FCC Sets September 24 Deadline for FY 2026 Regulatory Fees

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has announced that FY 2026 regulatory fees are due by 11:59 PM Eastern on September 24, 2026. Fees apply to any feeable authorization held as of October 1, 2025, and must be paid electronically through the Commission’s Registration System (CORES). Providers should confirm their pre-billed amount in CORES now, since missing this deadline carries real financial consequences.

The fee factor for interstate telecommunications service providers (“ITSPs”), including local exchange carriers and interexchange carriers, rises to $0.0055 per revenue dollar for FY 2026, up from $0.005125 in FY 2025, an increase of about 7 percent. Providers that hold toll free numbers will continue paying $0.10 per number annually. The de minimis exemption remains unchanged at $1,000, so providers whose total FY 2026 regulatory fee liability falls at or below that amount owe nothing this cycle.

Cable and Satellite providers must report their subscriber counts as of December 31, 2025, into the system to calculate their total regulatory fees owed. The FCC regulatory fee rate for cable and satellite video providers is $1.60 per subscriber (up from $1.47 per subscriber in the previous cycle).

Providers that miss the September 24, 2026, deadline face an automatic 25 percent penalty on top of the amount owed, plus accruing interest, and will be placed in “red light” status with the FCC, which can hold up other FCC filings and applications until the debt is resolved. Given these consequences, we recommend confirming your CORES balance and making payment now.

If you would like help confirming your FY 2026 fee amount or have questions about your CORES account, please contact Kim Waldvogel or Brett Hallagan.