Practice and procedure: Regulatory fees (1999 FY); assessment and collection,

As Enacted ( Federal Register)

Cited authorities 26

Cited in

[Federal Register: April 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 65)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 16661-16687]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr06ap99-24]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 1

[MD Docket No. 98-200; FCC 99-44]

Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 1999

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Commission is proposing to revise its Schedule of Regulatory Fees in order to recover the amount of regulatory fees that Congress has required it to collect for fiscal year 1999. Section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, provides for the annual assessment and collection of regulatory fees. For fiscal year 1999 sections 9(b)(2) and (3) provide for annual ``Mandatory Adjustments'' and ``Permitted Amendments'' to the Schedule of Regulatory Fees. These revisions will further the National Performance Review goals of reinventing Government by requiring beneficiaries of Commission services to pay for such services.

DATES: Comments are due on or before April 19, 1999, and reply comments are due on or before April 29, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Johnson, Office of Managing Director at (202) 418-0445.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

Topic

Introduction II. Background III. Discussion
1. Summary of FY 1999 Fee Methodology
2. Development of FY 1999 Fees
  
  i. Adjustment of Payment Units
  
  ii. Calculation of Revenue Requirements
  
  iii. Recalculation of Fees
  
  iv. Proposed Changes to Fee Schedule
  
  a. FY 1999 Fee Schedule To Be Based on Mandatory Adjustments
  
  b. Reduction of the FM Construction Permit Fee
  
  v. Effect of Revenue Redistributions on Major Constituencies
3. Notice of Inquiry Issues
4. Procedures for Payment of Regulatory Fees
  
  i. Annual Payments of Standard Fees
  
  ii. Installment Payments for Large Fees
  
  iii. Advance Payments of Small Fees
  
  iv. Minimum Fee Payment Liability
  
  v. Standard Fee Calculations and Payments
5. Schedule of FY 1999 Regulatory Fees IV. Procedural Matters
6. Comment Period and Procedures
7. Ex Parte Rules
8. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
9. Authority and Further Information Attachment A--Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Attachment B--Sources of Payment Unit Estimates For FY 1999 Attachment C--Calculation of Revenue Requirements and Pro-Rata Fees Attachment D--FY 1999 Schedule of Regulatory Fees Attachment E--Comparison Between FY 1998 and FY 1999 Proposed Regulatory Fees Attachment F--Detailed Guidance on Who Must Pay Regulatory Fees Attachment G--Description of FCC Activities Attachment H--Factors, measurements and calculations that go into determining station signal contours and associated population coverages
Introduction
1. By this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission commences a proceeding to revise its Schedule of Regulatory Fees in order to collect the amount of regulatory fees that Congress, pursuant to section 9(a) of the Communications Act, as amended, has required it to collect for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999.‹SUP›1‹/SUP›
  
  \1\ 47 U.S.C. 159 (a).
2. Congress has required that we collect $172,523,000 through regulatory fees in order to recover the costs of our enforcement, policy and rulemaking, international and user information activities for FY 1999.‹SUP›2‹/SUP› This amount is $10,000,000 or approximately 6% more than the amount that Congress designated for recovery through regulatory fees for FY 1998.‹SUP›3‹/SUP› Thus, we are proposing to revise our fees in order to collect the increased amount that Congress has required that we collect. Additionally, we propose to amend the Schedule in order to simplify and streamline it.‹SUP›4‹/SUP›
  
  \2\ Public Law 105-277 and 47 U.S.C. 159(a)(2).
  
  \3\ Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 1998, FCC 98-115, released June 16, 1998, 63 FR 35847 (Jul. 1, 1998).
  
  \4\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(3).
3. In proposing to revise our fees, we adjusted the payment units and revenue requirement for each service subject to a fee, consistent with sections 159(b)(2) and (3). In addition, we are proposing changes to the fees pursuant to public interest considerations. The current Schedule of Regulatory Fees is set forth in sections 1.1152 through 1.1156 of the Commission's rules.‹SUP›5‹/SUP›
  
  \5\ 47 CFR 1.1152 through 1.1156.
  
  [[Page 16662]]
Background
1. Section 9(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, authorizes the Commission to assess and collect annual regulatory fees to recover the costs, as determined annually by Congress, that it incurs in carrying out enforcement, policy and rulemaking, international, and user information activities.‹SUP›6‹/SUP› See Attachment G for a description of these activities. In our FY 1994 Fee Order,‹SUP›7‹/SUP› we adopted the Schedule of Regulatory Fees that Congress established, and we prescribed rules to govern payment of the fees, as required by Congress.‹SUP›8‹/SUP› Subsequently, we modified the fee Schedule to increase the fees in accordance with the amounts Congress required us to collect in each succeeding fiscal year. We also amended the rules governing our regulatory fee program based upon our experience administering the program in prior years.‹SUP›9‹/SUP›
  
  \6\ 47 U.S.C. 159(a).
  
  \7\ 59 FR 30984 (Jun. 16, 1994).
  
  \8\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b), (f)(1).
  
  \9\ 47 CFR 1.1151 et seq.
2. As noted, for FY 1994 we adopted the Schedule of Regulatory Fees established in section 9(g) of the Act. For fiscal years after FY 1994, however, sections 9(b)(2) and (3), respectively, provide for ``Mandatory Adjustments'' and ``Permitted Amendments'' to the Schedule of Regulatory Fees.‹SUP›10‹/SUP› Section 9(b)(2), entitled ``Mandatory Adjustments,'' requires that we revise the Schedule of Regulatory Fees whenever Congress changes the amount that we are to recover through regulatory fees.‹SUP›11‹/SUP›
  
  \10\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(2), (b)(3).
  
  \11\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(2).
3. Section 9(b)(3), entitled ``Permitted Amendments,'' requires that we determine annually whether additional adjustments to the fees are warranted, taking into account factors that are reasonably related to the payer of the fee and factors that are in the public interest. In making these amendments, we are to ``add, delete, or reclassify services in the Schedule to reflect additions, deletions or changes in the nature of its services.'' ‹SUP›12‹/SUP›
  
  \12\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(3).
4. Section 9(i) requires that we develop accounting systems necessary to adjust our fees pursuant to changes in the costs of regulation of various services that are subject to a fee, and for other purposes.‹SUP›13‹/SUP› For FY 1997, we relied for the first time on cost accounting data to identify our regulatory costs and to develop our FY 1997 fees based upon these costs. Also, for FY 1997, we limited the increase in the amount of the fee for any service in order to phase in our reliance on cost-based fees for those services whose revenue requirement would be more than 25 percent above the revenue requirement which would have resulted from the ``mandatory adjustments'' to the FY 1997 fees without incorporation of costs. This methodology, which we continued to utilize for FY 1998, enabled us to develop regulatory fees which we believed to be more reflective of our costs of regulation, and allowed us to make revisions to our fees based on the fullest extent possible, and consistent with the public interest, on the actual costs of regulating those services subject to a fee. Finally, section 9(b)(4)(B) requires that we notify Congress of any permitted amendments 90 days before those amendments go into effect.‹SUP›14‹/SUP›
  
  \13\ 47 U.S.C. 159(i).
  
  \14\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(4)(B).
Discussion
1. Summary of FY 1999 Fee Methodology
  1. As noted, Congress has required that the Commission recover $172,523,000 for FY 1999 through the collection of regulatory fees, representing the costs applicable to our enforcement, policy and rulemaking, international, and user information activities.‹SUP›15‹/SUP›
    
    \15\ 47 U.S.C. 159(a).
  2. In developing our proposed FY 1999 fee schedule, we first determined that we would continue to use the same general methodology for ``Mandatory Adjustments'' to the Fee Schedule as we used in developing fees for FY 1998. We estimated the number of payment units ‹SUP›16‹/SUP› for FY 1999 in order to determine the aggregate amount of revenue we would collect without any revision to our FY 1998 fees. Next, we compared this revenue amount to the $172,523,000 that Congress has required us to collect in FY 1999 and pro-rated the difference among all the existing fee categories.
    
    \16\ Payment units are the number of subscribers, mobile units, pagers, cellular telephones, licenses, call signs, adjusted gross revenue dollars, etc. which represent the base volumes against which fee amounts are calculated.
  3. Once we established our tentative FY 1999 fees, we evaluated proposals made by Commission staff concerning ``Permitted Amendments'' to the Fee Schedule and to our collection procedures. These proposals are discussed in paragraphs 15-19 and are factored into our proposed FY 1999 Schedule of Regulatory Fees, set forth in Attachment D.
  4. Finally, we have incorporated, as Attachment F, proposed Guidance containing detailed descriptions of each fee category, information on the individual or entity responsible for paying a particular fee and other critical information designed to assist potential fee payers in determining the extent of their fee liability, if any, for FY 1999.‹SUP›17‹/SUP› In the following paragraphs, we describe in greater detail our proposed methodology for establishing our FY 1999 regulatory fees.
    
    \17\ We also will incorporate a similar Attachment in the Report and Order concluding this rulemaking. That Attachment will contain updated information concerning any changes made to the proposed fees adopted by the Report and Order.
2. Development of FY 1999 Fees
  
  i. Adjustment of Payment Units
  1. In calculating individual service regulatory fees for FY 1999, we adjusted the estimated payment units for each service because payment units for many services have changed substantially since we adopted our FY 1998 fees. We obtained our estimated payment units through a variety of means, including our licensee data bases, actual prior year payment records, and industry and trade group projections. Whenever possible, we verified these estimates from multiple sources to ensure the accuracy of these estimates. Attachment B provides a summary of how revised payment units were determined for each fee category.‹SUP›18‹/SUP›
    
    \18\ It is important to also note that Congress' required revenue increase in regulatory fee payments of approximately six percent in FY 1999 will not fall equally on all payers because payment units have changed in several services. When the number of payment units in a service increase from one year to another, fees do not have to rise as much as they would if payment units had decreased or remained stable. Declining payment units have the opposite effect on fees.
    
    ii. Calculation of Revenue requirements
  2. We next multiplied the revised payment units for each service by the FY 1998 fees in each category to determine how much revenue we would collect without any change to the FY 1998 Schedule of Regulatory Fees. The amount of revenue which we would collect without changes to the Fee Schedule is approximately $157.6 million. This amount is approximately $14.9 million less than the amount the Commission is required to collect in FY 1999. We then adjusted the revenue requirements for each category on a proportional basis, consistent with Section 9(b)(2) of the Act, to obtain an estimate of the revenue requirements for each fee category so that the Commission could collect $172,523,000 as required by Congress. Attachment C
    
    [[Page 16663]]
    
    provides detailed calculations showing how we determined the revised revenue amounts to be raised for each service. iii. Recalculation of Fees
  3. Once we determined the amount of fee revenue that it is necessary to collect from each class of licensee, we divided the revenue requirement by the number of payment units (and by the license term, if applicable, for ``small'' fees) to obtain actual fee amounts for each fee category. These calculated fee amounts were then rounded in accordance with section 9(b)(3) of the Act. See Attachment C. iv. Proposed Changes to Fee Schedule
  4. We examined the results of our calculations to determine if further adjustments of the fees and/or changes to payment procedures were warranted based upon the public interest and other criteria established in 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(3). ‹SUP›19‹/SUP› As a result of this review, we are proposing the following ``Permitted Amendments'' to our Fee Schedule:
    
    \19\ In FY 1997 and FY 1998 we limited increases to 25%. For FY 1999, none of the proposed fee increases exceed 25%.
    
    a. FY 1999 Fee Schedule To Be Based on Mandatory Adjustments
  5. We are proposing that the FY 1999 fee schedule be based on the mandatory adjustments as computed in Attachment C and in accordance with section 9(b)(2) of the Act. b. Reduction of the FM Construction Permit Fee
  6. In the original Congressional fee schedule, the FM Construction Permit fee was set at $500 (Five times the AM Construction Permit Fee of $100). In succeeding year's schedules, nearly the same relationship has prevailed as evidenced by the calculated FM Construction Permit fee for FY 1999 of $1,250 (compared to the calculated AM Construction Permit fee for FY 1999 of $255).
  7. Several parties have informally expressed concern that the FM Construction Permit fee is out of proportion in relation to the fees imposed on licensed FM stations particularly in less populated areas. At the same time, it should be noted that the regulatory costs borne by the Commission applicable to FM Construction Permits is significantly higher than its costs for AM Construction Permits.
  8. We seek comment on a staff proposal to make a permitted amendment to the schedule of regulatory fees for FY 1999 reducing the FM Construction Permit fee to $765 (three times the AM Construction Permit fee). This reduction would result in a loss of $145,500 in estimated regulatory fee collections. v. Effect of Revenue Redistributions on Major Constituencies
  9. The following chart illustrates the relative percentage of the overall revenue requirements borne by the major constituencies since the inception of regulatory fees in FY 1994.
    
    Percentage of Revenue Collected by Constituency
    
    FY 1994
    
    FY 1995
    
    FY 1996
    
    FY 1997
    
    FY 1998
    
    FY 1999 (actual)
    
    (actual)
    
    (actual)
    
    (actual)
    
    (actual) (proposed)
    
    Cable TV Operators (Inc. CARS Licenses).................
    
    41.4
    
    24.0
    
    33.4
    
    21.8
    
    17.9
    
    17.9 Broadcast Licensees.....................................
    
    23.8
    
    13.8
    
    14.6
    
    14.1
    
    15.6
    
    15.4 Satellite Operators (Inc. Earth Stations)...............
    
    3.3
    
    3.6
    
    4.0
    
    5.0
    
    5.3
    
    5.6 Common Carriers.........................................
    
    25.0
    
    44.5
    
    40.9
    
    49.8
    
    47.5
    
    47.1 Wireless Licensees......................................
    
    6.5
    
    14.1
    
    7.1
    
    9.3
    
    13.7
    
    14.0
    
    Total...............................................
    
