FCC Raises Prices on Getting Caught Breaking Rules
Published Date: 1/15/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting January 15, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission is raising its fines to keep up with inflation. This means anyone who breaks FCC rules could face bigger penalties, even for past violations. These yearly updates help keep fines fair and strong enough to stop rule-breakers in their tracks.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 10 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher fines for broadcasters and cable operators
If you are a broadcast station licensee, permittee, cable television operator, or applicant, forfeitures now can be up to $62,829 for each violation or day, with a continuing-violation cap of $628,305. If the Commission finds obscene, indecent, or profane broadcasts, the per-violation cap is up to $508,373 and continuing-violation caps can reach $4,692,668.
Higher penalties for common carriers
If you are a common carrier or an applicant for a common carrier authorization, forfeitures now can be up to $251,322 for each violation or day, with a continuing-violation cap of $2,513,215 for a single act or failure to act.
Higher fines for manufacturers and service providers (accessibility)
Manufacturers or service providers subject to sections 255, 716, or 718 of the Communications Act face penalties up to $144,329 per violation or day, with continuing-violation caps up to $1,443,275 for a single act or failure to act.
Large penalties for Do-Not-Call registry misuse
If you disclose a telephone number from the public safety Do-Not-Call registry without authorization, penalties are not less than $135,161 per incident and can be as much as $1,351,606 per incident depending on negligence or willfulness and prior offenses. If you use automatic dialing equipment to contact such numbers, the penalty ranges from $13,516 per call up to $135,161 per call depending on culpability and repeat offenses.
Adjusted penalties for caller ID and robocall rules
Violations of caller identification rules under section 227(e) can result in penalties of $14,432 per violation and up to $43,296 per day for continuing violations, with an overall cap up to $1,443,275 for a single act or failure to act. Certain 227(b) robocall-related forfeitures are also adjusted and can include a base of $62,829 plus additional penalties up to $12,266 in specified circumstances.
Very large fines for pirate radio broadcasting
If you engage in pirate radio broadcasting, maximum fines are up to $2,453,218, and violations can also carry penalties up to $122,661 for each day the offense occurs.
Annual inflation increase to FCC fines
Starting January 15, 2025, the FCC increases its civil monetary penalties annually for inflation. The adjustment for 2025 uses a factor of 1.02598 (based on October 2024 vs October 2023 CPI-U) and applies to penalties assessed on or after January 15, 2025, including penalties for violations that happened before that date.
Penalty for failing to block illegal robocalls
If you fail to block illegal robocalls under Sec. 64.6305(g) and 64.1200(n), you can be liable for a forfeiture of up to $25,132 for each violation, assessed on a per-call basis.
Default penalty amounts for other violations raised
For any case not covered specifically in other paragraphs, the adjusted maximum forfeiture is up to $25,132 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation, with a continuing-violation cap of $188,491 for any single act or failure to act.
Misrepresentation base forfeiture is statutory maximum
The Order re-codifies a footnote stating that the base forfeiture amount for "misrepresentation/lack of candor" is the statutory maximum. That footnote is effective immediately upon publication.
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