FCC application filing fees for commercial FM facilities
Updated 3/19/2021
The following are the fees that are paid to the Federal Communications Commission for applications in various commercial FM broadcast services. These are the Fiscal Year 2018 fees that are an effect as of September 4, 2018.
New FCC fee structure and fees as a result of MD Docket 20-270 (implementation of the RAYBAUMS Act) begin on April 19, 2021. Those fees are also shown. We don't know exactly when the new fees will actually be implemented. The FCC should issue a public notice when that does happen.
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 | New Fee | |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (no auction involved) | $3,975/application | $3,295 |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (if an auction is involved, includes consolidated long and short form fees) | N/A | $3,870 |
| Minor change | $1,110/application | $1,265 |
| Main Studio Request (Main studio fee was eliminated in MD 20-270) | $1,110/request | N/.A |
| License To Cover | $225/application | $235 |
| Directional Antenna (paid if the License to Cover application includes a directional antenna that requires a proof of performance) | $695/application | $630 |
| License Renewal | $200/application | $325 |
| Assignment/Transfer of Control - long form | $1,110/station | $1,005 |
| Assignment/Transfer of Control - short form | $160/station | $425 |
| Call Sign | $110/application | $170 |
| Special Temporary Authority (Fees do not apply for stations filing silent authority to to extend silent authority) | $200/application | $210 |
| Petition for Rulemaking for New Community of License or Higher Class Channel. Fee is in addition to minor change or license to cover fees. | $3,065/petition | $3,180 |
| Ownership Report | $70/application | $85 |
FM Translators Operating Commercially
| Fee | New Fee | |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (if no auction) | $835/application | $705 |
| Original or Major Change Construction Permit (if auction is involved, includes consolidated long and short form fee) | N/A | $1,280 |
| Minor Modification Construction Permit | N/A | $210 |
| License to Cover | $170/application | $180 |
| License Renewal | $70/application | $175 |
| Special Temporary Authority (Fees do not apply for stations filing silent authority to to extend silent authority) | $200/application | $170 |
| License Assignment/Transfer of Control (long and short forms) | $160/station | $290 |
FM Booster Stations Operating Commercially
| Fee | New Fee | |
| Original Construction Permit | $835/application | $705 |
| Minor Modification Construction Permit | N/A | N/A |
| License to Cover | $170/application | $180 |
| Special Temporary Authority (Fees do not apply for stations filing silent authority to to extend silent authority) | $200/application | $170 |
| License Renewal | $175 |
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.
