[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15874]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 30, 1994]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees
June 20, 1994.
The Federal Communications Commission issues this Public Notice in
order to provide information concerning the payment of regulatory fees
in 1994. If you are a space station and/or earth station licensee in
the common carrier services, you should carefully review this Public
Notice.
Who Must Pay Regulatory Fees in 1994
Most licensees and other entities regulated by the Commission must
pay regulatory fees in 1994. This Public Notice concerns space station
and earth station licensees in the common carrier services only.
Why the Commission Must Collect New Fees
The new requirement to collect annual regulatory fees was contained
in Public Law 103-66, ``The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1993''. These new regulatory fees, which are likely to change each
fiscal year, will be used to offset costs associated with the
Commission's enforcement, public service, international and policy and
rulemaking activities. The new fees are in addition to any application
processing fees associated with obtaining a license or other
authorization from the Commission.
When Fees Will Be Due
All Space Station and Earth Station licensees must remit their
regulatory fees to the Commission by August 19, 1994, in order to avoid
a 25% late penalty:
FCC Form 159
Regulatory fee payments must be accompanied by FCC Form 159 (``FCC
Remittance Advice''). A copy of this form, with specific instructions
is attached to this Public Notice. Please see, ``Special Instructions
for Completing FCC Forms 159 & 159-C'' for detailed information on how
to correctly complete these Forms.
Where To Send Regulatory Fee Payments
All regulatory fee payments must be sent to the following address:
Federal Communications Commission, Regulatory Fees, P.O. Box 358835,
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5835.
Method of Payment
Regulatory fee payments may be made by check or money order.
Payments may also be made by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only).
When paying by credit card, please make sure you sign the appropriate
block of Form 159. Payments may also be made electronically provided
prior approval has been obtained from the Commission. Contact Thomas M.
Holleran at (202) 418-1925 for prior approval.
Note: We encourage arrangements to consolidate a number of
regulatory fee payments for different entities into a single payment
instrument made by a single payee. We recognize the benefits to be
gained by all the parties involved. Notwithstanding the published
schedule of payment due dates, consolidation of 100 or more
regulatory fees due from different entities by a single payee will
be due on September 2, 1994. Entities participating in such
consolidated payment arrangements that are eligible, and choose, to
pay by installment, should pay one-half of the regulatory fee
eligible for installment payment by September 2, 1994. The second
installment payment will then be due September 30, 1994. Multiple
fee payments may be made with one payment instrument. Payors who
will be making a single payment for a significant number of entities
and wish to submit automated data submissions in lieu of a large
number of FCC Forms 159-C (``Advice Continuation Sheets'') should
contact Thomas M. Holleran at (202) 418-1925 at least four weeks
prior to the payment due date.
Installment Payments
Installment payments are permitted for space station licensees
only. Eligible entities choosing to make installment payments must pay
one-half of their space station fee by August 19, 1994. Regulatory fees
for earth stations cannot be paid by installment. The second
installment payment for space stations is due no later than September
16, 1994. Entities participating in consolidated payment arrangements
that are eligible, and elect, to pay by installment should note the
different due dates for their installment payments (see ``Method of
Payment'' above).
Compliance
Licensees are solely responsible for accurately accounting for all
licenses and for paying the proper regulatory fees. Any omission or
payment deficiency can result in a 25% monetary penalty, dismissal of
pending actions, and/or revocation of any authorization. Additionally,
the Commission will invoke its authority under the Debt Collection Act
against any licensee failing to meet its regulatory fee payment
obligations.
Waivers, Reductions And Deferments of Regulatory Fees
The Commission will consider requests for waivers, reductions or
deferments of regulatory fees, in extraordinary and compelling
circumstances only, upon a showing that such action overrides the
public interest in reimbursing the Commission for its regulatory costs.
Timely submission of the appropriate regulatory fee must accompany
requests for waivers or reductions. This will ensure efficient
collection in situations where a waiver or reduction is not warranted
and will allow the requestor to avoid a 25% late-payment penalty if its
request is denied. The regulatory fee would be refunded later if the
request is granted. Only in exceptional or compelling instances (where
payment of the regulatory fee along with the waiver or reduction
request could result in the reduction of service to a community or
other financial hardship to the regulatee or licensee), will the
Commission accept a petition to defer payment along with a waiver or
reduction request. All requests for deferments must be filed before
August 19, 1994, in order to avoid the 25% late-payment penalty.
Additional Information
For information on application fees for the common carrier
services, or for information on application and regulatory fees for
cable television, mass media, engineering and technology, field
operations or private radio services, the Commission has prepared a
number of informative Fee Filing Guides. These Guides are available
from the Commission's Public Service Division, from field office
locations and can be downloaded from the Internet ([email protected]). For
additional information, please contact the Public Service Division's
Fees Hotline at (202) 632-FEES (3337), or write to: Federal
Communications Commission, ATTN: Public Service Division, 1919 M
Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20554.
