The Schools and Libraries Division posted the final version of the Eligible Services list for the 2004 filing season on its Web site late on October 10. The list is available in pdf format at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/reference/eligible.asp.
The new list notes that some newly eligible services, such as firewalls, are eligible "effective for Fund Year 2004 and later years." At the same time, the list specifies that determinations on dark fiber and voice over IP services, which moved into the ineligible category with the latest list, were also "effective for Fund year 2004 and later years," suggesting that applications for these services in earlier years could be approved under the rules that were in place for those funding years.
In another change from a draft that was released in late September, the list specifies that Network Interface Cards will be eligible "if they are separately priced on a contract or sold separately. NICS embedded in ineligible equipment, such as computer workstations, and not separately priced are not eligible."
This year, the SLD did not highlight language changes when the list was issued. Other important changes, if any, will be noted as they are reviewed.