    100.0
    
    100.0
    
    100.0
    
    100.0
    
    100.0
    
    100.0
3. Notice of Inquiry Issues
  1. On November 10, 1998, the Commission adopted a Notice of Inquiry in this proceeding seeking comments on five specific issues.‹SUP›20‹/SUP› Briefly, the issues for which comments were sought included: (1) Clarification of the Commercial Mobile Radio Services (``CMRS'') fee categories and demarcation of which types of services or usage to include in each category; ‹SUP›21‹/SUP› (2) determination of the appropriate basis for assessing regulatory fees on geostationary orbit space stations (``GSOs''); (3) determination of the appropriate method of assessing our regulatory costs associated with non- geostationary orbit space station systems (``NGSOs'') to licensees which have launched satellites or to all NGSO licensees; (4) whether we should base revenues for interstate telephone service providers on the Universal Services Fund's end user methodology rather than the Telecommunication Relay Services Fund adjusted gross revenue methodology; and (5) whether we should create a ``new services'' category in our cost accounting system in which costs associated with development of new services, regardless of the service, would be proportionately assessed to all feeable categories rather than assessed to existing licensees in the same service category.
    
    \20\ 63 FR 70090 (Dec. 18, 1998).
    
    \21\ In this regard we specifically request additional comments on a proposal raised by BellSouth Wireless in its Petitions for Reconsideration of the FY 1997 and FY 1998 Rulemakings, that the Commission reclassify 900 MHz SMR Service into the CMRS Message Service.
  2. In the interest of expediting this NPRM, we are deferring analysis of the comments and replies received pursuant to the NOI for inclusion in the final Report and Order in this proceeding. Commenters do not need to resubmit these same arguments in response to this NPRM. Further, the basis for assessing revenues for interstate telephone service providers is best delayed until the conclusion of CC Docket No. 98-171, In the Matter of 1998 biennial Regulatory Review--Streamlined Contributor Reporting Requirements Associated with Administration of Telecommunications Relay Services, North American Numbering Plan, Local Number Portability, and Universal Service support Mechanisms.‹SUP›22‹/SUP›
    
    \22\ FCC 98-233, released September 25, 1998, 63 FR 54090 (Oct. 8, 1998).
4. Procedures for Payment of Regulatory Fees
  1. Generally, we propose to retain the procedures that we have established for the payment of regulatory fees. Section 9(f) requires that we permit ``payment by installments in the case of fees in large amounts, and in the case of small amounts, shall require the payment of the fee in advance for a
    
    [[Page 16664]]
    
    number of years not to exceed the term of the license held by the payer.'' See 47 U.S.C. 159(f)(1). Consistent with section 9(f), we are again proposing to establish three categories of fee payments, based upon the category of service for which the fee payment is due and the amount of the fee to be paid. The fee categories are (1) ``standard'' fees, (2) ``large'' fees, and (3) ``small'' fees. i. Annual Payments of Standard Fees
  2. As we have in the past, we are proposing to treat regulatory fee payments by certain licensees as ``standard fees'' which are those regulatory fees that are payable in full on an annual basis. Payers of standard fees are not required to make advance payments for their full license term and are not eligible for installment payments. All standard fees are payable in full on the date we establish for payment of fees in their regulatory fee category. The payment dates for each regulatory fee category will be announced either in the Report and Order terminating this proceeding or by public notice in the Federal Register pursuant to authority delegated to the Managing Director. ii. Installment Payments for Large Fees
  3. While we are mindful that time constraints may preclude an opportunity for installment payments, we propose that regulatees in any category of service with a liability of $12,000 or more be eligible to make installment payments and that eligibility for installment payments be based upon the amount of either a single regulatory fee payment or combination of fee payments by the same licensee or regulatee. We propose that regulatees eligible to make installment payments may submit their required fees in two equal payments (on dates to be announced) or, in the alternative, in a single payment on the date that their final installment payment is due. Due to statutory constraints concerning notification to Congress prior to actual collection of the fees, however, it is unlikely that there will be sufficient time for installment payments, and that regulatees eligible to make installment payments will be required to pay these fees on the last date that fee payments may be submitted. The dates for installment payments, or a single payment, will be announced either in the Report and Order terminating this proceeding or by public notice published in the Federal Register pursuant to authority delegated to the Managing Director. iii. Advance Payments of Small Fees
  4. As we have in the past, we are proposing to treat regulatory fee payments by certain licensees as ``small'' fees subject to advance payment consistent with the requirements of section 9(f)(2). We propose that advance payments will be required from licensees of those services that we decided would be subject to advance payments in our FY 1994 Report and Order, and to those additional payers set forth herein.‹SUP›23‹/SUP› We are also proposing that payers of advance fees will submit the entire fee due for the full term of their licenses when filing their initial, renewal, or reinstatement application. Regulatees subject to a payment of small fees shall pay the amount due for the current fiscal year multiplied by the number of years in the term of their requested license. In the event that the required fee is adjusted following their payment of the fee, the payer would not be subject to the payment of a new fee until filing an application for renewal or reinstatement of the license. Thus, payment for the full license term would be made based upon the regulatory fee applicable at the time the application is filed. The effective date for payment of small fees established in this proceeding will be announced in our Report and Order terminating this proceeding or by public notice published in the Federal Register pursuant to authority delegated to the Managing Director.
    
    \23\ Applicants for new, renewal and reinstatement licenses in the following services will be required to pay their regulatory fees in advance: Land Mobile Services, Microwave Services, Marine (Ship) Service, Marine (Coast) Service, Private Land Mobile (Other) Services, Aviation (Aircraft) Service, Aviation (Ground) Service, General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).
    
    iv. Minimum Fee Payment Liability
  5. As we have in the past, we are proposing that regulatees whose total regulatory fee liability, including all categories of fees for which payment is due by an entity, amounts to less than $10 will be exempted from fee payment in FY 1999. v. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates
  6. As noted, the time for payment of standard fees and any installment payments will be announced in our Report and Order terminating this proceeding or will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to authority delegated to the Managing Director. For licensees, permittees and holders of other authorizations in the Common Carrier, Mass Media, and Cable Services whose fees are not based on a subscriber, unit, or circuit count, we are proposing that fees be paid for any authorization issued on or before October 1, 1998.‹SUP›24‹/SUP›
    
    \24\ Where a license or authorization is transferred or assigned after October 1, 1998, the fee shall be paid by the licensee or holder of the authorization on the date that the payment is due.
  7. In the case of regulatees whose fees are based upon a subscriber, unit or circuit count, the number of a regulatees' subscribers, units or circuits on December 31, 1998, will be used to calculate the fee payment.‹SUP›25‹/SUP›
    
    \25\ Cable system operators are to compute their subscribers as follows: Number of single family dwellings + number of individual households in multiple dwelling unit (apartments, condominiums, mobile home parks, etc.) paying at the basic subscriber rate + bulk rate customers + courtesy and free service. Note: Bulk-Rate Customers = Total annual bulk-rate charge divided by basic annual subscription rate for individual households. Cable system operators may base their count on ``a typical day in the last full week'' of December 1998, rather than on a count as of December 31, 1998.
5. Schedule of Regulatory Fees
  1. The Commission's proposed Schedule of Regulatory Fees for FY 1999 is contained in Attachment D of this NPRM.
Procedural Matters
1. Comment Period and Procedures
  1. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before April 19, 1999, and reply comments on or before April 29, 1999. Comments may be filedusing the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.‹SUP›26‹/SUP›
    
    \26\ Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
  2. Comments filedthrough the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to ‹http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html›. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. However, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by e- mail via Internet. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, ``get form ‹your e-mail address.'' A sample form and directions will be sent in reply.
  3. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four
    
    [[Page 16665]]
    
    copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appear in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. All filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554.
  4. Parties who choose to file by paper should also submit their comments on diskette. These diskettes should be submitted to: Terry Johnson, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., 1-C807, Washington, D.C. 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM compatible format using WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows or compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover letter and should be submitted in ``read only'' mode. The diskette should be clearly labelled with the commenter's name, proceeding (including the lead docket number in this case MD Docket No. 98-200, type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date of submission, and the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The label should also include the following phrase ``Disk Copy--Not an Original.'' Each diskette should contain only one party's pleadings, preferably in a single electronic file. In addition, commenters must send diskette copies to the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037.
  5. Documents filedin this proceeding will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, of the Federal Communications Commission, Room CY-A257, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, and will be placed on the Commission's ``Internet site.''
2. Ex Parte Rules
  1. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rulemaking proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, except during the Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed pursuant to the Commission's rules.‹SUP›27‹/SUP›
  \27\ 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203 and 1026(a).
3. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
  1. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act,‹SUP›28‹/SUP› the Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible impact on small entities of the proposals suggested in this document. The IRFA is set forth as Attachment A. Written public comments are requested with respect to the IRFA. These comments must be filedin accordance with the same filing deadlines for comments on the rest of the NPRM, but they must have a separate and distinct heading, designating the comments as responses to the IRFA. The Office of Public Affairs, Reference Operations Division, shall send a copy of this NPRM, including the IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
  \28\ 5 U.S.C. 603.
4. Authority and Further Information
  1. Authority for this proceeding is contained in sections 4(i) and (j), 9, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.‹SUP›29‹/SUP› It is ordered that this NPRM is adopted. It is further ordered that the Commission's Office of Public Affairs, Reference Operations Division, shall send a copy of this NPRM, including the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
    
    \29\ 47 U.S.C. 154(i)-(j), 159, & 303(r).
  2. Further information about this proceeding may be obtained by contacting the Fees Hotline at (202) 418-0192.
    
    Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary.
    
    Attachment A--Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
  3. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA),‹SUP›30‹/SUP› the Commission has prepared this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact on small entities by the policies and rules proposed in the present Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, In the Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 1999. Written public comments are requested on this IRFA. Comments must be identified as responses to the IRFA and must be filedby the deadlines for comments on the IRFA provided above in paragraph 31. The Commission will send a copy of the NPRM, including this IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.‹SUP›31‹/SUP› In addition, the NPRM and IRFA (or summaries thereof) will be published in the Federal Register.‹SUP›32‹/SUP›
    
    \30\ 5 U.S.C. 603. The RFA, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., has been amended by the Contract With America Advancement Act of 1996, Public Law No. 104-121, 110 Stat. 847 (1996) (CWAAA). Title II of the CWAAA is the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA).
    
    \31\ 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
    
    \32\ Id.
Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules
1. This rulemaking proceeding is initiated to obtain comments concerning the Commission's proposed amendment of its Schedule of Regulatory Fees. For Fiscal Year 1999, we intend to collect regulatory fees in the amount of $172,523,000, the amount that Congress has required the Commission to recover. The Commission seeks to collect the necessary amount through its proposed revised fees, as contained in the attached Schedule of Regulatory Fees, in the most efficient manner possible and without undue burden to the public.
Legal Basis
1. This action, including publication of proposed rules, is authorized under Sections (4)(i) and (j), 9, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.‹SUP›33‹/SUP›
\33\ 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j), 159, and 303(r).
Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the Proposed Rules Will Apply
1. The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of and, where feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.‹SUP›34‹/SUP› The RFA generally defines the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the terms ``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small governmental jurisdiction.'' ‹SUP›35‹/SUP› In addition, the term ``small business'' has the same meaning as the term ``small business concern'' under the Small Business Act.‹SUP›36‹/SUP› A small business concern is one which: (1) is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business Administration (SBA).‹SUP›37‹/SUP› A small organization is generally ``any not-for- profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field.'' ‹SUP›38‹/SUP› Nationwide, as of 1992, there were approximately
  
  [[Page 16666]]
  
  275,801 small organizations.‹SUP›39‹/SUP› ``Small governmental jurisdiction'' generally means ``governments of cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special districts, with a population of less than 50,000.'' ‹SUP›40‹/SUP› As of 1992, there were approximately 85,006 such jurisdictions in the United States.‹SUP›41‹/SUP› This number includes 38,978 counties, cities, and towns; of these, 37,566, or 96 percent, have populations of fewer than 50,000.‹SUP›42‹/SUP› The Census Bureau estimates that this ratio is approximately accurate for all governmental entities. Thus, of the 85,006 governmental entities, we estimate that 81,600 (91 percent) are small entities. We further describe and estimate the number of small entity licensees and regulatees that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \34\ 5 U.S.C. 603(b)(3).
  
  \35\ Id. 601(6).
  
  \36\ 5 U.S.C. 601(3) (incorporating by reference the definition of ``small business concern'' in 15 U.S.C. 632). Pursuant to the RFA, the statutory definition of a small business applies ``unless an agency, after consultation with the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and after opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more definitions of such term which are appropriate to the activities of the agency and publishes such definition(s) in the Federal Register.'' 5 U.S.C. 601(3).
  
  \37\ Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632 (1996).
  
  \38\ 5 U.S.C. 601(4).
  
  \39\ 1992 Economic Census, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Table 6 (special tabulation of data under contract to Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration).
  
  \40\ 5 U.S.C. 601(5).
  
  \41\ U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, ``1992 Census of Governments.''
  
  \42\ Id.
  
  Cable Services or Systems
2. The SBA has developed a definition of small entities for cable and other pay television services, which includes all such companies generating $11 million or less in revenue annually.‹SUP›43‹/SUP› This definition includes cable systems operators, closed circuit television services, direct broadcast satellite services, multipoint distribution systems, satellite master antenna systems and subscription television services. According to the Census Bureau data from 1992, there were 1,788 total cable and other pay television services and 1,423 had less than $11 million in revenue.‹SUP›44‹/SUP›
  
  \43\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4841.
  
