FCC Fees Under Review: Broadcasters, Brace for Tweaks
Published Date: 5/8/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FCC is reviewing and proposing changes to the fees that companies pay for using communication services in 2026. This affects broadcasters, satellite operators, and other service providers who might see fee adjustments soon. Comments on these changes are open until May 28, 2026, so stakeholders have a chance to weigh in before final decisions.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
FCC Will Collect $416.112M in FY2026 Fees
The FCC proposes to assess and collect $416,112,000 in regulatory fees for Fiscal Year 2026, which equals the agency's FY2026 salaries and expenses appropriation. That total must be recovered from regulated companies through the FY2026 regulatory fee schedule.
Fee Shares Shift Among FCC Bureaus
The FCC proposes reallocating 59 FTEs as direct to core licensing bureaus for FY2026, which changes how the $416,112,000 is apportioned. Under the proposal, amounts allocated would be approximately: Wireline Bureau $119.296 million (28.67%), Media Bureau $120.369 million (28.93%), Wireless Bureau $113.192 million (27.20%), Space Bureau $53.267 million (12.80%), and Office of International Affairs $9.988 million (2.40%).
Broadcaster Fees Continue Population Rate
The FCC proposes to continue assessing full-power broadcast television station fees based on population served using 2020 U.S. Census data and TVStudy, proposing a rate of $0.006957 per person served for FY2026. The NPRM also retains a 3.1 million population cap for full-power stations that rely on satellite facilities to reach terrain-limited areas.
Possible Change to Mobile Unit Counts (NRUF → BDC)
The FCC seeks comment on whether to replace the current unit measure for Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers—assigned numbers from NRUF filings—with mobile subscription data from the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) or other sources. The FCC said any such change would not be implemented until FY2027 to allow preparation and meet congressional notification requirements.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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