FCC Regulatory Fees Due September 25th

The FCC has released its FY 2025 Regulatory Fee Order. Regulatory fee payments must be received by the Commission no later than 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time, on September 25, 2025.

Radio stations can expect about a 2.5% to 3% decline in fees.  Here is the fee chart for radio:

Television station fees are based on population coverage.  The FCC lists each full service TV station by call letter.  The list can be found in Appendix F on page 52 of the FCCs report and order. (see link below)

Use Commission Registration System (CORES): To increase efficiency, the Commission is using an all-electronic payment system for regulatory fees, which is contained within the Commission's Registration System (CORES). Before using CORES for the first time, you must obtain an FCC Username through the FCC User Registration System, and subsequently use it to access CORES and either register an FCC Registration Number (FRN) or associate an existing FRN to your Username. If you are unable to register electronically, you may fax your application for a Registration Number (FCC Form 160) to the CORES Helpdesk at (202) 418-7869 for filing procedures. 

Credit Card Transaction Levels:  The total daily credit card transactions processed from a single customer can be no more than $24,999.99 (hereinafter the “Maximum Daily Limit”) and the total monthly transactions processed from a single customer (based on a rolling 30-day period) can be no more than $100,000.00 (hereinafter the “Maximum Monthly Limit”). Transactions greater than the Maximum Limits will be rejected. If a customer initiates multiple transactions on the same day with the same credit card, those transactions causing the total charge to exceed the Maximum Limits will also be rejected. This applies to single payments or bundled payments of more than one bill.

Payment Methods: During the fee season for collecting regulatory fees, regulatees can pay their fees by credit card through Pay.gov, ACH, debit card, or by wire transfer. Additional payment instructions are posted on the Commission’s website here.  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.

Media Services: Regulatory fees must be paid for initial construction permits that were granted on or before October 1, 2024 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, 2024.

You can access the Media Fact sheet covering all issues relating to media facilities regulatory fees here.

A fact sheet covering Payment Methods and Procedures can be found here.

A Public Notice dealing with the procedures for waiver requests can be found here.

A Public Notice concerning exemptions can be found here.

You can access the Regulatory Fee order here, which includes the fee table for TV station in appendix F,  here.

You can access the Public Notice setting the September 25 date here.