  \44\ 1992 Economic Census Industry and Enterprise Receipts Size Report, Table 2D, SIC code 4841 (U.S. Bureau of the Census data under contract to the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration).
3. The Commission has developed its own definition of a small cable system operator for the purposes of rate regulation. Under the Commission's rules, a ``small cable company'' is one serving fewer than 400,000 subscribers nationwide.‹SUP›45‹/SUP› Based on our most recent information, we estimate that there were 1,439 cable operators that qualified as small cable system operators at the end of 1995.‹SUP›46‹/SUP› Since then, some of those companies may have grown to serve over 400,000 subscribers, and others may have been involved in transactions that caused them to be combined with other cable operators. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 1,439 small entity cable system operators.
  
  \45\ 47 CFR 76.901(e). The Commission developed this definition based on its determination that a small cable system operator is one with annual revenues of $100 million or less. Implementation of Sections of the 1992 Cable Act: Rate Regulation, Sixth Report and Order and Eleventh Order on Reconsideration, 10 FCC Rcd 7393 (1995), 60 FR 10534 (Feb. 27, 1995).
  
  \46\ Paul Kagan Associates, Inc., Cable TV Investor, Feb. 29, 1996 (based on figures for Dec. 30, 1995).
4. The Communications Act also contains a definition of a small cable system operator, which is ``a cable operator that, directly or through an affiliate, serves in the aggregate fewer than 1 percent of all subscribers in the United States and is not affiliated with any entity or entities whose gross annual revenues in the aggregate exceed $250,000,000.'' ‹SUP›47‹/SUP› The Commission has determined that there are 66,000,000 subscribers in the United States. Therefore, we found that an operator serving fewer than 660,000 subscribers shall be deemed a small operator, if its annual revenues, when combined with the total annual revenues of all of its affiliates, do not exceed $250 million in the aggregate.‹SUP›48‹/SUP› Based on available data, we find that the number of cable operators serving 660,000 subscribers or less totals 1,450.‹SUP›49‹/SUP› We do not request nor do we collect information concerning whether cable system operators are affiliated with entities whose gross annual revenues exceed $250,000,000,‹SUP›50‹/SUP› and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of cable system operators that would qualify as small cable operators under the definition in the Communications Act. It should be further noted that recent industry estimates project that there will be a total 64,000,000 subscribers, and we have based our fee revenue estimates on that figure.
  
  \47\ 47 U.S.C. 543(m)(2).
  
  \48\ Id. 76.1403(b).
  
  \49\ Paul Kagan Associates, Inc., Cable TV Investor, Feb. 29, 1996 (based on figures for Dec. 30, 1995).
  
  \50\ We do receive such information on a case-by-case basis only if a cable operator appeals a local franchise authority's finding that the operator does not qualify as a small cable operator pursuant to section 76.1403(b) of the Commission's rules. See 47 CFR 76.1403(d).
5. Other Pay Services. Other pay television services are also classified under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 4841, which includes cable systems operators, closed circuit television services, direct broadcast satellite services (DBS),‹SUP›51‹/SUP› multipoint distribution systems (MDS),‹SUP›52‹/SUP› satellite master antenna systems (SMATV), and subscription television services.
  
  \51\ Direct Broadcast Services (DBS) are discussed with the international services, infra.
  
  \52\ Multipoint Distribution Services (MDS) are discussed with the mass media services, infra.
  
  Common Carrier Services and Related Entities
6. The most reliable source of information regarding the total numbers of certain common carrier and related providers nationwide, as well as the numbers of commercial wireless entities, appears to be data the Commission publishes annually in its Telecommunications Industry Revenue report, regarding the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS).‹SUP›53‹/SUP› According to data in the most recent report, there are 3,459 interstate carriers.‹SUP›54‹/SUP› These carriers include, inter alia, local exchange carriers, wireline carriers and service providers, interexchange carriers, competitive access providers, operator service providers, pay telephone operators, providers of telephone toll service, providers of telephone exchange service, and resellers.
  
  \53\ FCC, Telecommunications Industry Revenue: TRS Fund Worksheet Data, Figure 2 (Number of Carriers Paying Into the TRS Fund by Type of Carrier) (Nov. 1997) (Telecommunications Industry Revenue).
  
  \54\ Id.
7. The SBA has defined establishments engaged in providing ``Radiotelephone Communications'' and ``Telephone Communications, Except Radiotelephone'' to be small businesses when they have no more than 1,500 employees.‹SUP›55‹/SUP› We discuss the total estimated number of telephone companies falling within the two categories and the number of small businesses in each, and we then attempt to refine further those estimates to correspond with the categories of telephone companies that are commonly used under our rules.
  
  \55\ 13 CFR 121.201, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 4812 and 4813. See also Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Standard Industrial Classification Manual (1987).
8. Although some affected incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) may have 1,500 or fewer employees, we do not believe that such entities should be considered small entities within the meaning of the RFA because they are either dominant in their field of operations or are not independently owned and operated, and therefore by definition not ``small entities'' or ``small business concerns'' under the RFA. Accordingly, our use of the terms ``small entities'' and ``small businesses'' does not encompass small ILECs. Out of an abundance of caution, however, for regulatory flexibility analysis purposes, we will separately consider small ILECs within this
  
  [[Page 16667]]
  
  analysis and use the term ``small ILECs'' to refer to any ILECs that arguably might be defined by the SBA as ``small business concerns.'' ‹SUP›56‹/SUP›
  
  \56\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4813. Since the time of the Commission's 1996 decision, Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, First Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 15499, 16144-45 (1996), 61 FR 45476 (Aug. 29, 1996), the Commission has consistently addressed in its regulatory flexibility analyses the impact of its rules on such ILECs.
9. Total Number of Telephone Companies Affected. The U.S. Bureau of the Census (``Census Bureau'') reports that, at the end of 1992, there were 3,497 firms engaged in providing telephone services, as defined therein, for at least one year.‹SUP›57‹/SUP› This number contains a variety of different categories of carriers, including local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, competitive access providers, cellular carriers, mobile service carriers, operator service providers, pay telephone operators, personal communications services providers, covered specialized mobile radio providers, and resellers. It seems certain that some of those 3,497 telephone service firms may not qualify as small entities or small ILECs because they are not ``independently owned and operated.'' ‹SUP›58‹/SUP› For example, a PCS provider that is affiliated with an interexchange carrier having more than 1,500 employees would not meet the definition of a small business. It is reasonable to conclude that fewer than 3,497 telephone service firms are small entity telephone service firms or small ILECs that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \57\ U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1992 Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities: Establishment and Firm Size, at Firm Size 1-123 (1995) (1992 Census).
  
  \58\ See generally 15 U.S.C. 632(a)(1).
10. Wireline Carriers and Service Providers. The SBA has developed a definition of small entities for telephone communications companies except radiotelephone (wireless) companies. The Census Bureau reports that there were 2,321 such telephone companies in operation for at least one year at the end of 1992.‹SUP›59‹/SUP› According to the SBA's definition, a small business telephone company other than a radiotelephone company is one employing no more than 1,500 persons.‹SUP›60‹/SUP› All but 26 of the 2,321 non-radiotelephone companies listed by the Census Bureau were reported to have fewer than 1,000 employees. Thus, even if all 26 of those companies had more than 1,500 employees, there would still be 2,295 non-radiotelephone companies that might qualify as small entities or small ILECs. We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of wireline carriers and service providers that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that fewer than 2,295 small telephone communications companies other than radiotelephone companies are small entities or small ILECs that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \59\ 1992 Census, supra, at Firm Size 1-123.
  
  \60\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4813.
11. Local Exchange Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition for small providers of local exchange services (LECs). The closest applicable definition under the SBA rules is for telephone communications companies other than radiotelephone (wireless) companies.‹SUP›61‹/SUP› According to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 1,371 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of local exchange services.‹SUP›62‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are either dominant in their field of operations, are not independently owned and operated, or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of LECs that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that fewer than 1,371 providers of local exchange service are small entities or small ILECs that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \61\ Id.
  
  \62\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
12. Interexchange Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to providers of interexchange services (IXCs). The closest applicable definition under the SBA rules is for telephone communications companies other than radiotelephone (wireless) companies.‹SUP›63‹/SUP› According to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 143 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of interexchange services.‹SUP›64‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of IXCs that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 143 small entity IXCs that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \63\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4813.
  
  \64\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
13. Competitive Access Providers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to competitive access services providers (CAPs). The closest applicable definition under the SBA rules is for telephone communications companies other than except radiotelephone (wireless) companies.‹SUP›65‹/SUP› According to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 109 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of competitive access services.‹SUP›66‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated, or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of CAPs that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 109 small entity CAPs that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \65\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4813.
  
  \66\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
14. Operator Service Providers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to providers of operator services. The closest applicable definition under the SBA rules is for telephone communications companies other than radiotelephone (wireless) companies.‹SUP›67‹/SUP› According to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 27 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of operator services.‹SUP›68‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of operator service providers that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 27 small entity operator service providers that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \67\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4813.
  
  \68\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
15. Pay Telephone Operators. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has
  
  [[Page 16668]]
  
  developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to pay telephone operators. The closest applicable definition under SBA rules is for telephone communications companies other than radiotelephone (wireless) companies.‹SUP›69‹/SUP› According to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 441 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of pay telephone services.‹SUP›70‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of pay telephone operators that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 441 small entity pay telephone operators that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \69\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4813.
  
  \70\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
16. Resellers (including debit card providers). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to resellers. The closest applicable SBA definition for a reseller is a telephone communications company other than radiotelephone (wireless) companies.‹SUP›71‹/SUP› According to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 339 reported that they were engaged in the resale of telephone service.‹SUP›72‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of resellers that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 339 small entity resellers that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \71\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4813.
  
  \72\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
17. 800 Service Subscribers.‹SUP›73‹/SUP› Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to 800 service (``toll free'') subscribers. The most reliable source of information regarding the number of 800 service subscribers appears to be data the Commission collects on the 800 numbers in use.‹SUP›74‹/SUP› According to our most recent data, at the end of 1995, the number of 800 numbers in use was 6,987,063. Similarly, the most reliable source of information regarding the number of 888 service subscribers appears to be data the Commission collects on the 888 numbers in use.‹SUP›75‹/SUP› According to our most recent data, at the end of August 1996, the number of 888 numbers that had been assigned was 2,014,059. We do not have data specifying the number of these subscribers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of toll free subscribers that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 6,987,063 small entity 800 subscribers and fewer than 2,014,059 small entity 888 subscribers that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \73\ We include all toll-free number subscribers in this category, including 888 numbers.
  
  \74\ FCC, CCB Industry Analysis Division, FCC Releases, Study on Telephone Trends, Tbl. 20 (May 16, 1996).
  
  \75\ FCC, CCB Industry Analysis Division, Long Distance Carrier Code Assignments, p. 80, Tbl. 10B (Oct. 18, 1996).
  
  International Services
18. The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities applicable to licensees in the international services. Therefore, the applicable definition of small entity is generally the definition under the SBA rules applicable to Communications Services, Not Elsewhere Classified (NEC).‹SUP›76‹/SUP› This definition provides that a small entity is expressed as one with $11.0 million or less in annual receipts.‹SUP›77‹/SUP› According to the Census Bureau, there were a total of 848 communications services providers, NEC, in operation in 1992, and a total of 775 had annual receipts of less than $9.999 million.‹SUP›78‹/SUP› The Census report does not provide more precise data.
  
  \76\ An exception is the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Service, infra.
  
  \77\ 13 CFR 120.121, SIC code 4899.
  
  \78\ 1992 Economic Census Industry and Enterprise Receipts Size Report, Table 2D, SIC code 4899 (U.S. Bureau of the Census data under contract to the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration).
19. International Broadcast Stations. Commission records show that there are 20 international broadcast station licensees. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate the number of international broadcast licensees that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition. However, the Commission estimates that only six international broadcast stations are subject to regulatory fee payments.
20. International Public Fixed Radio (Public and Control Stations). There are 3 licensees in this service subject to payment of regulatory fees. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate the number of international broadcast licensees that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
21. Fixed Satellite Transmit/Receive Earth Stations. There are approximately 3100 earth station authorizations, a portion of which are Fixed Satellite Transmit/Receive Earth Stations. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate the number of the earth stations that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
22. Fixed Satellite Small Transmit/Receive Earth Stations. There are 3100 earth station authorizations, a portion of which are Fixed Satellite Small Transmit/Receive Earth Stations. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate the number of fixed satellite transmit/receive earth stations that may constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
23. Fixed Satellite Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Systems. These stations operate on a primary basis, and frequency coordination with terrestrial microwave systems is not required. Thus, a single ``blanket'' application may be filedfor a specified number of small antennas and one or more hub stations. The Commission has processed 377 applications. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate the number of VSAT systems that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
24. Mobile Satellite Earth Stations. There are 11 licensees. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate of the number of mobile satellite earth stations that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
25. Radio Determination Satellite Earth Stations. There are four licensees. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate the number of radio determination satellite earth stations that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
26. Space Stations (Geostationary). Commission records reveal that there are 43 Geostationary Space Station licensees. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate the number of geostationary space stations that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
  
  [[Page 16669]]
27. Space Stations (Non-Geostationary). There are 12 Non- Geostationary Space Station licensees, of which only two systems are operational. We do not request nor collect annual revenue information, and thus are unable to estimate of the number of non-geostationary space stations that would constitute a small business under the SBA definition.
28. Direct Broadcast Satellites. Because DBS provides subscription services, DBS falls within the SBA-recognized definition of ``Cable and Other Pay Television Services.''‹SUP›79‹/SUP› This definition provides that a small entity is one with $11.0 million or less in annual receipts.‹SUP›80‹/SUP› As of December 1996, there were eight DBS licensees. However, the Commission does not collect annual revenue data for DBS and, therefore, is unable to ascertain the number of small DBS licensees that could be impacted by these proposed rules. Although DBS service requires a great investment of capital for operation, there are several new entrants in this field that may not yet have generated $11 million in annual receipts, and therefore may be categorized as small businesses, if independently owned and operated.
  
