[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR54.501]

[Page 138-139]
 
                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
 
        CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 54_UNIVERSAL SERVICE--Table of Contents
 
      Subpart E_Universal Service Support for Low-Income Consumers
 
Sec.  54.501  Eligibility for services provided by telecommunications 
carriers.

    (a) Telecommunications carriers shall be eligible for universal 
service support under this subpart for providing supported services to 
eligible schools, libraries, and consortia including those entities.
    (b) Schools. (1) Only schools meeting the statutory definitions of 
``elementary school,'' as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(18), or ``secondary 
school,'' as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(38), and not excluded under 
paragraphs (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section shall be eligible for 
discounts on telecommunications and other supported services under this 
subpart.
    (2) Schools operating as for-profit businesses shall not be eligible 
for discounts under this subpart.
    (3) Schools with endowments exceeding $50,000,000 shall not be 
eligible for discounts under this subpart.
    (c) Libraries. (1) Only libraries eligible for assistance from a 
State library administrative agency under the Library Services and 
Technology Act (Public Law 104-208) and not excluded under paragraphs 
(c)(2) or (c)(3) of this section shall be eligible for discounts under 
this subpart.
    (2) A library's eligibility for universal service funding shall 
depend on its funding as an independent entity. Only libraries whose 
budgets are completely separate from any schools (including, but not 
limited to, elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and 
universities) shall be eligible for discounts as libraries under this 
subpart.
    (3) Libraries operating as for-profit businesses shall not be 
eligible for discounts under this subpart.
    (d) Consortia. (1) For purposes of seeking competitive bids for 
telecommunications services, schools and libraries eligible for support 
under this subpart may form consortia with other eligible schools and 
libraries, with health care providers eligible under subpart G, and with 
public sector (governmental) entities, including, but not limited to,

[[Page 139]]

state colleges and state universities, state educational broadcasters, 
counties, and municipalities, when ordering telecommunications and other 
supported services under this subpart. With one exception, eligible 
schools and libraries participating in consortia with ineligible private 
sector members shall not be eligible for discounts for interstate 
services under this subpart. A consortium may include ineligible private 
sector entities if the pre-discount prices of any services that such 
consortium receives from ILECs are generally tariffed rates.
    (2) For consortia, discounts under this subpart shall apply only to 
the portion of eligible telecommunications and other supported services 
used by eligible schools and libraries.
    (3) Service providers shall keep and retain records of rates charged 
to and discounts allowed for eligible schools and libraries--on their 
own or as part of a consortium. Such records shall be available for 
public inspection.

[62 FR 32948, June 17, 1997, as amended at 63 FR 2129, Jan. 13, 1998; 68 
FR 36942, June 20, 2003]