLJC-TV* 1,401,072 1,281,256 $10,041
71645 WLJT-DT 385,493 385,380 $3,020
53939 WLKY 1,854,829 1,847,195 $14,476
11033 WLLA 2,041,934 2,041,852 $16,002
17076 WLMB 2,754,484 2,747,490 $21,532
68518 WLMT 1,736,552 1,733,496 $13,585
22591 WLNE-TV 5,705,441 5,630,394 $44,125
74420 WLNS-TV 1,865,669 1,858,982 $14,569
73206 WLNY-TV 7,501,199 7,415,578 $58,116
84253 WLOO 913,960 912,674 $7,153
56537 WLOS* 3,086,751 2,544,360 $19,940
37732 WLOV-TV 609,526 607,780 $4,763
13995 WLOX 1,182,149 1,170,659 $9,174
38586 WLPB-TV 1,219,624 1,219,407 $9,556
73189 WLPX-TV 1,021,171 921,974 $7,226
66358 WLRN-TV 5,447,399 5,447,399 $42,691
73226 WLS-TV 10,174,464 10,170,757 $79,708
73230 WLTV-DT 5,427,398 5,427,398 $42,535
37176 WLTX 1,580,677 1,578,645 $12,372
37179 WLTZ 689,521 685,358 $5,371
21259 WLUC-TV 92,246 85,393 $669
4150 WLU
K
-TV 1,251,563 1,247,463 $9,776
73238 WLVI 7,319,659 7,236,210 $56,710
36989 WLVT-TV* 10,613,847 9,474,797 $74,254
3978 WLWC 3,281,532 3,150,875 $24,693
46979 WLWT 3,319,556 3,302,292 $25,880
54452 WLXI 4,021,948 4,004,902 $31,386
55350 WLYH 2,829,585 2,367,000 $18,550
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
90
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
43192 WMAB-TV 407,794 401,487 $3,146
43170 WMAE-TV 653,542 625,084 $4,899
43197 WMAH-TV 1,257,393 1,256,995 $9,851
43176 WMAO-TV 369,696 369,343 $2,895
47905 WMAQ-TV 9,914,395 9,913,272 $77,690
59442 WMAR-TV 9,203,498 9,065,260 $71,044
43184 WMAU-TV 642,328 636,504 $4,988
43193 WMAV-TV 1,008,339 1,008,208 $7,901
43169 WMAW-TV 732,079 718,446 $5,630
46991 WMAZ-TV 1,185,678 1,136,616 $8,908
66398 WMBB 935,027 914,607 $7,168
43952 WMBC-TV 18,706,132 18,458,331 $144,658
42121 WMBD-TV 733,039 732,987 $5,744
83969 WMBF-TV 445,363 445,363 $3,490
60829 WMCF-TV 593,205 589,513 $4,620
9739 WMCN-TV 10,379,045 9,982,651 $78,234
19184 WMC-TV 2,047,403 2,043,125 $16,012
189357 WMDE 6,384,827 6,257,910 $49,043
73255 WMDN 278,227 278,018 $2,179
16455 WMDT 731,931 731,931 $5,736
39656 WMEA-TV 774,785 746,033 $5,847
39648 WMEB-TV 511,761 494,574 $3,876
70537 WMEC 217,940 217,671 $1,706
39649 WMED-TV 30,488 29,577 $232
39662 WMEM-TV 71,700 69,981 $548
41893 WMFD-TV 1,561,367 1,324,244 $10,378
41436 WMFP 5,792,048 5,564,295 $43,607
61111 WMGM-TV 807,797 807,797 $6,331
43847 WMGT-TV 601,894 601,309 $4,712
73263 WMHT 1,622,458 1,472,559 $11,540
68545 WMLW-TV 1,822,297 1,822,217 $14,281
53819 WMOR-TV 5,386,517 5,386,358 $42,213
81503 WMOW 121,150 106,115 $832
65944 WMPB 6,489,215 6,375,063 $49,961
43168 WMPN-TV 856,237 854,089 $6,693
65942 WMPT 7,945,122 7,905,666 $61,957
60827 WMPV-TV 1,395,611 1,395,036 $10,933
10221 WMSN-TV 1,579,847 1,567,031 $12,281
2174 WMTJ 3,143,148 2,846,339 $18,537
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
91
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
6870 WMTV 1,548,616 1,545,459 $12,112
73288 WMTW 1,940,292 1,658,816 $13,000
23935 WMUM-TV 862,740 859,204 $6,734
73292 WMUR-TV 5,192,179 5,003,980 $39,216
42663 WMVS* 3,172,534 3,112,231 $24,391
42665 WMVT* 3,172,534 3,112,231 $24,391
81946 WMWC-TV 946,858 916,989 $7,186
56548 WMYA-TV 1,577,439 1,516,026 $11,881
74211 WMYD 5,750,989 5,750,873 $45,070
20624 WMYT-TV 4,432,745 4,301,117 $33,708
25544 WMYV 3,808,852 3,786,057 $29,671
73310 WNAB 2,072,197 2,059,474 $16,140
73311 WNAC-TV 7,310,183 6,959,064 $54,538
47535 WNBC 20,072,714 19,699,252 $154,383
83965 WNBW-DT 633,243 631,197 $4,947
72307 WNCF 667,683 665,950 $5,219
50782 WNCN* 3,795,494 3,783,131 $29,648
57838 WNCT-TV 1,933,527 1,879,655 $14,731
41674 WNDU-TV 1,807,909 1,783,617 $13,978
28462 WNDY-TV 2,912,963 2,855,253 $22,377
71928 WNED-TV 1,364,333 1,349,085 $10,573
60931 WNEH 1,261,482 1,255,218 $9,837
41221 WNEM-TV 1,617,082 1,612,561 $12,638
49439 WNEO 3,151,964 3,105,545 $24,338
73318 WNEP-TV 3,131,848 2,484,949 $19,475
18795 WNET 20,826,756 20,387,649 $159,778
51864 WNEU 3,471,700 3,354,177 $26,287
23942 WNGH-TV 3,715,479 3,482,438 $27,292
67802 WNIN 883,322 865,128 $6,780
41671 WNIT 1,298,159 1,298,159 $10,174
48457 WNJB* 20,787,272 20,036,393 $157,025
48477 WNJN* 20,787,272 20,036,393 $157,025
48481 WNJS 7,211,292 7,176,711 $56,244
48465 WNJT 7,211,292 7,176,711 $56,244
73333 WNJU 21,952,082 21,399,204 $167,706
73336 WNJX-TV 1,585,248 1,383,235 $1,199
61217 WNKY 385,619 383,911 $3,009
71905 WNLO 1,538,108 1,502,969 $11,779
4318 WNMU 181,730 177,763 $1,393
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
92
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
73344 WNNE 792,551 676,539 $5,302
54280 WNOL-TV 1,632,389 1,632,389 $12,793
71676 WNPB-TV 1,578,317 1,446,630 $11,337
62137 WNPI-DT 167,931 161,748 $1,268
41398 WNPT 2,260,463 2,227,570 $17,457
28468 WNPX-TV 2,216,131 2,209,662 $17,317
61009 WNSC-TV 2,072,821 2,067,933 $16,206
61010 WNTV 2,419,841 2,211,019 $17,328
16539 WNTZ-TV 344,704 343,849 $2,695
7933 WNUV 9,098,694 8,906,508 $69,800
9999 WNVC 723,698 490,045 $3,840
10019 WNVT 1,582,094 1,581,725 $12,396
73354 WNWO-TV 2,232,660 2,232,660 $17,497
136751 WNYA 1,540,430 1,406,032 $11,019
30303 WNYB* 1,785,269 1,756,096 $13,763
6048 WNYE-TV 19,185,983 19,015,910 $149,028
34329 WNYI 1,627,542 1,338,811 $10,492
67784 WNYO-TV 1,539,525 1,499,591 $11,752
58725 WNYS-TV 1,690,696 1,445,505 $11,328
73363 WNYT* 1,679,494 1,516,775 $11,887
22206 WNYW 20,075,874 19,753,060 $154,805
69618 WOAI-TV 2,525,811 2,513,887 $19,701
66804 WOAY-TV 569,330 416,995 $3,268
41225 WOFL 3,941,895 3,938,046 $30,862
70651 WOGX 1,112,408 1,112,408 $8,718
8661 WOI-DT* 1,173,757 1,170,432 $9,173
39746 WOIO 3,821,233 3,745,335 $29,352
71725 WOLE-DT*
1
2,503,603 947,174 $7,423
73375 WOLF-TV 3,006,606 2,425,396 $19,008
60963 WOLO-TV 2,635,115 2,590,158 $20,299
36838 WOOD-TV 2,507,053 2,501,084 $19,601
67602 WOPX-TV 3,826,498 3,826,259 $29,986
64865 WORA-TV 2,733,629 2,586,149 $2,893
73901 WORO-DT* 3,243,301 3,022,553 $20,711
60357 WOST 1,193,381 1,027,391 $6,691
66185 WOSU-TV 2,649,515 2,617,817 $20,516
131 WOTF-TV 3,288,537 3,288,535 $25,772
10212 WOTV 2,277,566 2,277,258 $17,847
50147 WOUB-TV 756,762 734,988 $5,760
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
93
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
50141 WOUC-TV 1,713,515 1,649,853 $12,930
23342 WOW
K
-TV* 1,159,175 1,082,354 $8,482
65528 WOWT 1,380,979 1,377,287 $10,794
31570 WPAN 637,347 637,347 $4,995
4190 WPBA 5,217,180 5,200,958 $40,760
51988 WPBF 3,190,307 3,186,405 $24,972
21253 WPBN-TV 411,213 394,778 $3,094
62136 WPBS-DT 338,448 301,692 $2,364
13456 WPBT 5,416,604 5,416,604 $42,450
13924 WPCB-TV 2,934,614 2,800,516 $21,948
64033 WPCH-TV 5,948,778 5,874,163 $46,036
4354 WPCT 195,270 194,869 $1,527
69880 WPCW 3,393,365 3,188,441 $24,988
17012 WPDE-TV 1,764,645 1,762,758 $13,815
52527 WPEC 5,788,448 5,788,448 $45,364
84088 WPFO 1,329,690 1,209,873 $9,482
54728 WPGA-TV 559,495 559,004 $4,381
60820 WPGD-TV 2,355,629 2,343,715 $18,368
73875 WPGH-TV 3,132,507 3,007,511 $23,570
2942 WPGX 425,098 422,872 $3,314
73879 WPHL-TV 10,421,216 10,246,856 $80,305
