PUBLIC LAW 108–136—NOV. 24, 2003
117 STAT. 1449
benefit is provided from amounts available to the Department of Defense, may not exceed— (1) $40; or (2) 120 calling minutes, if the cost to the Department of Defense of providing such number of calling minutes is less than the amount specified in paragraph (1). (c) END OF PROGRAM.—The program established by subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2004. (d) FUNDING.—(1)(A) In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall maximize the use of existing Department of Defense telecommunications programs and capabilities, free or reduced-cost services of private sector entities, and programs to enhance morale and welfare. (B) The Secretary may not award a contract to a commercial firm for the purposes of subparagraph (A) other than through the use of competitive procedures. (2) The Secretary may accept gifts and donations in order to defray the costs of the program under this section. Such gifts and donations may be accepted from— (A) any foreign government; (B) any foundation or other charitable organization, including any that is organized or operates under the laws of a foreign country; and (C) any source in the private sector of the United States or a foreign country. (e) DEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT.—If the Secretary of Defense determines that, in order to implement this section as quickly as practicable, it is necessary to provide additional telephones in any area to facilitate telephone calling for which benefits are provided under this section, the Secretary may, consistent with the availability of resources, award competitively bid contracts to one or more commercial entities for the provision and installation of telephones in that area. (f) NO COMPROMISE OF MILITARY MISSION.—The Secretary of Defense should not take any action under this section that would compromise the military objectives or mission of the Department of Defense. SEC. 345. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF MATERIAL CONDITION OF THE KC–135 AERIAL REFUELING FLEET.
Not later than May 1, 2004, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees an assessment, conducted by an entity outside of the Department of Defense, of the material condition of the fleet of KC–135 aerial refueling aircraft of the Air Force. The assessment shall include the following: (1) Trend analysis for operational readiness for KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft from fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2003. (2) Trend analysis for the number of manhours of organizational-level and depot-level maintenance required for KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft from fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2003, setting forth separately the manhours required for control and treatment of corrosion. (3) The number of KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft grounded due to corrosion for each year, and the length of time each aircraft was grounded pending corrosion repair, based
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