§  54.611   Distributing support.

   (a) A telecommunications carrier providing services eligible for
   support under this subpart to eligible health care providers shall
   treat the amount eligible for support under this subpart as an offset
   against the carrier's universal service support obligation for the year
   in which the costs for providing eligible services were incurred.

   (b) If the total amount of support owed to a carrier, as set forth in
   paragraph (a) of this section, exceeds its universal service
   obligation, calculated on an annual basis, the carrier may receive a
   direct reimbursement in the amount of the difference.

   (c) Any reimbursement due a carrier shall be made after the offset is
   credited against that carrier's universal service obligation.

   (d) Any reimbursement due a carrier shall be submitted to that carrier
   no later than the end of the first quarter of the calendar year
   following the year in which the costs were incurred and the offset
   against the carrier's universal service obligation was applied.