73881 WPIX 20,638,932 20,213,158 $158,411
53113 WPLG 5,587,129 5,587,129 $43,786
11906 WPMI-TV 1,467,869 1,467,462 $11,500
10213 WPMT 2,412,561 2,191,501 $17,175
18798 WPNE-TV 1,132,868 1,132,699 $8,877
73907 WPNT 3,130,920 3,010,828 $23,596
28480 WPPT* 10,613,847 9,474,797 $74,254
51984 WPPX-TV 8,206,117 7,995,941 $62,664
47404 WPRI-TV 7,254,721 6,990,606 $54,785
51991 WPSD-TV 883,812 878,287 $6,883
12499 WPSG 10,232,988 9,925,334 $77,785
66219 WPSU-TV 1,055,133 868,013 $6,803
73905 WPTA 1,099,180 1,099,180 $8,614
25067 WPTD 3,423,417 3,415,232 $26,765
25065 WPTO 2,912,159 2,893,581 $22,677
59443 WPTV-TV 5,840,102 5,840,102 $45,769
57476 WPTZ 792,551 676,539 $5,302
8616 WPVI-TV* 11,491,587 11,302,701 $88,579
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
94
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
48772 WPWR-TV 9,957,301 9,954,828 $78,016
51969 WPXA-TV 6,587,205 6,458,510 $50,615
71236 WPXC-TV 1,561,014 1,561,014 $12,234
5800 WPXD-TV 5,133,364 5,133,257 $40,229
37104 WPXE-TV 3,163,550 3,160,601 $24,770
48406 WPXG-TV 2,577,848 2,512,150 $19,688
73312 WPXH-TV 1,495,968 1,423,805 $11,158
73910 WPXI 3,300,896 3,197,864 $25,062
2325 WPXJ-TV 2,358,750 2,294,833 $17,985
52628 WPX
K
-TV 1,801,997 1,577,806 $12,365
21729 WPXL-TV 1,566,829 1,566,829 $12,279
48608 WPXM-TV 5,153,621 5,153,621 $40,389
73356 WPXN-TV 20,465,198 20,092,448 $157,465
27290 WPXP-TV 5,565,072 5,565,072 $43,613
50063 WPXQ-TV 3,281,532 3,150,875 $24,693
70251 WPXR-TV 1,375,640 1,200,331 $9,407
40861 WPXS 1,152,104 1,145,695 $8,979
53065 WPXT 760,491 735,051 $5,761
37971 WPXU-TV 690,613 690,613 $5,412
67077 WPXV-TV 1,905,128 1,905,128 $14,930
74091 WPXW-TV 8,091,469 8,044,165 $63,042
21726 WPXX-TV 1,562,675 1,560,834 $12,232
73319 WQAD-TV 1,079,594 1,066,743 $8,360
65130 WQCW 1,319,392 1,249,533 $9,793
71561 WQEC 183,969 183,690 $1,440
41315 WQED 3,529,305 3,426,684 $26,855
3255 WQHA 1,052,107 879,558 $5,728
60556 WQHS-DT 3,996,567 3,952,672 $30,977
53716 WQLN 602,212 571,790 $4,481
52075 WQMY 410,269 254,586 $1,995
64550 WQOW 369,066 358,576 $2,810
5468 WQPT-TV 595,685 595,437 $4,666
64690 WQPX-TV 1,644,283 1,212,587 $9,503
52408 WQRF-TV 1,326,695 1,305,762 $10,233
2175 WQTO 2,864,201 1,923,424 $12,526
8688 WRAL-TV 3,643,511 3,639,448 $28,522
10133 WRAY-TV 4,021,948 4,004,902 $31,386
64611 WRAZ 3,605,228 3,601,029 $28,221
136749 WRBJ-TV 1,030,831 1,028,010 $8,057
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
95
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
3359 WRBL 1,493,140 1,461,459 $11,453
57221 WRBU 2,737,188 2,734,806 $21,433
54940 WRBW 4,025,123 4,023,804 $31,535
59137 WRCB 1,587,742 1,363,582 $10,686
47904 WRC-TV 8,188,601 8,146,696 $63,846
54963 WRDC 3,624,288 3,620,526 $28,374
55454 WRDQ 3,931,023 3,931,023 $30,807
73937 WRDW-TV 1,564,584 1,533,682 $12,019
66174 WREG-TV 1,642,307 1,638,585 $12,842
61011 WRET-TV 2,419,841 2,211,019 $17,328
73940 WREX 2,303,027 2,047,951 $16,050
54443 WRFB 2,674,527 2,377,106 $15,481
73942 WRGB* 1,757,575 1,645,483 $12,896
411 WRGT-TV 3,252,046 3,219,309 $25,230
74416 WRIC-TV 1,996,265 1,939,664 $15,201
61012 WRJA-TV 1,127,088 1,119,936 $8,777
412 WRLH-TV 2,017,508 1,959,111 $15,354
61013 WRL
K
-TV 1,229,094 1,228,616 $9,629
43870 WRLM 3,919,602 3,892,146 $30,503
74156 WRNN-TV 19,853,836 19,615,370 $153,726
73964 WROC-TV 1,203,412 1,185,203 $9,288
159007 WRPT 110,009 109,937 $862
20590 WRPX-TV 2,637,949 2,634,141 $20,644
62009 WRSP-TV 904,190 902,682 $7,074
40877 WRTV 2,919,683 2,895,164 $22,689
15320 WRUA 2,905,193 2,552,782 $16,625
71580 WRXY-TV 1,633,655 1,633,655 $12,803
48662 WSAV-TV 1,000,315 1,000,309 $7,839
6867 WSAW-TV 652,442 646,386 $5,066
36912 WSAZ-TV 1,184,629 1,119,859 $8,776
56092 WSBE-TV 4,627,829 4,531,067 $35,510
73982 WSB
K
-TV 7,161,406 7,095,363 $55,606
72053 WSBS-TV 42,952 42,952 $337
73983 WSBT-TV 1,691,194 1,682,136 $13,183
23960 WSB-TV 5,893,810 5,818,626 $45,601
69446 WSCG 867,516 867,490 $6,799
64971 WSCV 5,465,435 5,465,435 $42,833
70536 WSEC 522,349 521,730 $4,089
49711 WSEE-TV 613,176 595,476 $4,667
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
96
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
21258 WSES 1,548,117 1,513,982 $11,865
73988 WSET-TV 1,569,722 1,323,180 $10,370
13993 WSFA 1,168,636 1,133,724 $8,885
11118 WSFJ-TV 1,675,987 1,667,150 $13,065
10203 WSFL-TV 5,344,129 5,344,129 $41,882
72871 WSFX-TV 928,247 928,247 $7,275
73999 WSIL-TV 672,560 669,176 $5,244
4297 WSIU-TV* 1,019,939 937,070 $7,344
74007 WSJV 1,522,499 1,522,499 $11,932
78908 WSKA 546,588 431,354 $3,381
74034 WSKG-TV 892,439 624,282 $4,892
76324 WSKY-TV 1,934,585 1,934,519 $15,161
57840 WSLS-TV 1,447,286 1,277,753 $10,014
21737 WSMH 2,339,224 2,327,660 $18,242
41232 WSMV-TV 2,447,769 2,404,766 $18,846
70119 WSNS-TV 9,914,395 9,913,272 $77,690
74070 WSOC-TV 3,706,808 3,638,832 $28,518
66391 WSPA-TV 3,393,072 3,237,713 $25,374
64352 WSPX-TV 1,298,295 1,174,763 $9,207
17611 WSRE 1,355,168 1,354,307 $10,614
63867 WSST-TV 331,907 331,601 $2,599
60341 WSTE-DT 3,723,967 3,631,985 $23,653
21252 WSTM-TV 1,458,931 1,382,417 $10,834
11204 WSTR-TV 3,252,460 3,243,267 $25,417
19776 WSUR-DT*
2
3,714,790 947,174 $7,423
2370 WSVI 50,601 50,601 $397
63840 WSVN 5,588,748 5,588,748 $43,799
73374 WSWB 1,530,002 1,102,316 $8,639
28155 WSWG 381,004 380,910 $2,985
71680 WSWP-TV 858,726 659,416 $5,168
74094 WSYM-TV 1,516,677 1,516,390 $11,884
73113 WSYR-TV 1,329,933 1,243,035 $9,742
40758 WSYT 1,878,638 1,640,666 $12,858
56549 WSYX 2,635,937 2,584,043 $20,251
65681 WTAE-TV 2,995,755 2,860,979 $22,421
23341 WTAJ-TV 1,187,718 948,598 $7,434
4685 WTAP-TV 472,761 451,414 $3,538
416 WTAT-TV 1,153,279 1,153,279 $9,038
67993 WTBY-TV 15,858,470 15,766,438 $123,562
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
97
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
29715 WTCE-TV 2,620,599 2,620,599 $20,538
65667 WTCI 1,204,613 1,099,395 $8,616
67786 WTCT 584,661 584,006 $4,577
28954 WTCV 3,254,481 3,008,658 $19,594
74422 WTEN 1,902,431 1,613,747 $12,647
9881 WTGL 3,772,425 3,772,425 $29,564
27245 WTGS 967,792 967,630 $7,583
70655 WTHI-TV 928,934 886,846 $6,950
70162 WTHR* 2,949,339 2,901,633 $22,740
147 WTIC-TV 5,318,753 4,707,697 $36,894
26681 WTIN-TV 3,714,547 3,487,634 $1,199
66536 WTIU 1,131,685 1,131,161 $8,865
1002 WTJP-TV 1,947,743 1,907,300 $14,948
4593 WTJR 334,527 334,221 $2,619
70287 WTJX-TV 135,017 121,498 $952
47401 WTKR 2,142,272 2,142,084 $16,788
82735 WTLF 349,696 349,691 $2,741
23486 WTLH 1,038,086 1,038,086 $8,135
67781 WTLJ 1,622,365 1,621,227 $12,706
65046 WTLV 1,757,600 1,739,021 $13,629
1222 WTLW 1,646,714 1,644,206 $12,886
74098 WTMJ-TV 3,010,678 2,995,959 $23,479
74109 WTNH 7,845,782 7,332,431 $57,464
19200 WTNZ 1,699,427 1,513,754 $11,863
590 WTOC-TV 993,098 992,658 $7,779
74112 WTOG 4,796,964 4,796,188 $37,588
4686 WTO
K
-TV 410,134 404,555 $3,170
13992 WTOL 4,184,020 4,174,198 $32,713
21254 WTOM-TV 83,379 81,092 $636
74122 WTOV-TV 3,892,886 3,619,899 $28,369
