Eligible services

(d) Funding year 2021 and beyond. Schools, school districts, libraries, and library systems shall be eligible for support for category two services pursuant to the five-year budgets described in paragraphs (d)(1) through (6) of this section.

(1) Fixed five-year funding cycle. Beginning in funding year 2021, each eligible school, school district, library, or library system shall be eligible for a budgeted amount of pre-discount support for category two services over a five-year funding cycle that will reset in funding year 2026 and subsequently, after every five funding years. Each school, school district, library, or library system shall be eligible for the total available budget less the pre-discount amount of any support received for category two services in the prior funding years of that fixed five-year funding cycle.

(2) School and school district multipliers. Each eligible school district and schools operating independently of a school district shall be eligible for support for category two services up to a pre-discount price of $167 per student over a five-year funding cycle. The amount of support will be calculated at the time that the discount is calculated in the first funding year of the five-year cycle in which the applicant requests category two support, unless the school or school district elects to seek additional program support using updated enrollment numbers in subsequent funding years in the five-year cycle. School districts shall provide the total number of students within the school district. Independent charter schools, private schools, and other eligible educational facilities that operate under the control of a central administrative agency shall provide the total number of students under the control of that agency. Schools that are not affiliated financially or operationally with a school district or central administrative agency shall provide the total number of students in the school.

(3) Library and library system multipliers. Library systems and libraries operating independently of a system shall be eligible for support for category two services, up to a pre-discount price of $4.50 per square foot over a five-year funding cycle. The amount of support will be calculated at the time that the discount is calculated in the first funding year of the five-year cycle in which the applicant requests category two support, unless the library or library system elects to seek additional program support using updated square footage in subsequent funding years in the five-year cycle. Library systems shall provide the total area for all floors, in square feet, of all of its library outlets, including all areas enclosed by the outer walls of the library outlet and occupied by the library, including those areas off-limits to the public. Independent libraries shall provide the total area for all floors, in square feet, of all areas enclosed by the outer walls of the library outlet and occupied by the library, including those areas off-limits to the public.

(4) Funding floor. Each eligible school and library shall be eligible for support for category two services of at least a pre-discount price of $25,000 over five funding years. Tribal libraries shall be eligible for support for category two services of at least a pre-discount price of $55,000 over five funding years.

(5) Calculation increase. Before funding year 2026 and every subsequent five-year funding cycle, the Wireline Competition Bureau shall announce the multipliers and funding floor as adjusted for inflation at least 60 days before the start of the filing window for the next five-year funding cycle. The Bureau shall use the last four quarters of data on the Gross Domestic Product Chain-type Price Index (GDP-CPI) compared with the equivalent quarters from the beginning of the five-year funding cycle. The increase shall be rounded to the nearest 0.1 percent and shall be used to calculate the category two budget multipliers and funding floor for that five-year funding cycle. The multipliers and funding floor shall be rounded to the nearest cent.

(6) Non-instructional buildings. Support is not available for category two services provided to or within non-instructional school buildings or separate library administrative buildings unless those category two services are essential for the effective transport of information to or within one or more instructional buildings of a school or non-administrative library buildings, or the Commission has found that the use of those services meets the definition of educational purpose, as defined in § 54.500. When applying for category two support for eligible services shared with or within a non-instructional school building or library administrative building, the applicant shall not be required to deduct the cost of a non-instructional building's use of the category two services or equipment.

(e) Eligible services list process. The Administrator shall submit by March 30 of each year a draft list of services eligible for support, based on the Commission's rules for the following funding year. The Wireline Competition Bureau will issue a Public Notice seeking comment on the Administrator's proposed eligible services list. The final list of services eligible for support will be released at least 60 days prior to the opening of the application filing window for the following funding year.