Filing Procedures for Space Stations
Who Must Pay: Entities authorized as of October 1, 1993, to operate
space stations in geostationary orbit\1\ or low-earth orbit\2\ in
accordance with Sec. 25.120(d) of the Commission's rules. Governments
and nonprofit (exempt under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code)
entities are exempt from paying regulatory fees and should not submit
payment, but may be asked to submit a current IRS Determination Letter
documenting its nonprofit status, or a certification of governmental
authority.
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\1\Domestic and international satellites, positioned in orbit to
remain approximately fixed relative to the earth, authorized to
provide communications between satellites and earth stations on a
common carrier or private carrier basis in accordance with
Sec. 25.120(d). See 47 CFR Sec. 25.120(d). Entities authorized to
operate these space stations in accordance with Sec. 25.120(d), will
be assessed an annual regulatory fee of $65,000 for each operational
station in geostationary orbit on October 1, 1993.
\2\Domestic and international non-geostationary satellites,
positioned in a low-earth orbit (``LEO''), authorized to transmit to
satellites and fixed or mobile earth stations, including the new
non-voice, non-geostationary mobile satellite service. For purposes
of assessing regulatory fees in FY 1994, a LEO operator is required
to submit its annual regulatory fee payment if it commences
operating its first satellite on or before October 1, 1993, pursuant
to Sec. 25.120(d), even though all the space stations specified in
its application or instrument of authorization have not become
operational. See 47 CFR Sec. 25.120(d).
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Fee Requirement: Fees are assessed for space station licensees as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payment
Type of space station Regulatory type
fee (dollars) code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operational Space Stations In Geostationary $65,000 per CSGN
Orbit. operational
station.
Low-Earth Orbit Satellites..................... $90,000 per CSLN
operational
system.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Space station fee payments may be made in two installments (see
``Installment Payments''). See ``Special Instructions for Completing
FCC Form 159 and 159-C'' for correct Payment Type Codes to use when
making installment payments.
Filing Procedures for Earth Stations
Who Must Pay
VSAT and Equivalent C-Band Antennas: Earth station systems
comprising very small aperture terminals make up authorized networks
operating in the 12 and 14 GHz bands that provide a variety of
communications services to other stations in the network. Each system,
authorized pursuant to blanket licensing procedures in part 25 of the
Rules, consists of a network of technically-identical small fixed-
satellite earth stations which often includes a larger hub station.
This category also includes earth stations operating 4/6 GHz frequency
bands using networks of technically identical antennas that are 2
meters or less in diameter. For FY 1994, entities holding these types
of authorizations as of October 1, 1993, will be assessed a regulatory
fee of $0.06 per antenna per call sign. Licensees with less than 100
antennas per call sign will be subject to a minimum $6.00 fee per call
sign.
Mobile Satellite Earth Stations: Under part 25 of the Rules, mobile
satellite service providers operate under blanket licenses for mobile
antennas (transceivers), which are small than one meter and provide
voice or data communications, including position location information,
for mobile platforms such as cars, buses or trucks. For FY 1994,
entities holding these types of authorizations as of October 1, 1993,
will be assessed a fee of $0.06 per antenna per call sign. Entities
with less than 100 antennas per call sign will be subject to a minimum
$6.00 fee per call sign.
Each Station Antennas Less Than 9 Meters: Persons authorized or
registered under part 25 to operate fixed-satellite earth station
antennas that are less than 9 meters in diameter providing telephone,
television, data and other forms of communications. This category
includes antennas used to transmit and receive, transmit only or
receive only. Also included in this category are telemetry, tracking
and control (TT&C) earth stations. For FY 1994, holders of these types
of authorizations as of October 1, 1993, will be assessed a fee of
$0.06 per antenna per call sign. Licensees with less than 100 antennas
per call sign will be subject to a minimum $6.00 per call sign.
Earth Station Antennas 9 Meters or Greater: This category covers
fixed-satellite earth station antennas authorized under part 25 that
are equal to or greater than 9 meters in diameter. These earth stations
are operated by private carriers and common carriers to provide
telephone, television, data, and other forms of communication. Included
in this category are telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) earth
stations equal to or greater than 9 meters in diameter. For FY 1994,
persons or entities authorized to operate transmit/receive or transmit-
only antennas as of October 1, 1993, will be assessed a regulatory fee
of $85.00 per meter. Persons or entities authorized to operate receive-
only antennas as of October 1, 1993, will be assessed a regulatory fee
of $55.00 per meter. All measurements will be to the tenth of a meter.
Governments and nonprofit (exempt under section 501 of the Internal
Revenue Code) carriers and licensees are exempt from paying regulatory
fees and should not submit payment, but may be asked to submit a
current IRS Determination Letter documenting its nonprofit status, or a
certification of government authority.
Note: When an earth station's license limits its operational
authority to a particular satellite system which is not yet
operational, the regulatory fee payment for the earth station will
not be used until the first satellite of the related system becomes
operational pursuant to 25.120(d) of our rules.