82574 WTPC-TV* 2,049,246 2,042,851 $16,010
86496 WTPX-TV 255,972 255,791 $2,005
6869 WTRF-TV 2,941,511 2,565,375 $20,105
67798 WTSF 593,934 552,040 $4,326
11290 WTSP* 5,511,840 5,494,925 $43,064
4108 WTTA 5,450,070 5,446,811 $42,687
74137 WTTE 2,636,341 2,591,715 $20,311
22207 WTTG 8,070,491 8,015,328 $62,816
56526 WTT
K
2,817,698 2,794,018 $21,897
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
98
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
74138 WTTO 1,817,151 1,786,516 $14,001
56523 WTTV 2,362,145 2,359,408 $18,491
10802 WTTW 9,729,982 9,729,634 $76,251
74148 WTVA 717,035 709,726 $5,562
22590 WTVC 1,579,628 1,366,976 $10,713
8617 WTVD* 3,793,909 3,778,802 $29,614
55305 WTVE 5,156,905 5,152,997 $40,384
36504 WTVF 2,416,110 2,397,634 $18,790
74150 WTVG 4,274,274 4,263,894 $33,416
74151 WTVH 1,350,223 1,275,171 $9,994
10645 WTVI 2,853,540 2,824,869 $22,138
63154 WTVJ 5,458,451 5,458,451 $42,778
595 WTVM 1,498,667 1,405,957 $11,018
72945 WTVO 1,409,708 1,398,825 $10,963
28311 WTVP 679,017 678,672 $5,319
51597 WTVQ-DT 989,180 982,298 $7,698
57832 WTVR-TV 1,808,516 1,802,164 $14,124
16817 WTVS 5,511,639 5,511,255 $43,192
68569 WTVT 5,475,385 5,462,416 $42,809
3661 WTVW 791,430 789,720 $6,189
35575 WTVX 3,157,609 3,157,609 $24,746
4152 WTVY 974,532 971,173 $7,611
40759 WTVZ-TV 2,156,534 2,156,346 $16,899
66908 WTWC-TV 1,032,942 1,032,942 $8,095
20426 WTWO 737,757 731,769 $5,735
81692 WTWV 1,527,511 1,526,625 $11,964
51568 WTXF-TV 10,784,256 10,492,549 $82,230
41065 WTXL-TV 1,054,514 1,054,322 $8,263
8532 WUAB 3,821,233 3,745,335 $29,352
12855 WUCF-TV 3,772,425 3,772,425 $29,564
36395 WUCW 3,664,480 3,657,236 $28,662
69440 WUFT 1,372,142 1,372,142 $10,753
413 WUHF 1,152,580 1,147,972 $8,997
8156 WUJA 2,638,361 2,379,555 $15,497
69080 WUNC-TV 4,021,948 4,004,902 $31,386
69292 WUND-TV 1,506,640 1,506,640 $11,808
69114 WUNE-TV 1,931,274 1,527,025 $11,967
69300 WUNF-TV 2,447,306 2,066,422 $16,195
69124 WUNG-TV 3,267,425 3,253,352 $25,497
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
99
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
60551 WUNI 7,209,571 7,084,349 $55,520
69332 WUNJ-TV 1,081,274 1,081,274 $8,474
69149 WUN
K
-TV 2,018,916 2,013,516 $15,780
69360 WUNL-TV 2,614,031 2,545,330 $19,948
69444 WUNM-TV 1,029,109 1,029,109 $8,065
69397 WUNP-TV 1,018,414 1,009,833 $7,914
69416 WUNU 1,120,792 1,117,140 $8,755
83822 WUNW 1,109,237 570,072 $4,468
6900 WUPA 5,946,477 5,865,122 $45,965
13938 WUPL 1,632,100 1,632,100 $12,791
10897 WUPV 1,933,664 1,914,643 $15,005
19190 WUPW 2,074,890 2,073,548 $16,250
23128 WUPX-TV 1,102,435 1,089,118 $8,535
65593 WUSA* 8,750,706 8,446,074 $66,192
4301 WUSI-TV 304,747 304,747 $2,388
60552 WUTB 8,509,757 8,339,882 $65,360
30577 WUTF-TV 8,557,497 8,242,833 $64,599
57837 WUTR 526,114 481,957 $3,777
415 WUTV 1,405,230 1,380,902 $10,822
16517 WUVC-DT 3,768,817 3,748,841 $29,380
48813 WUVG-DT 6,029,495 5,965,975 $46,755
3072 WUVN 1,233,568 1,157,140 $9,069
60560 WUVP-DT 10,421,216 10,246,856 $80,305
9971 WUXP-TV 2,316,872 2,305,293 $18,067
417 WVAH-TV 1,373,707 1,300,402 $10,191
23947 WVAN-TV 979,764 978,920 $7,672
65387 WVBT 1,848,277 1,848,277 $14,485
72342 WVCY-TV 2,543,642 2,542,235 $19,923
60559 WVEA-TV 4,283,915 4,283,854 $33,573
74167 WVEC* 2,096,709 2,090,875 $16,386
5802 WVEN-TV 3,607,540 3,607,540 $28,272
61573 WVEO 1,153,382 916,310 $2,353
69946 WVER 760,072 579,703 $4,543
10976 WVFX 731,193 609,763 $4,779
47929 WVIA-TV 3,131,848 2,484,949 $19,475
3667 WVII-TV 368,022 346,874 $2,718
70309 WVIR-TV 1,944,353 1,801,429 $14,118
74170 WVIT 5,846,093 5,357,639 $41,988
18753 WVIZ 3,695,223 3,689,173 $28,912
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
100
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
70021 WVLA-TV 1,897,179 1,897,007 $14,867
81750 WVLR 1,412,728 1,292,471 $10,129
35908 WVLT-TV 1,888,607 1,633,633 $12,803
74169 WVNS-TV 911,630 606,820 $4,756
11259 WVNY 721,176 620,257 $4,861
29000 WVOZ-TV 1,132,932 879,902 $2,353
71657 WVPB-TV 780,268 752,747 $5,899
60111 WVPT* 756,714 632,580 $4,958
70491 WVPX-TV 4,147,298 4,114,920 $32,249
66378 WVPY* 756,202 632,155 $4,954
67190 WVSN 2,948,832 2,572,001 $16,750
69943 WVTA 760,072 579,703 $4,543
69940 WVTB 454,244 258,422 $2,025
74173 WVTM-TV 1,876,825 1,790,198 $14,030
74174 WVTV 2,999,694 2,990,991 $23,440
77496 WVUA 2,209,921 2,160,101 $16,929
4149 WVUE-DT 1,658,125 1,658,125 $12,995
4329 WVUT 273,293 273,219 $2,141
74176 WVVA 1,035,752 693,707 $5,437
3113 WVXF 85,191 78,556 $616
12033 WWAY 1,206,281 1,206,281 $9,454
30833 WWBT 1,911,854 1,872,305 $14,673
20295 WWCP-TV 2,811,278 2,548,691 $19,974
24812 WWCW 1,390,985 1,212,308 $9,501
23671 WWDP 5,792,048 5,564,295 $43,607
21158 WWHO 2,879,726 2,805,564 $21,987
14682 WWJE-DT 7,209,571 7,084,349 $55,520
72123 WWJ-TV 5,374,064 5,373,712 $42,114
166512 WWJX 518,866 518,846 $4,066
6868 WWLP 3,838,272 3,077,800 $24,121
74192 WWL-TV 1,756,442 1,756,442 $13,765
3133 WWMB 1,460,406 1,458,374 $11,429
74195 WWMT 2,460,942 2,455,432 $19,243
68851 WWNY-TV 365,677 341,029 $2,673
74197 WWOR-TV 19,853,836 19,615,370 $153,726
65943 WWPB 2,015,352 1,691,003 $13,252
23264 WWPX-TV 3,892,904 3,196,922 $25,054
68547 WWRS-TV 2,235,958 2,212,123 $17,336
61251 WWSB 3,340,133 3,340,133 $26,177
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
101
Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
23142 WWSI 11,269,831 11,098,540 $86,979
16747 WWTI 196,531 190,097 $1,490
998 WWTO-TV 5,541,816 5,541,816 $43,431
26994 WWTV 1,034,174 1,022,322 $8,012
84214 WWTW 1,527,511 1,526,625 $11,964
26993 WWUP-TV 116,638 110,592 $867
23338 WXBU 4,030,693 3,538,096 $27,728
61504 WXCW 1,749,847 1,749,847 $13,714
61084 WXEL-TV 5,416,604 5,416,604 $42,450
60539 WXFT-DT 10,174,464 10,170,757 $79,708
23929 WXGA-TV 608,494 606,801 $4,755
51163 WXIA-TV 6,179,680 6,035,828 $47,303
53921 WXII-TV 3,630,551 3,299,114 $25,855
146 WXIN 2,721,639 2,699,366 $21,155
39738 WXIX-TV 2,825,570 2,797,385 $21,923
414 WXLV-TV 4,362,761 4,333,737 $33,963
68433 WXMI 1,988,970 1,988,589 $15,585
64549 WXOW 425,378 413,264 $3,239
6601 WXPX-TV 4,566,037 4,564,088 $35,769
74215 WXTV-DT 19,992,096 19,643,518 $153,946
12472 WXTX 699,095 694,837 $5,445
11970 WXXA-TV* 1,680,670 1,546,103 $12,117
57274 WXXI-TV 1,178,402 1,163,073 $9,115
53517 WXXV-TV 1,201,440 1,199,901 $9,404
10267 WXYZ-TV 5,591,434 5,590,748 $43,815
12279 WYCC 9,729,982 9,729,634 $76,251
77515 WYCI 35,873 26,508 $208
70149 WYCW 3,393,072 3,237,713 $25,374
62219 WYDC 393,843 262,013 $2,053
18783 WYDN 2,577,848 2,512,150 $19,688
35582 WYDO 1,097,745 1,097,745 $8,603
25090 WYES-TV 1,872,245 1,872,059 $14,671
53905 WYFF 2,626,363 2,416,551 $18,939
49803 WYIN 6,956,141 6,956,141 $54,515
24915 WYMT-TV 1,180,276 863,881 $6,770
17010 WYOU* 2,879,196 2,221,179 $17,407
77789 WYOW 91,233 90,799 $712
13933 WYPX-TV 1,529,500 1,413,583 $11,078
4693 WYTV 4,898,622 4,535,576 $35,545
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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Facility Id.
