[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR25.121]

[Page 278-279]
 
                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
 
                    CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
                         COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 25--SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart B--Applications and Licenses
 
Sec. 25.121  License term and renewals.

    (a) License Term. Except for licenses for DBS facilities, licenses 
for facilities governed by this part will be issued for a period of 15 
years. Licenses for DBS space stations licensed as broadcast facilities 
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.
    (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 satellite orbit 
satellites, the license term will begin at 3 a.m. EST on the date the 
licensee certifies to the Commission that the satellite has been 
successfully placed into orbit and that the operations of the satellite 
fully conform to the terms and conditions of the space station radio 
authorization.
    (2) For non-geostationary satellite orbit satellites, the license 
term will begin at 3 a.m. EST on the date that the licensee certifies to 
the Commission that its initial space station has been successfully 
placed into orbit and that the operations of that satellite fully 
conform to the terms and conditions of the space station system 
authorization. All space stations launched and brought into service 
during the 15-year license term shall operate pursuant to the system 
authorization, and the operating authority for all space stations will 
terminate upon the expiration of the system license.
    (e) Renewal of licenses. Applications for renewals of earth station 
licenses must be submitted on FCC Form 405 (Application for Renewal of 
Radio Station License in Specified Services) no earlier than 90 days, 
and no later than 30 days, before the expiration date of

[[Page 279]]

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]

                             Earth Stations