[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 149 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39725-39729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19047]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

FY 1995 Common Carrier Regulatory Fees

August 1, 1995.
    The Federal Communications Commission issues this Public Notice in 
order to provide information concerning the payment of regulatory fees 
in 1995. If you hold authorizations in any of the common carrier 
services, excluding international facilities (space stations, earth 
stations, bearer circuits, and international public fixed) and 
commercial wireless facilities (cellular and public mobile), you should 
carefully review this Public Notice. Separate Public Notices for 
international licensees and commercial wireless licensees are 
available.

Who Must Pay Regulatory Fees in 1995

    Most licensees and other entities regulated by the Commission must 
pay regulatory fees in 1995. This Public Notice concerns only the 
following Common Carrier regulatees: interexchange carriers, local 
exchange carriers, competitive access providers, operator service 
providers, resellers (except mobile resellers governed by the 
commercial wireless radio services) and other interstate providers, and 
domestic public fixed radio (Part 21) licensees. Governments and 
nonprofit (exempt under Section 501(c) 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, a certification of governmental 
authority, or certification from a governmental authority attesting its 
exempt status.

Why the Commission Must Collect Regulatory Fees

    The requirement to collect annual regulatory fees from common 
carriers was contained in Public Law 103-66. ``The Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1993.'' These regulatory fees, which are likely 
to change each fiscal year, are used to offset costs associated with 
the Commission's enforcement, public service, international and policy 
and rulemaking activities. These 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

    Common carriers must pay the following regulatory fees to the 
Commission by September 20, 1995, in order to avoid a 25% late penalty.

                                                                        

[[Page 39726]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Type of fee              Regulatory fee payment     Fee code  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interexchange Carriers.........  $0.00088 per revenue       CDIN        
                                  dollar.                               
Local Exchange Carriers........  0.00088 per revenue        CDXN        
                                  dollar.                               
Competitive Access Providers...  0.00088 per revenue        CDPN        
                                  dollar.                               
Operator Service Providers.....  0.00088 per revenue        CSPN        
                                  dollar.                               
Resellers......................  0.00088 per revenue        CRPN        
                                  dollar.                               
Other Interstate Providers.....  0.00088 per revenue        CIPN        
                                  dollar.                               
Domestic Public Fixed (47 CFR    140 per call sign........  CCDN        
 Part 21).                                                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------



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
    If sending your regulatory fee payment by mail, please address your 
envelope as follows: Federal Communications Commission, Regulatory 
Fees, P.O. Box 358835, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5835.
    If you prefer to send your regulatory fee payment by courier to our 
lockbox bank, you may do so 24 hours per day (except bank holidays). 
Please address your envelope and deliver it to the following address: 
Federal Communications Commission, c/o Mellon Bank, Three Mellon Bank 
Center, 525 William Penn Way, 27th Floor, Room 153-2713, Pittsburgh, PA 
15259-0001, (Attention: FCC Module Supervisor).

Method of Payment

    Regulatory fee payments may be made by check, money order, or 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 by wire transfer or by electronic funds transfer 
(EFT). Instructions for wire transfer payment are provided below.
    In its Report and Order the Commission directed that the Managing 
Director negotiate with NECA to process regulatory fees on behalf of 
its pooling exchange carriers and to submit their consolidated fees to 
our lockbox bank in a single instrument of payment. The Commission has 
no objection to NECA's submission of the fee on behalf of its pooling 
exchange carriers or others. However, we remind entities subject to the 
payment of a regulatory fee that the regulatee, not an agent, such as 
NECA, is responsible for ensuring that the payment is made and that it 
is subject to penalty for failure to submit the entire fee due in a 
timely manner.

    Note: We encourage arrangements to consolidate a number of 
regulatory fee payments either by a single entity or by different 
entities into a single payment instrument. Consolidated fee payments 
may cover several different service categories. Multiple fee 
payments may be made with one check, money order, credit card or 
electronic payment. 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'') may do so. There is no limit to the number of 
payment items.

