**DA 03-2557**

Released: July 30, 2003

**Regulatory Fees Due September 24, 2003**

The Federal Communications Commission announced today that Fiscal Year
(FY) 2003 regulatory fee payments are due by September 24, 2003 from the
over 2,200 companies in 47 regulated categories \-- such as television,
radio, cable, wireless telephone, interstate telephone, satellite,
paging/messaging, and microwave \-- who are required to pay fees by 47
U.S.C. 159 (Public Law 103-66).  Cumulatively, Congress requires the
Commission to collect \$269,000,000 in regulatory fees for FY 2003.
These fees are collected to recover the regulatory costs associated with
the Commission's enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information,
and international activities.

**WHAT DO I OWE?**

Regulatees pay differing fees dependent on a variety of factors such as
number of subscribers, number of assigned telephone numbers, and
revenue.  Currently, regulatees must calculate the fees they owe based
on these varying factors.  In the future we hope to make the process
simpler by sending all organizations a simple postcard with the amount
owed.

To find out what your organization owes for FY 2003 Regulatory Fees --
refer to the industry-appropriate *What I Owe Fact Sheet.*

**PAYMENT PROCESS**

Regulatory fee payments are due September 24, 2003.  Payments may be
made to Mellon Bank at any time through September 24, 2003. Payments
received after 11:59 PM on September 24, 2003 will be assessed a 25%
late payment penalty.

All payments **MUST** be accompanied by a FCC Registration Number (FRN).
 After completing Form 159 you can make payment by check, credit card,
electronic transfer, or wire transfer. Checks must be mailed, along with
Form 159 to:

Federal Communications Commission

Regulatory Fees

P.O. Box 358835

Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5835

If you prefer to send your payment by courier to a lockbox address your
envelope and have it delivered to:

Federal Communications Commission

Regulatory Fees

c/o Mellon Client Service Center

500 Ross Street, Room 670

Pittsburgh, PA 15262-0001

Attn: FCC Module Supervisor

Payments that are misdirected to the FCC in Washington, DC will be
forwarded to Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh, PA; however, this could result
in a late filing that would therefore be subject to the 25% late payment
fee.

The quickest and easiest way to pay is using a credit card through the
Fee Filer service (<http://www.fcc.gov/fees/feefiler.html>). For more
information on acquiring a FRN -- refer to the *Use of the FCC
Registration Number Fact Sheet*; for more information on how to pay --
refer to the *Payment Methods Fact Sheet*.

**FCC FORM 159 REMITTANCE ADVICE**

Form 159 (FCC Remittance Advice) and, as necessary, Form 159-C (Advice
Continuation Sheet) must accompany all regulatory fee payments. Form 159
allows payers to report information on one or more payment items (e.g.,
revenues, call signs, or a combination of any two). Use Form 159-C to
report additional payments. Reproduced forms are acceptable. Detailed
instructions on how to correctly complete these forms are contained in
the *What You Owe Fact Sheets* for each service category. You must list
each entity separately on Forms 159/159-C. Written attachments are not
acceptable. Failure to properly complete Forms 159/159-C will delay the
processing of your regulatory fee payment.

Ways to obtain Form 159:

-   Go to <http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html>

-   Call the FCC's Form Distribution Center at 1-800-418-FORM \[3676\].

-   Pick up the form at the Commission in Room TW-B200.

Regulatees may submit Form 159 information electronically by accessing
the FCC Fee Filer system at
[http://www.fcc.gov/fees/feefiler.html]{.underline}. Information on how
to file electronically via the Fee Filer system will follow in a
subsequent Public Notice.

**OTHER QUESTIONS**

The following Fact Sheets are available on the Internet at
[http://www.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.html.](http://www.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.html) 

*USE OF THE FCC REGISTRATION NUMBER (FRN) IS MANDATORY*

*WAIVERS, REDUCTIONS AND DEFERMENTS OF REGULATORY FEES*

*PAYMENT METHODS FOR REGULATORY FEES*

*REGULATORY FEE EXEMPTIONS*

*WHAT YOU OWE - INTERSTATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS*

*WHAT YOU OWE - CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEMS*

*WHAT YOU OWE - MEDIA SERVICES LICENSEES*

*WHAT YOU OWE - COMMERCIAL WIRELESS SERVICES*

*WHAT YOU OWE - INTERNATIONAL AND SATELLITE SERVICES LICENSEES*

**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**

Those who do not have Internet access can obtain FCC forms by calling
(800) 418-FORM (3676), or (202) 418-3676.  Public Notices and Fact
Sheets can be ordered by calling (888) 225-5322. Materials can also be
obtained by writing to: Federal Communications Commission, ATTN:
Consumer Information Center, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.,
20554.

\- FCC -