[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 225 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70311-70315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27608]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: USDA Rural Development administers loan and grant programs 
through the Rural Utilities Service. USDA Rural Development announces 
the Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program application 
window for fiscal year (FY) 2009. The FY 2008 funding for the Public 
Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program was approximately 
$5 million. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a final 
appropriations bill, which may or may not provide funding for this 
program, to allow time to submit

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proposals and give the Agency adequate time to process applications 
within the current fiscal year. A Notice of Funding Availability will 
be published announcing the funding levels, if any, for Public 
Television Station Digital Transition grants once an appropriations 
bill has been enacted. Expenses incurred in developing applications 
will be at the applicant's risk.

DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or 
electronically according to the following deadlines:
     Paper copies must carry proof of shipping no later than 
February 18, 2009 to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late 
applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
     Electronic copies must be received by February 18, 2009 to 
be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late applications are not 
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain the application guide and materials for the 
Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program via the 
Internet at the following Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/. 
You may also request the application guide and materials from USDA 
Rural Development by contacting the appropriate individual listed in 
section VII of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
     Submit completed paper applications for grants to the 
Telecommunications Program, USDA Rural Development, 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW., Room 2844, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. 
Applications should be marked ``Attention: Director, Advanced Services 
Division.''
     Submit electronic grant applications to Grants.gov at the 
following Web address: http://www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov), and follow 
the instructions you find on that Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary B. Allan, Chief, Universal 
Services Branch, Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications 
Program, USDA Rural Development, telephone: (202) 690-4493, fax: (202) 
720-1051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Public Television Station Digital 
Transition Grant Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.861.
    Dates: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or 
electronically according to the following deadlines:
     Paper copies must carry proof of shipping no later than 
February 18, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late 
applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
     Electronic copies must be received by February 18, 2009, 
to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late applications are not 
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.

Items in Supplementary Information

    I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the Public Television 
Station Digital Transition Grant Program.
    II. Award Information: Maximum amounts.
    III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, what kinds of 
projects are eligible, what criteria determine basic eligibility.
    IV. Application and Submission Information: Where to get 
application materials, what constitutes a completed application, how 
and where to submit applications, deadlines, items that are eligible.
    V. Application Review Information: Considerations and preferences, 
scoring criteria, review standards, selection information.
    VI. Award Administration Information: Award notice information, 
award recipient reporting requirements.
    VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, e-mail, contact name.

I. Funding Opportunity

    As part of the nation's transition to digital television, the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires all television 
broadcasters to begin broadcasting using digital signals, and to cease 
analog broadcasting, by February 17, 2009. While most urban public 
television stations have successfully transitioned to digital, rural 
public television stations are still lagging behind their urban 
counterparts. For rural households the digital transition could bring 
the end of over-the-air public television service. These rural 
households are the focus of the USDA Rural Development Public 
Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program.
    Most applications to the Public Television Station Digital 
Transition Grant Program have sought assistance towards the goal of 
replicating analog coverage areas through transmitter and translator 
transitions. The first priority has been to initiate digital 
broadcasting from their main transmitters. As many stations have 
transitioned their transmitters, the focus has shifted to power 
upgrades and translators, as well as digital program production 
equipment and multicasting and datacasting equipment. In FY 2008 awards 
were made for a transmitter transition, transmitter power maximization, 
translators, as well as master control and production equipment. When 
compared with the first few years of the program, as the digital 
transition progresses, more applications were received for translators 
and master control and production equipment, than for transmitters. 
Some stations may not achieve full analog parity in program management 
and creation until after the February 2009 deadline. Continuation of 
reliable public television service to all current patrons 
understandably is still the focus for many broadcasters.
    It is important for public television stations to be able to tailor 
their programs and services (e.g., education services, public health, 
homeland security, and local news) to the needs of their rural 
constituents. If public television programming is lost, many school 
systems may be left without educational programming needed for 
curriculum compliance.
    This notice has been formatted to conform to a policy directive 
issued by the Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) of the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), published in the Federal 
Register on June 23, 2003 (68 FR 37370). This Notice does not change 
the Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program 
regulation (7 CFR 1740).

II. Award Information

A. Available Funds

    1. General. The Administrator will determine in a future Notice of 
Funding Availability the amounts that are available for grants in FY 
2009 under 7 CFR 1740.1.
    2. Grants.
    a. The amount available for grants for FY 2009 will be announced in 
a future Notice of Funding Availability. Under 7 CFR 1740.2, the 
maximum amount for grants under this program is $750,000 per public 
television station per year.
    b. Assistance instrument: Grant documents appropriate to the 
project will be executed with successful applicants prior to any 
advance of funds.

