[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6912-6916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3971]



      

[[Page 6911]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV





Department of Commerce





_______________________________________________________________________



National Telecommunications and Information Administration



_______________________________________________________________________



Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 1996 / 
Notices  
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 6912]]


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket No. 960205021-6021-01]


Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of closing date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Subject to the authority of the continuing resolution (P.L. 
104-99), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, announces that applications are 
available for planning and construction grants for public 
telecommunications facilities under the Public Telecommunications 
Facilities Program (PTFP). In order to make any awards this fiscal 
year, it is necessary to begin the application process now.
    Applicants for matching grants under the PTFP must file their 
applications on or before Thursday, March 28, 1996. NTIA anticipates 
making grant awards by September 30, 1996, provided that funding for 
PTFP is continued beyond the March 15, 1996 expiration date of the 
continuing resolution. This continuing resolution includes $15.5 
million for the PTFP. Issuance of grants is subject to the availability 
of FY 1996 funds. Further notice will be made in the Federal Register 
about the final status of funding for this program at the appropriate 
time. NTIA shall not be liable for any proposal preparation costs.
    The amount of a grant award by NTIA will vary, depending on the 
approved project. For fiscal year 1995, NTIA awarded $27.6 million in 
funds to 142 projects. The awards ranged from $5,694 to $954,518.
    The applicable Rules for the PTFP were published on November 22, 
1991 and amended on December 22, 1995 (60 FR 66491). These rules, 
codified at 15 CFR part 2301, will be in effect for FY 1996 PTFP 
applications. Parties interested in applying for financial assistance 
should refer to these rules and to the authorizing legislation (47 
U.S.C. 390-393 and Pub. L. 104-99) for additional information on the 
program's goals and objectives, eligibility criteria, evaluation 
criteria, and other requirements.

DATES: Pursuant to 15 CFR 2301.5(c), the Administrator of NTIA hereby 
establishes the closing date for the filing of applications for grants 
under the PTFP. The closing date selected for the submission of 
applications for 1996 is Thursday, March 28, 1996. Applications 
delivered by mail or by hand must be delivered to the address 
referenced below by 5 p.m. on or before Thursday, March 28, 1996. 
Applicants whose applications are not received by the deadline are 
hereby notified that their applications will not be considered in the 
current grant cycle and will be returned to the applicant. NTIA will 
also return any application which is substantially incomplete, or when 
the Agency finds that either the applicant or project is ineligible for 
funding under the Public Telecommunications Financing Act of 1978, as 
amended (47 U.S.C. 390-393). The Agency will inform the applicant the 
reason for the return of any application.

ADDRESSES: To obtain an application package, submit completed 
applications, or send any other correspondence, write to: Office of 
Telecommunications and Information Applications, NTIA/DOC, 14th Street 
and Constitution Ave., NW, Room H-4625, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis R. Connors, Director, Public 
Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202) 482-5802; fax: (202) 482-2156. 
Information about the PTFP can also be obtained electronically via 
Internet (send inquiries to http://www.ntia.doc.gov) or through the 
NTIA BBS at (202) 482-1199 (set computer modems for 8 stop bits, 0 
polarity).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Application Forms and Regulations

    To apply for a PTFP grant, an applicant must file an original and 
two copies of a timely and complete application on a current form 
approved by the Agency. The current application form will be provided 
to applicants as part of the application package. This form expires on 
October 31, 1997, and no previous versions of the form may be used. (In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the current application 
form has been cleared under OMB control no. 0660-0003.) Applications 
submitted by facsimile or electronic means are not acceptable.
    All persons and organizations on the PTFP's mailing list will be 
sent a copy of the current application form and the Final Rules. Those 
not on the mailing list may obtain copies by contacting the PTFP at the 
address or telephone, fax, computer bulletin board, or Internet numbers 
noted above. Prospective applicants should read the Final Rules 
carefully before submitting applications. Applicants whose applications 
were deferred in FY 1995 will be mailed pertinent PTFP materials and 
instructions for requesting reactivation of their applications.
    Applicants should note that they must comply with the provisions of 
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' The Executive Order requires applicants for financial 
assistance under this program to file a copy of their application with 
the Single Points of Contact (SPOC) of all states relevant to the 
project. Applicants are required to provide a copy of their completed 
application to the appropriate SPOC on or before March 28, 1996. 
Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate SPOC well before 
the PTFP closing date.
    NTIA requires that all applicants whose proposed projects need 
authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tender 
an application to the FCC for such authority on or before March 28, 
1996. (An application is tendered to the FCC when it has been received 
by the Secretary of the FCC.) However, applicants are urged to submit 
it with as much lead time before the PTFP closing date as possible. The 
greater the lead time, the better the chance the FCC application will 
be processed to coincide with NTIA's grant cycle. NTIA will return the 
application of any applicant that fails to tender an application to the 
FCC for any necessary authority on or before March 28, 1996.
    Indirect costs for construction applications are not supported by 
this program. The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in 
a planning application under this program must not exceed the indirect 
cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior 
to the proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total 
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less.
    All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, 
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other 
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and 
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
    (1) Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the 
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (2) Drug Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government-
wide Requirements for 