#
Call Sign Service Area
Population
Terrain-Ltd
Population
FY 2020 Terrain-
Ltd. Fee Amount
5875 WYZZ-TV 1,042,140 1,036,721 $8,125
15507 WZBJ 1,606,844 1,439,716 $11,283
28119 WZDX 1,557,490 1,452,851 $11,386
70493 WZME 5,996,408 5,544,708 $43,454
81448 WZMQ 73,423 72,945 $572
71871 WZPX-TV 2,094,029 2,093,653 $16,408
136750 WZRB 952,279 951,693 $7,458
418 WZTV 2,311,143 2,299,730 $18,023
83270 WZVI 76,992 75,863 $595
19183 WZVN-TV 1,916,098 1,916,098 $15,016
49713 WZZM 1,574,546 1,548,835 $12,138
Note: The list of call signs above include all feeable and exempt entities. It is the responsibility of
licensees to inform the Commission of any status changes. As stated in the FY 2020 Report and Order
and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the fee of full-power television stations in Puerto Rico have been
adjusted to reflect losses in population on the island since the 2010 U.S. Census.
* The call signs with an (*) denote VHF stations licensed with a power level that exceeds the maximum
based on the maximum power level specified for channels 2-6 in 73.622(f)(6) and for channels 7-13 in
73.622(f)(7). The population counts have been adjusted accordingly.
1
Call signs WOLE and WLII are stations in Puerto Rico that are linked together with a total fee of
$24,300.
2
Call signs WSUR and WLII are stations in Puerto Rico that are linked together with a total fee of
$24,300.
3
Call signs WTCV, WVOZ-TV, and WVEO-TV are stations in Puerto Rico that are linked together with
a total fee of $24,300.
4
Call signs WAPA-TV, WTIN-TV, and WNJX-TV are stations in Puerto Rico that are linked together
with a total fee of $24,300.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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APPENDIX H
FY 2019 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 at the time the application is filed.
Fee Category
Annual
Regulatory Fee
(U.S. $s)
PLMRS (per license) (Exclusive Use) (47 CFR part 90) 25
Microwave (per license) (47 CFR part 101) 25
Marine (Ship) (per station) (47 CFR part 80) 15
Marine (Coast) (per license) (47 CFR part 80) 40
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) 10
Aviation (Ground) (per license) (47 CFR part 87) 20
CMRS Mobile/Cellular Services (per unit) (47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24, 27,
80 and 90)
.19
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)
690
690
AM Radio Construction Permits 595
FM Radio Construction Permits 1,000
AM and FM Broadcast Radio Station Fees See Table Below
Digital TV (47 CFR part 73) VHF and UHF Commercial Fee Factor $.007224
See Appendix. J
for fee amounts
due, also
available at
https://www.fcc.
gov/licensing-
databases/fees/re
gulatory-fees
Construction Permits 4,450
Low Power TV, Class A TV, TV/FM Translators & Boosters (47 CFR 345
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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Fee Category
Annual
Regulatory Fee
(U.S. $s)
part 74)
CARS (47 CFR part 78) 1,225
Cable Television Systems (per subscriber) (47 CFR part 76), Including
IPTV
.86
Direct Broadcast Service (DBS) (per subscriber) (as defined by section
602(13) of the Act)
.60
Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers (per revenue dollar) .00317
Toll Free (per toll free subscriber) (47 CFR section 52.101 (f) of the rules) .12
Earth Stations (47 CFR part 25) 425
Space Stations (per operational station in geostationary orbit) (47 CFR
part 25) also includes DBS Service (per operational station) (47 CFR part
100)
159,625
Space Stations (per operational system in non-geostationary orbit) (47
CFR part 25)
154,875
International Bearer Circuits - Terrestrial/Satellites (per Gbps circuit) 121
Submarine Cable Landing Licenses Fee (per cable system) See Table Below
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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FY 2019 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
$950 $685 $595 $655 $1,000 $1,200
25,001 – 75,000
$1,425 $1,000 $895 $985 $1,575 $1,800
75,001 – 150,000
$2,150 $1,550 $1,350 $1,475 $2,375 $2,700
150,001 – 500,000
$3,200 $2,325 $2,000 $2,225 $3,550 $4,050
500,001 – 1,200,000
$4,800 $3,475 $3,000 $3,325 $5,325 $6,075
1,200,001 –
3,000,000
$7,225 $5,200 $4,525 $4,975 $7,975 $9,125
3,000,001 –
6,000,000
$10,825 $7,800 $6,775 $7,450 $11,950 $13,675
>6,000,000
$16,225 $11,700 $10,175 $11,200 $17,950 $20,500
FY 2019 International Bearer Circuits - Submarine Cable Systems
Submarine Cable Systems
(capacity as of December 31, 2018)
FY 2019 Regulatory Fees
Less than 50 Gbps $12,575
50 Gbps or greater, but less than 250 Gbps $25,150
250 Gbps or greater, but less than 1,000 Gbps $50,300
1,000 Gbps or greater, but less than 4,000 Gbps $100,600
4,000 Gbps or greater $201,225
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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APPENDIX I
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
1. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA),
1
an Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was included in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice).
2
The Commission sought written public comment on these proposals including comment on the IRFA.
This Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) conforms to the IRFA.
3
A. A. Need for, and Objectives of, the Report and Order
2. In this Report and Order we adopt our proposal in the Notice on collecting $339,000,000
in regulatory fees for FY 2020, pursuant to section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended
(Communications Act or Act).
4
These regulatory fees will be due in September 2020. Under section 9 of
the Communications Act, regulatory fees are mandated by Congress and collected to recover the
regulatory costs associated with the Commission’s enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information,
and international activities in an amount that can be reasonably expected to equal the amount of the
Commission’s annual appropriation.
5
This Report and Order adopts the regulatory fees proposed in the
Notice, with some minor changes.
B. B. Summary of the Significant Issues Raised by the Public Comments in
Response to the IRFA
3. None.
C. C. Response to Comments by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration
4. No comments were filed by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration.
D. D. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the
Rules Will Apply:
5. The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of, and where feasible, an estimate of
the number of small entities that may be affected by the proposed rules and policies, if adopted.
6
The
RFA generally defines the term “small entity” as having the same meaning as the terms “small business,”
“small organization,” and “small governmental jurisdiction.”
7
In addition, the term “small business” has
the same meaning as the term “small business concern” under the Small Business Act.
8
A “small
1
5 U.S.C. § 603. The RFA, 5 U.S.C. §§ 601-612 has been amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Pub. L. No. 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 847 (1996).
2
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2020, Report and Order and Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 35 FCC Rcd 4976 (2020) (Notice).
3
5 U.S.C. § 604.
4
47 U.S.C. § 159.
5
47 U.S.C. § 159(a).
6
5 U.S.C. § 603(b)(3).
7
5 U.S.C. § 601(6).
8
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.”
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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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.
9
Nationwide, there are a
total of approximately 27.9 million small businesses, according to the SBA.
10
6. Wired Telecommunications Carriers. The U.S. Census Bureau defines this industry as
“establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or providing access to transmission facilities and
infrastructure that they own and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using
wired communications networks. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a
combination of technologies. Establishments in this industry use the wired telecommunications network
facilities that they operate to provide a variety of services, such as wired telephony services, including
VoIP services, wired (cable) audio and video programming distribution, and wired broadband internet
services. By exception, establishments providing satellite television distribution services using facilities
and infrastructure that they operate are included in this industry.”
11
The SBA has developed a small
business size standard for Wired Telecommunications Carriers, which consists of all such companies
having 1,500 or fewer employees.
12
Census data for 2012 shows that there were 3,117 firms that operated
that year. Of this total, 3,083 operated with fewer than 1,000 employees.
13
Thus, under this size standard,
most firms in this industry can be considered small.
7. Local Exchange Carriers (LECs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a
size standard for small businesses specifically applicable to local exchange services. The closest
applicable NAICS code category is Wired Telecommunications Carriers as defined in paragraph 6 of this
FRFA. Under the applicable SBA size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer
employees.
14
According to Commission data, census data for 2012 shows that there were 3,117 firms that
operated that year. Of this total, 3,083 operated with fewer than 1,000 employees.
15
The Commission
therefore estimates that most providers of local exchange carrier service are small entities that may be
affected by the rules adopted.
8. Incumbent LECs. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business
size standard specifically for incumbent local exchange services. The closest applicable NAICS code
category is Wired Telecommunications Carriers as defined in paragraph 6 of this FRFA. Under that size
standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
16
According to Commission data,
3,117 firms operated in that year. Of this total, 3,083 operated with fewer than 1,000 employees.
17
Consequently, the Commission estimates that most providers of incumbent local exchange service are
small businesses that may be affected by the rules and policies adopted. Three hundred and seven (307)
9
15 U.S.C. § 632.
10
See SBA, Office of Advocacy, “Frequently Asked Questions,”
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/SB-FAQ-2016_WEB.pdf.
11
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch.
12
See 13 CFR § 120.201, NAICS code 517110.
13
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
14
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110.
15
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
16
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110.
17
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers reported that they were incumbent local exchange service
providers.
18
Of this total, an estimated 1,006 have 1,500 or fewer employees.
19
9. Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (Competitive LECs), Competitive Access Providers
(CAPs), Shared-Tenant Service Providers, and Other Local Service Providers. Neither the Commission
nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for these service providers. The
appropriate NAICS code category is Wired Telecommunications Carriers, as defined in paragraph 6 of
this FRFA. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
20
U.S.
Census data for 2012 indicate that 3,117 firms operated during that year. Of that number, 3,083 operated
with fewer than 1,000 employees.
