Lawmakers, State Broadcasters Press Rosenworcel on Reg Fees

92 lawmakers signed a letter Monday seeking answers from FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on a proposed 2022 regulatory fee increase for broadcasters. "Considering the harm a substantial fee increase would bring, we would like to better understand the FCC’s proposal," said the letter from Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, and others. "Given the FCC’s statutory responsibility to adjust its schedule of regulatory fees to take into account factors that are reasonably related to the benefits provided to the fee payor, could the FCC explain what additional benefits have been provided to broadcasters that would justify such a high fee increase?" the letter asked, seeking a response from Rosenworcel "as soon as possible." "Why does the Commission’s proposed overall fee increase for broadcasters far exceed fee increases for any other industry?" the letter also asked. State broadcast associations also pressed the agency on reg fees, according to an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 22-223. Broadcasters shouldn’t be charged for the FCC’s work on broadband, said representatives of the State Broadcasters Associations in a call with an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr Wednesday. They urged the FCC to alter its fee structure to cease assessing broadcasters fees for full-time equivalents associated with the Universal Service Fund, or else exercise “flexibility” to “cease the continuing stream of year over year and double digit regulatory fee increases.” Broadcasters face a 13% regulatory fee increase this year, the filing said.