How can the Evaluation and Recognition Process be Accomplished Within a Timescale that Coincides with the Commercial Realities of Successful and Proper Company Administration and Management?

  12 Given that resolution A.1001(25) establishes that the application and decision are matters for the Committee, and evaluation is to be done by the COMSAR Sub-Committee, the procedure cannot be accomplished in less than one year. Some specimen processes are summarized in the following table:

 The table shows that, in the Worst Case, it could be possible for the review, evaluation and decision procedure to take up to two and a half years, even without any need to revert to the applicant with a request for further detail or explanation. This would be extremely likely to deter potential commercial satellite system operators from applying to become involved in the GMDSS. The Fast Track requires that the COMSAR Sub-Committee undertake the evaluation and complete its report in one session, and that the evaluation report and recommendation are sent to the next session of the Committee for consideration as an Urgent Matter. The Fast Track takes either 12 or six months depending on whether the application is made in an Assembly year or not. It may be concluded that Fast Track A is unlikely to be achieved.