21
Based on this data, the Commission concludes that most Competitive
LECS, CAPs, Shared-Tenant Service Providers, and Other Local Service Providers, are small entities.
According to Commission data, 1,442 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of either
competitive local exchange services or competitive access provider services.
22
Of these 1,442 carriers, an
estimated 1,256 have 1,500 or fewer employees.
23
In addition, 17 carriers have reported that they are
Shared-Tenant Service Providers, and all 17 are estimated to have 1,500 or fewer employees.
24
Also, 72
carriers have reported that they are Other Local Service Providers.
25
Of this total, 70 have 1,500 or fewer
employees.
26
Consequently, based on internally researched FCC data, 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.
10. Interexchange Carriers (IXCs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a
definition for Interexchange Carriers. The closest NAICS code category is Wired Telecommunications
Carriers as defined in paragraph 6 of this FRFA. The applicable size standard under SBA rules is that
such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
27
U.S. Census data for 2012 indicates that
3,117 firms operated during that year. Of that number, 3,083 operated with fewer than 1,000
employees.
28
According to internally developed Commission data, 359 companies reported that their
primary telecommunications service activity was the provision of interexchange services.
29
Of this total,
an estimated 317 have 1,500 or fewer employees.
30
Consequently, the Commission estimates that most
interexchange service providers are small entities that may be affected by the rules adopted.
11. Prepaid Calling Card Providers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a
18
See Trends in Telephone Service, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, Industry
Analysis and Technology Division at Table 5.3 (Sept. 2010) (Trends in Telephone Service).
19
Id.
20
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110.
21
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
22
See Trends in Telephone Service, at tbl. 5.3.
23
Id.
24
Id.
25
Id.
26
Id.
27
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110.
28
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
29
See Trends in Telephone Service, at tbl. 5.3.
30
Id.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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small business definition specifically for prepaid calling card providers. The most appropriate NAICS
code-based category for defining prepaid calling card providers is Telecommunications Resellers. This
industry comprises establishments engaged in purchasing access and network capacity from owners and
operators of telecommunications networks and reselling wired and wireless telecommunications services
(except satellite) to businesses and households. Establishments in this industry resell
telecommunications; they do not operate transmission facilities and infrastructure. Mobile virtual
networks operators (MVNOs) are included in this industry.
31
Under the applicable SBA size standard,
such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
32
U.S. Census data for 2012 show that 1,341
firms provided resale services during that year. Of that number, 1,341 operated with fewer than 1,000
employees.
33
Thus, under this category and the associated small business size standard, the majority of
these prepaid calling card providers can be considered small entities. According to Commission data, 193
carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of prepaid calling cards.
34
All 193 carriers
have 1,500 or fewer employees.
35
Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of prepaid
calling card providers are small entities that may be affected by the rules adopted.
12. Local Resellers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business
size standard specifically for 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.
36
Census data for 2012 show that 1,341 firms provided resale services during
that year. Of that number, 1,341 operated with fewer than 1,000 employees.
37
Under this category and
the associated small business size standard, the majority of these local resellers can be considered small
entities. According to Commission data, 213 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision
of local resale services.
38
Of this total, an estimated 211 have 1,500 or fewer employees.
39
Consequently,
the Commission estimates that the majority of local resellers are small entities that may be affected by the
rules adopted.
13. Toll Resellers. The Commission has not developed a definition for Toll Resellers. The
closest NAICS code Category is Telecommunications Resellers, and the SBA has developed a small
business size standard for the category of Telecommunications Resellers.
40
Under that size standard, such
a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
41
Census data for 2012 show that 1,341 firms
provided resale services during that year. Of that number, 1,341 operated with fewer than 1,000
employees.
42
Thus, under this category and the associated small business size standard, the majority of
31
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ssd/naics/naicsrch.
32
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517911.
33
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
34
See Trends in Telephone Service, at tbl. 5.3.
35
Id.
36
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517911.
37
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
38
See Trends in Telephone Service, at tbl. 5.3.
39
Id.
40
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517911.
41
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
42
Id.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
110
these resellers can be considered small entities. According to Commission data, 881 carriers have
reported that they are engaged in the provision of toll resale services.
43
Of this total, an estimated 857
have 1,500 or fewer employees.
44
Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of toll
resellers are small entities.
14. Other Toll Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition for
small businesses specifically applicable to Other Toll Carriers. This category includes toll carriers that do
not fall within the categories of interexchange carriers, operator service providers, prepaid calling card
providers, satellite service carriers, or toll resellers. The closest applicable NAICS code category is for
Wired Telecommunications Carriers as defined in paragraph 6 of this FRFA. Under the applicable SBA
size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
45
Census data for 2012 shows
that there were 3,117 firms that operated that year. Of this total, 3,083 operated with fewer than 1,000
employees.
46
Thus, under this category and the associated small business size standard, most Other Toll
Carriers can be considered small. According to internally developed Commission data, 284 companies
reported that their primary telecommunications service activity was the provision of other toll carriage.
47
Of these, an estimated 279 have 1,500 or fewer employees.
48
Consequently, the Commission estimates
that most Other Toll Carriers are small entities.
15. Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite). This industry comprises
establishments engaged in operating and maintaining switching and transmission facilities to provide
communications via the airwaves. Establishments in this industry have spectrum licenses and provide
services using that spectrum, such as cellular services, paging services, wireless internet access, and
wireless video services.
49
The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is that such a business is small
if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. For this industry, Census data for 2012 show that there were 967
firms that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 955 firms had fewer than 1,000 employees. Thus,
under this category and the associated size standard, the Commission estimates that the majority of
wireless telecommunications carriers (except satellite) are small entities. Similarly, according to
internally developed Commission data, 413 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of
wireless telephony, including cellular service, Personal Communications Service (PCS), and Specialized
Mobile Radio (SMR) services.
50
Of this total, an estimated 261 have 1,500 or fewer employees.
51
Thus,
using available data, we estimate that the majority of wireless firms can be considered small.
16. Television Broadcasting. This Economic Census category “comprises establishments
primarily engaged in broadcasting images together with sound. These establishments operate television
broadcasting studios and facilities for the programming and transmission of programs to the public.”
52
These establishments also produce or transmit visual programming to affiliated broadcast television
43
Trends in Telephone Service at tbl. 5.3.
44
Id.
45
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110.
46
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
47
Trends in Telephone Service at tbl. 5.3.
48
Id.
49
NAICS code 517210. See http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ssd/naics/naiscsrch.
50
Trends in Telephone Service at tbl. 5.3.
51
Id.
52
U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 NAICS code Economic Census Definitions, http://www.census.gov.cgi-
bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
111
stations, which in turn broadcast the programs to the public on a predetermined schedule. Programming
may originate in their own studio, from an affiliated network, or from external sources. The SBA has
created the following small business size standard for Television Broadcasting firms: those having $41.5
million or less in annual receipts.
53
The 2012 Economic Census reports that 751 television broadcasting
firms operated during that year. Of that number, 656 had annual receipts of less than $25 million per
year. Based on that Census data we conclude that most firms that operate television stations are small.
The Commission has estimated the number of licensed commercial television stations to be 1,387.
54
In
addition, according to Commission staff review of the BIA Advisory Services, LLC’s Media Access Pro
Television Database, on March 28, 2012, about 950 of an estimated 1,300 commercial television stations
(or approximately 73%) had revenues of $14 million or less.
55
We therefore estimate that the majority of
commercial television broadcasters are small entities.
17. In assessing whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above definition,
business (control) affiliations
56
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. 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 does not
exclude any television station from the definition of a small business on this basis and is therefore
possibly over-inclusive to that extent.
18. In addition, the Commission has estimated the number of licensed noncommercial
educational television stations to be 396.
57
These stations are non-profit, and therefore considered to be
small entities.
58
There are also 2,528 low power television stations, including Class A stations (LPTV).
59
Given the nature of these services, we will presume that all LPTV licensees qualify as small entities under
the above SBA small business size standard.
19. Radio Broadcasting. This Economic Census category “comprises establishments
primarily engaged in broadcasting aural programs by radio to the public. Programming may originate in
their own studio, from an affiliated network, or from external sources.”
60
The SBA has established a
small business size standard for this category, which is: such firms having $41.5 million or less in annual
receipts.
61
Census data for 2012 show that 2,849 radio station firms operated during that year. Of that
number, 2,806 operated with annual receipts of less than $25 million per year.
62
According to
53
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 515120.
54
See FCC News Release, “Broadcast Station Totals as of March 31, 2017,” April 11, 2017;
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-344256A1.pdf.
55
We recognize that BIA’s estimate differs slightly from the FCC total.
56
“[Business 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 § 21.103(a)(1).
57
See FCC News Release, “Broadcast Station Totals as of March 31, 2017,” April 11, 2017;
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-344256A1.pdf.
58
See generally 5 U.S.C. §§ 601(4), (6).
59
See FCC News Release, “Broadcast Station Totals as of March 31, 2017,” April 11, 2017;
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-344256A1.pdf.
60
https://www.census.gov.cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch.
61
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 515112.
62
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ5&prodType=table.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
112
Commission staff review of BIA Advisory Services, LLC’s Media Access Pro Radio Database, on March
28, 2012, about 10,759 (97%) of 11,102 commercial radio stations had revenues of $38.5 million or less.
Therefore, most such entities are small entities.
20. In assessing whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above size standard,
business affiliations must be included.
63
In addition, to be determined to be a “small business,” the entity
may not be dominant in its field of operation.
64
We note that it is difficult at times to assess these criteria
in the context of media entities, and our estimate of small businesses may therefore be over-inclusive.
21. Cable Television and Other Subscription Programming. This industry comprises
establishments primarily engaged in operating studios and facilities for the broadcasting of programs on a
subscription or fee basis. The broadcast programming is typically narrowcast in nature (e.g., limited
format, such as news, sports, education, or youth-oriented). These establishments produce programming
in their own facilities or acquire programming from external sources. The programming material is
usually delivered to a third party, such as cable systems or direct-to-home satellite systems, for
transmission to viewers.
65
The SBA has established a size standard for this industry of $41.5 million or
less. Census data for 2012 shows that there were 367 firms that operated that year. Of this total, 319
operated with annual receipts of less than $25 million.
66
Thus under this size standard, most firms
offering cable and other program distribution services can be considered small and may be affected by
rules adopted.
