(a) For all satellite licenses issued after September 20, 2004, other than DBS licenses, DARS licenses, and replacement satellite licenses as defined in paragraph (e), the licensee is required to post a bond within 30 days of the grant of its license. Failure to post a bond will render the license null and void automatically.
(1) NGSO licensees are required to post a bond in the amount of $5 million.
(2) GSO licensees are required to post a bond in the amount of $3 million.
(3) Licensees of satellite systems including both NGSO satellites and GSO satellites that operate in the same frequency bands as the NGSO satellites are required to post a bond in the amount of $5 million.
(b) The licensee must use a surety company deemed acceptable within the meaning of 31 U.S.C. 9304 et seq. (See, e.g., Department of Treasury Fiscal Service, Companies Holding Certificates of Authority as Acceptable Sureties on Federal Bonds and As Acceptable Reinsurance Companies, 57 FR 29356, July 1, 1992.) The bond must name the U.S. Treasury as beneficiary in the event of the licensee's default. The licensee must provide the Commission with a copy of the performance bond, including all details and conditions.
(c) A licensee will be considered to be in default if it fails to meet any milestone deadline set forth in Sec. 25.164, and, at the time of milestone deadline, the licensee has not provided a sufficient basis for extending the milestone.
(d) A GSO licensee will be permitted to reduce the amount of the bond by $750,000 upon successfully meeting a milestone deadline set forth in section 25.164(a) of this chapter. An NGSO licensee will be permitted to reduce the amount of the bond by $1 million upon successfully meeting a milestone deadline set forth in section 25.164(b) of this chapter.
(e) A replacement satellite is one that is:
(1) Authorized to be operated at the same orbit location, in the same frequency bands, and with the same coverage area as one of the licensee's existing satellites, and
(2) Scheduled to be launched so that it will be brought into use at approximately the same time as, but no later than, the existing satellite is retired. [68 FR 51507, Aug. 27, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 51587, Aug. 20, 2004]
Reporting Requirements For Space Station Operators