§  25.164   Milestones.

   (a) Licensees of geostationary orbit satellite systems other than DBS
   and DARS satellite systems, including GSO MSS satellite systems,
   licensed on or after August 27, 2003 will be required to comply with
   the schedule set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this
   section in implementing their satellite systems, unless a different
   schedule is established by Title 47, Chapter I, or by Commission Order,
   or by Order adopted pursuant to delegated authority. These dates are to
   be measured from the date the license is issued.

   (1) One year: Enter into a binding non-contingent contract to construct
   the licensed satellite system.

   (2) Two years: Complete the critical design review of the licensed
   satellite system.

   (3) Three years: Begin the construction of the satellite.

   (4) Five years: Launch and operate the satellite.

   (b) Licensees of non-geostationary orbit satellite systems other than
   DBS and DARS satellite systems licensed on or after September 11, 2003,
   will be required to comply with the schedule set forth in paragraphs
   (b)(1) through (b)(5) of this section in implementing their satellite
   systems, unless a different schedule is established by Title 47,
   Chapter I, or by Commission Order, or by Order adopted pursuant to
   delegated authority. These dates are to be measured from the date the
   license is issued.

   (1) One year: Enter into a binding non-contingent contract to construct
   the licensed satellite system.

   (2) Two years: Complete the critical design review of the licensed
   satellite system.

   (3) Two years, six months: Begin the construction of the first
   satellite in the licensed satellite system.

   (4) Three years, six months: Launch and operate the first satellite in
   the licensed satellite system.

   (5) Six years: Bring all the satellites in the licensed satellite
   system into operation.

   (c) Licensees of all satellite systems, other than DBS and DARS
   satellite systems, licensed on or after September 11, 2003, will be
   required to submit a copy of their binding non-contingent contract with
   the Commission on or before the date scheduled for entering into such a
   contract.

   (d) Licensees of all satellite systems, other than DBS and DARS
   satellite systems, licensed on or after September 11, 2003, will be
   required to submit information to the Commission sufficient to
   demonstrate that the licensee has completed the critical design review
   of the licensed satellite system on or before the date scheduled for
   entering into such completion.

   (e) Licensees of all satellite systems, other than DBS and DARS
   satellite systems, licensed on or after September 11, 2003, will be
   required to submit information to the Commission sufficient to
   demonstrate that the licensee has commenced physical construction of
   its licensed spacecraft on or before the date scheduled for such
   commencement.

   (f) In cases where the Commission grants a satellite authorization in
   different stages, such as a license for a satellite system using feeder
   links or intersatellite links, the earliest of the milestone schedules
   shall be applied to the entire satellite system.

   (g) Licensees of satellite systems that include both non-geostationary
   orbit satellites and geostationary orbit satellites, other than DBS and
   DARS satellite systems, and licensed on or after September 20, 2004
   will be required to comply with the schedule set forth in paragraph (a)
   of this section with respect to the geostationary orbit satellites, and
   with the schedule set forth in paragraph (b) of this section with
   respect to the non-geostationary orbit satellites.

   [ 68 FR 51507 , Aug. 27, 2003, as amended at  69 FR 51587 , Aug. 20, 2004]