Federal Communications Commission: Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2002, GAO-02-991R, B-290986, July 25, 2002

Federal Communications Commission: Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2002, GAO-02-991R, B-290986, July 25, 2002

The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings Chairman The Honorable John McCain Ranking Minority Member Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate

The Honorable W.J. "Billy" Tauzin Chairman The Honorable John D. Dingell Ranking Minority Member Committee on Energy and Commerce House of Representatives

Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), entitled "Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2002" (MD Docket No. 02-64; FCC 02-205). We received the rule on July 12, 2002. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on July 12, 2002. 67 Fed. Reg. 46298.

The final rule revises the regulatory fee schedule to bring it into compliance with the amount of such fees Congress has required the FCC to collect for fiscal year 2002. For FY 2002, the amount to be recovered is $218,757,000, or almost 9.3 percent more than was required for FY 2001. The purpose of the fees is to recover the costs of regulation in the areas of enforcement, policy and rulemaking, international and user information activities.

Enclosed is our assessment of the FCC's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that the FCC complied with the applicable requirements.

If you have any questions about this report, please contact James W. Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210. The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule is John Anderson, Managing Director, Physical Infrastructure. Mr. Anderson can be reached at (202) 512-2834.

Sincerely yours,

signed

Kathleen E. Wannisky
Managing Associate General Counsel

Enclosure

cc: Kathy Fagan
AMD-PERM, OMD
Federal Communications Commission

ENCLOSURE

ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. Sec. 801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ENTITLED "ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF REGULATORY FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002" (MD DOCKET NO. 02-64; FCC 02-205)

(i) Cost-benefit analysis

The FCC's submission to our Office stated that it was not required to prepare and did not prepare a cost-benefit analysis of the rule.

(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. Secs. 603-605, 607, and 609

The FCC prepared both Initial and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analyses, which were incorporated into the proposed and final rule, respectively. The analyses contain the required information, including the steps taken to reduce the burden on small entities. These include the use of a single form for all fee-filing licensees and regulatees. Because the collection of the fees is statutory in nature, other alternatives that the FCC could use are necessarily restricted.

(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. Secs. 1532-1535

As an independent regulatory agency, the FCC is not subject to title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. Secs. 551 et seq.

The FCC promulgated this rule under the notice and comment procedures contained at 5 U.S.C. 553. A notice of proposed rulemaking was published on April 10, 2002, in the Federal Register. 67 Fed. Reg. 17325. In response, the FCC received 8 comments and 2 reply comments, which are discussed in the preamble to the final rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. Secs. 3501-3520

The FCC requires the submission of FCC Form 159 with the payment of the annual fees. The FCC has previously received Office of Management and Budget approval the for collection has been assigned OMB Control No. 3060-0589.

Statutory authorization for the rule

The authority for this final rule is contained in sections 4(i) and (j), 8, 9, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j) 159, and 303(r).

Executive Order No. 12866

As the rule is promulgated by an independent regulatory agency, it is not subject to the review requirements of the order.