FCC Seeks Comment on 2016 Regulatory Fees
The FCC is seeking comment on its proposed 2016 regulatory fees, including an increase for direct broadcast satellite from 12 cents per subscriber per year to 27 cents, said a commissioner-approved NPRM issued Thursday. The proposed fees also include a…
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new higher population row in the table for AM and FM broadcasters, “to divide broadcasters that serve 3,000,001-6,000,000 from those that have a higher population coverage,” the NPRM said. “We now tentatively conclude adopting these proposals will make the regulatory fees for AM and FM radio more rational.” The NPRM also tentatively concludes that the top-10 market TV stations should pay “about twice” what stations in markets 26 to 50 pay. The NPRM doesn't complicate any changes to TV regulatory fees based on the incentive auction because it's still too early to determine the auction's effects. “We intend to consider any changed circumstances due to the incentive auction as part of the FY 2017 regulatory fee proceeding,” the NPRM said. The FCC proposes to collect $384 million in regulatory fees in 2016. Comments are due June 20, replies July 5.