The National Association of Broadcasters is doubling down on its position that Big Tech companies should pay annual regulatory fees to the Federal Communications Commission. In reply comments filed Friday, the trade group says a June 4 DC Circuit Court decision gives the agency the authority to do so.
The FCC has proposed to hike annual fees by an average of eight percent as it aims to collect $374 million from all the industries it regulates. Some fees will go up by as much as 15% in what would be a third consecutive year of broadcast owners being asked to dig deeper.
The NAB’s position is the FCC has the authority to ensure that all industries pay for their fair share of the Commission’s indirect costs and should charge big tech companies and other unlicensed spectrum users regulatory fees to more accurately reflect the work the Commission performs.
Now the trade group is calling on the Commission to issue a Further Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on charging regulatory fees for Big Tech and other unlicensed spectrum users.
