The Broadcasters' Desktop Resource

Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 890, Volume 18, #5 for September 2, 2026

2026 REGULATORY FEES
The FCC sets the fees for this fiscal year toward the end, usually about the first of September and announces the deadline to pay. This year, the fees were announced today, with payment due by the 24th – on the CORES Payment System.

Our friend, Cary Tepper points out that as we get closer to the 24th, it is worth remembering the FCC’s website is prone to regular outages and sometimes the payment system crashes for the entire day. Avoid problems and fines, Tepper says, by filing as early as possible.

FEES ARE UP A BIT
In order to cover the $416,112,000.00 the Commission is expected to spend for salaries and expenses this fiscal year (about $26 million or 6.6% over 2025), Broadcasters will generally find an increase in their annual regulatory fees this year, after three years of reductions, although LPTV, Class A, TV/FM translators, and FM boosters should see some reduction.

AUDITING THE STATION
When there is a moment to think (What? Moment? Think?), one of the key tasks to keep a station running well is a complete systems audit. That is our main theme this week, as our friend Jeff Welton from Nautel jumps in to offer suggestions on things to check that you may or may not have thought about. A checklist? Yes, but while there are some things that naturally occur (console, processor, STL, transmitter, etc) and you will want to include – customized to your station and equipment – there are likely any number of things you might not think of on your own.

The Virtual Lunch Gathering will be at its usual time 2 PM Eastern/ 11 AM Pacific. We hope you will join us and learn things. The link for our presentation is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ We will also be on YouTube live and the video will be archived on the BDR Lunch Gathering page.

… and do not forget, on the same page we have hundreds of videos you can use on subjects you will want to learn about.

By the way, we do have a Tuesday Reminder list, if you wish to be reminded of each week’s program. Just reply to this email and ask!  

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