Wire Transfer Payment Instructions

    A wire transfer is a transaction that you initiate via your bank. 
It authorizes your bank to wire funds from your account to our lockbox 
bank, the Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh, PA. All payments made by wire 
transfer must be supported by a completed FCC Remittance Advice (FCC 
Form 159) and Advice Continuation Sheet (FCC Form 159-C), if required. 
The Form 159 must be faxed to Mellon Bank at (412) 236-5702 at least 
one hour before the wire transfer on the same business day. Indicate on 
the top of the FCC Form 159 ``Wire Transfer--Regulatory Fee Payment.'' 
In the ``Reserve Box'' located at the upper left hand corner indicate 
``358835.'' Failure to submit the completed Form 159 will result in a 
delay in crediting your account. Due to Federal Reserve regulations, 
wire transfers received after 6:00 p.m. (EST) will be credited the next 
business day.
    The following information should be provided to your bank in order 
to complete the wire transfer:

ABA Routing Number 043000261
Receiving Bank: Mellon Pittsburgh
BNF: FCC/ACV--9116106
OBI Field: (Skip one space between each information item)
    ``REGULATORYPAY''
    FCC ACCOUNT NO. (Exactly as on Form 159, Block #1)
    PAYOR NAME (Exactly as on Form 159, Block #3)
    Phone: (Daytime Phone #, exactly as on Form 159, Block #9)

Compliance

    Licensees are solely responsible for accurately accounting for all 
licenses and for paying 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 intends to invoke its authority under the Debt Collection 
Act against any licensee failing to meet its regulatory fee payment 
obligations.

    Note: The Commission has identified several entities which have 
not paid the required fee for FY 1994 and has begun taking 
appropriate steps to secure collection of these fees and penalties 
due. You are strongly urged to submit your payment on time and 
accurately in order to avoid a penalty.

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 licensee), will the Commission accept a 
petition to defer payment along with a waiver or reduction request. All 
requests for deferments must be received before September 20, 1995, in 
order to avoid the 25% late-payment penalty.

Additional Information
    The Commission has prepared a number of informative Fee Filing 
Guides for information on application 

[[Page 39727]]
fees for common carrier services, or for information on application and 
regulatory fees for mass media, international, cable television, 
engineering and technology, compliance and information, and wireless 
radio services. These Guides, applicable Public Notices, and Forms 159 
and 159-C are available from the Commission's Public Service Division 
and can be downloaded from the Internet ([email protected]). Forms may be 
obtained by contacting the Forms Hotline at (800) 418-3676 outside the 
Washington, DC area, or (202) 418-3676 locally. For additional 
information, please contact the Fees Hotline at (202) 418-0192, or 
write to: Federal Communications Commission, ATTN: Public Service 
Division, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554.

Payment Procedures for Common Carriers

    Who Must Pay: Interexchange carriers (long distance telephone 
companies), local exchange carriers (local telephone operating 
companies),\1\ competitive access providers (companies other than the 
traditional local telephone companies that provide interstate access 
services to long distance carriers and other companies), operator 
service providers (pay telephone operators), resellers (companies that 
obtain lines from facilities based carriers and sell service to 
others), other interstate service providers, and public fixed licensees 
(common carriers authorized, under Part 22 of our Rules, to offer land-
based or air-to-ground mobile telephone services to the public).\2\ 
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, a 
certification of governmental authority, or certification from a 
governmental authority attesting its exempt status.

