§  54.606   Calculating support.

   (a) The amount of universal service support provided for an eligible
   service to be funded from the Telecommunications program shall be the
   difference, if any, between the urban rate and the rural rate charged
   for the services, as defined in this section. In addition, all
   reasonable charges that are incurred by taking such services, such as
   state and federal taxes, shall be eligible for universal service
   support. Charges for termination liability, penalty surcharges, and
   other charges not included in the cost of taking such service shall not
   be covered by the universal service support mechanisms.

   (b) The universal service support mechanisms shall provide support for
   intrastate telecommunications services, as set forth in § 54.101(a),
   provided to rural health care providers as well as interstate
   telecommunications services.

   (c) Mobile rural health care providers—(1) Calculation of support. The
   support amount allowed under the Telecommunications Program for
   satellite services provided to mobile rural health care providers is
   calculated by comparing the rate for the satellite service to the rate
   for an urban wireline service with a similar bandwidth. Support for
   satellite services shall not be capped at an amount of a functionally
   similar wireline alternative. Where the mobile rural health care
   provider provides service in more than one state, the calculation shall
   be based on the urban areas in each state, proportional to the number
   of locations served in each state.

   (2) Documentation of support. (i) Mobile rural health care providers
   shall provide to the Administrator documentation of the price of
   bandwidth equivalent wireline services in the urban area in the state
   or states where the service is provided. Mobile rural health care
   providers shall provide to the Administrator the number of sites the
   mobile health care provider will serve during the funding year.

   (ii) Where a mobile rural health care provider serves less than eight
   different sites per year, the mobile rural health care provider shall
   provide to the Administrator documentation of the price of bandwidth
   equivalent wireline services. In such case, the Administrator shall
   determine on a case-by-case basis whether the telecommunications
   service selected by the mobile rural health care provider is the most
   cost-effective option. Where a mobile rural health care provider seeks
   a more expensive satellite-based service when a less expensive wireline
   alternative is most cost-effective, the mobile rural health care
   provider shall be responsible for the additional cost.

   

Healthcare Connect Fund Program