[[Page 6913]]
Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the 
certification form prescribed above applies;
    (3) Anti-lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section 
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, 
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal 
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of 
the certification form prescribed above applies to applicants/bidders 
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than 
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater; and
    (4) Anti-lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will 
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.
    Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants, 
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at 
any tier under the grant award to submit, if applicable, a completed 
Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions 
and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying 
Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and 
should not be transmitted to the Department. SF-LLL submitted by any 
tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to the Department in 
accordance with the instructions contained in the award document.
    If an application is selected for funding, the Department of 
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in 
connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or 
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the 
Department.
    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to 
Federal assistance awards. In addition, unsatisfactory performance by 
the applicant under prior Federal awards may result in the application 
not being considered for funding.
    If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do 
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that they have 
received, there is no obligation on the part of the Department to cover 
preaward costs.
    No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either: (1) the delinquent 
account is paid in full; (2) a negotiated repayment schedule is 
established and at least one payment is received, or (3) other 
arrangements satisfactory to the Department are made.
    Applicants are reminded that a false statement on the application 
may be grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for 
possible punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 
1001.
    Special Note: NTIA has established a policy which is intended to 
encourage stations to increase from 25% to 50% the matching percentage 
for those proposals that call for equipment replacement, improvement, 
or augmentation (PTFP Policy Statement, (56 FR 59168 (1991))).
    The presumption of 50% funding will be the general rule for the 
replacement, improvement or augmentation of equipment. Exceptions to 
this general policy direction are as follows: small community-licensee 
stations will not be subjected to this policy. The same is true of a 
station that is licensed to a large institution (e.g., a college or 
university) documenting that it does not receive direct or in-kind 
support from the larger institution. Also, a showing of extraordinary 
need or an emergency situation will be taken into consideration as 
justification for grants of up to 75% of the project cost for such 
proposals.
    A point of clarification is in order: NTIA expects to continue 
funding projects to activate stations or to extend service at up to 75% 
of the total project cost. NTIA will do this because applicants 
proposing to provide first service to a geographic area ordinarily 
incur considerable costs that are not eligible for NTIA funding. The 
applicant must cover the ineligible costs including those for 
construction or renovation of buildings and other similar expenses.
    We wish to take this opportunity to restate the policy published in 
the November 22, 1991, PTFP Policy Statement (56 FR 59168 (1991)), 
regarding applicants' use of funds from the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting (CPB) to meet the local match requirements of the PTFP 
grant. NTIA continues to believe that the policies and purposes 
underlying the PTFP requirements could be significantly frustrated if 
applicants routinely relied upon another Federally supported grant 
program for local matching funds. Accordingly, NTIA has limited the use 
of CPB funds for the non-Federal share of PTFP projects to 
circumstances of ``clear and compelling need'' (CFR 2301.16(a)(4)). 
NTIA intends to maintain that standard and to apply it on a case-by-
case basis.
    The November 22, 1991, PTFP Policy Statement (56 FR 59168 (1991)) 
also discussed a number of issues of particular relevance to applicants 
proposing nonbroadcast educational and instructional projects and 
potential improvement of nonbroadcast facilities. These policies remain 
in effect and will be distributed to all PTFP applicants as part of the 
Guidelines for preparing FY 1996 PTFP applications.