    \1\ We will permit the holding company of local exchange 
carriers to aggregate fee payments due by its operating companies 
and submit a single payment to cover the fee requirements of its 
subsidiaries.
    \2\ These services include those using radio to provide 
telephone services at fixed locations, such as Basic Exchange 
Telecommunications Radio Services, Rural Radio and Offshore Radio.
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Filing Procedures for Public Fixed Radio Licensees

    Who Must Pay:
    Domestic Public Fixed Radio Licensees: Licensees authorized as of 
October 1, 1994, to use microwave frequencies for video and data 
distribution communications within the United States. These services, 
authorized under Part 21 of our Rules, include the Point-to-Point 
Microwave Radio Service, Local Television Transmission Radio Service, 
and Digital Electronic Message Service.
    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, a 
certification of governmental authority, or certification from a 
governmental authority attesting its exempt status.
    Fee Requirement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Type of fee              Regulatory fee payment     Fee code 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic Public Fixed...........  $140 per call sign........  CCDN      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 more payment items (e.g., revenues, call signs, or a 
combination of any two). Use Form 159-C to report additional payments.
    An FCC Form 159 and 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 common carrier 
regulatees:
    Block (12)--``FCC CALL SIGN/OTHER ID'':
     Interexchange, local exchange, competitive access 
providers, operator service providers, resellers, and other interstate 
providers should enter their NECA company identification number.
     Public fixed radio licensees should enter their call 
sign.
    Block (14)--``PAYMENT TYPE CODES'':

Carriers

    CDIN: Use this code when paying for an interexchange carrier 
regulatory fee ($0.00088 per revenue dollar).
    CDXN: Use this code when paying for a local exchange carrier 
regulatory fee ($0.00088 per revenue dollar).
    CDPN: Use this code when paying for a competitive access provider 
regulatory fee ($0.00088 per revenue dollar).
    CSPN: Use this code when paying for an operator service provider 
regulatory fee ($0.00088 per revenue dollar).
    CRPN: Use this code when paying for a reseller regulatory fee 
($0.00088 per revenue dollar).
    CIPN: Use this code when paying for other interstate provider 
regulatory fee ($0.00088 per revenue dollar).

Public Fixed Radio Licensees

    CCDN: Use this code when making a regulatory fee payment for a 
domestic public fixed radio license ($140 per call sign).
    Block (15)--``QUANTITY'':

Carriers

     Interexchange carriers subtract the amount in Block 18 
(``FCC CODE 2'') from the amount in Block 17 (``FCC CODE 1'') and enter 
their TRS net interstate revenue.
     Local exchange carriers subtract the amount in Block 18 
(``FCC CODE 2'') from the amount in Block 17 `(``FCC CODE 1'') and 
enter their TRS net interstate revenue.
     Competitive access providers subtract the amount in Block 
18 (``FCC CODE 2'') from the amount in Block 17 (``FCC CODE 1'') and 
enter their TRS net interstate revenue.
     Operator service providers subtract the amount in Block 
18 (``FCC CODE 2'') from the amount in Block 17 (``FCC CODE 1'') and 
enter their TRS net interstate revenue.
     Resellers subtract the amount in Block 18 (``FCC CODE 
2'') from the amount in Block 17 (``FCC CODE 1'') and enter their TRS 
net interstate revenue.
     Other interstate providers subtract the amount in Block 
18 (``FCC CODE 2'') from the amount in Block 17 (``FCC 

[[Page 39728]]
CODE 1'') and enter their TRS net interstate revenue.

