DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO INSTALL TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT FOR PERSONS PERFORMING VOLUNTARY SERVICES.

SEC. 371. DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO INSTALL TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT FOR PERSONS PERFORMING VOLUNTARY SERVICES. (a) Authority.—Section 1588 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(f) Authority to Install Equipment.—(1) The Secretary concerned may install telephone lines and any necessary telecommunication equipment in the private residences of persons, designated in accordance with the regulations prescribed under paragraph (4), who provide voluntary services accepted under subsection (a)(3). “(2) In the case of equipment installed under the authority of paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned may pay the charges incurred for the use of the equipment for authorized purposes. “(3) To carry out this subsection, the Secretary concerned may use appropriated funds (notwithstanding section 1348 of title 31) or nonappropriated funds of the military department under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or, with respect to the Coast Guard, the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. “(4) The Secretary of Defense and, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.”. (b) Report on Implementation.—Not later than two years after final regulations prescribed under subsection (f)(4) of section 1588 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), take effect, the Comptroller General shall review the exercise of authority under such subsection (f) and submit to Congress a report on the findings resulting from the review.113 STAT. 580