Sec.  54.705   Committees of the Administrator's Board of Directors.

   (a) Schools and Libraries Committee —(1) Committee functions . The Schools
   and Libraries Committee shall oversee the administration of the schools and
   libraries support mechanism by the Schools and Libraries Division. The
   Schools and Libraries Committee shall have the authority to make decisions
   concerning:

   (i) How the Administrator projects demand for the schools and libraries
   support mechanism;

   (ii) Development of applications and associated instructions as needed for
   the schools and libraries support mechanism;

   (iii) Administration of the application process, including activities to
   ensure  compliance  with  Federal  Communications Commission rules and
   regulations;

   (iv) Performance of outreach and education functions;

   (v)  Review  of  bills  for services that are submitted by schools and
   libraries;

   (vi) Monitoring demand for the purpose of determining when the $2 billion
   trigger has been reached;

   (vii) Implementation of the rules of priority in accordance with  Sec. 54.507(g)
   of this chapter;

   (viii) Review and certification of technology plans when a state agency has
   indicated that it will not be able to review such plans within a reasonable
   time;

   (ix) The classification of schools and libraries as urban or rural and the
   use of the discount matrix established in  Sec. 54.505(c) of this chapter to set
   the discount rate to be applied to services purchased by eligible schools
   and libraries;

   (x) Performance of audits of beneficiaries under the schools and libraries
   support mechanism; and

   (xi) Development and implementation of other functions unique to the schools
   and libraries support mechanism.

   (2)  Committee composition . The Schools and Libraries Committee shall
   consist of the following members of the Administrator's Board of Directors:

   (i) Three school representatives;

   (ii) One library representative;

   (iii) One service provider representative;

   (iv) One at-large representative elected by the Administrator's Board of
   Directors; and

   (v) The Administrator's Chief Executive Officer.

   (b) Rural Health Care Committee —(1) Committee functions . The Rural Health
   Care Committee shall oversee the administration of the rural health care
   support mechanism by the Rural Health Care Division. The Rural Health Care
   Committee shall have authority to make decisions concerning:

   (i) How the Administrator projects demand for the rural health care support
   mechanism;

   (ii) Development of applications and associated instructions as needed for
   the rural health care support mechanism;

   (iii) Administration of the application process, including activities to
   ensure  compliance  with  Federal  Communications Commission rules and
   regulations;

   (iv) Calculation of support levels under  Sec. 54.609;

   (v) Performance of outreach and education functions;

   (vi) Review of bills for services that are submitted by rural health care
   providers;

   (vii) Monitoring demand for the purpose of determining when the $400 million
   cap has been reached;

   (viii) Performance of audits of beneficiaries under the rural health care
   support mechanism; and

   (ix) Development and implementation of other functions unique to the rural
   health care support mechanism.

   (2) Committee composition . The Rural Health Care Committee shall consist of
   the following members of the Administrator's Board of Directors:

   (i) Two rural health care representatives;

   (ii) One service provider representative;

   (iii) Two at-large representatives elected by the Administrator's Board of
   Directors;

   (iv) One State telecommunications regulator, one state consumer advocate;
   and

   (v) The Administrator's Chief Executive Officer.

   (c) High Cost and Low Income Committee —(1) Committee functions. The High
   Cost and Low Income Committee shall oversee the administration of the high
   cost and low income support mechanisms, the interstate access universal
   service support mechanism for price cap carriers described in subpart J of
   this  part,  and  the  interstate  common  line  support mechanism for
   rate-of-return carriers described in subpart K of this part by the High Cost
   and Low Income Division. The High Cost and Low Income Committee shall have
   the authority to make decisions concerning:

   (i) How the Administrator projects demand for the high cost, low income,
   interstate access universal service, and interstate common line support
   mechanisms;

   (ii) Development of applications and associated instructions as needed for
   the  high  cost,  low income, interstate access universal service, and
   interstate common line support mechanisms;

   (iii) Administration of the application process, including activities to
   ensure  compliance  with  Federal  Communications Commission rules and
   regulations;

   (iv) Performance of audits of beneficiaries under the high cost, low income,
   interstate access universal service and interstate common line support
   mechanisms; and

   (v) Development and implementation of other functions unique to the high
   cost, low income, interstate access universal service and interstate common
   line support mechanisms.

   (d) Binding Authority of Committees of the Board. (1) Any action taken by
   the Committees of the Board established in paragraphs (a) through (c) of
   this  section  shall  be  binding  on  the  Board  of Directors of the
   Administrator, unless such action is presented for review to the Board by
   the Administrator's Chief Executive Officer and the Board disapproves of
   such action by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of directors, as defined in the
   Administrator's by-laws.

   (2) The budgets prepared by each Committee shall be subject to Board review
   as part of the Administrator's combined budget. The Board shall not modify
   the budgets prepared by the Committees of the Board unless such modification
   is approved by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the Board, as defined in the
   Administrator's by-laws.

   [ 63 FR 70574 , Dec. 21, 1998, as amended at  65 FR 38690 , June 21, 2000;  65 FR 57739 , Sept. 26, 2000;  66 FR 59728 , Nov. 30, 2001]