  \79\ 13 CFR 120.121, SIC code 4841.
  
  \80\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4841.
  
  Mass Media Services
29. Commercial Radio and Television Services. The proposed rules and policies will apply to television broadcasting licensees and radio broadcasting licensees.\81\ The SBA defines a television broadcasting station that has $10.5 million or less in annual receipts as a small business.\82\ Television broadcasting stations consist of establishments primarily engaged in broadcasting visual programs by television to the public, except cable and other pay television services.\83\ Included in this industry are commercial, religious, educational, and other television stations.\84\ Also included are establishments primarily engaged in television broadcasting and which produce taped television program materials.\85\ Separate establishments primarily engaged in producing taped television program materials are classified under another SIC number. \86\ There were 1,509 television stations operating in the nation in 1992.\87\ That number has remained fairly constant as indicated by the approximately 1,564 operating television broadcasting stations in the nation as of December 31, 1997.\88\ For 1992,\89\ the number of television stations that produced less than $10.0 million in revenue was 1,155 establishments.\90\ Only commercial stations are subject to regulatory fees.
  
  \81\ While we tentatively believe that the SBA's definition of ``small business'' greatly overstates the number of radio and television broadcast stations that are small businesses and is not suitable for purposes of determining the impact of the proposals on small television and radio stations, for purposes of this Notice we utilize the SBA's definition in determining the number of small businesses to which the proposed rules would apply. We reserve the right to adopt, in the future, a more suitable definition of ``small business'' as applied to radio and television broadcast stations or other entities subject to the proposed rules in this Notice, and to consider further the issue of the number of small entities that are radio and television broadcasters or other small media entities. See Report and Order in MM Docket No. 93-48 (Children's Television Programming), 11 FCC Rcd 10660, 10737-38 (1996), 61 FR 43981 (Aug. 27, 1996), citing 5 U.S.C. 601(3).
  
  \82\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4833.
  
  \83\ Economics and Statistics Administration, Bureau of Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1992 Census of Transportation, Communications and Utilities, Establishment and Firm Size, Series UC92-S-1, Appendix A-9 (1995) (1992 Census, Series UC92-S-1).
  
  \84\ Id.; see Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Standard Industrial Classification Manual (1987), at 283, which describes ``Television Broadcasting Stations'' (SIC code 4833) as: ``Establishments primarily engaged in broadcasting visual programs by television to the public, except cable and other pay television services. Included in this industry are commercial, religious, educational and other television stations. Also included here are establishments primarily engaged in television broadcasting and which produce taped television program materials.''
  
  \85\ 1992 Census, Series UC92-S-1, at Appendix A-9.
  
  \86\ Id., SIC code 7812 (Motion Picture and Video Tape Production); SIC code 7922 (Theatrical Producers and Miscellaneous Theatrical Services) (producers of live radio and television programs).
  
  \87\ FCC News Release No. 31327 (Jan. 13, 1993); 1992 Census, Series UC92-S-1, at Appendix A-9.
  
  \88\ FCC News Release, ``Broadcast Station Totals as of Dec. 31, 1997.''
  
  \89\ A census to determine the estimated number of Communications establishments is performed every five years, in years ending with a ``2'' or ``7.'' See 1992 Census, Series UC92-S- 1, at III.
  
  \90\ The amount of $10 million was used to estimate the number of small business establishments because the relevant Census categories stopped at $9,999,999 and began at $10,000,000. No category for $10.5 million existed. Thus, the number is as accurate as it is possible to calculate with the available information.
30. Additionally, the Small Business Administration defines a radio broadcasting station that has $5 million or less in annual receipts as a small business.‹SUP›91‹/SUP› A radio broadcasting station is an establishment primarily engaged in broadcasting aural programs by radio to the public.‹SUP›92‹/SUP› Included in this industry are commercial, religious, educational, and other radio stations.‹SUP›93‹/SUP› Radio broadcasting stations which primarily are engaged in radio broadcasting and which produce radio program materials are similarly included.‹SUP›94‹/SUP› However, radio stations which are separate establishments and are primarily engaged in producing radio program material are classified under another SIC number.‹SUP›95‹/SUP› The 1992 Census indicates that 96 percent (5,861 of 6,127) radio station establishments produced less than $5 million in revenue in 1992.‹SUP›96‹/SUP› Official Commission records indicate that 11,334 individual radio stations were operating in 1992.‹SUP›97‹/SUP› As of December 31, 1997, Commission records indicate that 12,270 radio stations were operating, of which 7,465 were FM stations.‹SUP›98‹/SUP› Only commercial stations are subject to regulatory fees.
  
  \91\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4832.
  
  \92\ 1992 Census, Series UC92-S-1, at Appendix A-9.
  
  \93\ Id.
  
  \94\ Id.
  
  \95\ Id.
  
  \96\ The Census Bureau counts radio stations located at the same facility as one establishment. Therefore, each co-located AM/FM combination counts as one establishment.
  
  \97\ FCC News Release, No. 31327 (Jan. 13, 1993).
  
  \98\ FCC News Release, ``Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 1997.''
31. Thus, the proposed rules, if adopted, will affect approximately 1,558 full power television stations, approximately 1,200 of which are considered small businesses.‹SUP›99‹/SUP› Additionally, the proposed rules will affect some 12,156 full power radio stations, approximately 11,670 of which are small businesses.‹SUP›100‹/SUP› These estimates may overstate the number of small entities because the revenue figures on which they are based do not include or aggregate revenues from non- television or non-radio affiliated companies. There are also 1,952 low power television stations (LPTV).‹SUP›101‹/SUP› Given the nature of this service, we will presume that all LPTV licensees qualify as small entities under the SBA definition.
  
  \99\ We use the 77 percent figure of TV stations operating at less than $10 million for 1992 and apply it to the 1997 total of 1558 TV stations to arrive at 1,200 stations categorized as small businesses.
  
  \100\ We use the 96% figure of radio station establishments with less than $5 million revenue from the Census data and apply it to the 12,088 individual station count to arrive at 11,605 individual stations as small businesses.
  
  \101\ FCC News Release, No. 7033 (Mar. 6, 1997).
  
  Alternative Classification of Small Stations
32. An alternative way to classify small radio and television stations is by number of employees. The Commission currently applies a standard based on the number of employees in administering its Equal Employment Opportunity Rule (EEO) for broadcasting.‹SUP›102‹/SUP› Thus, radio or
  
  [[Page 16670]]
  
  television stations with fewer than five full-time employees are exempted from certain EEO reporting and record keeping requirements.‹SUP›103‹/SUP› We estimate that the total number of broadcast stations with 4 or fewer employees is approximately 4,239.‹SUP›104‹/SUP›
  
  \102\ The Commission's definition of a small broadcast station for purposes of applying its EEO rules was adopted prior to the requirement of approval by the SBA pursuant to section 3(a) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632(a), as amended by section 222 of the Small Business Credit and Business Opportunity Enhancement Act of 1992, Public Law 102-366, 222(b)(1), 106 Stat. 999 (1992), as further amended by the Small Business Administration Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 1994, Public Law 103-403, 301, 108 Stat. 4187 (1994). However, this definition was adopted after public notice and the opportunity for comment. See Report and Order in Docket No. 18244, 23 FCC 2d 430 (1970), 35 FR 8925 (Jun. 6, 1970).
  
  \103\ See, e.g., 47 CFR 73.3612 (Requirement to file annual employment reports on Form 395 applies to licensees with five or more full-time employees); First Report and Order in Docket No. 21474 (Amendment of Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and FCC Form 395), 70 FCC 2d 1466 (1979), 50 FR 50329 (Dec. 10, 1985). The Commission is currently considering how to decrease the administrative burdens imposed by the EEO rule on small stations while maintaining the effectiveness of our broadcast EEO enforcement. Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket No. 96-16 (Streamlining Broadcast EEO Rule and Policies, Vacating the EEO Forfeiture Policy Statement and Amending Section 1.80 of the Commission's Rules to Include EEO Forfeiture Guidelines), 11 FCC Rcd 5154 (1996), 61 FR 9964 (Mar. 12, 1996). One option under consideration is whether to define a small station for purposes of affording such relief as one with ten or fewer full-time employees.
  
  \104\ Compilation of 1994 Broadcast Station Annual Employment Reports (FCC Form B), Equal Opportunity Employment Branch, Mass Media Bureau, FCC.
  
  Auxiliary, Special Broadcast and Other Program Distribution Services
33. This service involves a variety of transmitters, generally used to relay broadcast programming to the public (through translator and booster stations) or within the program distribution chain (from a remote news gathering unit back to the station). The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities applicable to broadcast auxiliary licensees. Therefore, the applicable definitions of small entities are those, noted previously, under the SBA rules applicable to radio broadcasting stations and television broadcasting stations.‹SUP›105‹/SUP›
  
  \105\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4832.
34. There are currently 2,720 FM translators and boosters, 4,952 TV translators.‹SUP›106‹/SUP› The FCC does not collect financial information on any broadcast facility and the Department of Commerce does not collect financial information on these auxiliary broadcast facilities. We believe, however, that most, if not all, of these auxiliary facilities could be classified as small businesses by themselves. We also recognize that most translators and boosters are owned by a parent station which, in some cases, would be covered by the revenue definition of small business entity discussed above. These stations would likely have annual revenues that exceed the SBA maximum to be designated as a small business (either $5 million for a radio station or $10.5 million for a TV station). Furthermore, they do not meet the Small Business Act's definition of a ``small business concern'' because they are not independently owned and operated.‹SUP›107‹/SUP›
  
  \106\ FCC News Release, Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 1996, No. 71831 (Jan. 21, 1997).
  
  \107\ 15 U.S.C. 632.
35. Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS). This service involves a variety of transmitters, which are used to relay programming to the home or office, similar to that provided by cable television systems.‹SUP›108‹/SUP› In connection with the 1996 MDS auction the Commission defined small businesses as entities that had annual average gross revenues for the three preceding years not in excess of $40 million.‹SUP›109‹/SUP› This definition of a small entity in the context of MDS auctions has been approved by the SBA.‹SUP›110‹/SUP› These stations were licensed prior to implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.‹SUP›111‹/SUP› Licenses for new MDS facilities are now awarded to auction winners in Basic Trading Areas (BTAs) and BTA-like areas.‹SUP›112‹/SUP› The MDS auctions resulted in 67 successful bidders obtaining licensing opportunities for 493 BTAs. Of the 67 auction winners, 61 meet the definition of a small business. There are 1,573 previously authorized and proposed MDS stations currently licensed. Thus, we conclude that there are 1,634 MDS providers that are small businesses as deemed by the SBA and the Commission's auction rules. It is estimated, however, that only 1,650 MDS licensees are subject to regulatory fees and the number which are small businesses is unknown.
  
  \108\ For purposes of this item, MDS includes both the single channel Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) and the Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS).
  
  \109\ 47 CFR 1.2110(a)(1).
  
  \110\ Amendment of Parts 21 and 74 of the Commission's Rules with Regard to Filing Procedures in the Multipoint Distribution Service and in the Instructional Television Fixed Service and Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act-- Competitive Bidding, 10 FCC Rcd 9589 (1995), 60 FR 36524 (Jul. 17, 1995).
  
  \111\ 47 U.S.C. 309(j).
  
  \112\ Id. A Basic Trading Area (BTA) is the geographic area by which the Multipoint Distribution Service is licensed. See Rand McNally 1992 Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide, 123rd Edition, pp. 36-39.
  
  Wireless and Commercial Mobile Services
36. Cellular Licensees. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition of small entities applicable to cellular licensees. Therefore, the applicable definition of small entity is the definition under the SBA rules applicable to radiotelephone (wireless) companies. This provides that a small entity is a radiotelephone company employing no more than 1,500 persons.‹SUP›113‹/SUP› According to the Bureau of the Census, only twelve radiotelephone firms out of a total of 1,178 such firms which operated during 1992 had 1,000 or more employees.‹SUP›114‹/SUP› Therefore, even if all twelve of these firms were cellular telephone companies, nearly all cellular carriers were small businesses under the SBA's definition. In addition, we note that there are 1,758 cellular licenses; however, a cellular licensee may own several licenses. In addition, according to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 804 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of either cellular service or Personal Communications Service (PCS) services, which are placed together in the data.‹SUP›115‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of cellular service carriers that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 804 small cellular service carriers that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \113\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4812.
  
  \114\ 1992 Census, Series UC92-S-1, at Table 5, SIC code 4812.
  
  \115\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
37. 220 MHz Radio Service--Phase I Licensees. The 220 MHz service has both Phase I and Phase II licenses. Phase I licensing was conducted by lotteries in 1992 and 1993. There are approximately 1,515 such non- nationwide licensees and four nationwide licensees currently authorized to operate in the 220 MHz band. The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to such incumbent 220 MHz Phase I licensees. To estimate the number of such licensees that are small businesses, we apply the definition under the SBA rules applicable to Radiotelephone Communications companies. This definition provides that a small entity is a radiotelephone company employing
  
  [[Page 16671]]
  
  no more than 1,500 persons.‹SUP›116‹/SUP› According to the Bureau of the Census, only 12 radiotelephone firms out of a total of 1,178 such firms which operated during 1992 had 1,000 or more employees.‹SUP›117‹/SUP› Therefore, if this general ratio continues to 1999 in the context of Phase I 220 MHz licensees, we estimate that nearly all such licensees are small businesses under the SBA's definition.
  
  \116\ 13 CFR 121.201, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 4812.
  