22. Cable Companies and Systems. The Commission has developed its own small business
size standards for the purpose of cable rate regulation. Under the Commission's rules, a “small cable
company” is one serving 400,000 or fewer subscribers nationwide.
67
The Commission’s industry data
indicate that there are currently 4,160 active cable systems in the United States.
68
Of this total, all but ten
cable operators nationwide are small under the 400,000-subscriber size standard.
69
In addition, under the
Commission's rate regulation rules, a “small system” is a cable system serving 15,000 or fewer
subscribers.
70
Current Commission records show 4,160 cable systems nationwide.
71
Thus, under this
standard as well, we estimate that most cable systems are small entities.
23. Cable System Operators (Telecom Act Standard). The Communications Act 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% of all subscribers in the United States and is
not affiliated with any entity or entities whose gross annual revenues in the aggregate exceed
63
“Concerns and entities are affiliates of each other when one controls or has the power to control the other, or a
third party or parties controls or has the power to control both. It does not matter whether control is exercised, so
long as the power to control exists.” 13 CFR § 121.103(a)(1) (an SBA regulation).
64
13 CFR § 121.102(b) (an SBA regulation).
65
https://www.census.gov.cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch.
66
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ECN_2012_US-
51SSSZ5&prodType=Table.
67
47 CFR § 76.901(e).
68
As of July 5, 2018, there were 4,160 active cable systems in the Commission’s Cable Operations and Licensing
Systems (COALS) database.
69
See https://www.snl.com/web/client?auth=inherit#industry/topCableMSOs (last visited July 18, 2017).
70
47 CFR § 76.901(c)
71
See footnote 2, supra.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
113
$250,000,000.”
72
There are approximately 53 million cable video subscribers in the United States today.
73
Accordingly, an operator serving fewer than 524,037 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.
74
Based on available data, we find that all but nine incumbent cable operators
are small entities under this size standard.
75
We note that the Commission neither requests nor collects
information on whether cable system operators are affiliated with entities whose gross annual revenues
exceed $250 million.
76
Although it seems certain that some of these cable system operators are affiliated
with entities whose gross annual revenues exceed $250 million, we are unable at this time to estimate
with greater precision the number of cable system operators that would qualify as small cable operators
under the definition in the Communications Act.
24. Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Service. DBS Service is a nationally distributed
subscription service that delivers video and audio programming via satellite to a small parabolic dish
antenna at the subscriber’s location. DBS is now included in SBA’s economic census category “Wired
Telecommunications Carriers.” The Wired Telecommunications Carriers industry comprises
establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or providing access to transmission facilities and
infrastructure that they own and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using
wired telecommunications networks. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or
combination of technologies. Establishments in this industry use the wired telecommunications network
facilities that they operate to provide a variety of services, such as wired telephony services, including
VoIP services, wired (cable) audio and video programming distribution; and wired broadband internet
services. By exception, establishments providing satellite television distribution services using facilities
and infrastructure that they operate are included in this industry.
77
The SBA determines that a wireline
business is small if it has fewer than 1500 employees.
78
Census data for 2012 indicate that 3,117 wireline
companies were operational during that year. Of that number, 3,083 operated with fewer than 1,000
employees.
79
Based on that data, we conclude that most wireline firms are small under the applicable
standard. However, currently only two entities provide DBS service, AT&T and DISH Network. AT&T
and DISH Network each report annual revenues that are in excess of the threshold for a small business.
Accordingly, we conclude that DBS service is provided only by large firms.
25. All Other Telecommunications. “All Other Telecommunications” is defined as follows:
This U.S. industry is comprised of establishments that are primarily engaged in providing specialized
telecommunications services, such as satellite tracking, communications telemetry, and radar station
operation. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in providing satellite terminal
stations and associated facilities connected with one or more terrestrial systems and capable of
transmitting telecommunications to, and receiving telecommunications from, satellite systems.
Establishments providing Internet services or voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-
72
47 CFR § 76.901 (f) and notes ff. 1, 2, and 3.
73
See NCTA Industry Data, Cable’s Customer Base, available at https://www.ncta.com/industry-data (last visited
July 6, 2017).
74
47 CFR § 76.901(f) and notes ff. 1, 2, and 3.
75
See https://www.snl.com/web/client?auth=inherit#industry/topCableMSOs (last visited July 18, 2018).
76
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 section 76.901(f)
of the Commission’s rules. See 47 CFR § 76.901(f).
77
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch.
78
NAICS code 517110; 13 CFR § 121.201.
79
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices.jasf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid+ECN_2012_US.51SSSZ4&prodType=table.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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supplied telecommunications connections are also included in this industry.
80
The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for “All Other Telecommunications,” which consists of all such firms with
gross annual receipts of $35 million or less.
81
For this category, census data for 2012 show that there
were 1,442 firms that operated for the entire year. Of these firms, a total of 1,400 had gross annual
receipts of less than $25 million.
82
Thus, most “All Other Telecommunications” firms potentially affected
by the rules adopted can be considered small.
26. RespOrgs. RespOrgs, i.e., Responsible Organizations, are entities chosen by toll-free
subscribers to manage and administer the appropriate records in the toll-free Service Management System
for the toll-free subscriber.
83
Although RespOrgs are often wireline carriers, they can also include non-
carrier entities. Therefore, in the definition herein of RespOrgs, two categories are presented, i.e., Carrier
RespOrgs and Non-Carrier RespOrgs.
27. Carrier RespOrgs. Neither the Commission, the U.S. Census, nor the SBA have
developed a definition for Carrier RespOrgs. Accordingly, the Commission believes that the closest
NAICS code-based definitional categories for Carrier RespOrgs are Wired Telecommunications Carriers
84
and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except satellite).
85
28. The U.S. Census Bureau defines Wired Telecommunications Carriers as establishments
primarily engaged in operating and/or providing access to transmission facilities and infrastructure that
they own and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using wired
communications networks. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a combination
of technologies. Establishments in this industry use the wired telecommunications network facilities that
they operate to provide a variety of services, such as wired telephony services, including VoIP services,
wired (cable) audio and video programming distribution, and wired broadband internet services. By
exception, establishments providing satellite television distribution services using facilities and
infrastructure that they operate are included in this industry.
86
The SBA has developed a small business
size standard for Wired Telecommunications Carriers, which consists of all such companies having 1,500
or fewer employees.
87
Census data for 2012 show that there were 3,117 Wired Telecommunications
Carrier firms that operated for that entire year. Of that number, 3,083 operated with less than 1,000
employees.
88
Based on that data, we conclude that most Carrier RespOrgs that operated with wireline-
based technology are small.
29. The U.S. Census Bureau defines Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except satellite)
as establishments engaged in operating and maintaining switching and transmission facilities to provide
communications via the airwaves, such as cellular services, paging services, wireless internet access, and
wireless video services.
89
The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is that such a business is small
80
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ssssd/naics/naicsrch.
81
13 CFR § 121.201; NAICS code 517919.
82
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ4&prodType=table.
83
See 47 CFR § 52.101(b)
84
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517110
85
13 CFR § 121.201, NAICS code 517210.
86
http://www.census,gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics.naicsrch.
87
13 CFR § 120,201, NAICS code 517110.
88
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ4&prodType=table.
89
http://www.census,gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics.naicsrch.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
90
Census data for 2012 show that 967 Wireless Telecommunications
Carriers operated in that year. Of that number, 955 operated with less than 1,000 employees.
91
Based on
that data, we conclude that most Carrier RespOrgs that operated with wireless-based technology are
small.
30. Non-Carrier RespOrgs. Neither the Commission, the Census, nor the SBA have
developed a definition of Non-Carrier RespOrgs. Accordingly, the Commission believes that the closest
NAICS code-based definitional categories for Non-Carrier RespOrgs are “Other Services Related To
Advertising”
92
and “Other Management Consulting Services.”
93
31. The U.S. Census defines Other Services Related to Advertising as comprising
establishments primarily engaged in providing advertising services (except advertising agency services,
public relations agency services, media buying agency services, media representative services, display
advertising services, direct mail advertising services, advertising material distribution services, and
marketing consulting services.
94
The SBA has established a size standard for this industry as annual
receipts of $15 million dollars or less.
95
Census data for 2012 show that 5,804 firms operated in this
industry for the entire year. Of that number, 5,249 operated with annual receipts of less than $10
million.
96
Based on that data we conclude that most Non-Carrier RespOrgs who provide TFN-related
advertising services are small.
32. The U.S. Census defines Other Management Consulting Services as establishments
primarily engaged in providing management consulting services (except administrative and general
management consulting; human resources consulting; marketing consulting; or process, physical
distribution, and logistics consulting). Establishments providing telecommunications or utilities
management consulting services are included in this industry.
97
The SBA has established a size standard
for this industry of $15 million dollars or less.
98
Census data for 2012 show that 3,683 firms operated in
this industry for that entire year. Of that number, 3,632 operated with less than $10 million in annual
receipts.
99
Based on this data, we conclude that most non-carrier RespOrgs who provide TFN-related
management consulting services are small.
100
33. In addition to the data contained in the four (see above) U.S. Census NAICS code
categories that provide definitions of what services and functions the Carrier and Non-Carrier RespOrgs
90
13 CFR § 120.201, NAICS code 517120.
91
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ4&prodType=table.
92
13 CFR § 120.201, NAICS code 541890.
93
13 CFR § 120.201, NAICS code 541618.
94
http://www.census,gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics.naicsrch.
95
13 CFR § 120.201, NAICS code 541890.
96
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ4&prodType=table.
97
http://www.census,gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics.naicsrch.
98
13 CFR § 120.201, NAICS code 514618.
99
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?
pid=ECN_2012_US_51SSSZ4&prodType=table.
100
The four NAICS code-based categories selected above to provide definitions for Carrier and Non-Carrier
RespOrgs were selected because as a group they refer generically and comprehensively to all RespOrgs. Therefore,
all RespOrgs, including those not identified specifically or individually, must comply with the rules adopted in the
Regulatory Fees Report and Order associated with this Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis.
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
116
provide, Somos, the trade association that monitors RespOrg activities, compiled data showing that as of
July 1, 2016, there were 23 RespOrgs operational in Canada and 436 RespOrgs operational in the United
States, for a total of 459 RespOrgs currently registered with Somos.
101
E. E. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance
Requirements
34. This Report and Order does not adopt any new reporting, recordkeeping, or other
compliance requirements.
