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This rule will propose increased licensing and examination fees for the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program. The Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, authorizes SBA to collect licensing fees from applicants and examination fees from SBICs to offset administrative costs related to licensing and examination activities. SBA last adjusted SBIC licensing fees in 1996 and examination fees in 1998. These fees currently cover only a fraction of necessary SBA administrative expenses related to these activities. If implemented as proposed, the new rule would simplify the current exam fee structure and increase both administrative fees to recoup SBA expenses related to SBA licensing and examination activities. These fees would be annually adjusted based on the urban consumer price index as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To encourage investment into underserved areas, the rule will propose licensing and examination fee discounts for Early Stage SBICs and examination fee discounts for regular SBICs that make significant low and moderate income (LMI) investments.