Exhibit (b)


                             CERTIFICATIONS


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Jimmy D. Gambill,  Chief Executive  Officer of the FRANKLIN  FEDERAL TAX-FREE
INCOME FUND (the "Registrant"),  certify,  pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

1.            The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
              ended   10/31/06  (the  "Form  N-CSR")  fully  complies  with  the
              requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
              Act of 1934; and

2.            The information  contained in the Form N-CSR fairly  presents,  in
              all material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and results of
              operations of the Registrant.

Dated:  December 27, 2006

                            /S/JIMMY D. GAMBILL
                            Jimmy D. Gambill

                            Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration













                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Galen G. Vetter,  Chief Financial  Officer of the FRANKLIN  FEDERAL  TAX-FREE
INCOME FUND (the "Registrant"),  certify,  pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

         1.   The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
              ended   10/31/06  (the  "Form  N-CSR")  fully  complies  with  the
              requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
              Act of 1934; and

         2.   The information  contained in the Form N-CSR fairly  presents,  in
              all material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and results of
              operations of the Registrant.

Dated:  December 27, 2006

                            /S/GALEN G. VETTER
                            Galen G. Vetter
                            Chief Financial Officer