  \117\ U.S. Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1992 Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities, UC92- S-1, Subject Series, Establishment and Firm Size, Table 5, Employment Size of Firms; 1992, SIC code 4812 (issued May 1995).
38. 220 MHz Radio Service--Phase II Licensees. The Phase II 220 MHz service is a new service, and is subject to spectrum auctions. In the 220 MHz Third Report and Order we adopted criteria for defining small businesses and very small businesses for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments.‹SUP›118‹/SUP› We have defined a small business as an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $15 million for the preceding three years. Additionally, a very small business is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that are not more than $3 million for the preceding three years.‹SUP›119‹/SUP› The SBA has approved these definitions.‹SUP›120‹/SUP› An auction of Phase II licenses commenced on September 15, 1998, and closed on October 22, 1998.‹SUP›121‹/SUP› 908 licenses were auctioned in 3 different-sized geographic areas: three nationwide licenses, 30 Regional Economic Area Group Licenses, and 875 Economic Area (EA) Licenses. Of the 908 licenses auctioned, 693 were sold. Companies claiming small business status won: one of the Nationwide licenses, 67% of the Regional licenses, and 54% of the EA licenses. As of January 22, 1999, the Commission announced that it was prepared to grant 654 of the Phase II licenses won at auction.‹SUP›122‹/SUP› A re-auction of the remaining, unsold licenses is likely to take place during calendar year 1999.
  
  \118\ 220 MHz Third Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 10943, 11068- 70, at paras. 291-295 (1997).
  
  \119\ 220 MHz Third Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 11068-69, para. 291.
  
  \120\ See Letter from A. Alvarez, Administrator, SBA, to D. Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC (Jan. 6, 1998).
  
  \121\ See generally Public Notice, ``220 MHz Service Auction Closes,'' Report No. WT 98-36 (Wireless Telecom. Bur. Oct. 23, 1998).
  
  \122\ Public Notice, ``FCC Announces It is Prepared to Grant 654 Phase II 220 MHz Licenses After Final Payment is Made,'' Report No. AUC-18-H, DA No. 99-229 (Wireless Telecom. Bur. Jan. 22, 1999).
39. Private and Common Carrier Paging. The Commission has proposed a two-tier definition of small businesses in the context of auctioning licenses in the Common Carrier Paging and exclusive Private Carrier Paging services. Under the proposal, a small business will be defined as either (1) an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues for the three preceding years of not more than $3 million, or (2) an entity that, together with affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues for the three preceding calendar years of not more than $15 million. Because the SBA has not yet approved this definition for paging services, we will utilize the SBA's definition applicable to radiotelephone companies, i.e., an entity employing no more than 1,500 persons.‹SUP›123‹/SUP› At present, there are approximately 24,000 Private Paging licenses and 74,000 Common Carrier Paging licenses. According to the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data, 172 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of either paging or ``other mobile'' services, which are placed together in the data.‹SUP›124‹/SUP› We do not have data specifying the number of these carriers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of paging carriers that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's definition. Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 172 small paging carriers that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted. We estimate that the majority of private and common carrier paging providers would qualify as small entities under the SBA definition.
  
  \123\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4812.
  
  \124\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
40. Mobile Service Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to mobile service carriers, such as paging companies. As noted above in the section concerning paging service carriers, the closest applicable definition under the SBA rules is that for radiotelephone (wireless) companies,‹SUP›125‹/SUP› and the most recent Telecommunications Industry Revenue data shows that 172 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of either paging or ``other mobile'' services.‹SUP›126‹/SUP› Consequently, we estimate that there are fewer than 172 small mobile service carriers that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted.
  
  \125\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4812.
  
  \126\ Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Figure 2.
41. Broadband Personal Communications Service (PCS). The broadband PCS spectrum is divided into six frequency blocks designated A through F, and the Commission has held auctions for each block. The Commission defined ``small entity'' for Blocks C and F as an entity that has average gross revenues of less than $40 million in the three previous calendar years.‹SUP›127‹/SUP› For Block F, an additional classification for ``very small business'' was added and is defined as an entity that, together with their affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years.‹SUP›128‹/SUP› These regulations defining ``small entity'' in the context of broadband PCS auctions have been approved by the SBA.‹SUP›129‹/SUP› No small businesses within the SBA-approved definition bid successfully for licenses in Blocks A and B. There were 90 winning bidders that qualified as small entities in the Block C auctions. A total of 93 small and very small business bidders won approximately 40% of the 1,479 licenses for Blocks D, E, and F.‹SUP›130‹/SUP› Based on this information, we conclude that the number of small broadband PCS licensees will include the 90 winning C Block bidders and the 93 qualifying bidders in the D, E, and F blocks, for a total of 183 small entity PCS providers as defined by the SBA and the Commission's auction rules.
  
  \127\ See Amendment of Parts 20 and 24 of the Commission's Rules--Broadband PCS Competitive Bidding and the Commercial Mobile Radio Service Spectrum Cap, Report and Order, FCC 96-278, WT Docket No. 96-59, paras. 57-60 (released Jun. 24, 1996), 61 FR 33859 (Jul. 1, 1996); see also 47 CFR 24.720(b).
  
  \128\ See Amendment of Parts 20 and 24 of the Commission's Rules--Broadband PCS Competitive Bidding and the Commercial Mobile Radio Service Spectrum Cap, Report and Order, FCC 96-278, WT Docket No. 96-59, para. 60 (1996), 61 FR 33859 (Jul. 1, 1996).
  
  \129\ See, e.g., Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act--Competitive Bidding, PP Docket No. 93-253, Fifth Report and Order, 9 FCC Rcd 5532, 5581-84 (1994).
  
  \130\ FCC News, Broadband PCS, D, E and F Block Auction Closes, No. 71744 (released Jan. 14, 1997).
42. Narrowband PCS. The Commission has auctioned nationwide and regional licenses for narrowband PCS. There are 11 nationwide and 30 regional licensees for narrowband PCS. The Commission does not have sufficient information to determine whether any of these licensees are small businesses within the SBA-approved
  
  [[Page 16672]]
  
  definition for radiotelephone companies. At present, there have been no auctions held for the major trading area (MTA) and basic trading area (BTA) narrowband PCS licenses. The Commission anticipates a total of 561 MTA licenses and 2,958 BTA licenses will be awarded by auction. Such auctions have not yet been scheduled, however. Given that nearly all radiotelephone companies have no more than 1,500 employees and that no reliable estimate of the number of prospective MTA and BTA narrowband licensees can be made, we assume, for purposes of this IRFA, that all of the licenses will be awarded to small entities, as that term is defined by the SBA.
43. Rural Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a definition of small entity specific to the Rural Radiotelephone Service.‹SUP›131‹/SUP› A significant subset of the Rural Radiotelephone Service is the Basic Exchange Telephone Radio Systems (BETRS).‹SUP›132‹/SUP› We will use the SBA's definition applicable to radiotelephone companies, i.e., an entity employing no more than 1,500 persons.‹SUP›133‹/SUP› There are approximately 1,000 licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone Service, and we estimate that almost all of them qualify as small entities under the SBA's definition.
  
  \131\ The service is defined in section 22.99of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 22.99.
  
  \132\ BETRS is defined in sections 22.757 and 22.759 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 22.757 and 22.759.
  
  \133\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4812.
44. Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a definition of small entity specific to the Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service.‹SUP›134‹/SUP› Accordingly, we will use the SBA's definition applicable to radiotelephone companies, i.e., an entity employing no more than 1,500 persons.‹SUP›135‹/SUP› There are approximately 100 licensees in the Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service, and we estimate that almost all of them qualify as small under the SBA definition.
  
  \134\ The service is defined in section 22.99of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 22.99.
  
  \135\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4812.
45. Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR). The Commission awards bidding credits in auctions for geographic area 800 MHz and 900 MHz SMR licenses to firms that had revenues of no more than $15 million in each of the three previous calendar years.‹SUP›136‹/SUP› In the context of 900 MHz SMR, this regulation defining ``small entity'' has been approved by the SBA; approval concerning 800 MHz SMR is being sought.
  
  \136\ 47 CFR 90.814(b)(1).
46. The proposed fees in the NPRM apply to SMR providers in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands that either hold geographic area licenses or have obtained extended implementation authorizations. We do not know how many firms provide 800 MHz or 900 MHz geographic area SMR service pursuant to extended implementation authorizations, nor how many of these providers have annual revenues of no more than $15 million. One firm has over $15 million in revenues. We assume, for purposes of this IRFA, that all of the remaining existing extended implementation authorizations are held by small entities, as that term is defined by the SBA.
47. For geographic area licenses in the 900 MHz SMR band, there are 60 who qualified as small entities. For the 800 MHz SMR's, 38 are small or very small entities.
48. Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR). PLMR systems serve an essential role in a range of industrial, business, land transportation, and public safety activities. These radios are used by companies of all sizes operating in all U.S. business categories. The Commission has not developed a definition of small entity specifically applicable to PLMR licensees due to the vast array of PLMR users. For the purpose of determining whether a licensee is a small business as defined by the SBA, each licensee would need to be evaluated within its own business area.
49. The Commission is unable at this time to estimate the number of small businesses which could be impacted by the rules. However, the Commission's 1994 Annual Report on PLMRs ‹SUP›137‹/SUP› indicates that at the end of fiscal year 1994 there were 1,087,267 licensees operating 12,481,989 transmitters in the PLMR bands below 512 MHz. Because any entity engaged in a commercial activity is eligible to hold a PLMR license, the proposed rules in this context could potentially impact every small business in the United States.
  
  \137\ Federal Communications Commission, 60th Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1994, at 116.
50. Amateur Radio Service. We estimate that 6,800 applicants will apply for vanity call signs in FY 1999. All are presumed to be individuals. All other amateur licensees are exempt from payment of regulatory fees.
51. Aviation and Marine Radio Service. Small businesses in the aviation and marine radio services use a marine very high frequency (VHF) radio, any type of emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and/or radar, a VHF aircraft radio, and/or any type of emergency locator transmitter (ELT). The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities specifically applicable to these small businesses. Therefore, the applicable definition of small entity is the definition under the SBA rules for radiotelephone communications.‹SUP›138‹/SUP›
  
  \138\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC code 4812.
52. Most applicants for recreational licenses are individuals. Approximately 581,000 ship station licensees and 131,000 aircraft station licensees operate domestically and are not subject to the radio carriage requirements of any statute or treaty. Therefore, for purposes of our evaluations and conclusions in this IRFA, we estimate that there may be at least 712,000 potential licensees which are individuals or are small entities, as that term is defined by the SBA. We estimate, however, that only 16,800 will be subject to FY 1999 regulatory fees.
53. Fixed Microwave Services. Microwave services include common carrier,‹SUP›139‹/SUP› private-operational fixed,‹SUP›140‹/SUP› and broadcast auxiliary radio services.‹SUP›141‹/SUP› At present, there are approximately 22,015 common carrier fixed licensees and 61,670 private operational-fixed licensees and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the microwave services. The Commission has not yet defined a small business with respect to microwave services. For purposes of this IRFA, we will utilize the SBA's definition applicable to radiotelephone companies--i.e., an entity with no more than 1,500 persons.‹SUP›142‹/SUP› We estimate, for this purpose, that all of the Fixed Microwave licensees (excluding broadcast auxiliary licensees) would qualify as small entities under the SBA
  
  [[Page 16673]]
  
  definition for radiotelephone companies.
  
  \139\ 47 CFR 101 et seq. (formerly, part 21 of the Commission's Rules).
  
  \140\ Persons eligible under parts 80 and 90 of the Commission's rules can use Private Operational-Fixed Microwave services. See 47 CFR parts 80 and 90. Stations in this service are called operational-fixed to distinguish them from common carrier and public fixed stations. Only the licensee may use the operational-fixed station, and only for communications related to the licensee's commercial, industrial, or safety operations.
  
  \141\ Auxiliary Microwave Service is governed by part 74 of Title 47 of the Commission's rules. See 47 CFR 74 et seq. Available to licensees of broadcast stations and to broadcast and cable network entities, broadcast auxiliary microwave stations are used for relaying broadcast television signals from the studio to the transmitter, or between two points such as a main studio and an auxiliary studio. The service also includes mobile TV pickups, which relay signals from a remote location back to the studio.
  
  \142\ 13 CFR 121.201, SIC 4812.
54. Public Safety Radio Services. Public Safety radio services include police, fire, local government, forestry conservation, highway maintenance, and emergency medical services.‹SUP›143‹/SUP› There are a total of approximately 127,540 licensees within these services. Governmental entities as well as private businesses comprise the licensees for these services. As indicated supra in paragraph four of this IRFA, all governmental entities with populations of less than 50,000 fall within the definition of a small entity.‹SUP›144‹/SUP› All licensees in this category are exempt from the payment of regulatory fees.
  
  \143\ With the exception of the special emergency service, these services are governed by Subpart B of part 90 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 90.15-90.27. The police service includes 26,608 licensees that serve state, county, and municipal enforcement through telephony (voice), telegraphy (code) and teletype and facsimile (printed material). The fire radio service includes 22,677 licensees comprised of private volunteer or professional fire companies as well as units under governmental control. The local government service that is presently comprised of 40,512 licensees that are state, county, or municipal entities that use the radio for official purposes not covered by other public safety services. There are 7,325 licensees within the forestry service which is comprised of licensees from state departments of conservation and private forest organizations who set up communications networks among fire lookout towers and ground crews. The 9,480 state and local governments are licensed to highway maintenance service provide emergency and routine communications to aid other public safety services to keep main roads safe for vehicular traffic. The 1,460 licensees in the Emergency Medical Radio Service (EMRS) use the 39 channels allocated to this service for emergency medical service communications related to the delivery of emergency medical treatment. 47 CFR 90.15-90.27. The 19,478 licensees in the special emergency service include medical services, rescue organizations, veterinarians, handicapped persons, disaster relief organizations, school buses, beach patrols, establishments in isolated areas, communications standby facilities, and emergency repair of public communications facilities. 47 CFR 90.33-90.55.
  
