2 CFR 200.471 sets 2 requirements for organizations that receive federal grants and cooperative agreements. Applies when you build your application and budget, and to every cost you charge after award.
Costs for telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment — phones, internet, video surveillance, cloud servers — are allowable, except as barred for covered equipment/services under paragraph (b).
Telecom, internet, cloud, or surveillance costs in the budget.
Award funds may not be obligated or expended for covered telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services as described in § 200.216 — to procure or obtain them, to extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain them, or to enter into (or extend or renew) a contract to procure the equipment, services, or systems.
Any purchase, contract, extension, or renewal for telecom or video-surveillance equipment/services in the budget.
Upload the funding notice and your draft budget or narrative, and ask. Grantable answers from its compliance database of federal, agency and state rules, with citations.
(a) Costs incurred for telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment such as phones, internet, video surveillance, and cloud servers are allowable except for the following circumstances:
(b) Obligating or expending covered telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment or services as described in § 200.216 to:
(1) Procure or obtain, extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain;
(2) Enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure; or
(3) Obtain the equipment, services, or systems.
Source: eCFR · checked Sep 17, 2026
Costs for telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment — phones, internet, video surveillance, cloud servers — are allowable, except as barred for covered equipment/services under paragraph (b). Award funds may not be obligated or expended for covered telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services as described in § 200.216 — to procure or obtain them, to extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain them, or to enter into (or extend or renew) a contract to procure the equipment, services, or systems.
Telecom, internet, cloud, or surveillance costs in the budget. Any purchase, contract, extension, or renewal for telecom or video-surveillance equipment/services in the budget.
Plain-English summaries for information only, not legal advice. Always check the regulation text, your award terms and your agency’s guidance.