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.