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B. Non-Renewal of Public Television Station Digital Transition Grants

    Public Television Station Digital Transition grants cannot be 
renewed. Award documents specify the term of each award, and USDA Rural 
Development, in its sole discretion, may approve one extension of the 
expiration date, provided that the Grantee notify USDA Rural 
Development, in writing at least ten days prior to the expiration date, 
of the reasons and need for an extension, together with a suggested, 
revised expiration date.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Who is eligible for grants? (See 7 CFR 1740.3.)

    1. Public television stations which serve rural areas are eligible 
for Public Television Station Digital Transition Grants, regardless of 
whether urban areas are additionally served. A public television 
station is a noncommercial educational television broadcast station 
that is qualified for Community Service Grants by the Corporation for 
Public Broadcasting under section 396(k) of the Communications Act of 
1934.
    2. Individuals are not eligible for Public Television Station 
Digital Transition Grant Program financial assistance directly.

B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?

    1. Grants shall be made to perform digital transitions of 
television broadcasting serving rural areas. Grant funds may be used to 
acquire, lease, and/or install facilities and software necessary to the 
digital transition. Specific purposes include:
    a. Digital transmitters, translators, and repeaters, including all 
facilities required to initiate DTV broadcasting. All broadcast 
facilities acquired with grant funds shall be capable of delivering 
digital TV (DTV) programming and high-definition television (HDTV) 
programming, at both the interim and final channel and power 
authorizations. There is no limit to the number of transmitters or 
translators that may be included in an application;
    b. Power upgrades of existing DTV transmitter equipment, including 
replacement of existing low-power digital transmitters with digital 
transmitters capable of delivering the final authorized power level;
    c. Studio-to-transmitter links;
    d. Equipment to allow local control over digital content and 
programming, including master control equipment;
    e. Digital program production equipment, including cameras, 
editing, mixing and storage equipment;
    f. Multicasting and datacasting equipment;
    g. Cost of the lease of facilities, if any, for up to three years; 
and,
    h. Associated engineering and environmental studies necessary to 
implementation.
    2. Matching contributions: There is no requirement for matching 
funds in this program (see 7 CFR 1740.5).
    3. To be eligible for a grant, the Project must not do any of the 
following (see 7 CFR 1740.7):
    a. Include funding for ongoing operations or for facilities that 
will not be owned by the applicant, except for leased facilities as 
provided above;
    b. Include costs of salaries, wages, and employee benefits of 
public television station personnel unless they are for construction or 
installation of eligible facilities;
    c. Have been funded by any other source; or
    d. Include items bought or built prior to the application deadline 
specified in this Notice of Solicitation of Applications.
    C. See paragraph IV.B of this notice for a discussion of the items 
that comprise a completed application. You may also refer to 7 CFR 
1740.9 for completed grant application items.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Where to get application information. The application guide, 
copies of necessary forms and samples, and the Public Television 
Station Digital Transition Grant Program regulation are available from 
these sources:
    1. The Internet: http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/, or http://www.grants.gov.
    2. The USDA Rural Development Advanced Services Division, for paper 
copies of these materials: (202) 690-4493.

B. What constitutes a completed application?

    1. Detailed information on each item required can be found in the 
Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program regulation 
and application guide. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read and 
utilize the application guide in addition to the regulation. This 
Notice does not change the requirements for a completed application 
specified in the program regulation. The program regulation and 
application guide provide specific guidance on each of the items listed 
and the application guide provides all necessary forms and sample 
worksheets.
    2. A completed application must include the following 
documentation, studies, reports and information in form satisfactory to 
USDA Rural Development. Applications should be prepared in conformance 
with the provisions in 7 CFR part 1740, subpart A, and applicable USDA 
regulations including 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019. Applicants must 
use the application guide for this program containing instructions and 
all necessary forms, as well as other important information, in 
preparing their application. Completed applications must include the 
following:
    a. An application for federal assistance, Standard Form 424.
    b. An executive summary, not to exceed two pages, describing the 
public television station, its service area and offerings, its current 
digital transition status, and the proposed project.
    c. Evidence of the applicant's eligibility to apply under this 
Notice, proving that the applicant is a Public Television Station as 
defined in this Notice, and that it is required by the FCC to perform 
the digital transition.
    d. A spreadsheet showing the total project cost, with a breakdown 
of items sufficient to enable USDA Rural Development to determine 
individual item eligibility.
    e. A coverage contour map showing the digital television coverage 
area of the application project. This map must show the counties (or 
county) comprising the Core Coverage Area by shading and by name. 
Partial counties included in the applicant's Core Coverage Area must be 
identified as partial and must contain an attachment with the 
applicant's estimate of the percentage that its coverage contour 
comprises of the total area of the county (total area is available from 
American Factfinder, referenced above). If the application is for a 
translator, the coverage area may be estimated by the applicant through 
computer modeling or some other reasonable method, and this estimate is 
subject to acceptance by USDA Rural Development.
    f. The applicant's own calculation of its Rurality score, supported 
by a worksheet showing the population of its Core Coverage Area, and 
the urban and rural populations within the Core Coverage Area. The data 
source for the urban and rural components of that population must be 
identified. If the application includes computations made by a 
consultant or other organization outside the public television station, 
the application shall state the details of that collaboration.
    g. The applicant's own calculation of its Economic Need score, 
supported by a worksheet showing the National School Lunch Program 
eligibility levels for all school districts within the Core

