FCC Establishes DBS Fee Category, It Notes in Federal Register
DBS operators are a step closer to paying their own multichannel video programming distributor regulatory fees now that a DBS regulatory fee category was created. The FCC in a final rule published in Tuesday's Federal Register said it created the…
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DBS fee category for FY 2015. The proposed fee amount is 12 cents per customer per year, though the amount hasn't been finalized and satellite operators and the cable industry have been arguing over whether higher fees are warranted (see 1507080013). Higher fees seem to be in the FCC's plans, as it said in the Federal Register that due to concerns about "rate shock" to customers, "We have decided to phase in the DBS fee." The final rule also eliminates two categories of regulatory fees, amateur radio vanity call signs and general mobile radio services; sets up a requirement that the FCC Office of the Managing Director work with SMS/800 to ensure the distributors of 800-numbers have information on how to pay the regulatory fees instituted in the FY 2014 proceedings; and specifies that any debt owed the agency that is 120 days or more delinquent will be transferred to the Treasury Department for collection, instead of the previous 180-day wait before transfer.