Public Fixed Radio Licensees

     All public fixed radio licensees should enter ``1''.
    Block(16)--``AMOUNT DUE'':
     For interexchange carrier regulatory fees (payment type 
code CDIN), multiply the amount in Block 15 (``Quantity'') by $0.00088.
     For local exchange carrier regulatory fees (payment type 
code CDXN), multiply the amount in Block 15 (``Quantity'') by $0.00088.
     For competitive access provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CDPN), multiply the amount in Block 15 (``Quantity''( by 
$0.00088.
     For operator service provider regulatory fee (payment type 
code CSPN), multiply the amount in Block 15 (``Quantity'') by $0.00088.
     For reseller regulatory fees (payment type code CRPN), 
multiply the amount in Block 15 (``Quantity'') by $0.00088.
     For other interstate provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CIPN), multiply the amount in Block 15 (``Quantity'') by 
$0.00088.
     For domestic public fixed radio licensees (payment type 
code CCDN), enter $140.00.
    Block (17)--FCC CODE 1'':
     For interexchange carrier regulatory fee (payment type 
code CDIN), enter the total interstate revenue as reported to the TRS 
Fund (line 15 of FCC Form 431).
     For local exchange carrier regulatory fee (payment type 
code CDXN), enter the total interstate revenue as reported to the TRS 
Fund (line 15 of FCC Form 431).
     For competitive access provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CDPN), enter the total interstate revenue as reported to the 
TRS Fund (line 15 of FCC Form 431).
     For operator service provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CSPN), enter the total interstate revenue as reported to the 
TRS Fund (line 15 of FCC Form 431).
     For reseller regulatory fee (payment type code CRPN), 
enter the total interstate revenue as reported to the TRS Fund (line 15 
of FCC Form 431).
     For other interstate provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CIPN), enter the total interstate revenue as reported to the 
TRS Fund (line 15 of FCC Form 431).
     For domestic public fixed radio licensees (payment type 
code CCDN), leave blank.
    Block (18)--FCC CODE 2'':
     For interexchange carrier regulatory fees (payment type 
code CDIN), enter the cost of interstate telecommunications facilities 
taken for resale (including the cost of access services).
     For local exchange carrier regulatory fees (payment type 
code CDXN), enter the cost of interstate telecommunications facilities 
taken for resale (including the cost of access services).
     For competitive access provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CDPN), enter the cost of interstate telecommunications 
facilities taken for resale (including the cost of access services).
     For operator service provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CSPN), enter the cost of interstate telecommunications 
facilities taken for resale (including the cost of access services).
     For reseller regulatory fees (payment type code CRPN), 
enter the cost of interstate telecommunications facilities taken for 
resale (including the cost of access services).
     For other interstate provider regulatory fees (payment 
type code CIPN), enter the cost of interstate telecommunications 
facilities taken for resale (including the cost of access services).
     For domestic public fixed radio licensees (payment type 
code CCDN), leave blank.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Attachment

Supplementary Information

A. What is TRS?

    Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is a telephone transmission 
service that allows persons with hearing and/or speech impairments to 
use the telephone. TRS centers use special staff and equipment to relay 
messages between persons using text telephones and persons using 
traditional telephones. Under Title IV of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA),\3\ all common carriers providing voice 
communications services are required to provide TRS throughout the 
areas they serve. The rates charged for TRS calls must be no higher 
than those charged for functionally equivalent voice telephone calls of 
similar duration and distance.

    \3\ Pub. L. No. 101-336, Sec. 401, 104 Stat. 327, 366-69 
(codified at 47 U.S.C. Sec. 225).
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B. What is the TRS Fund?

    The TRS Fund is a shared funding mechanism for recovering the costs 
involved in providing interstate TRS service. All common carriers 
providing interstate telecommunications service (voice or non-voice) 
are required to contribute a portion of their gross interstate revenues 
to the TRS Fund. TRS providers receive payments from the Fund designed 
to compensate them for the reasonable costs incurred in providing 
interstate TRS. The TRS Fund is currently administered by the National 
Exchange Carrier Association (NECA).

C. Which Carriers Must File TRS Fund Worksheets?

    All common carriers providing interstate telecommunications 
services within the United States must file the TRS Fund Worksheet. For 
this purpose, the United States is defined as the conterminous United 
States, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland 
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Island, 
Navassa Island, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra, Puerto Rico, the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wake Island.
    For the purpose of calculating TRS contributions, interstate 
telecommunications service includes, but is not limited to, the 
interstate portion of the following types of services: cellular 
telephone and paging, mobile radio, operator services, personal 
communications service (PCS), access (including Subscriber Line 
Charges), alternative access and special access, packet-switched, WATS, 
800, 900, message telephone service (MTS), private line, telex, 
telegraph, video, satellite, international, intraLATA, and resale 
services. Note that all local exchange carriers provide interstate 
access services, and therefore must file.
    Each legal entity that provides interstate telecommunications 
service must file a separate TRS Fund Worksheet. Entities may not file 
worksheets aggregating revenue for more than one carrier. Entities that 
have distinct articles of incorporation are separate legal entities. 
All affiliates or subsidiaries must identify the ultimate controlling 
parent or entity on their TRS Fund Worksheets.

