§  25.121   License term and renewals.

   Link to an amendment published at  85 FR 52451 , Aug. 25, 2020.

   (a) License Term. (1) Except for licenses for DBS space stations, SDARS
   space stations and terrestrial repeaters, 17/24 GHz BSS space stations
   licensed as broadcast facilities, and licenses for which the
   application was filed pursuant to § § 25.122 and 25.123, licenses for
   facilities governed by this part will be issued for a period of 15
   years.

   (2) Licenses for DBS space stations and 17/24 GHz BSS space stations
   licensed as broadcast facilities, and for SDARS space stations and
   terrestrial repeaters, will be issued for a period of 8 years. Licenses
   for DBS space stations not licensed as broadcast facilities will be
   issued for a period of 10 years.

   (3) Licenses for which the application was filed pursuant to § 25.122 or
   § 25.123 will be issued for a period of 6 years, without the possibility
   of extension or replacement authorization.

   (b) The Commission reserves the right to grant or renew station
   licenses for less than 15 years if, in its judgment, the public
   interest, convenience and necessity will be served by such action.

   (c) For earth stations, the license term will be specified in the
   instrument of authorization.

   (d) Space stations. (1) For geostationary-orbit space stations, the
   license term will begin at 3 a.m. Eastern Time on the date when the
   licensee notifies the Commission pursuant to § 25.173(b) that the space
   station has been successfully placed into orbit at its assigned orbital
   location and that its operations conform to the terms and conditions of
   the space station authorization.

   (2) For non-geostationary orbit space stations, except for those
   granted under § 25.122 or § 25.123, the license period will begin at 3
   a.m. Eastern Time on the date when the licensee notifies the Commission
   pursuant to § 25.173(b) that operation of an initial space station is
   compliant with the license terms and conditions and that the space
   station has been placed in its authorized orbit. Operating authority
   for all space stations subsequently brought into service pursuant to
   the license will terminate upon its expiration.

   (3) For non-geostationary orbit space stations granted under § 25.122 or
   § 25.123, the license period will begin at 3 a.m. Eastern Time on the
   date when the licensee notifies the Commission pursuant to § 25.173(b)
   that operation of an initial space station is compliant with the
   license terms and conditions and that the space station has been placed
   in its authorized orbit and has begun operating. Operating authority
   for all space stations subsequently brought into service pursuant to
   the license will terminate upon its expiration.

   (e) Renewal of licenses. Applications for renewals of earth station
   licenses must be submitted on FCC Form 312R no earlier than 90 days,
   and no later than 30 days, before the expiration date of the license.
   Applications for space station system replacement authorization for
   non-geostationary orbit satellites shall be filed no earlier than 90
   days, and no later than 30 days, prior to the end of the twelfth year
   of the existing license term.

   [ 56 FR 24016 , May 28, 1991, as amended at  58 FR 68059 , Dec. 23, 1993;
    59 FR 53327 , Oct. 21, 1994. Redesignated and amended at  62 FR 5928 ,
   5929, Feb. 10, 1997;  65 FR 59142 , Oct. 4, 2000;  67 FR 12485 , Mar. 19,
   2002;  67 FR 51113 , Aug. 7, 2002;  68 FR 51503 , Aug. 27, 2003;  68 FR 63999 , Nov. 12, 2003;  72 FR 50027 , Aug. 29, 2007;  75 FR 45067 , Aug. 2,
   2010;  79 FR 8317 , Feb. 12, 2014;  85 FR 43733 , July 20, 2020]