In the fee schedule released for fiscal 2016, the commission seeks to increase top 10 market TV station payments from about $47,000 to almost $61,000.
FCC Proposes Raising TV Station Fees
The FCC wants to increase the regulatory fees that TV stations in the nation’s top 10 markets pay.
As part of its annual review of its fees required by Congress, the commission released its proposed fee schedule for fiscal year 2016 that aims to collect $384 million. The FCC will review comments on this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking before final adoption.
The commission wants to require top 10 market stations to pay about twice what stations in markets 26-50 pay, saying “we tentatively conclude that this proposal will make the regulatory fees for television broadcasters more rational” and will ask for comments on the proposal.
Here are the current and proposed fees for commercial stations:
| FY 2015 Fees | FY 2016 Fees | |
| Markets 1-10 | $46,825 | $60,775 |
| Markets 11-25 | $43,200 | $45,750 |
| Markets 26-50 | $27,625 | $30,575 |
| Markets 51-100 | $16,275 | $15,225 |
| Remaining Markets | $4,850 | $5,000 |
| Construction Permits | $4,850 | $5,000 |
The commission also said that it recognizes that the incentive auction scheduled for 2016 is “a substantial event for the television broadcast industry,” but added that “it is too early to revise our regulatory fee apportionment because of the uncertainty in events that have yet to happen. We intend to consider any changed circumstances due to the incentive auction as part of the FY 2017 regulatory fee proceeding.”
Comments (6)
Angie McClimon says:
May 20, 2016 at 3:34 pm
The FCC really has it out for broadcast TV…
Brian Bussey says:
May 20, 2016 at 4:44 pm
that’s hat happens when the broadcasters lobbyists treat the President like and child and the cable/ celluar lobbyists treat him like a … president.
laureen moncrief says:
May 20, 2016 at 5:02 pm
$60,775 for a top 10 market? That is still a deal.
Tim Darnell says:
May 20, 2016 at 5:28 pm
No, it is not a deal when you are an indy in a top market and not making much money.
Veronica Serrano Padilla says:
May 20, 2016 at 5:41 pm
$5,000 a month “lease” for oceanfront property bringing in gobs of money. Wow, these broadcasters have it so bad… yet many moan and groan about their tough plight in life…
Wagner Pereira says:
May 20, 2016 at 6:44 pm
An Indy in a Top Market not making much money should be off the air within 90 days of conclusion of the Broadcast Spectrum Auction.