By Public Notice released Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) announced that Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSP) and Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers can now log in to preview the provider’s FY2017 regulatory fee data in the FCC’s Fee Filer system. ITSPs and CMRS providers have limited time to request any revisions to the data on which fees are based and therefore are encouraged to review their proposed fee data in a timely manner.

Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers - By logging into the Fee Filer system, ITSPs can preview the FCC Form 159-W ITSP Report worksheet identifying the revenues that were reported on the provider’s April 1, 2017 FCC Form 499-A filing. These revenues will be used to calculate the provider’s regulatory fees once the FCC’s FY 2017 Regulatory Fee Report and Order is adopted and released. ITSPs should be aware that the worksheet is read-only and revisions to revenue amounts can be made only by the ITSP filing a revised Form 499-A worksheet with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). ITSP revenue adjustments cannot be made through the Fee Filer system.

Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers - CMRS providers also can access the Fee Filer system to preview their subscriber, porting, and Operating Company Number information. The “Net NRUF Telephone Number” subscriber count listed in the system will be used in determining the CMRS provider’s annual regulatory fee. If the provider agrees with the subscriber count, then the provider does not need to take any further action. Unlike with ITSPs, if the CMRS provider believes its subscriber count is incorrect the CMRS provider is able to revise its subscriber count information directly via the Fee Filer system. However, any such revisions are subject to Commission review and approval and must be made by August 24, 2017 to allow the Commission time to decide whether to accept or disapprove the revision and enter any approved revisions in the fee filer system. Revisions made after August 24, 2017 must be sent directly to Roland Helvajian and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

September Regulatory Fee Payment Deadline Not Yet Set - While the Public Notice does not identify a deadline for submitting payments of any annual regulatory fees, based on prior year payment deadlines, we anticipate regulatory fees will be due in September. (By law, the FCC must collect the fees before the end of the federal government’s fiscal year, which ends on September 30). In addition, we remind ITSPs and CMRS providers that the FCC no longer mails regulatory fee notices or assessment letters and it is the licensee’s responsibility to pay the fee by the deadline.

All entities paying regulatory fees should be aware that failure to meet the regulatory fee payment deadline (once established) will result in late payment penalties of 25% being applied and the FCC does not waive late payment penalties. Consequently, entities subject to regulatory fees should be sure to pay attention once the payment deadline is announced and timely pay any fees.

ITSPs and CMRS Providers Can Now Review and Revise FCC Annual Regulatory Fee Information; September Payment Deadline Not Yet Set