FCC application filing fees for commercial FM facilities
Updated 12/19/2022
The following are the fees that are paid to the Federal Communications Commission for applications in various commercial FM broadcast services.
For commercial services, we show two amounts. The first amount is the current rate in effect. The second amount will be the new rate that will go in effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register as a result of the Order by the Federal Communications Commission on Decmeber 15, 2022 announcing their statutorily required rate which reflects an increase in the Consumer Price Index.
LPFM and NCE FM stations (primary stations, translators and boosters)
NO FCC FEES. Federal law prohibits the FCC from charging filing fees to non-commercial educational (NCE) broadcasting services.
Commercial Full Service FM stations
| Fee | |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (no auction involved, also subsequent applications in the same auction) | $3,295/application $3,675/application |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (if an auction is involved, includes consolidated long and short form fees) | $3,870/application $4,290/application |
| Minor change | $1,265/application $1,410/application |
| License To Cover | $235/application $260/application |
| Directional Antenna (paid if the License to Cover application includes a directional antenna that requires a proof of performance) | $630/application $705/application |
| License Renewal | $325/application $365/application |
| Assignment/Transfer of Control - long form | $1,005/station $1,120/station |
| Assignment/Transfer of Control - short form | $425/station $475/station |
| Call Sign | $170/application $190/application |
| Special Temporary Authority (Fees do not apply for stations filing silent authority to to extend silent authority) | $210/application $235/application |
| Petition for Rulemaking for New Community of License or Higher Class Channel. Fee is in addition to minor change or license to cover fees. | $3,180/petition $3,550/petition |
| Ownership Report | $85/station $95/station |
FM Translators Operating Commercially
| Fee | |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (if no auction, also subsequent applications in the same auction) | $705/application $785/application |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (if auction is involved, includes consolidated long and short form fee) | $1,280/application $1,430/application |
| Minor Modification Construction Permit | $210/application $235/application |
| License to Cover | $180/application $200/application |
| License Renewal | $175/application $195/application |
| Special Temporary Authority (Fees do not apply for stations filing silent authority to to extend silent authority) | $170/application $190/application |
| License Assignment/Transfer of Control (long and short forms) | $290/station $325/station |
FM Booster Stations Operating Commercially
| Fee | |
| Original Construction Permit | $705/application $785/application |
| Minor Modification Construction Permit | N/A |
| License to Cover | $180/application $200/application |
| Special Temporary Authority (Fees do not apply for stations filing silent authority to to extend silent authority) | $170/application $190/application |
| License Renewal | $175/application $195/application |
For more information on application filing fees see:
https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/application-processing-fees
For information on annual regulatory fees that apply to all commercial broadcast facilities, see:
https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/regulatory-fees
Again, non-commercial broadcast facilities including Low Power FM (LPFM) are not required to pay any application or regulatory fees to the FCC.