II. Documentation Concerning Discrimination Complaints

    The NTIA Administrator is hereby extending a blanket waiver to all 
PTFP FY 1996 applicants and grant recipients exempting them from the 
requirements contained at 15 CFR 2301.5(d)(2)(xvii) and 2301.21(b)(1-2) 
with regard to discrimination complaints. Based on its experience, NTIA 
has found these requirements to be too burdensome and generally not 
pertinent to the PTFP's selection criteria. This blanket waiver means 
that FY 1996 PTFP applicants will not be required to provide a detailed 
list and explanation of any complaints of discrimination currently 
pending or decided against the applicant before any court or 
governmental agency. Moreover, FY 1996 PTFP grant recipients, once 
their projects are completed, will not be required to submit such 
documentation on their Annual Status Reports; nor will recipients be 
required to provide the special academic certification concerning their 
admissions policies or their policies regarding the receiving or 
providing of services. Applicants are reminded, however, that they are 
still obligated to comply with the general Federal statutes relating to 
nondiscrimination, as stated in 15 CFR 2301.22(b)(15) and in Assurance 
No. 36 of the PTFP Application Form.

III. Eligible and Ineligible Costs

    Eligible equipment for the 1996 grant round includes apparatus 
necessary for the production, interconnection, captioning, broadcast, 
or other distribution of programming, including but not limited to 
studio equipment; audio and video storage, processing, and switching 
equipment; terminal equipment; towers, antennas, transmitters, remote 
control equipment, transmission line, translators, microwave equipment, 
mobile equipment, satellite communications equipment, instructional 
television fixed service equipment, subsidiary communications 
authorization 

[[Page 6914]]
transmitting and receiving equipment, cable television equipment, and 
optical fiber communications equipment.
    NTIA recognizes that digital technology will be an important means 
for the more efficient creation and distribution of programming in the 
future. Consequently, public broadcasters seeking to replace, upgrade, 
and buy new equipment that employs digital technology will be 
permitted, when appropriate, to use PTFP funds for such purposes.
    The following list provides clarification regarding several 
equipment and other cost areas that will be helpful in preparing 
applications. NTIA also reserves the right to eliminate any costs, 
whether specified here or not, that it determines are not appropriate 
prior to the awarding of a grant.

A. Equipment and Supplies

    (1) Buildings and Modifications to Buildings. (a) Eligible: Small 
equipment shelters that are part of satellite earth stations, 
translators, microwave interconnection facilities, and similar 
facilities. (b) Ineligible: Purchase or lease of buildings and 
modifications to buildings, including the renovation of space for 
studios intended to house eligible equipment; costs associated with 
removing old equipment.
    (2) Land and Land Improvements. (a) Eligible: Site preparation 
necessary to construct towers and guy anchors for transmission and 
interconnection equipment. (b) Ineligible: Purchase or lease of land.
    (3) Moving Costs. Ineligible: Moving costs required by relocation 
of transmitter or studio equipment.
    (4) Reception Equipment. (a) Eligible: Fixed frequency demodulator, 
as required by good engineering practice for monitoring the off-air 
transmission of signals; subcarrier demodulator; telemetry transmitters 
and receivers; satellite receivers; and subcarrier decoders for the 
handicapped. (b) Ineligible: Consumer-type TV sets and FM receivers.
    (5) Tower Modifications. (a) Eligible: Strengthening or modifying a 
commercial entity's tower to accommodate a public broadcasting entity 
(structural modifications on towers and/or antenna changes must meet 
EIA and any required local standards). (b) Ineligible: Modifying or 
strengthening the applicant's tower to accommodate a commercial entity.
    (6) Production and Control Room Equipment. (a) Eligible: Standard 
production studio and control room equipment for TV or radio program 
production. (b) Ineligible: Consumer-type mixers, tape recorders, 
turntables, CD players, etc; ancillary production devices such as 
stopwatches and stop-clocks, building lights, sound effects and sound 
effects equipment, scenery and props, cycloramas, sound insulation 
devices and materials, draperies and related equipment for production 
use, film and still photography processing, film sound synchronization 
editing.
    (7) Video Equipment. (a) Eligible: Videotape editing and processing 
equipment that conforms to broadcast-standard quality equipment for 
field recording and production editing. (b) Ineligible: Consumer level 
videotape recording formats not accepted in the industry as broadcast-
standard quality.
    (8) Furniture and Office Equipment. (a) Eligible: Consoles required 
to mount equipment such as audio consoles and video switchers. (b) 
Ineligible: Such items as office furniture, office equipment, studio 
clocks and systems, blackboards, office intercoms, equipment inventory 
labels and label-makers, word processors, telephones and telephone 
systems, and printing and duplication equipment.
    (9) Expendable Items and Spare Parts. (a) Eligible: A transmitter 
spare parts kit and one set of final and driver tubes for a transmitter 
awarded in the grant; a spare parts kit for video tape recorders 
awarded in the grant. (b) Ineligible: Spare lenses, spare circuit 
components, spare parts kits for studio equipment, except as noted 
above; recording tape, film, reels, cartridge tapes, records, compact 
discs, and record or tape cleaning equipment; art and graphics 
supplies; maintenance supplies, including replacement final and driver 
tubes normally considered in the industry as normal maintenance-budget-
provided items and similar items.
    (10) Backup Equipment. (a) Eligible: Hot standby or backup 
microwave for the main studio-to-transmitter link only; a backup or 
spare exciter for a television transmitter, as required by good 
engineering practice. (b) Ineligible: Redundant equipment, such as 
spare transmitters, or costs associated with them, as well as backup 
microwave equipment (except as noted above).
    (11) Electric Power. (a) Eligible: Generally, all primary power 
costs from the output of the main power meter panel; regulators and 
surge protectors, as required by good engineering practice, to 
stabilize transmitter RF output. Where primary power is not available 
or is unusable for broadcast, then PTFP may provide funding for those 
devices needed to power the facility if the need for that equipment is 
fully documented in the application. (b) Ineligible: Costs of 
installing primary power to the facility, including transformers, power 
lines, gasoline or diesel powered generators, and related equipment.
    (12) Test and Maintenance Equipment. (a) Eligible: Required test 
equipment, as indicated by good engineering practice for the 
maintenance of the project equipment. (b) Ineligible: Maintenance 
equipment such as hand and power tools, storage cabinets, and 
maintenance services.
    (13) Air Conditioning and Ventilation. (a) Eligible: The costs to 
provide ventilation of eligible project equipment, such as ducting for 
transmitters, as required by good engineering practice. Transmitter air 
conditioning can be applied for and will be supported if the need is 
well-documented in the application. (b) Ineligible: Unless 
exceptionally well-documented, air conditioning for transmitters, 
control rooms, or equipment rooms, studios, mobile units, and other 
operational rooms and offices.
    (14) Remote Vans. (a) Eligible: Items to equip a remote van for 
audio/video production. (b) Ineligible: All vehicles.