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Coverage Area and averaging these eligibility percentages. The 
application must include a statement from the state or local 
organization that administers the NSLP program certifying the school 
district scores used in the computations.
    h. If applicable, a presentation not to exceed five pages 
demonstrating the Critical Need for the project.
    i. Evidence that the FCC has authorized the initiation of digital 
broadcasting at the project sites. In the event that an FCC 
construction permit has not been issued for one or more sites, USDA 
Rural Development may include those sites in the grant, and make 
advance of funds for that site conditional upon the submission of a 
construction permit.
    j. Compliance with other Federal statutes. The applicant must 
provide evidence or certification that it is in compliance with all 
applicable Federal statutes and regulations, including, but not limited 
to the following:
    (1) Executive Order (E.O.) 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity, as 
amended by E.O. 11375 and as supplemented by regulations contained in 
41 CFR part 60;
    (2) Architectural barriers;
    (3) Flood hazard area precautions;
    (4) Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970;
    (5) Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998 (41 U.S.C. 701);
    (6) E.O.s 12549 and 12689, Debarment and Suspension; and
    (7) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352).
    k. Environmental impact and historic preservation. The applicant 
must provide details of the digital transition's impact on the 
environment and historic preservation, and comply with 7 CFR Part 1794, 
which contains the Agency's policies and procedures for implementing a 
variety of federal statutes, regulations, and executive orders 
generally pertaining to the protection of the quality of the human 
environment. This must be contained in a separate section entitled 
``Environmental Impact of the Digital Transition,'' and must include 
the Environmental Questionnaire/Certification, available from USDA 
Rural Development, describing the impact of its digital transition. 
Submission of the Environmental Questionnaire/Certification alone does 
not constitute compliance with 7 CFR part 1794.
    3. DUNS Number. As required by the OMB, all applicants for grants 
must now supply a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System 
(DUNS) number when applying. The Standard Form 424 (SF-424) contains a 
field for you to use when supplying your DUNS number. Obtaining a DUNS 
number costs nothing and requires a short telephone call to Dun and 
Bradstreet. Please see the Public Television Station Digital 
Transmitter Grant Program Web site or Grants.gov for more information 
on how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify your organization's 
number.

C. How many copies of an application are required?

    1. Applications submitted on paper: Submit the original application 
and two (2) copies to USDA Rural Development.
    2. Electronically submitted applications: The additional paper 
copies for USDA Rural Development are not necessary if you submit the 
application electronically through Grants.gov.

D. How and Where To Submit an Application

    Grant applications may be submitted on paper or electronically.
 1. Submitting Applications on Paper
    a. Address paper applications for grants to the Telecommunications 
Program, USDA Rural Development, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 
2844, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications should be 
marked ``Attention: Director, Advanced Services Division.''
    b. Paper applications must show proof of mailing or shipping 
consisting of one of the following:
    (i) A legibly dated postmark applied by the U.S. Postal Service;
    (ii) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
USPS; or
    (iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    c. Non-USPS-applied postage dating, i.e. dated postage meter 
stamps, do not constitute proof of the date of mailing.
    d. Due to screening procedures at the Department of Agriculture, 
packages arriving via the USPS are irradiated, which can damage the 
contents. USDA Rural Development encourages applicants to consider the 
impact of this procedure in selecting their application delivery 
method.
 2. Electronically Submitted Applications
    a. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine 
transmission or electronic mail.
    b. Electronic applications for grants will be accepted if submitted 
through the Federal government's Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
    c. How to use Grants.gov:
    (i) Navigate your Web browser to http://www.grants.gov.
    (ii) Follow the instructions on that Web site to find grant 
information.
    (iii) Download a copy of the application package.
    (iv) Complete the package off-line.
    (v) Upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web site.
    d. Grants.gov contains full instructions on all required passwords, 
credentialing and software.
    e. USDA Rural Development encourages applicants who wish to apply 
through Grants.gov to submit their applications in advance of the 
deadline. Difficulties encountered by applicants filing through 
Grants.gov will not justify filing deadline extensions.
    f. If a system problem occurs or you have technical difficulties 
with an electronic application, please use the customer support 
resources available at the Grants.gov Web site.

