Initially, manufacturers paid a fee of $20 per radiating unit, all of which were products primarily designed for the enterprise. However, now that there is no longer a concern for interference with the microwave incumbents, the deployment of nomadic devices such as cordless telephones, walkie-talkies, monitors and the like is now possible. With this freedom of deployment it is anticipated that products geared toward the consumer would find the UPCS band a valuable band to operate in. Recognizing that these type of products cannot afford the $20 fee per radiating unit, UTAM lowered the fee, effective April 1, 2005 to $0.50 per radiating unit and a $50,000 up front fee to help offset a small portion of the costs UTAM has expended in clearing the band. The up front fee is a one time only fee per manufacturer. The manufacturer also becomes a member of UTAM and will have the opportunity to vote in the selection of UTAM’s Board of Trustees and to also run for Board membership.

Since lowering its fee to $0.50 per radiating device, and implementation of the revised Part 15 rules, the volume of products deployed in the band has grown exponentially. As a result, the fees generated by the increased volume has allowed UTAM to pay down its financial obligations to the point where it’s financial obligations are equal to the amount of money UTAM expects to recover from the auction of the 1915 – 1920 MHz band that UTAM had cleared and that was reallocated by the FCC for Advanced Wireless Services. However, the time frame for that auction has yet to be scheduled. Until UTAM can recover those fees and pay off its financial obligations, it will continue to operate, but its expenses are anticipated to be much lower. As a result, effective January 1, 2008 UTAM lowered its per radiating device fee from $0.50 to $0.05 until such time as when all financial obligations are met.

Fee Structure (Effective 1/1/08)
Up Front Membership Fee $50,000.00
Per Radiating Device Fee $0.05