On Monday, August 13, 2012, the FCC opened its automated filing and payment system (“Fee Filer”) for filing and payment of FY 2012 regulatory fees.  The FCC will accept FY 2012 regulatory fees through 11:59pm, ET, September 13, 2012.  Below, we cover the payment process and fee amounts. 

How to Pay.  All licensees must use their FRN and password to access the Fee Filer System and review, update, or change the fees owed.  Then, each licensee must choose a payment method – online payment with a credit card, online payment from a bank account, mailing a check, or sending a wire transfer.  Fee Filer will print a Form 159-E for users who do not wish to pay online. 

Fee Amounts.  FY 2012 regulatory fees are the following: 

• 2012 cable regulatory fee:  Cable television systems operating on October 1, 2011 must pay $0.95 per subscriber, a $0.02 increase from 2011.   
• CARS licenses and permits:  CARS facilities operating on October 1, 2011 must pay$475.00, a $105 increase from 2011, even if the facility’s license expired after October 1, 2011. 
• Interconnected VoIP regulatory fee:  $0.00375 for each dollar of interstate and international telecommunications revenue that a provider reports on its Form 499-A.   

If you have any questions about regulatory fee payments, please contact Adriana Kissel at (312) 372-3930 or akissel@cm-chi.com. 

EEO Form 396-C Filing Deadline October 1, 2012

The FCC’s MVPD Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Program Annual Report, Form 396-C, must be submitted electronically by midnight on October 1, 2012.  To file Form 396-C, login to the Media Bureau’s CDBS Electronic Filing System.  In addition, the FCC randomly selected a number of cable operators to file a Supplemental Investigation Sheet along with their Form 396-C.  The list of operators required to submit the Supplemental Investigation Sheet is available athttp://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0730/DA-12-1217A1.pdf. 

If you have any questions about EEO compliance, please contact Scott Friedman at (312) 372-3930 or sfriedman@cm-chi.com.