FCC Requests $347 Million for 2013 Budget

The FCC is requesting a budget of $346,782,000 to carry out the FCC’s functions and meet the expectations of Congress. This is up from $339,844,000 requested in FY 2012.


In addition, the FCC expects to recover $91 million over the year from auction cost recovery reimbursements and other miscellaneous reimbursements for a Grand Total Budget Authority of $441,569,000 for FY 2013. This compares with a Grand Total Budget Authority of $433,131,000 in FY 2012.


The FCC expects to employ 1,776 full-time equivalents (FTEs) staff in FY 2013 , which is the same as last year.


In its budget request, the FCC noted several wireless initiatives that require the expanded funding. The Obama Administration has proposed to extend indefinitely the authority of the FCC to auction spectrum licenses, which will expire on September 30, 2012. The Administration also proposes to provide the FCC with authority to conduct voluntary incentive auctions, where current license holders can relinquish spectrum rights and receive a portion of auction proceeds. Finally, the FCC would be allowed to assign licenses for certain satellite services that are predominantly domestic through competitive bidding, as had been done before a 2005 court decision called the practice into question on technical grounds.
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