[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63120-63122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28738]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket No. 0911201414-91414-01]
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date;
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Closing Date for Solicitation of Applications.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Further Continuing Appropriations, 2010,
Division B of Pub. L. No. 111-88, the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce,
announces the solicitation of applications for planning and
construction grants for public telecommunications facilities under the
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) for fiscal year
(FY) 2010.
DATES: NTIA announces two Closing Dates for the FY 2010 grant round.
All television and nonbroadcast applications must be received at
the PTFP office no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on
February 4, 2010. With the exception of applications for new FM
stations filed during the February 2010 Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) FM Window, discussed in the next paragraph, all
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radio applications also must be received at the PTFP office no later
than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 4, 2010.
Because the FCC will accept applications for new FM facilities only
during the period February 19-26, 2010 (``FM Window''), NTIA will
provide sufficient time for FM applicants participating in the FM
Window to file their PTFP and FCC applications. Completed PTFP
applications for projects filed at the FCC during this FM Window must
be received at the PTFP office no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time, on February 26, 2010.
Applications submitted by facsimile are not acceptable. If an
application is received after the Closing Date due to (1) carrier
error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for
delivery by the Closing Date and Closing Time, (2) significant weather
delays or natural disasters, or (3) delays due to national security
issues, NTIA will, upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the
application as having been received by the deadline. NTIA will not
accept applications posted on the Closing Date or later and received
after these deadlines.
ADDRESSES: To obtain a printed application package, submit completed
applications, or send any other correspondence, write to PTFP at the
following address: NTIA/PTFP, Room H-4812, U.S. Department of Commerce,
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. Application
materials may be obtained electronically via the Internet at
www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp or www.Grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Cooperman, Director, Public
Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202) 482-5802; fax: (202) 482-2156.
Information about the PTFP also can be obtained electronically via the
Internet at www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
The Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement for the PTFP FY
2010 grant cycle is available through www.Grants.gov or by viewing the
PTFP Internet site at www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to read the FFO and the programmatic regulations at 15 CFR
Part 2301 to obtain further information and instructions on the
application requirements for the program.
Statutory and Regulatory Authority
The PTFP is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 390-393, 397-399(b). The PTFP operates
pursuant to rules (1996 Rules), which were published on November 8,
1996 (61 FR 57966). Copies of the 1996 Rules (15 CFR pt. 2301) are
posted on the NTIA Internet site at www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/Rules/currentrules.htm, and NTIA will make printed copies available to
applicants upon request.
Program Information
The PTFP assists, through matching grants, in the planning and
construction of public telecommunications facilities in order to: (1)
extend delivery of services to as many citizens as possible by the most
cost-effective means, including use of broadcast and nonbroadcast
technologies; (2) increase public telecommunications services and
facilities available to, operated by, and controlled by minorities and
women; and (3) strengthen the capability of existing public television
and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the
public.
The PTFP funds the construction of new public radio and television
stations and new nonbroadcast public telecommunications facilities; the
digital conversion of public radio and television stations; and the
replacement of equipment at public radio and television stations. A
description of the 112 projects awarded during the FY 2009 PTFP grant
round may be found on the Internet at www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/Projects/2009/index.htm.
Funding Availability
Issuance of grants is subject to the availability of FY 2010 funds.
At this time, the Congress has passed the Further Continuing
Appropriations, 2010, to fund operations of the PTFP through December
18, 2009. Further notice will be made in the Federal Register about the
final status of funding for this program at the appropriate time. For
FY 2009, NTIA awarded $19.4 million in PTFP funds to 111 projects,
including 63 radio awards, 47 television awards, and one nonbroadcast
award. The radio awards ranged from $7,556 to $322,364. The television
awards ranged from $5,122 to $731,924. One nonbroadcast award was made
for $50,142.