F. F. Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities and
Significant Alternatives Considered
35. The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant alternatives that it has considered
in reaching its approach, which may include the following four alternatives, among others: (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.
102
36. This Report and Order adopts the proposals in the Notice to collect $339,000,000 in
regulatory fees for FY 2020, as detailed in the fee schedules in Appendix C, including the following: (i)
An increase in the DBS fee rate to 72 cents per subscriber, per year, based on the Media Bureau FTEs
devoted to issues that include DBS. The two DBS providers, AT&T and DISH are not small entities. (ii)
The implementation of the new methodology for calculating the full power broadcast television
regulatory fees based on the actual population, which the Commission initially adopted in FY 2018 and
was transitioning in over two years. Basing the fee on actual population should offer relief to smaller
broadcasters, which may include small entities. (iii) An exemption from regulatory fees for non-U.S.
licensed space stations that are listed as a point of communication on earth stations onboard vessels (ESV)
licenses if the ESV license clearly limits U.S. licensed ESV terminals’ access to these non-U.S. licensed
space stations to situations in which these terminals are in foreign territories and/or international waters
and the license does not otherwise allow the non-U.S. licensed space station access to the U.S. market.
This exemption could benefit non-U.S. licensed space stations that are small entities. (iv) The revision of
the allocation of IBC fees between submarine cable and terrestrial and satellite IBCs from 87.6%-12.4%
to 95%-5%. Any terrestrial or satellite operator with IBCs will benefit. (v) The Report and Order notes
that the Media Bureau has granted waivers to allow VHF stations that demonstrate signal disruptions to
exceed the maximum power level specified for channels 2-6 in 73.622(f)(6) and for channels 7-13 in
73.622(f)(7) and, accordingly, will assess the regulatory fees for those VHF stations that are licensed with
a power level that exceeds the maximum based on the maximum power level specified for channels 2-6 in
73.622(f)(6) and for channels 7-13 in 73.622(f)(7). To the extent that VHF stations in these
circumstances are small entities, this could provide regulatory fee relief. (vi) The adopts two targeted
measures to provide relief to Puerto Rico broadcasters. First, we account for the objectively measurable
reduction in population by reducing the population counts used in TVStudy by 16.9%, which reflects the
decline between the last census in 2010 and the current population estimate. Second, we limit the market
served by a primary television stations and commonly owned satellite broadcast stations in Puerto Rico to
no more than 3.10 million people, the latest population estimate. Thus, the fee for television broadcasters
and commonly owned satellites, using the proposed population fee of $.007837, would not exceed
$24,300. (vii) The Order adopts streamlined processes for fee payors that have experienced financial
hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic to seek relief and will provide for lowered interest charges
on installment payment plans. This could benefit small businesses that experienced financial hardship
due to the Covid-190 pandemic.
101
Email from Jennifer Blanchard, Somos, July 1, 2016.
102
5 U.S.C. § 603(c)(1)–(c)(4).
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
117
37. In keeping with the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, we have considered
certain alternative means of mitigating the effects of fee increases to a particular industry segment. For
example, the de minimis threshold is $1,000, which will impact many small entities that pay regulatory
fees. This de minimis threshold will relieve regulatees both financially and administratively. Regulatees
may also seek waivers or other relief on the basis of financial hardship. See 47 CFR §1.1166.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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APPENDIX J
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
1. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA),
1
the
Commission prepared this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant
economic impact on small entities by the policies and rules proposed in the Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (Further Notice). Written comments are requested on this IRFA. Comments must be
identified as responses to the IRFA and must be filed by the deadline for comments on this Further
Notice. The Commission will send a copy of the Notice, including the IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
2
In addition, the Further Notice and IRFA (or
summaries thereof) will be published in the Federal Register.
3
G. Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules
2. The Further Notice seeks comment on a regulatory fee issue raised by commenters for
fiscal year (FY) 2021. In the Further Notice, the Commission seeks comment on four proposals to
differentiate regulatory fees for different types of nongeostationary orbit satellite (NGSO) systems. The
Commission seeks comment on a proposed formula to determine NGSO regulatory fees: x (number of
operating satellites) multiplied by y (total transmit bandwidth) = index value. The Commission also seeks
comment on separating large and small NGSO systems into different categories, based on the number of
satellites in each system. In addition, the Commission seeks comment on a proposal to divide NGSO
systems into categories: fixed-satellite service (FSS); mobile-satellite service (MSS); and remote sensing,
Earth-exploration satellite service (EESS), and other NGSO systems. Finally, the Commission seeks
comment on assessing a nominal fee for NGSO systems with five or fewer U.S. licensed earth stations for
telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) and non-domestic data downlink purposes, on a per earth
station basis at the same rate as earth station licenses. The Commission seeks comment on these four
proposals for different regulatory fee categories of NGSO systems for FY 2021.
H. Legal Basis
3. This action, including publication of proposed rules, is authorized under sections (4)(i)
and (j), 159, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
4
I. 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, if adopted.
5
The
RFA generally defines the term “small entity” as having the same meaning as the terms “small business,”
“small organization,” and “small governmental jurisdiction.”
6
In addition, the term “small business” has
the same meaning as the term “small business concern” under the Small Business Act.
7
A “small
1
5 U.S.C. § 603. The RFA, 5 U.S.C. §§ 601-612 has been amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Pub. L. No. 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 847 (1996).
2
5 U.S.C. § 603(a).
3
Id.
4
47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i) and (j), 159, and 303(r).
5
5 U.S.C. § 603(b)(3).
6
5 U.S.C. § 601(6).
7
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
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
119
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.
8
5. Small Businesses, Small Organizations, Small Governmental Jurisdictions. Our actions,
over time, may affect small entities that are not easily categorized at present. We therefore describe here,
at the outset, three broad groups of small entities that could be directly affected herein.
9
First, while there
are industry specific size standards for small businesses that are used in the regulatory flexibility analysis,
according to data from the SBA’s Office of Advocacy, in general a small business is an independent
business having fewer than 500 employees.
10
These types of small businesses represent 99.9% of all
businesses in the United States which translates to 28.8 million businesses.
11
6. Next, the type of small entity described as a “small organization” is generally “any not-
for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field.”
12
Nationwide, as of August 2016, there were approximately 356,494 small organizations based on
registration and tax data filed by nonprofits with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
13
7. Finally, the small entity described as a “small governmental jurisdiction” is defined
generally as “governments of cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special
districts, with a population of less than fifty thousand.”
14
U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2012 Census
of Governments
15
indicate that there were 90,056 local governmental jurisdictions consisting of general
purpose governments and special purpose governments in the United States.
16
Of this number there were
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.”
8
15 U.S.C. § 632.
9
See 5 U.S.C. § 601(3)-(6).
10
See SBA, Office of Advocacy, “Frequently Asked Questions, Question 1 – What is a small business?”
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/SB-FAQ-2016_WEB.pdf (June 2016).
11
See SBA, Office of Advocacy, “Frequently Asked Questions, Question 2- How many small businesses are there in
the U.S.?” https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/SB-FAQ-2016_WEB.pdf (June 2016).
12
5 U.S.C. § 601(4).
13
Data from the Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) reporting on nonprofit
organizations registered with the IRS was used to estimate the number of small organizations. Reports generated
using the NCCS online database indicated that as of August 2016 there were 356,494 registered nonprofits with total
revenues of less than $100,000. Of this number, 326,897 entities filed tax returns with 65,113 registered nonprofits
reporting total revenues of $50,000 or less on the IRS Form 990-N for Small Exempt Organizations and 261,784
nonprofits reporting total revenues of $100,000 or less on some other version of the IRS Form 990 within 24 months
of the August 2016 data release date. See http://nccs.urban.org/sites/all/nccs-archive/html//tablewiz/tw.php where
the report showing this data can be generated by selecting the following data fields: Report: “The Number and
Finances of All Registered 501(c) Nonprofits”; Show: “Registered Nonprofits”; By: “Total Revenue Level (years
1995, Aug to 2016, Aug)”; and For: “2016, Aug” then selecting “Show Results.”
14
5 U.S.C. § 601(5).
15
See 13 U.S.C. § 161. The Census of Government is conducted every five (5) years compiling data for years
ending with “2” and “7”. See also Program Description Census of Government
https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/affhelp/jsf/pages/metadata.xhtml?lang=en&type=program&id=program.en.COG#
16
See U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments, Local Governments by Type and State: 2012 - United
States-States, https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG02.US01. Local governmental
jurisdictions are classified in two categories - General purpose governments (county, municipal and town or
township) and Special purpose governments (special districts and independent school districts).
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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37, 132 General purpose governments (county
17
, municipal and town or township
18
) with populations of
less than 50,000 and 12,184 Special purpose governments (independent school districts
19
and special
districts
20
) with populations of less than 50,000. The 2012 U.S. Census Bureau data for most types of
governments in the local government category show that the majority of these governments have
populations of less than 50,000.
21
Based on this data we estimate that at least 49,316 local government
jurisdictions fall in the category of “small governmental jurisdictions.”
22
Governmental entities are,
however, exempt from application fees.
23
8. All Other Telecommunications. “All Other Telecommunications” is defined as follows:
This U.S. industry is comprised of establishments that are primarily engaged in providing specialized
telecommunications services, such as satellite tracking, communications telemetry, and radar station
operation. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in providing satellite terminal
stations and associated facilities connected with one or more terrestrial systems and capable of
transmitting telecommunications to, and receiving telecommunications from, satellite systems.
Establishments providing Internet services or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services via client-
supplied telecommunications connections are also included in this industry.
24
The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for “All Other Telecommunications,” which consists of all such firms with
gross annual receipts of $35 million or less.
25
For this category, census data for 2012 show that there
were 1,442 firms that operated for the entire year. Of these firms, a total of 1,400 had gross annual
receipts of less than $25 million.
26
Thus, a majority of “All Other Telecommunications” firms potentially
affected by the proposals in the Further Notice can be considered small.
17
See U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments, County Governments by Population-Size Group and
State: 2012 - United States-States. https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG06.US01. There
were 2,114 county governments with populations less than 50,000.
18
See U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments, Subcounty General-Purpose Governments by Population-
Size Group and State: 2012 - United States – States.
https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG07.US01. There were 18,811 municipal and 16,207
town and township governments with populations less than 50,000.