D. Should all Carriers Which File TRS Fund Worksheets Also Pay the 
Common Carrier Regulatory Fee?

    No. Comsat, Mobile service and paging carriers pay different 
regulatory fees and should not pay the common carrier fee. All other 
carriers that file TRS Fund Worksheets must pay the common carrier 
based fee.

[[Page 39729]]


E. Should a Carrier File the Regulatory Fee If It Has Not Filed a TRS 
Fund Worksheet?

    Yes. If a common carrier provided interstate telecommunications 
services in 1994, then it should have filed a TRS Fund Worksheet and 
must also pay the common carrier based regulatory fee. Carriers should 
have filed their 1995 TRS Fund Worksheet on or before April 26, 1995. 
These worksheets used calendar year 1994 revenue data to calculate the 
TRS contribution for April 1995 through March 1996. Any carrier that 
did not file should contact the TRS Fund Administrator at 201-884-8173 
in order to obtain a filing package and to be assigned a 6 digit TRS 
Fund ID number. This number must be included on the regulatory fee 
filing. The Mailing address of the TRS Fund Administrator is ``NECA, 
FCC TRS Fund Administration, 100 South Jefferson Rd., Whippany, NJ 
07981''

F. What Type of Revenues Are Reported on TRS Fund Worksheets?

    The TRS Fund Worksheet requires carriers to report their revenue 
under ten categories. Four of the revenue categories are for local 
services: (1) Local exchange service; (2) local private line service; 
(3) mobile radio, cellular, paging and PCS; and (4) alternative access 
and other--including services of competitive access providers. Six of 
the categories are for long distance services: (1) Intrastate access 
service; (2) interstate access service; (3) operator service and pay 
telephone; (4) non-operator switched tool service; (5) long distance 
private line service; and (6) all other long distance services. 
Carriers report total revenues and interstate revenues for each 
category. Carriers must include revenues from all of the different 
types of services listed in section C above.
    Gross or total revenues include revenues from regulated, 
detariffed, and nonregulated telecommunications services. Gross 
revenues should not include non-telecommunications services, such as 
the lease of customer premises equipment. Gross revenues consist of 
total revenues billed to customers with no allowances for 
uncollectibles. Billed revenues may be distinct from booked revenues. 
For international services, gross revenues consist of gross revenues 
billed by U.S. carriers with no allowances for settlement payments. 
Gross revenues should also include any surcharges on communications 
services that are billed to the customer and either retained by the 
carrier or remitted to a non-government third party under contract. 
Gross revenues should exclude taxes and any surcharges that are not 
recorded as revenue, but which instead are remitted to government 
bodies.
G. What Kind of Costs can be Deducted From Revenues Reported on TRS 
Fund Worksheets in Order to Calculate the Common Carrier Regulatory 
Fee?

    Carriers are allowed to deduct interstate access expense that they 
paid to local exchange carriers in 1994, and they are allowed to deduct 
the interstate portion of the costs of communications services taken 
for resale in 1994. Carriers can use the following worksheet to 
calculate their 1995 regulatory fee.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Total      Interstate
 1994 data (show all amounts in whole dollars)    company      protion  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Common carrier revenues from Line 15 of FCC                          
 Form 431 TRS Fund Worksheet..................  ...........  ...........
2. Access expense paid to local exchange                                
 carriers.....................................  ...........  ...........
3. Cost of facilities taken for resale........  ...........  ...........
4. Net Interstate Revenues (Line 1 minus Line                           
 2 and minus Line 3)..........................  ...........  ...........
5. Common carrier fee factor..................  ...........       .00088
6. 1995 Regulatory Fee (Line 4 times Line 5)..  ...........  ...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 95-19047 Filed 8-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M