XML 31 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

11. Commitments and Contingencies

Contractual Commitments - We have agreements with vendors to provide us with transponder and teleport satellite services. These agreements vary in length and amount and as of September 30, 2017 commit us to purchase transponder and teleport satellite services totaling approximately $21.4 million in 2017 (October 1 through December 31), $75.6 million in 2018, $81.9 million in 2019, $86.2 million in 2020, $75.9 million in 2021 and $303.0 million thereafter.

We have agreements with various vendors under which we have remaining commitments to purchase satellite-based systems, certifications and development services. Such commitments will become payable as we receive the equipment or certifications, or as development services are provided.

Damages and Penalties—We have entered into a number of agreements with our airline partners that require us to provide a credit or pay penalties or liquidated damages to our airline partners if we are unable to install our equipment on aircraft by specified timelines or fail to comply with service level commitments. The maximum amount of future credits or payments we could be required to make under these agreements is uncertain because the amount of future credits or payments is based on certain variable inputs.

 

Indemnifications and Guarantees - In accordance with Delaware law, we indemnify our officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at our request in such capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under this indemnification is uncertain and may be unlimited, depending upon circumstances. However, our Directors’ and Officers’ insurance does provide coverage for certain of these losses.

In the ordinary course of business we may occasionally enter into agreements pursuant to which we may be obligated to pay for the failure of performance of others, such as the use of corporate credit cards issued to employees. Based on historical experience, we believe that the risk of sustaining any material loss related to such guarantees is remote.

We have entered into a number of agreements, including our agreements with commercial airlines, pursuant to which we indemnify the other party for losses and expenses suffered or incurred in connection with any patent, copyright, or trademark infringement or misappropriation claim asserted by a third party with respect to our equipment or services. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is uncertain and is typically not limited by the terms of the agreements.