The FCC has let the cat loose posting the 2026 Regulatory Fee schedules and has opened the 2026 Regulatory Fee Information Site. Regulatory fees must be paid for initial construction permits that were granted on or before October 1, 2025 for AM/FM radio stations, full-power 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, 2025
First: The fees due date is no later than September 24, 2026, at 11:59 pm Eastern time;
Second: The full Report and Order to include a fee table is available at: FCC-26-59A1;
Third: To look up your particular station’s fees, it’s very easy to use the Fee Information Lookup Wizard at FCC Regulatory Fees. You can search by Facility ID Number or by Call Sign;
Fourth: The de minimis exemption threshold remains at $1,000 determined on an entity basis;
Fifth: There is a flat fee for FM Boosters and Translators: $255.
Important to remember: the regulatory fees are based on the October 1, 2025 “snapshot”. However, the licensee of the facility at the time that the fee is due is the party responsible for making payment. If you were the licensee at the October 1, 2025, snapshot, but you sold (and consummated) your facility during the fiscal year, the entity that purchased your facility and who is the licensee on September 24, 2026, is the party responsible for making the payment. Make sure you do not get caught in the transition otherwise you could possibly be making a payment you should not and/or the entity that should be making the payment might not, and you could get caught in a non-payment situation not of your doing yet get hit with a Red Flag fee and Treasury collections action.
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