Sec.  54.621   Access to advanced telecommunications and information services.

   (a) Twenty-five percent of the monthly cost of eligible Internet access
   shall be eligible for universal support. Health care providers shall certify
   that the Internet access selected is the most cost-effective method for
   their health care needs as defined in  Sec. 54.615(c)(7), and that purchase of
   the Internet access is reasonably related to the health care needs of the
   rural health care provider.

   (b) Each eligible health care provider that cannot obtain toll-free access
   to an Internet service provider shall be entitled to receive the lesser of
   the toll charges incurred for 30 hours of access per month to an Internet
   service provider or $180 per month in toll charge credits for toll charges
   imposed for connecting to an Internet service provider.

   (c) Health care providers located in States that are entirely rural shall be
   eligible to receive universal service support equal to 50 percent of the
   monthly cost of advanced telecommunications and information services
   reasonably related to the health care needs of the facility.

   [ 68 FR 74503 , Dec. 24, 2003, as amended at  70 FR 6373 , Feb. 7, 2005]

   Effective Date Notes:   1. At  68 FR 74503 , Dec. 24, 2003, as corrected at  69 FR 3021 , Jan. 22, 2004,  Sec. 54.621 was revised, effective Jan. 23, 2004.
   Paragraph (a) contains information collection and recordkeeping requirements
   and will not become effective until approval has been given by the Office of
   Management and Budget.

   2. At  70 FR 6373 , Feb. 7, 2005,  Sec.  54.621 was amended by adding paragraph
   (c). Paragraph (c) contains information collection and recordkeeping
   requirements and will not become effective until approval has been given by
   the Office of Management and Budget.