Fee Requirement: Fees are assessed for earth station licensees as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payment
Type of Earth station Regulatory type
fee code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VSAT and Equivalent C-Bands.................... $0.06 per CAVN
antenna per
call sign
($6.00
minimum per
call sign).
Mobile Satellite Earth Stations................ $0.06 per CARN
antenna sign
($6.00
minimum per
call sign).
Earth Station Antennas Less Than 9 Meters...... $0.06 per CAAN
antenna per
call sign
($6.00
minimum per
call sign.
Earth Station Antennas 9 Meters or Greater: ............. ........
Transmit/Receive or Transmit Only............ $85.00 per CSTN
meter.
Receive Only................................. $55.00 per CCRN
meter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Instructions For Completing FCC forms 159 & 159-C
FCC Form 159 (``FCC Remittance Advice'') and, as necessary, FCC
Form 159-C (``Advice Continuation Sheet'') must accompany all
regulatory fee payments. Form 159 allows payors to report information
on one or two payment items (e.g., satellites, LEO systems, antennas,
or a combination of any two). Use Form 159-C to report additional
payments.
An FCC Form 159 and a 159-C have been attached to this Public
Notice for you to complete and remit with your payment. You may make
additional copies of the forms as required. In addition to the
instructions for Form 159 (which are on the reverse side of the Form),
the following information applies specifically to space and earth
stations:
Block (12)--``FCC Call Sign/Other ID''
Geostationary space station licensees should leave this
block blank.
Low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite system licensees should
enter the name of their system.
Earth station licensees should enter their call sign.
Block (14)--``Payment Type Codes''
SPACE STATIONS
CSGN: Use this code when making full payment (i.e., $65,200) for
a geostationary satellite space station regulatory fee.
CSG1: Use this code when making your first installment payment
(i.e., $32,500) for a geostationary satellite space station
regulatory fee.
CSG2: To be used ONLY for the second installment payment (i.e.,
$32,500) for geostationary satellite space station regulatory fee.
CSLN: Use this code when making full payment (i.e., $90,000) for
a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite system regulatory fee.
CSL1: Use this code when making your first installment payment
(i.e., $45,000) for a LEO satellite system regulatory fee.
CSL2: To be used ONLY for the second installment payment (i.e.,
$45,000) for a LEO satellite system fee.
EARTH STATIONS
CAVN: Use this code when making a regulatory fee payment for a
VSAT or equivalent C-band earth station ($0.06 per antenna per call
sign).
CARN: Use this code when making a regulatory fee payment for a
mobile satellite earth station ($0.06 per antenna per call sign).
CAAN: Use this code when making a regulatory fee payment for
fixed-satellite earth station antennas less than 9 meters in
diameter ($0.06 per antenna per call sign).
CSTN: Use this code when making a regulatory fee payment for
fixed-satellite transmit/receive or transmit only earth station
antennas greater than 9 meters in diameter ($85 per meter).
CCRN: Use this code when making a regulatory fee payment for
fixed-satellite receive only earth station antennas greater than 9
meters in diameter ($55 per meter).
Block (15)--``Quality''
Space station licensees (i.e., geostationary satellites
or low-earth orbiting satellite systems) should enter ``1'' in this
block.
Fixed-satellite earth station licensees with antennas 9
meters or greater in diameter should enter the size of the antenna's
diameter to the nearest tenth of a meter.
All other earth licensees (e.g., VSATs, mobile
satellites and fixed-satellite antennas less than 9 meters in
diameter) should enter the number of authorized antennas per call
sign.
Block (16)--``Amount Due''
For geostationary satellite space station regulatory
fees * * *
* * * which are not being by installment (payment type code CSGN),
enter $65,000.
* * * which are being paid by installment (payment type codes CSG1
or CSG2), enter $32,500.
For low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite system regulatory
fees * * *
* * * which are not being paid by installment (payment type code
CSLN), enter $90,000.
* * * which are being paid by installment (payment type codes CSL1
or CSL2), enter $45,000.
For VSATs, mobile satellite, and fixed-satellite earth
station licensees with antennas less than 9 meters in diameter
(payment type codes CAVN, CARN and CAAN respectively), multiply the
amount from Block 15 (``Quantity'') by $0.06. If the amount from
Block 15 (``Quantity) is less than 100, enter $6.00--this is the
minimum regulatory fee per call sign.
For fixed-satellite earth station licensees with
antennas greater than 9 meters in diameter which * * *
* * * transmit/receive or transmit only (payment type code CSTN),
multiply Block 15 (``Quantity'') by $85.00.
* * * receive only (payment type code CCRN), multiply block 15
(``Quantity'') by $55.00.
Block (17)--``FCC Code 1''
VSATs, mobile satellite, and fixed-satellite earth
station licensees with antennas less than 9 meters in diameter
(payment type codes CAVN, CARN or CAAN) provide the number of
installed antennas per call sign.
Space station licensees and licensees of earth station
antennas greater than 9 meters should leave this block blank.
Block (18)--``FCC Code 2''
For geosynchronous space station satellites ONLY, enter
the satellite name.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-15874 Filed 6-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M