19
See U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments, Elementary and Secondary School Systems by
Enrollment-Size Group and State: 2012 - United States-States.
https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG11.US01. There were 12,184 independent school
districts with enrollment populations less than 50,000.
20
See U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments, Special District Governments by Function and State:
2012 - United States-States. https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG09.US01. The U.S.
Census Bureau data did not provide a population breakout for special district governments.
21
See U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments, County Governments by Population-Size Group and
State: 2012 - United States-States - https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG06.US01;
Subcounty General-Purpose Governments by Population-Size Group and State: 2012 - United States–States -
https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG07.US01; and Elementary and Secondary School
Systems by Enrollment-Size Group and State: 2012 - United States-States.
https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/COG/2012/ORG11.US01. While U.S. Census Bureau data did not
provide a population breakout for special district governments, if the population of less than 50,000 for this category
of local government is consistent with the other types of local governments the majority of the 38, 266 special
district governments have populations of less than 50,000.
22
Id.
23
47 U.S.C. § 158(d)(1)(A).
24
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ssssd/naics/naicsrch.
25
13 CFR § 121.201; NAICs code 517919.
26
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices.jasf/pages/productview.xhtml?
(continued….)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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J. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance
Requirements for Small Entities
9. This Further Notice does not propose any changes to the Commission’s current
information collection, reporting, recordkeeping, or compliance requirements.
K. Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities, and
Significant Alternatives Considered
10. The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant alternatives that it has considered
in reaching its approach, which may include the following four alternatives, among others: (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.
27
11. The Further Notice seeks comment on four proposals for NGSO regulatory fee categories
for FY 2021. The Commission will release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for all regulatory fees for
fiscal year 2021; the Further Notice will give parties an opportunity to file comments on this issue prior to
the annual Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. If any of these proposals are adopted, it may reduce the
regulatory fee burden on some satellite entities. In addition, the section 9(e)(2) annual regulatory fee
exemption of $1,000 will reduce burdens on small entities with annual regulatory fees that total $1,000 or
less.
L. Federal Rules that May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict with the Proposed Rules
12. None.
pid+ECN_2012_US.51SSSZ4&prodType=table.
27
5 U.S.C. § 603(c)(1)–(c)(4).
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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APPENDIX K
Rule Changes
Part 1 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended to read as follows:
PART 1 – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 155, 157, 160, 201, 225, 227, 303, 309, 332, 1403, 1404, 1451,
1452, and 1455; Sec. 102(c), Div. P, Pub. L. 115-141, 132 Stat. 1084, unless otherwise noted.
1. Section 1.1151 of the Commission’s rules is revised to read as follows:
§1.1151 Authority to prescribe and collect regulatory fees.
Authority to impose and collect regulatory fees is contained in section 9 of the Communications Act, as
amended by sections 101-103 of title I of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (Pub. L 115-141,
132 Stat. 1084), 47 U.S.C. 159, which directs the Commission to prescribe and collect annual regulatory
fees to recover the cost of carrying out the functions of the Commission.
2. Section 1.1152 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.1152 Schedule of annual regulatory fees for wireless radio services.
Exclusive use services (per license) Fee Amount
28
1. Land Mobile (Above 470
MHz and 220 MHz Local,
Base Station & SMRS)
(47 CFR part 90)
a)New, Renew/Mod $25.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
b) New, Renew/Mod $25.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
c)Renewal Only $25.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $25.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
28
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. Also, application fees may apply as detailed in §
1.1102 of this chapter.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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220 MHz Nationwide $25.00
a)New, Renew/Mod
(FCC 601 & 159)
b)New, Renew/Mod $25.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
c)Renewal Only $25.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $25.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
2. Microwave (47 CFR Pt. 101) (Private)
a)New, Renew/Mod $25.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
b)New, Renew/Mod $25.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
c)Renewal Only $25.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $25.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
3. Shared Use Services
Land Mobile (Frequencies
Below 470 MHz – except
220 MHz)
a)New, Renew/Mod $10.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
b) New, Renew/Mod $10.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
c)Renewal Only $10.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $10.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
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Rural Radio (Part 22)
a)New, Additional Facility, $10.00
Major Renew/Mod
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
b)Renewal, Minor Renew/Mod $10.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
Marine Coast
a)New Renewal/Mod $40.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
b)New, Renewal/Mod $40.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
c)Renewal Only $40.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $40.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
Aviation Ground
a)New, Renewal/Mod $20.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
b)New, Renewal/Mod $20.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 601 & 159)
c)Renewal Only $20.00
(FCC 601 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $20.00
(Electronic Only)
(FCC 601 & 159)
Marine Ship
a)New, Renewal/Mod $15.00
(FCC 605 & 159)
b)New, Renewal/Mod $15.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 605 & 159)
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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c)Renewal Only $15.00
(FCC 605 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $15.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 605 & 159)
Aviation Aircraft
a)New, Renew/Mod $10.00
(FCC 605 & 159)
b)New, Renew/Mod $10.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 605 & 159)
c)Renewal Only $10.00
(FCC 605 & 159)
d)Renewal Only $10.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC 605 & 159)
4. CMRS Cellular/Mobile Services $ .17
29
(per unit)
(FCC 159)
5. CMRS Messaging Services $ .08
30
(per unit)
(FCC 159)
6. Broadband Radio Service $ 560
(formerly MMDS and MDS)
7. Local Multipoint Distribution Service $ 560
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
1. AM Class A
29
These are standard fees that are to be paid in accordance with § 1.1157(b) of this chapter.
30
These are standard fees that are to be paid in accordance with § 1.1157(b) of this chapter.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-120
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<=25,000 population $975
25,001-75,000 population $1,475
75,001-150,000 population $2,200
150,001-500,000 population $3,300
500,001-1,200,000 population $4,925
1,200,001-3,000,000 population $7,400
3,000,001-6,000,000 population $11,100
>6,000,000 population $16,675
2. AM Class B
<=25,000 population $700
25,001-75,000 population $1,050
75,001-150,000 population $1,575
150,001-500,000 population $2,375
500,001-1,200,000 population $3,550
1,200,001-3,000,000 population $5,325
3,000,001-6,000,000 population $7,975
>6,000,000 population $11,975
3. AM Class C
<=25,000 population $610
25,001-75,000 population $915
75,001-150,000 population $1,375
150,001-500,000 population $2,050
500,001-1,200,000 population $3,075
1,200,001-3,000,000 population $4,625
3,000,001-6,000,000 population $6,950
>6,000,000 population $10,425
4. AM Class D
<=25,000 population $670
25,001-75,000 population $1,000
75,001-150,000 population $1,500
150,001-500,000 population $2,275
500,001-1,200,000 population $3,400
1,200,001-3,000,000 population $5,100
3,000,001-6,000,000 population $7,625
>6,000,000 population $11,450
5. AM Construction Permit $610
6. FM Classes A, B1 and C3
<=25,000 population $1,075
25,001-75,000 population $1,625
75,001-150,000 population $2,425
150,001-500,000 population $3,625
500,001-1,200,000 population $5,450
1,200,001-3,000,000 population $8,175
3,000,001-6,000,000 population $12,250
>6,000,000 population $18,375
7. FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 and C2
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<=25,000 population $1,225
25,001-75,000 population $1,850
75,001-150,000 population $2,750
150,001-500,000 population $4,150
500,001-1,200,000 population $6,200
1,200,001-3,000,000 population $9,300
3,000,001-6,000,000 population $13,950
>6,000,000 population $20,925
8. FM Construction Permits $1,075
TV (47 CFR, part 73)
Digital TV (UHF and VHF Commercial Stations)
1. Digital TV Construction Permits $4,950
2. Television Fee Factor $.007837 per population count
Low Power TV, Class A TV, TV/FM $ 315
Translator, & TV/FM Booster
(47 CFR part 74)
4. Section 1.1154 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.1154 Schedule of annual regulatory charges for common carrier services.
Radio Facilities Fee Amount
1. Microwave (Domestic Public Fixed) $25.00
(Electronic Filing)
(FCC Form 601 & 159)
Carriers
1. Interstate Telephone Service Providers $ .00321
(per interstate and international end-user
revenues (see FCC Form 499-A)
2. Toll Free Number Fee $.12 per Toll Free Number
5. Section 1.1155 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.1155 Schedule of regulatory fees for cable television services.
Fee Amount
1. Cable Television Relay Service $1,300
2. Cable TV System, Including IPTV $ .89
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(per subscriber)
3. Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) $.72 per subscriber
6. Section 1.1156 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.1156 Schedule of regulatory fees for international services.
a. The following schedule applies for the listed services:
Fee Categor
y
Fee Amoun
t
Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit)
$98,125
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)
$223,500
Earth Stations: Transmit/Receive & Transmit only (per
authorizatio
n
or registration)
$560
b. International Terrestrial and Satellite. Regulatory fees for International Bearer Circuits are to be
paid by facilities-based common carriers that have active (used or leased) international bearer circuits as
of December 31 of the prior year in any terrestrial or satellite 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 terrestrial and 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. “Active circuits” for these purposes include backup and redundant circuits. In addition, whether
circuits are used specifically for voice or data is not relevant in determining that they are active circuits.
The fee amount, per active Gbps circuit will be determined for each fiscal year.
International Terrestrial and Satellite (capacity as of
December 31, 2019)
Fee Amount
Terrestrial Common Carrier and Non Common Carrier
Satellite Common Carrier and Non-Common Carrier
$41 per Gbps
circuit
c. Submarine cable: Regulatory fees for submarine cable systems will be paid annually, per cable
landing license, for all submarine cable systems operating as of December 31 of the prior year. The fee
amount will be determined by the Commission for each fiscal year.
FY 2020 International Bearer Circuits - Submarine Cable Systems
Submarine Cable Systems
(capacity as of December 31, 2019)
Fee Ratio
FY 2020 Regulatory Fees
Less than 50 Gbps
.0625 Units
$13,450
50 Gbps or greater, but less than 250
Gbps
.125 Units
$26,875
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250 Gbps or greater, but less than
1,500 Gbps
.25 Units
$53,750
1,500 Gbps or greater, but less than
3,500 Gbps
.5 Units
$107,500
3,500 Gbps or greater, but less than
6,500 Gbps
1.0 Unit
$215,000
6,500 Gbps or greater
2.0 Units
$430,000
