FCC Record, Volume 27, No. 20, Pages 16663 to 16919, Supplement (December 2012) Page: 16,679

                                
Federal Communications Commission                                               FCC 12-150
1.    Use of a Uniform         Contribution Percentage ............................................................................ 83
2.    35 Percent HCP Contribution.................................................................................................90
3.    Limits on Eligible Sources of HCP Contribution...................................................................99
V.    ELIGIBLE        SERVICES AND              EQUIPMENT.................................................................................... 105
A.    Eligible Services .......................................................................................................................... 107
1.    Definition of Eligible Services ............................................................................................. 110
2.    Minimum        Bandwidth and Service Quality Requirements.................................................... 116
3.    Dark and Lit Fiber ................................................................................................................. 120
4.    Connections to lnternet2 or National LambdaRail............................................................... 133
5.    Off-Site Data Centers and Off-Site Administrative Offices.................................................. 137
6.    Reasonable and Customary Installation Charges up to $5,000 ............................................. 149
7. Upfront Charges for Service Provider Deployment of New or Upgraded Facilities to
Serve Eligible Health Care Providers................................................................................... 151
B.   Eligible Equipment ...................................................................................................................... 156
C.    Ineligible Costs ......................................................................................................................   I64
1.    Equipment or Services Not Directly Associated with Broadband Services..........................                               165
2.    Inside Wiring/ Internal Connections..................................................................................... 169
3.    Administrative Expenses.................................................................................................... 171
4.    Cost Allocation for Ineligible Entities, Sites, Services, or Equipment.................................. 178
D. Limitations on Upfront Payments.............................................................................................185
E.    Eligible Service Providers...........................................................................................................193
VI. FUNDING           PROCESS .................................................................................................................. 196
A.    Pre-Application Steps .................................................................................................................. 197
1.    Creation of Consortia ........................................................................................................ 197
a.    Designation of a Consortium              Leader ........................................................................... 198
b.    Participating Health Care Providers................................................................................ 207
c.    Letters of Agency ............................................................................................................ 208
2.    Determination of Health Care Provider Eligibility................................................................213
3.    Technology Planning ............................................................................................................. 216
4.    Preparation for Competitive Bidding .................................................................................... 220
5.    Source(s) for Undiscounted Portion of Costs...................................................................... 224
6.    FCC    Registration Number (FRN).......................................................................................225
B.    Competitive Bidding ................................................................................................................... 226
1.    "Fair and Open" Competitive Bidding Process...............................................................             ....229
2.    Requests for Proposals ................................................................................................ .......234
3.    USAC      Posting of Request for Services ................................................................................  239
4.    28-Day Posting Requirement...........................................................................................         243
5.    Selection of the Most "Cost-Effective" Bid and Contract Negotiation..............                              ............. 247
6.    Competitive Bidding Exemptions ...............................................................................      .......250
a.    Annual Undiscounted Cost of $10,000 or Less.....................................................            ......251
b.    Government Master Service Agreements...................................................                ..................256
c. Master Service Agreements Approved Under the Pilot Program or the Healthcare
Connect Fund............................................................................................................ 259
d.    Evergreen Contracts........................................................................................................261
e.    Contracts Negotiated Under E-Rate...............................                                                        266
f.    No Exemption for Internet2 and National LambdaRail....................268
C.    Funding Commitment From                 USAC .......................................................................................... 270
1.    Requirements for Service Providers ...................................................................................       271
2.    Filing Timeline for Applicants ...........................................................................................    273
3.    Required Documentation for Applicants ............................................................................... 279
4.    Requests for Multi-Year Commitments ............................................................................. 294

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