Sec.  54.506   Internal connections.

   (a) A service is eligible for support as a component of an institution's
   internal connections if such service is necessary to transport information
   within one or more instructional buildings of a single school campus or
   within one or more non-administrative buildings that comprise a single
   library branch. Discounts are not available for internal connections in
   non-instructional buildings of a school or school district, or in
   administrative buildings of a library, to the extent that a library system
   has separate administrative buildings, unless those internal connections are
   essential for the effective transport of information to an instructional
   building of a school or to a non-administrative building of a library.
   Internal connections do not include connections that extend beyond a single
   school campus or single library branch. There is a rebuttable presumption
   that a connection does not constitute an internal connection if it crosses a
   public right-of-way.

   (b) Basic maintenance services. Basic maintenance services shall be eligible
   as an internal connections service if, but for the maintenance at issue, the
   internal connection would not function and serve its intended purpose with
   the degree of reliability ordinarily provided in the marketplace to entities
   receiving such services. Basic maintenance services do not include services
   that maintain equipment that is not supported or that enhance the utility of
   equipment beyond the transport of information, or diagnostic services in
   excess of those necessary to maintain the equipment's ability to transport
   information.

   (c) Frequency of discounts for internal connections services. Each eligible
   school or library shall be eligible for support for internal connections
   services, except basic maintenance services, no more than twice every five
   funding years. For the purpose of determining eligibility, the five-year
   period begins in any funding year, starting with Funding Year 2005, in which
   the school or library receives discounted internal connections services
   other than basic maintenance services. If a school or library receives
   internal connections services other than basic maintenance services that are
   shared with other schools or libraries (for example, as part of a
   consortium), the shared services will be attributed the school or library in
   determining whether it is eligible for support.

   [ 69 FR 6191 , Feb. 10, 2004]