Authority: Title 2.1, Chapter 35.2, Articles 1 through 6, Code of Virginia.
A. Central and Interconnection Systems includes an internal service fund which shall be paid solely from revenues derived from charges for services. The estimated internal service fund cost for Central and Interconnection Systems is $36,662,959 the first year and $36,861,843 the second year.
C. Special fund revenue estimated at $557,382 the first year shall be derived from charges for teleconferencing services. Revenues estimated at $528,591 the second year for teleconferencing services shall be derived from charges for such services and accounted for as internal service funds. Teleconferencing services shall be self-supporting from revenue.
D.1. From this appropriation, $322,464 the first year and $322,464 the second year shall be expended to support graduate engineering education, subject to a plan approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Funds for that program shall not be expended until the State Council of Higher Education certifies to the Department of Planning and Budget that the program is in operation.
2. Additional general fund amounts available in this item may be expended to support the graduate engineering program if the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission approves a rate increase for teleconferencing services in the second year.
E.1. Political subdivisions and local school divisions are hereby authorized to purchase long-distance and local telecommunications services from the Department of Information Technology, provided that such purchases are not prohibited by the terms and conditions of the Department's contracts for such services.
2. In providing telecommunications services to state agencies and institutions, political subdivisions and local school divisions, the Department shall charge rates that are approved by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.
F. The Department of Information Technology is authorized to locate the Relay Center, for the Department of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, in Norton, Virginia. In developing a request for proposals for the Relay Center for the Department of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Department shall include provisions to require that: 1) the Center be located in Norton, Virginia; 2) the vendor provide the same level of services currently provided; 3) employment levels be at least equal to the average levels experienced from July 1, 1996 to February 28, 1997; 4) existing equipment be utilized to the extent feasible; and 5) the contract be renewable for up to five years.