  \144\ 5 U.S.C. 601(5).
55. Personal Radio Services. Personal radio services provide short- range, low power radio for personal communications, radio signalling, and business communications not provided for in other services. The services include the citizen's band (CB) radio service, general mobile radio service (GMRS), radio control radio service, and family radio service (FRS).‹SUP›145‹/SUP› Inasmuch as the CB, GMRS, and FRS licensees are individuals, no small business definition applies for these services. We are unable at this time to estimate the number of other licensees that would qualify as small under the SBA's definition; however, only GMRS licensees are subject to regulatory fees.
  
  \145\ Licensees in the Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service, General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Radio Control (R/C) Radio Service and Family Radio Service (FRS) are governed by Subpart D, Subpart A, Subpart C, and Subpart B, respectively, of part 95 of the Commission's rules. 47 CFR 95.401-95.428; 95.1-95.181; 95.201- 95.225; 47 CFR 95.191-95.194.
56. Offshore Radiotelephone Service. This service operates on several UHF TV broadcast channels that are not used for TV broadcasting in the coastal area of the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico.‹SUP›146‹/SUP› At present, there are approximately 55 licensees in this service. We are unable at this time to estimate the number of licensees that would qualify as small under the SBA's definition for radiotelephone communications.
  
  \146\ This service is governed by subpart I of part 22 of the Commission's rules. See 47 CFR 22.1001-22.1037.
57. Wireless Communications Services. This service can be used for fixed, mobile, radiolocation and digital audio broadcasting satellite uses. The Commission defined ``small business'' for the wireless communications services (WCS) auction as an entity with average gross revenues of $40 million for each of the three preceding years, and a ``very small business'' as an entity with average gross revenues of $15 million for each of the three preceding years. The Commission auctioned geographic area licenses in the WCS service. In the auction, there were seven winning bidders that qualified as very small business entities, and one that qualified as a small business entity. We conclude that the number of geographic area WCS licensees affected includes these eight entities.
Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements
1. With certain exceptions, the Commission's Schedule of Regulatory Fees applies to all Commission licensees and regulatees. Most licensees will be required to count the number of licenses or call signs authorized, complete and submit an FCC Form 159 (``FCC Remittance Advice''), and pay a regulatory fee based on the number of licenses or call signs.‹SUP›147‹/SUP› Interstate telephone service providers must compute their annual regulatory fee based on their adjusted gross interstate revenue using information they already supply to the Commission in compliance with the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, and they must complete and submit the FCC Form 159. Compliance with the fee schedule will require some licensees to tabulate the number of units (e.g., cellular telephones, pagers, cable TV subscribers) they have in service, and complete and submit an FCC Form 159. Licensees ordinarily will keep a list of the number of units they have in service as part of their normal business practices. No additional outside professional skills are required to complete the FCC Form 159, and it can be completed by the employees responsible for an entity's business records.
  
  \147\ The following categories are exempt from the Commission's Schedule of Regulatory Fees: Amateur radio licensees (except applicants for vanity call signs) and operators in other non- licensed services (e.g., Personal Radio, part 15, ship and aircraft). Governments and non-profit (exempt under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code) entities are exempt from payment of regulatory fees and need not submit payment. Non-commercial educational broadcast licensees are exempt from regulatory fees as are licensees of auxiliary broadcast services such as low power auxiliary stations, television auxiliary service stations, remote pickup stations and aural broadcast auxiliary stations where such licenses are used in conjunction with commonly owned non-commercial educational stations. Emergency Alert System licenses for auxiliary service facilities are also exempt as are instructional television fixed service licensees. Regulatory fees are automatically waived for the licensee of any translator station that: (1) is not licensed to, in whole or in part, and does not have common ownership with, the licensee of a commercial broadcast station; (2) does not derive income from advertising; and (3) is dependent on subscriptions or contributions from members of the community served for support. Receive only earth station permittees are exempt from payment of regulatory fees. A regulatee will be relieved of its fee payment requirement if its total fee due, including all categories of fees for which payment is due by the entity, amounts to less than $10.
2. Each licensee must submit the FCC Form 159 to the Commission's lockbox bank after computing the number of units subject to the fee. As an option, licensees are permitted to file electronically or on computer diskette to minimize the burden of submitting multiple copies of the FCC Form 159. This latter, optional procedure may require additional technical skills. Licensees who pay small fees in advance supply fee information as part of their application and do not need to use the FCC Form 159.
3. Licensees and regulatees are advised that failure to submit the required regulatory fee in a timely manner will subject the licensee or regulatee to a late payment fee of 25 percent in addition to the required fee.‹SUP›148‹/SUP› Until payment is received, no new or pending applications will be processed, and existing authorizations may be subject to rescission.‹SUP›149‹/SUP› Further, in accordance with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, federal agencies may bar a person or entity from obtaining a federal loan or loan
  
  [[Page 16674]]
  
  insurance guarantee if that person or entity fails to pay a delinquent debt owed to any federal agency.‹SUP›150‹/SUP› Thus, debts owed to the Commission may result in a person or entity being denied a federal loan or loan guarantee pending before another federal agency until such obligations are paid.‹SUP›151‹/SUP›
  
  \148\ 47 U.S.C. 1.1164(a).
  
  \149\ 47 U.S.C. 1.1164(c).
  
  \150\ Public Law 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996).
  
  \151\ 31 U.S.C. 7701(c)(2)(B).
4. The Commission's rules currently provide for relief in exceptional circumstances. Persons or entities that believe they have been placed in the wrong regulatory fee category or are experiencing extraordinary and compelling financial hardship, upon a showing that such circumstances override the public interest in reimbursing the Commission for its regulatory costs, may request a waiver, reduction or deferment of payment of the regulatory fee.‹SUP›152‹/SUP› However, timely submission of the required regulatory fee must accompany requests for waivers or reductions. This will avoid any late payment penalty if the request is denied. The fee will be refunded if the request is granted. In exceptional and compelling instances (where payment of the regulatory fee along with the waiver or reduction request could result in reduction of service to a community or other financial hardship to the licensee), the Commission will accept a petition to defer payment along with a waiver or reduction request.
  
  \152\ 47 U.S.C. 1.1166.
Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities, and Significant Alternatives Considered
1. The Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1999, Public Law 105-277 requires the Commission to revise its Schedule of Regulatory Fees in order to recover the amount of regulatory fees that Congress, pursuant to Section 9(a) of the Communications Act, as amended, has required the Commission to collect for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999.‹SUP›153‹/SUP› We seek comment on the proposed methodology for implementing these statutory requirements and any other potential impact of these proposals on small entities.
  
  \153\ 47 U.S.C.159(a).
2. With the use of actual cost accounting data for computation of regulatory fees, we found that some fees which were very small in previous years would have increased dramatically. The methodology proposed in this NPRM minimizes this impact by limiting the amount of increase and shifting costs to other services which, for the most part, are larger entities.
3. Several categories of licensees and regulatees are exempt from payment of regulatory fees. See, e.g., footnote 108, supra, and Attachment H of the NPRM, infra.
Federal Rules That May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed Rules
1. None.
  
  BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
  
  [[Page 16675]]
  
  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AP99.001
  
  [[Page 16676]]
  
  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AP99.002
  
  [[Page 16677]]
  
  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AP99.003
  
  [[Page 16678]]
  
  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AP99.004
  
  [[Page 16679]]
  
  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AP99.005
  
  [[Page 16680]]
  
  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AP99.006
  
  [[Page 16681]]
  
  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AP99.007
  
  BILLING CODE 6712-01-C
  
  [[Page 16682]]
  
  Attachment F--Detailed Guidance on Who Must Pay Regulatory Fees
2. The guidelines below provide an explanation of regulatory fee categories established by the Schedule of Regulatory Fees in section 9 (g) of the Communications Act,‹SUP›155‹/SUP› as modified in the instant NPRM. Where regulatory fee categories need interpretation or clarification, we have relied on the legislative history of section 9, our own experience in establishing and regulating the Schedule of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Years (FY) 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 and the services subject to the fee schedule. The categories and amounts set out in the schedule have been modified to reflect changes in the number of payment units, additions and changes in the services subject to the fee requirement and the benefits derived from the Commission's regulatory activities, and to simplify the structure of the schedule. The schedule may be similarly modified or adjusted in future years to reflect changes in the Commission's budget and in the services regulated by the Commission.‹SUP›156‹/SUP›
  
  \155\ 47 U.S.C. 159(g)
  
  \156\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(2), (3).
3. Exemptions. Governments and nonprofit entities are exempt from paying regulatory fees and should not submit payment. A nonprofit entity may be asked to submit a current IRS Determination Letter documenting that it is exempt from taxes under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code or the certification of a governmental authority attesting to its nonprofit status. The governmental exemption applies even where the government-owned or community-owned facility is in competition with a commercial operation. Other specific exemptions are discussed below in the descriptions of other particular service categories.
4. Private Wireless Radio Services
5. Two levels of statutory fees were established for the Private Wireless Radio Services--exclusive use services and shared use services. Thus, licensees who generally receive a higher quality communication channel due to exclusive or lightly shared frequency assignments will pay a higher fee than those who share marginal quality assignments. This dichotomy is consistent with the directive of section 9, that the regulatory fees reflect the benefits provided to the licensees.‹SUP›157‹/SUP› In addition, because of the generally small amount of the fees assessed against Private Wireless Radio Service licensees, applicants for new licenses and reinstatements and for renewal of existing licenses are required to pay a regulatory fee covering the entire license term, with only a percentage of all licensees paying a regulatory fee in any one year. Applications for modification or assignment of existing authorizations do not require the payment of regulatory fees. The expiration date of those authorizations will reflect only the unexpired term of the underlying license rather than a new license term.
  
  \157\ 47 U.S.C. 159(b)(1)(A).
  
  a. Exclusive Use Services
6. Private Mobile Radio Services (PMRS): Regulatees in this category include those authorized under part 90 of the Commission's rules to provide limited access Wireless Radio service that allows high quality voice or digital communications between vehicles or to fixed stations to further the business activities of the licensee. These services, using the 220-222 MHz band and frequencies at 470 MHz and above, may be offered on a private carrier basis in the Specialized Mobile Radio Services (SMRS).‹SUP›158‹/SUP› For FY 1999, PMRS licensees will pay a $13 annual regulatory fee per license, payable for an entire five or ten year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal, or reinstatement license.‹SUP›159‹/SUP› The total regulatory fee due is either $65 for a license with a five year term or $130 for a license with a 10 year term.
  
  \158\ This category only applies to licensees of shared-use private 220-222 MHz and 470 MHz and above in the Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) service who have elected not to change to the Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS). Those who have elected to change to the CMRS are referred to paragraph 14 of this Attachment.
  
  \159\ Although this fee category includes licenses with ten-year terms, the estimated volume of ten-year license applications in FY 1999 is less than one-tenth of one percent and, therefore, is statistically insignificant.
7. Microwave Services: These services include private and commercial microwave systems and private and commercial carrier systems authorized under part 101 of the Commission's rules to provide telecommunications services between fixed points on a high quality channel of communications. Microwave systems are often used to relay data and to control railroad, pipeline, and utility equipment. Commercial systems typically are used for video or data transmission or distribution. For FY 1999, Microwave licensees will pay a $13 annual regulatory fee per license, payable for an entire ten year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal, or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee due is $130 for the ten year license term.
8. Interactive Video Data Service (IVDS): The IVDS is a two-way, point-to-multi-point radio service allocated high quality channels of communications and authorized under part 95 of the Commission's rules. The IVDS provides information, products, and services, and also the capability to obtain responses from subscribers in a specific service area. The IVDS is offered on a private carrier basis. The Commission does not anticipate receiving any applications in the IVDS during FY 1999. Therefore, for FY 1999, there is no regulatory fee for IVDS licensees. b. Shared Use Services
9. Marine (Ship) Service: This service is a shipboard radio service authorized under part 80 of the Commission's rules to provide telecommunications between watercraft or between watercraft and shore- based stations. Radio installations are required by domestic and international law for large passenger or cargo vessels. Radio equipment may be voluntarily installed on smaller vessels, such as recreational boats. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gave the Commission the authority to license certain ship stations by rule rather than by individual license. The Commission exercises that authority. Thus, private boat operators sailing entirely within domestic U.S. waters and who are not otherwise required by treaty or agreement to carry a radio, are no longer required to hold a marine license, and they will not be required to pay a regulatory fee. For FY 1999, parties required to be licensed and those choosing to be licensed for Marine (Ship) Stations will pay a $7 annual regulatory fee per station, payable for an entire ten-year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal, or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee due is $70 for the ten year license term.
10. Marine (Coast) Service: This service includes land-based stations in the maritime services, authorized under part 80 of the Commission's rules, to provide communications services to ships and other watercraft in coastal and inland waterways. For FY 1999, licensees of Marine (Coast) Stations will pay a $7 annual regulatory fee per call sign, payable for the entire five year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal, or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee due is $35 per call sign for the five-year license term.
11. Private Land Mobile (Other) Services: These services include Land Mobile Radio Services operating under parts 90 and 95 of the Commission's
  