B. Other Costs

    (1) Construction Applications: NTIA generally will not fund salary 
expenses, including staff installation costs, and pre-application legal 
and engineering fees. Certain ``pre-operational expenses'' are eligible 
for funding. (See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.1.) Despite this provision, NTIA 
regards its primary mandate to be funding the acquisition of equipment 
and only secondarily funding of salaries. (A discussion of this issue 
appears in the PTFP Final Rules, 56 FR 59172 (1991)).
    (2) Planning Applications. (a) Eligible: Salaries are eligible 
expenses for all planning grant applications, but should be fully 
described and justified within the application. Planning grant 
applicants may lease office equipment, furniture and space, and may 
purchase expendable supplies under the terms of Section 392 (c) of the 
Act. (b) Ineligible: Planning grant applications cannot include the 
cost of constructing or operating a telecommunications facility.
    (3) Audit Costs. Organization-wide audits shall be performed in 
accordance with 15 CFR Part 29a, Audit Requirements for State and Local 
Governments, for recipients that are state or local governments; and 15 
CFR Part 29b, Audit Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education 
and Other Nonprofit Organizations, for recipients that are educational 
institutions or nonprofit organizations. Additionally, when required 
under a special award condition, a project audit shall be performed in 
accordance with 

[[Page 6915]]
Federal Government Auditing Standards.
    Federal guidelines allow NTIA to include an amount for audit costs 
as part of a grant award. NTIA policy permits non-profit organizations 
to include up to $5,000 for audit costs in an application. Because 
audit costs may vary depending on the size and scope of an 
organization's operations, NTIA recommends that applicants obtain 
estimates from auditors to determine the appropriate amount to include 
in their applications. Construction Grant Applicants should list the 
amount requested for audit costs in Part II, Section D--Other Project 
Costs, 1. Outside Services of the PTFP Application Form. Planning Grant 
Applicants should include the amount on line 7, Other, in Part III--
Budget Information for Planning Grant Applicants of the PTFP 
Application Form.

IV. Notice of Applications Received

    NTIA will publish a notice in the Federal Register listing all 
applications received by the Agency. Listing an application in such a 
notice merely acknowledges receipt of an application to compete for 
funding with other applications. Publication does not preclude 
subsequent return of the application for the reasons discussed under 
the Dates section above, or disapproval of the application, nor does it 
assure that the application will be funded. The notice will also 
include a request for comments on the applications from any interested 
party.