E. Deadlines

    1. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or 
sent overnight no later than February 18, 2009 to be eligible for FY 
2009 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2009 
grant funding.
    2. Electronic grant applications must be received by February 18, 
2009 to be eligible for FY 2009 funding. Late applications are not 
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.

V. Application Review Information

A. Criteria

    1. Grant applications are scored competitively and subject to the 
criteria listed below.
    2. Grant application scoring criteria are detailed in 7 CFR 1740.8. 
There are 100 points available, broken down as follows:
    a. The Rurality of the Project (up to 50 points);
    b. The Economic Need of the Project's Service Area (up to 25 
points); and
    c. The Critical Need for the project, and of the applicant, 
including the benefits derived from the proposed service (up to 25 
points).

B. Review Standards

    1. All applications for grants must be delivered to USDA Rural 
Development at the address and by the date specified in this notice to 
be eligible for funding. USDA Rural Development will review each 
application for conformance with the provisions of this part. USDA 
Rural Development may contact the applicant for additional information 
or clarification.
    2. Incomplete applications as of the deadline for submission will 
not be considered. If an application is

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determined to be incomplete, the applicant will be notified in writing 
and the application will be returned with no further action.
    3. Applications conforming with this part will be evaluated 
competitively by a panel of USDA Rural Development employees selected 
by the Utilities Programs Administrator, and will be awarded points as 
described in the scoring criteria in 7 CFR 1740.8. Applications will be 
ranked and grants awarded in rank order until all grant funds are 
expended.
    4. Regardless of the score an application receives, if USDA Rural 
Development determines that the Project is technically or financially 
infeasible, USDA Rural Development will notify the applicant, in 
writing, and the application will be returned with no further action.

C. Scoring Guidelines

    1. The applicant's self scores in Rurality and Economic Need will 
be verified and, if necessary, corrected by USDA Rural Development.
    2. The Critical Need score will be determined by USDA Rural 
Development based on information presented in the application. This 
score is intended to capture from the rural public's standpoint the 
necessity and usefulness of the proposed project. This scoring category 
will also recognize that some transition purchases are more essential 
than others, so that first time transmitter transitions and power 
upgrades of previously installed transmitters will receive scoring 
advantages. Master control equipment is very important to a station's 
operation and first time master control equipment will also get a high 
priority. Local production equipment can be a high priority especially 
if it produces an area's only local news or if the station has been 
historically active in producing local programming. Translators always 
deliver a great deal of rural benefit and a full digital conversion of 
a translator will receive recognition in the project's critical need 
score.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    USDA Rural Development recognizes that each funded project is 
unique, and therefore may attach conditions to different projects' 
award documents. The Agency generally notifies applicants whose 
projects are selected for awards by faxing an award letter. USDA Rural 
Development follows the award letter with a grant agreement that 
contains all the terms and conditions for the grant. An applicant must 
execute and return the grant agreement, accompanied by any additional 
items required by the grant agreement.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The items listed in the program regulation at 7 CFR 1740.9(j) 
implement the appropriate administrative and national policy 
requirements.

C. Performance Reporting

    All recipients of Public Television Station Digital Transition 
Grant Program financial assistance must provide annual performance 
activity reports to USDA Rural Development until the project is 
complete and the funds are expended. A final performance report is also 
required; the final report may serve as the last annual report. The 
final report must include an evaluation of the success of the project.

VII. Agency Contacts

    A. Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/ rus/. The Web site maintains up-
to-date resources and contact information for the Public Television 
Station Digital Transition Grant Program.
    B. Phone: 202-690-4493.
    C. Fax: 202-720-1051.
    D. Main point of contact: Gary B. Allan, Chief, Universal Services 
Branch, Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, USDA 
Rural Development, telephone: (202) 690-4493, fax: (202) 720-1051.

    October 28, 2008.
James M. Andrew,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E8-27608 Filed 11-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P