PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 17-901
Released: September 15, 2017
By the Office of Managing Director: 
Regulatory Fee Filing Window for Those Regulatees Affected by Hurricanes Harvey or Irma 
Is Extended to Friday, September 29, 2017
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma (2017 Hurricanes) have caused significant damage in the areas within their 
respective paths, including storm surge, wind damage, and flooding.  They also appear to have caused 
substantial damage to the communications network, resulting in service disruptions and outages throughout 
these areas, which include all of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as portions of 
Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. The Commission is mindful of the effect of the hurricanes on 
entities  that are required to pay annual regulatory fees (regulatory fee payors) pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 159 
(Public Law 115-31).  The Commission is therefore extending the deadline date for those regulatory fee 
payors
1
in the affected areas for filing FY 2017 Regulatory Fees from 11:59 PM, September 26, 2017 to 
11:59 PM September 29, 2017.  For all other regulatory fee payors, i.e. those not affected by the 2017 
Hurricanes, the previously announced window remains in effect.
2
The Communications Act and the Commission’s rules govern the late payment or non-payment of regulatory 
fees.
3
  Thus, to the extent regulatory fee payors affected by the 2017 Hurricanes anticipate that they might 
experience challenges with meeting the payment date, as extended, or have questions, they may contact 
Thomas Buckley, Assistant Managing Director (202-391-5520; Thomas.Buckley@fcc.gov) as a resource and 
point of contact with respect to 2017 Hurricane-related regulatory fee concerns.  Affected entities, however, 
are not required to use that point of contact when seeking information regarding avenues for relief. Instead, 
they may follow the process outlined in our rules and orders when seeking relief with respect to regulatory 
fee payments.
4
  
In addition, regulatees can contact the Commission’s Financial Operations Help Desk with inquiries at (877) 
480-3201, Option 4 or email inquiries to ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.  
                                                     
1
The Fiscal Year 2017 Regulatory Fee Report and Order was released by the Commission on September 5, 2017.  See
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fy-2017-regulatory-fees-report-order-and-further-notice.  The Commission also 
publishes industry-specific guidance in Who Owes Fees & What Is My FY 2017 Fee, which can be found on the 
Commission website at https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/regulatory-fees. 
2
Payment Methods and Procedures for Fiscal Year 2017 Regulatory Fees, Public Notice, released September 6, 2017, 
available at http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0906/DOC-346547A1.pdf. 
3
See 47 U.S.C. § 159(c), 31 U.S.C. § 3717; 47 CFR §§ 1.1164, 1.1910.   
4
See Regulatory Fees Fact Sheet, Procedures for Filing Waivers, Reductions and Deferments of Regulatory Fees, 
released September 6, 2017 (describing the requirements of 47 U.S.C. § 159(c), (d), DCIA, and 47 CFR § 1.1166).