  [[Page 16683]]
  
  rules. Services in this category provide one- or two-way communications between vehicles, persons or fixed stations on a shared basis and include radiolocation services, industrial radio services, and land transportation radio services. For FY 1999, licensees of services in this category will pay a $7 annual regulatory fee per call sign, payable for an entire five-year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal, or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee due is $35 for the five-year license term.
12. Aviation (Aircraft) Service: These services include stations authorized to provide communications between aircraft and between aircraft and ground stations and include frequencies used to communicate with air traffic control facilities pursuant to part 87 of the Commission's rules. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gave the Commission the authority to license certain aircraft radio stations by rule rather than by individual license. The commission exercises that authority. Thus, private aircraft operators flying entirely within domestic U.S. airspace and who are not otherwise required by treaty or agreement to carry a radio are no longer required to hold an aircraft license, and they will not be required to pay a regulatory fee. For FY 1999, parties required to be licensed and those choosing to be licensed for Aviation (Aircraft) Stations will pay a $7 annual regulatory fee per station, payable for the entire ten-year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal, or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee due is $70 per station for the ten-year license term.
13. Aviation (Ground) Service: This service includes stations authorized to provide ground-based communications to aircraft for weather or landing information, or for logistical support pursuant to part 87 of the Commission's rules. Certain ground-based stations which only serve itinerant traffic, i.e., possess no actual units on which to assess a fee, are exempt from payment of regulatory fees. For FY 1999, licensees of Aviation (Ground) Stations will pay a $7 annual regulatory fee per license, payable for the entire five-year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal, or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee is $35 per call sign for the five-year license term.
14. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS): These services include Land Mobile Radio licensees providing personal and limited business communications between vehicles or to fixed stations for short-range, two-way communications pursuant to part 95 of the Commission's rules. For FY 1999, GMRS licensees will pay a $7 annual regulatory fee per license, payable for an entire five-year license term at the time of application for a new, renewal or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee due is $35 per license for the five-year license term. c. Amateur Radio Vanity Call Signs
15. Amateur Vanity Call Signs: This category covers voluntary requests for specific call signs in the Amateur Radio Service authorized under part 97 of the Commission's rules. Applicants for Amateur Vanity Call-Signs will continue to pay a $1.30 annual regulatory fee per call sign, as prescribed in the FY 1998 fee schedule, payable for an entire ten-year license term at the time of application for a vanity call sign until the FY 1999 fee schedule becomes effective. The total regulatory fee due would be $13 per license for the ten-year license term.‹SUP›160‹/SUP› For FY 1999, Amateur Vanity Call Sign applicants will pay a $1.42 annual regulatory fee per call sign, payable for an entire ten-year term at the time of application for a new, renewal or reinstatement license. The total regulatory fee due is $14.20 per call sign for the ten-year license term. We propose that there will be no refunds to applicants who submit applications before implementation of the FY 1999 fee.
  
  \160\ Section 9(h) exempts ``amateur radio operator licenses under part 97 of the Commission's rules (47 CFR part 97)'' from the requirement. However, section 9(g)'s fee schedule explicitly includes ``Amateur vanity call signs'' as a category subject to the payment of a regulatory fee.
  
  d. Commercial Wireless Radio Services
16. Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) Mobile Services: The Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) is an ``umbrella'' descriptive term attributed to various existing broadband services authorized to provide interconnected mobile radio services for profit to the public, or to such classes of eligible users as to be effectively available to a substantial portion of the public. CMRS Mobile Services include certain licensees which formerly were licensed as part of the Private Radio Services (e.g., Specialized Mobile Radio Services) and others formerly licensed as part of the Common Carrier Radio Services (e.g., Public Mobile Services and Cellular Radio Service). While specific rules pertaining to each covered service remain in separate parts 22, 24, 27, 80 and 90, general rules for CMRS are contained in part 20. CMRS Mobile Services will include: Specialized Mobile Radio Services (part 90);‹SUP›161‹/SUP› Broadband Personal Communications Services (part 24), Public Coast Stations (part 80); Public Mobile Radio (Cellular, 800 MHz Air-Ground Radiotelephone, and Offshore Radio Services) (part 22); and Wireless Communications Service (part 27). Each licensee in this group will pay an annual regulatory fee for each mobile or cellular unit (mobile or telephone number), assigned to its customers, including resellers of its services. For FY 1999, the regulatory fee is $.32 per unit.
  
  \161\ This category does not include licensees of private shared-use 220 MHz and 470 MHz and above in the Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) service who have elected to remain non-commercial. Those who have elected not to change to the Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) are referred to paragraph 4 of this Attachment.
17. Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) Messaging Services: The Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) is an ``umbrella'' descriptive term attributed to various existing narrowband services authorized to provide interconnected mobile radio services for profit to the public, or to such classes of eligible users as to be effectively available to a substantial portion of the public. CMRS Messaging Services include certain licensees which formerly were licensed as part of the Private Radio Services (e.g., Private Paging and Radiotelephone Service), licensees formerly licensed as part of the Common Carrier Radio Services (e.g., Public Mobile One-Way Paging), licensees of Narrowband Personal Communications Service (PCS) (e.g., one-way and two-way paging), and 220-222 MHz Band and Interconnected Business Radio Service. While specific rules pertaining to each covered service remain in separate parts 22, 24 and 90, general rules for CMRS are contained in part 20. Each licensee in the CMRS Messaging Services will pay an annual regulatory fee for each unit (pager, telephone number, or mobile) assigned to its customers, including resellers of its services. For FY 1999, the regulatory fee is $.04 per unit.
18. Finally, we are reiterating our definition of CMRS payment units to make it clear that fees are assessable on each PCS or cellular telephone and each one-way or two-way pager capable of receiving or transmitting information, whether or not the unit is ``active'' on the ``as-of'' date for payment of these fees. The unit becomes ``feeable'' if the end user or assignee of the unit has possession of the unit and the unit is capable of transmitting or receiving voice or non-voice messages or data and the unit is either owned and operated by the licensee of the CMRS system or a
  
  [[Page 16684]]
  
  reseller, or the end user of a unit has a contractual agreement for the provision of a CMRS service from a licensee of a CMRS system or a reseller of a CMRS service. The responsible payer of the regulatory fee is the CMRS licensee. For example, John Doe purchases a pager and contractually obtains paging services from Paging Licensee X. Paging Licensee X is responsible for paying the applicable regulatory fee for this unit. Likewise, Cellular Licensee Y donates cellular phones to a high school and the high school either pays for or obtains free cellular service from Cellular Licensee Y. In this situation, Cellular Licensee Y is responsible for paying the applicable regulatory fees for these units.
19. Mass Media Services
20. The regulatory fees for the Mass Media fee category apply to broadcast licensees and permittees. Noncommercial Educational Broadcasters are exempt from regulatory fees. a. Commercial Radio
21. These categories include licensed Commercial AM (Classes A, B, C, and D) and FM (Classes A, B, B1, C, C1, C2, and C3) Radio Stations operating under part 73 of the Commission's rules.‹SUP›162‹/SUP› We have combined class of station and city grade contour population data to formulate a schedule of radio fees which differentiate between stations based on class of station and population served. In general, higher class stations and stations in metropolitan areas will pay higher fees than lower class stations and stations located in rural areas. The specific fee that a station must pay is determined by where it ranks after weighting its fee requirement (determined by class of station) with its population. The regulatory fee classifications for Radio Stations for FY 1999 are as follows:
  
  \162\ The Commission acknowledges that certain stations operating in Puerto Rico and Guam have been assigned a higher level station class than would be expected if the station were located on the mainland. Although this results in a higher regulatory fee, we believe that the increased interference protection associated with the higher station class is necessary and justifies the fee.
  
  FY 1999 Radio Station Regulatory Fees
  
  FM Classes A, FM Classes B, Population served
  
  AM Class A AM Class B AM Class C AM Class D
  
  B1 & C3 C, C1 & C2
  
  ‹20,000.................................................
  
  430
  
  325
  
  225
  
  275
  
  325
  
  430 20,001-50,000...........................................
  
  825
  
  650
  
  325
  
  450
  
  650
  
  825 50,001-125,000..........................................
  
  1,350
  
  875
  
  450
  
  675
  
  875
  
  1,350 125,001-400,000.........................................
  
  2,000
  
  1,400
  
  675
  
  825
  
  1,400
  
  2,000 400,001-1,000,000.......................................
  
  2,750
  
  2,250
  
  1,250
  
  1,500
  
  2,250
  
  2,750 ›1,000,000..............................................
  
  4,400
  
  3,600
  
  1,750
  
  2,250
  
  3,600
  
  4,400
22. Licensees may determine the appropriate fee payment by referring to a list which will be provided as an attachment to the final Report and Order in this proceeding. This same information will be available on the FCC's internet world wide web site (http:// www.fcc.gov) by calling the FCC's National Call Center (1-888-225- 5322), and may be included in the Public Notices mailed to each licensee for which we have a current address on file (Note: Non-receipt of a Public Notice does not relieve a licensee of its obligation to submit its regulatory fee payment). b. Construction Permits--Commercial AM Radio
23. This category includes holders of permits to construct new Commercial AM Stations. For FY 1999, permittees will pay a fee of $255 for each permit held. Upon issuance of an operating license, this fee would no longer be applicable and licensees would be required to pay the applicable fee for the designated group within which the station appears. c. Construction Permits--Commercial FM Radio
24. This category includes holders of permits to construct new Commercial FM Stations. For FY 1999, permittees will pay a fee of $1,250 for each permit held. Upon issuance of an operating license, this fee would no longer be applicable. Instead, licensees would pay a regulatory fee based upon the designated group within which the station appears. d. Commercial Television Stations
25. This category includes licensed Commercial VHF and UHF Television Stations covered under part 73 of the Commission's rules, except commonly owned Television Satellite Stations, addressed separately below. Markets are Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMA) as listed in the Television & Cable Factbook, Stations Volume No. 67, 1999 Edition, Warren Publishing, Inc. The fees for each category of station are as follows:
  
  VHF Markets 1-10--$41,125 VHF Markets 11-25--$34,225 VHF Markets 26-50--$23,425 VHF Markets 51-100--$13,100 VHF Remaining Markets--$3,400 UHF Markets 1-10--$15,500 UHF Markets 11-25--$11,725 UHF Markets 26-50--$7,275 UHF Markets 51-100--$4,350 UHF Remaining Markets--$1,175 e. Commercial Television Satellite Stations
26. Commonly owned Television Satellite Stations in any market (authorized pursuant to Note 5 of Sec. 73.3555 of the Commission's rules) that retransmit programming of the primary station are assessed a fee of $1,275 annually. Those stations designated as Television Satellite Stations in the 1999 Edition of the Television and Cable Factbook are subject to the fee applicable to Television Satellite Stations. All other television licensees are subject to the regulatory fee payment required for their class of station and market. f. Construction Permits--Commercial VHF Television Stations
27. This category includes holders of permits to construct new Commercial VHF Television Stations. For FY 1999, VHF permittees will pay an annual regulatory fee of $2,775. Upon issuance of an operating license, this fee would no longer be applicable. Instead, licensees would pay a fee based upon the designated market of the station. g. Construction Permits--Commercial UHF Television Stations
28. This category includes holders of permits to construct new UHF Television Stations. For FY 1999, UHF Television permittees will pay an annual regulatory fee of $2,900. Upon issuance of an operating license, this fee would no longer be applicable. Instead,
  
  [[Page 16685]]
  
  licensees would pay a fee based upon the designated market of the station. h. Construction Permits--Satellite Television Stations
29. The fee for UHF and VHF Television Satellite Station construction permits for FY 1999 is $460. An individual regulatory fee payment is to be made for each Television Satellite Station construction permit held. i. Low Power Television, FM Translator and Booster Stations, TV Translator and Booster Stations
30. This category includes Low Power UHF/VHF Television stations operating under part 74 of the Commission's rules with a transmitter power output limited to 1 kW for a UHF facility and, generally, 0.01 kW for a VHF facility. Low Power Television (LPTV) stations may retransmit the programs and signals of a TV Broadcast Station, originate programming, and/or operate as a subscription service. This category also includes translators and boosters operating under part 74 which rebroadcast the signals of full service stations on a frequency different from the parent station (translators) or on the same frequency (boosters). The stations in this category are secondary to full service stations in terms of frequency priority. We have also received requests for waivers of the regulatory fees from operators of community based Translators. These Translators are generally not affiliated with commercial broadcasters, are nonprofit, nonprofitable, or only marginally profitable, serve small rural communities, and are supported financially by the residents of the communities served. We are aware of the difficulties these Translators have in paying even minimal regulatory fees, and we have addressed those concerns in the ruling on reconsideration of the FY 1994 Report and Order. Community based Translators are exempt from regulatory fees. For FY 1999, licensees in low power television, FM translator and booster, and TV translator and booster category will pay a regulatory fee of $290 for each license held. j. Broadcast Auxiliary Stations
31. This category includes licensees of remote pickup stations (either base or mobile) and associated accessory equipment authorized pursuant to a single license, Aural Broadcast Auxiliary Stations (Studio Transmitter Link and Inter-City Relay) and Television Broadcast Auxiliary Stations (TV Pickup, TV Studio Transmitter Link, TV Relay) authorized under part 74 of the Commission's Rules. Auxiliary Stations are generally associated with a particular television or radio broadcast station or cable television system. This category does not include translators and boosters (see paragraph 26 infra). For FY 1999, licensees of Commercial Auxiliary Stations will pay a $12 annual regulatory fee on a per call sign basis. k. Multipoint Distribution Service
32. This category includes Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS), Local Multipoint Distribution (LMDS), and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS), authorized under part 21 of the Commission's Rules to use microwave frequencies for video and data distribution within the United States. For FY 1999, MDS, LMDS, and MMDS stations will pay an annual regulatory fee of $285 per call sign.
33. Cable Services
  
  a. Cable Television Systems
34. This category includes operators of Cable Television Systems, providing or distributing programming or other services to subscribers under part 76 of the Commission's Rules. For FY 1999, Cable Systems will pay a regulatory fee of $.48 per subscriber.‹SUP›163‹/SUP› Payments for Cable Systems are to be made on a per subscriber basis as of December 31, 1998. Cable Systems should determine their subscriber numbers by calculating the number of single family dwellings, the number of individual households in multiple dwelling units, e.g., apartments, condominiums, mobile home parks, etc., paying at the basic subscriber rate, the number of bulk rate customers and the number of courtesy or fee customers. In order to determine the number of bulk rate subscribers, a system should divide its bulk rate charge by the annual subscription rate for individual households. See FY 1994 Report and Order, 59 FR 30984 (January 16, 1994).
  
