FCC Proposes Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2022

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, June 3, 2022

Federal Communications Commission

The FCC has proposed regulatory fee rates for 2022 of $381.95 million, which includes a whopping 13% increase for radio stations over the last fiscal year. The Commission says these regulatory fees cover direct costs, such as salaries and expenses; indirect costs, such as overhead functions; statutorily required tasks that do not directly equate with oversight and regulation of a particular regulate but instead benefit the Commission and the industry as a whole; and support costs such as rent, utilities and equipment.

The Commission estimates that as of September, 2021, there were 4,519 licensed commercial AM radio stations, 6,682 licensed commercial FM radio stations and 4,211 licensed noncommercial (NCE) FM radio stations -- most of which qualify as small entities under the above SBA small business size standard.

Here is the fee schedule for the fiscal year 2022:

NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement, "The FCC's regulatory fee proposal subjects local radio broadcasters to a staggering 13% fee increase from last fiscal year. Unfortunately, the Commission continues to unlawfully require broadcasters to subsidize the Commission's broadband activities. For these local stations that are still recovering from the pandemic and face unique economic challenges in today's media landscape, such an unjustified increase is devastating and risks undermining the unique locally-focused service that our communities rely upon. NAB stands ready and willing to work with the Commission to ensure a fair and lawful payment regime."