V. Evaluation Process

    PTFP grants are awarded on the basis of a competitive review 
process. The evaluation of the applications is based upon the 
evaluation criteria provided in 15 CFR 2301.13 and 2301.14. The review 
may include the following: an evaluation by PTFP staff; a technical 
assessment by staff engineers using relevant evaluation criteria; 
outside readers, all of whom have demonstrated expertise in either 
public broadcasting or distance learning; and a rating by a national 
advisory panel, composed of representatives of the major national 
public radio and television organizations. The Agency shall consult, as 
necessary, with interested Federal and state agencies or other 
organizations.

VI. Special Consideration

    In accordance with section 390 of the Act, one purpose of this 
program is to ``increase public telecommunications services and 
facilities available to, operated by, and owned by minorities and 
women.'' Under section 392(f) of the Act, the Agency ``shall give 
special consideration to applications which would increase minority and 
women's ownership of, operation of, and participation in public 
telecommunications.'' The Agency will accord special consideration only 
where there is more than 50 percent (50%) ownership or control of a 
telecommunications entity by minorities and/or women. The applicant 
must establish ownership of or control of a public telecommunications 
facility through the normal incidents of ownership, or by demonstrating 
participation by minorities and/or women on the Board of Directors, 
Executive Directors, governing body, management positions, or policy-
making positions.
    The special consideration element is provided as one of several 
funding criteria contained in the regulations, specifically, at 15 CFR 
2301.13(e) for construction grants and 2301.14(c)(4) for planning 
grants. Those applicants demonstrating substantial ownership of or 
control of a public telecommunications entity by minorities and/or 
women shall receive a higher rating for the above-cited special 
consideration elements only.

VII. Selection Process

    Based upon the above cited evaluation criteria, the PTFP program 
staff prepares summary evaluations. These incorporate the outside 
reviewers recommendations, engineering assessments, and program staff 
evaluations. The PTFP Director ranks the applications into three 
categories: ``Recommended for Funding,'' ``Recommended for Funding if 
Funds Available,'' and ``Not Recommended for Funding.'' In ranking the 
applications, the Director considers the following discretionary 
selection factors:
     the program staff evaluations, including the outside 
reviewers;
     the program's priorities and the special applications 
category, as stated in the appendix to 15 CFR part 2301;
     whether the application is for a broadcast or a 
nonbroadcast project
     the geographic distribution of the proposed grant awards; 
and
     the availability of funds.
    The Director presents recommendations to the Selection Official, 
the NTIA Administrator. The NTIA Administrator selects the applications 
to be negotiated for possible grant award taking into consideration the 
Directors recommendations and the degree to which the slate of 
applications, taken as a whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes 
(see 47 U.S.C. 390 and 15 CFR 2301.2). These applications are 
negotiated between PTFP staff and the applicant. The negotiations are 
intended to resolve whatever differences might exist between the 
applicant's original request and what PTFP proposes to fund. During 
negotiations, some applications may be dropped from the proposed slate, 
due to lack of Federal Communications Commission licensing authority, 
an applicant's inability to make adequate assurances or certifications, 
or other reasons. When the negotiations are completed, the PTFP 
Director recommends final selections to the NTIA Administrator applying 
the same factors as listed above. The Administrator then makes the 
final award selections from the negotiated applications taking into 
consideration the Director's recommendations and the degree to which 
the slate of applications, taken as a whole, satisfies the program's 
stated purposes (see 47 U.S.C. 390 and 15 CFR 2301.2).

VIII. Policy on Sectarian Activities

    Applicants are advised that on December 22, 1995, NTIA issued a 
notice and an amendment to the PTFP regulations in the Federal Register 
on its policy with regard to sectarian activities. Under NTIA's prior 
policy, NTIA funds could not be used for any sectarian purposes. Under 
the revised policy, while religious activities cannot be the essential 
thrust of a grant, an application will not be ineligible where 
sectarian activities are only incidental or attenuated to the overall 
project purpose for which funding is requested. Applicants should read 
the policy that was published at 60 FR 66491, Dec. 22, 1995, and that 
will be included with the application materials.

IX. Project Period

    Planning grant award periods customarily do not exceed one year, 
whereas construction grant award periods commonly range from one to two 
years. Although these time frames are generally applied to the award of 
all PTFP grants, variances in project periods may be based on specific 
circumstances of an individual proposal.

    Authority: The Public Telecommunications Financing Act of 1978, 
as amended, 47 U.S.C. 390-393 (Act).


[[Page 6916]]

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 11.550)
Bernadette McGuire-Rivera,
Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information 
Applications.
[FR Doc. 96-3971 Filed 2-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P