  \163\ Cable systems are to pay their regulatory fees on a per subscriber basis rather than per 1,000 subscribers as set forth in the statutory fee schedule. See FY 1994 Report and Order at paragraph 100.
  
  b. Cable Antenna Relay Service
35. This category includes Cable Antenna Relay Service (CARS) stations used to transmit television and related audio signals, signals of AM and FM Broadcast Stations, and cablecasting from the point of reception to a terminal point from where the signals are distributed to the public by a Cable Television System. For FY 1999, licensees will pay an annual regulatory fee of $55 per CARS license.
36. Common Carrier Services
  
  a. Commercial Microwave (Domestic Public Fixed Radio Service)
37. This category includes licensees in the Point-to-Point Microwave Radio Service, Local Television Transmission Radio Service, and Digital Electronic Message Service, authorized under part 101 of the Commission's rules to use microwave frequencies for video and data distribution within the United States. These services are now included in the Microwave category (see paragraph 5 infra). b. Interstate Telephone Service Providers
38. This category includes Inter-Exchange Carriers (IXCs), Local Exchange Carriers (LECs), Competitive Access Providers (CAPs), domestic and international carriers that provide operator services, Wide Area Telephone Service (WATS), 800, 900, telex, telegraph, video, other switched, interstate access, special access, and alternative access services either by using their own facilities or by reselling facilities and services of other carriers or telephone carrier holding companies, and companies other than traditional local telephone companies that provide interstate access services to long distance carriers and other customers. This category also includes pre-paid calling card providers. These common carriers, including resellers, must submit fee payments based upon their proportionate share of gross interstate revenues using the methodology that we have adopted for calculating contributions to the TRS fund.‹SUP›164‹/SUP› In order to avoid imposing any double payment burden on resellers, we will permit carriers to subtract from their gross interstate revenues, as reported to NECA in connection with their TRS contribution, any payments made to underlying common carriers for telecommunications facilities and services, including payments for interstate access service, that are sold in the form of interstate service. For this purpose, resold telecommunications facilities and services are only intended to include payments that correspond to revenues that will be included by another carrier reporting interstate revenue. For FY 1999, carriers must multiply their adjusted gross revenue figure (gross revenue reduced by the total amount of their payments to underlying common carriers for telecommunications facilities or services) by the factor 0.0012 to
  
  [[Page 16686]]
  
  determine the appropriate fee for this category of service. Regulatees may want to use the following worksheet to determine their fee payment:
  
  \164\ See Telecommunications Relay Services, 8 FCC Rcd 5300 (1993), 58 FR 39671 (Jul. 26, 1993).
  
  Total
  
  Interstate
  
  (1) Revenue reported in TRS Fund
  
  ........... ................ worksheets.............................. (2) Less: Access charges paid............ ........... ................ (3) Less: Other telecommunications
  
  ........... ................ facilities and services taken for resale (4) Adjusted revenues (1)minus(2)minus(3) ........... ................ (5) Fee factor........................... ...........
  
  0.0012 (6) Fee due (4)times(5).................. ........... ................
39. International Services
  
  a. Earth Stations
40. Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Earth Stations, equivalent C-Band Earth Stations and antennas, and earth station systems comprised of very small aperture terminals operate in the 12 and 14 GHz bands and provide a variety of communications services to other stations in the network. VSAT systems consist of a network of technically-identical small Fixed-Satellite Earth Stations which often include a larger hub station. VSAT Earth Stations and C-Band Equivalent Earth Stations are authorized pursuant to part 25 of the Commission's rules. Mobile Satellite Earth Stations, operating pursuant to part 25 of the Commission's rules under blanket licenses for mobile antennas (transceivers), are smaller than one meter and provide voice or data communications, including position location information for mobile platforms such as cars, buses, or trucks.‹SUP›165‹/SUP› Fixed-Satellite Transmit/Receive and Transmit-Only Earth Station antennas, authorized or registered under part 25 of the Commission's rules, are operated by private and public carriers to provide telephone, television, data, and other forms of communications. Included in this category are telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) earth stations, and earth station uplinks. For FY 1999, licensees of VSATs, Mobile Satellite Earth Stations, and Fixed-Satellite Transmit/Receive and Transmit-Only Earth Stations will pay a fee of $180 per authorization or registration as well as a separate fee of $180 for each associated Hub Station.
  
  \165\ Mobile earth stations are hand-held or vehicle-based units capable of operation while the operator or vehicle is in motion. In contrast, transportable units are moved to a fixed location and operate in a stationary (fixed) mode. Both are assessed the same regulatory fee for FY 1999.
41. Receive-only earth stations. For FY 1999, there is no regulatory fee for receive-only earth stations. b. Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit)
42. Geostationary Orbit (also referred to as Geosynchronous) Space Stations are domestic and international satellites positioned in orbit to remain approximately fixed relative to the earth. Most are authorized under part 25 of the Commission's rules to provide communications between satellites and earth stations on a common carrier and/or private carrier basis. In addition, this category includes Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Service which includes space stations authorized under part 100 of the Commission's rules to transmit or re-transmit signals for direct reception by the general public encompassing both individual and community reception. For FY 1999, entities authorized to operate geostationary space stations (including DBS satellites) will be assessed an annual regulatory fee of $130,225 per operational station in orbit. Payment is required for any geostationary satellite that has been launched and tested and is authorized to provide service. c. Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)
43. Non-Geostationary Orbit Systems (such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Systems) are space stations that orbit the earth in non-geosynchronous orbit. They are authorized under part 25 of the Commission's rules to provide communications between satellites and earth stations on a common carrier and/or private carrier basis. For FY 1999, entities authorized to operate Non-Geostationary Orbit Systems (NGSOs) will be assessed an annual regulatory fee of $180,325 per operational system in orbit. Payment is required for any NGSO System that has one or more operational satellites operational. In our FY 1997 Report and Order at paragraph 75 we retained our requirement that licensees of LEOs pay the LEO regulatory fee upon their certification of operation of a single satellite pursuant to section 25.120(d). We require payment of this fee following commencement of operations of a system's first satellite to insure that we recover our regulatory costs related to LEO systems from licensees of these systems as early as possible so that other regulatees are not burdened with these costs any longer than necessary. Because section 25.120(d) has significant implications beyond regulatory fees (such as whether the entire planned cluster is operational in accordance with the terms and conditions of the license) we are clarifying our current definition of an operational LEO satellite to prevent misinterpretation of our intent as follows:
  
  Licensees of Non-Geostationary Satellite Systems (such as LEOs) are assessed a regulatory fee upon the commencement of operation of a system's first satellite as reported annually pursuant to sections 25.142(c), 25.143(e), 25.145(g), or upon certification of operation of a single satellite pursuant to section 25.120(d). d. International Bearer Circuits
44. Regulatory fees for International Bearer Circuits are to be paid by facilities-based common carriers (either domestic or international) activating the circuit in any transmission facility for the provision of service to an end user or resale carrier. Payment of the fee for bearer circuits by non-common carrier submarine cable operators is required for circuits sold on an indefeasible right of use (IRU) basis or leased to any customer, including themselves or their affiliates, other than an international common carrier authorized by the Commission to provide U.S. international common carrier services. Compare FY 1994 Report and Order at 5367. Payment of the international bearer circuit fee is also required by non-common carrier satellite operators for circuits sold or leased to any customer, including themselves or their affiliates, other than an international common carrier authorized by the Commission to provide U.S. international common carrier services. The fee is based upon active 64 kbps circuits, or equivalent circuits. Under this formulation, 64 kbps circuits or their equivalent will be assessed a fee. Equivalent circuits include the 64 kbps circuit equivalent of larger bit stream
  
  [[Page 16687]]
  
  circuits. For example, the 64 kbps circuit equivalent of a 2.048 Mbps circuit is 30 64 kbps circuits. Analog circuits such as 3 and 4 kHz circuits used for international service are also included as 64 kbps circuits. However, circuits derived from 64 kbps circuits by the use of digital circuit multiplication systems are not equivalent 64 kbps circuits. Such circuits are not subject to fees. Only the 64 kbps circuit from which they have been derived will be subject to payment of a fee. For FY 1999, the regulatory fee is $7.00 for each active 64 kbps circuit or equivalent. For analog television channels we will assess fees as follows:
  
  No. of Analog television channel Size in MHz
  
  equivalent 64 kbps circuits
45. 630 24......................................................
  
  288 18......................................................
  
  240
  
  e. International Public Fixed
46. This fee category includes common carriers authorized under part 23 of the Commission's rules to provide radio communications between the United States and a foreign point via microwave or HF troposcatter systems, other than satellites and satellite earth stations, but not including service between the United States and Mexico and the United States and Canada using frequencies above 72 MHz. For FY 1999, International Public Fixed Radio Service licensees will pay a $410 annual regulatory fee per call sign. f. International (HF) Broadcast
47. This category covers International Broadcast Stations licensed under part 73 of the Commission's rules to operate on frequencies in the 5,950 kHz to 26,100 kHz range to provide service to the general public in foreign countries. For FY 1999, International HF Broadcast Stations will pay an annual regulatory fee of $520 per station license.
  
  Authorization of Service: The authorization or licensing of radio stations, telecommunications equipment, and radio operators, as well as the authorization of common carrier and other services and facilities. Includes policy direction, program development, legal services, and executive direction, as well as support services associated with authorization activities.‹SUP›166‹/SUP›
  
  \166\ Although Authorization of Service is described in this exhibit, it is not one of the activities included as a feeable activity for regulatory fee purposes pursuant to section 9(a)(1) of the Act. 47 U.S.C. 159(a)(1).
  
  Policy and Rulemaking: Formal inquiries, rulemaking proceedings to establish or amend the Commission's rules and regulations, action on petitions for rulemaking, and requests for rule interpretations or waivers; economic studies and analyses; spectrum planning, modeling, propagation-interference analyses, and allocation; and development of equipment standards. Includes policy direction, program development, legal services, and executive direction, as well as support services associated with policy and rulemaking activities.
  
  Enforcement: Enforcement of the Commission's rules, regulations and authorizations, including investigations, inspections, compliance monitoring, and sanctions of all types. Also includes the receipt and disposition of formal and informal complaints regarding common carrier rates and services, the review and acceptance/rejection of carrier tariffs, and the review, prescription and audit of carrier accounting practices. Includes policy direction, program development, legal services, and executive direction, as well as support services associated with enforcement activities.
  
  Public Information Services: The publication and dissemination of Commission decisions and actions, and related activities; public reference and library services; the duplication and dissemination of Commission records and databases; the receipt and disposition of public inquiries; consumer, small business, and public assistance; and public affairs and media relations. Includes policy direction, program development, legal services, and executive direction, as well as support services associated with public information activities.
  
  Attachment H--Factors, measurements and calculations that go into determining station signal contours and associated population coverages
  
  AM Stations: Specific information on each day tower, including field ratio, phasing, spacing and orientation was retrieved, as well as the theoretical pattern RMS figure (mV/m @ 1 km) for the antenna system. The standard, or modified standard if pertinent, horizontal plane radiation pattern was calculated using techniques and methods specified in sections 73.150 and 73.152 of the Commission's rules.‹SUP›167‹/SUP› Radiation values were calculated for each of 72 radials around the transmitter site (every 5 degrees of azimuth). Next, estimated soil conductivity data was retrieved from a database representing the information in FCC Figure M3. Using the calculated horizontal radiation values, and the retrieved soil conductivity data, the distance to the city grade (5 mV/m) contour was predicted for each of the 72 radials. The resulting distance to city grade contours were used to form a geographical polygon. Population counting was accomplished by determining which 1990 block centroids were contained in the polygon. The sum of the population figures for all enclosed blocks represents the total population for the predicted city grade coverage area.
  
  \167\ 47 U.S.C. 73.150 and 73.152.
  
  FM Stations: The maximum of the horizontal and vertical HAAT (m) and ERP (kW) was used. Where the antenna HAMSL was available, it was used in lieu of the overall HAAT figure to calculate specific HAAT figures for each of 72 radials under study. Any available directional pattern information was applied as well, to produce a radial-specific ERP figure. The HAAT and ERP figures were used in conjunction with the propagation curves specified in section 73.313 of the Commission's rules to predict the distance to the city grade (70 dBuV/m or 3.17 mV/ m) contour for each of the 72 radials.‹SUP›168‹/SUP› The resulting distance to city grade contours were used to form a geographical polygon. Population counting was accomplished by determining which 1990 block centroids were contained in the polygon. The sum of the population figures for all enclosed blocks represents the total population for the predicted city grade coverage area.
  
  \168\ 47 U.S.C. 73.313.
  
  [FR Doc. 99-8342Filed4-5-99; 8:45 am]
  
  BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

Subscribers can access the reported version of this case.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see a list of all the cited cases and legislation of a document.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see a list of all the documents that have cited the case.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see the revised versions of legislation with amendments.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see any amendments made to the case.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see a visualisation of a case and its relationships to other cases. An alternative to lists of cases, the Precedent Map makes it easier to establish which ones may be of most relevance to your research and prioritise further reading. You also get a useful overview of how the case was received.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see the list of results connected to your document through the topics and citations Vincent found.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Practice and procedure: Regulatory fees (1999 FY); assessment and collection,

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users