Sec.  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]