Supplemental Policies
The following supplemental policies are discussed in the FFO and
will be in effect during the FY 2010 grant cycle:
A) Section 2301.10 of the PTFP Final Rules provides for submission
of applications resulting from catastrophic damage or emergency
situations. NTIA would like to clarify its implementation of this
provision. For FY 2010 PTFP applicants, when an eligible broadcast
applicant suffers catastrophic damage to the basic equipment essential
to its continued operation as a result of a natural or manmade
disaster, or as the result of significant equipment failure, and is in
dire need of assistance in funding replacement of the damaged
equipment, it may file an emergency application for PTFP funding at any
time.
B) For FY 2010 PTFP applications, since there is no potential for
terrestrial interference with Ku-band satellite uplinks, applicants may
submit applications to the FCC for Ku-band satellite uplinks after a
PTFP award is made. Grant recipients for Ku-band satellite uplinks will
be required to document receipt of FCC authorizations to operate the
uplink prior to the release of Federal funds. NTIA may accept FCC
authorizations that are in the name of an organization other than the
PTFP applicant.
C) PTFP applicants are not required to submit copies of their PTFP
applications to the FCC, nor are they required to submit copies of the
FCC transmittal cover letters as part of their PTFP applications. Many
distance learning applications propose projects that are nationwide in
nature. NTIA, therefore, believes that the requirement to provide a
summary copy of the application to every state telecommunications
agency in a potential service area is unduly burdensome to applicants.
PTFP applicants for distance learning projects must notify the state
telecommunications agencies in the states in which they are located,
but they are not required to notify every state telecommunications
agency in a potential service area.
D) For digital television conversion projects, NTIA has created two
new Subpriorities -- Subpriority A (Transmission Equipment) and
Subpriority B, (Master Control and Production Equipment; Translators)
in the Broadcast Other category.
E) For digital radio conversion projects, NTIA has created a new
Subpriority -- Subpriority C, Radio Digital Conversion, in the
Broadcast Other category.
Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance
11.550, Public Telecommunications Facilities Program.
Eligibility
To apply for and receive a PTFP Construction Grant or Planning
Grant, an applicant must be: (a) a public or noncommercial educational
broadcast
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station; (b) a noncommercial telecommunications entity; (c) a system of
public telecommunications entities; (d) a non-profit foundation,
corporation, institution, or association organized primarily for
educational or cultural purposes; or (e) a state, local, or Indian
tribal government (or agency thereof), or a political or special
purpose subdivision of a state.
Evaluation and Selection Process
See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.16 for a description of the Technical
Evaluation and 15 CFR Sec. 2301.18 for the Selection Process.
Evaluation Criteria
See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.17 for a full description of the Evaluation
Criteria. The six evaluation criteria are: 1) Applicant Qualifications;
2) Financial Qualifications; 3) Project Objectives; 4) Urgency; 5)
Technical Qualifications (construction applicants only) or Planning
Qualifications (planning applicants only); and 6) Special
Consideration.
Funding Priorities and Selection Factors
See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.4 and the supplemental policies above for a
description of the PTFP Priorities and 15 CFR Sec. 2301.18 for the
Selection Factors.
Cost Sharing Requirements
PTFP requires cost sharing. By statute, PTFP cannot fund a
construction project for more than 75 percent of the eligible project
costs. NTIA has established a policy of funding most new public
broadcasting station activation projects at a 75 percent Federal share,
and most other television, radio and nonbroadcast projects at a 50
percent Federal share. NTIA can fund planning applications up to 100
percent of the eligible project costs, but has established a policy of
funding planning applications at a 75 percent Federal share. Any
applicant can request Federal funding greater than PTFP's policy, up to
the statutory maximum, and provide justification for the request.
Intergovernmental Review
PTFP applications are subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' if the state in which
the applicant organization is located participates in the process.
Usually, submission to the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) needs
to be only the SF 424 and PTFP-2 pages of the application, but
applicants should contact their own SPOC offices to find out about and
comply with its requirements. The PTFP Internet site has a link to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) home page that has the names and
addresses of the SPOC offices. Applicants may directly access the OMB
Internet site at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
Universal Identifier
All applicants (nonprofit, state, local government, universities,
and tribal organizations) will be required to provide a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number during the
application process. See the October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66177), and April
8, 2003 (68 FR 17000), Federal Register notices for additional
information. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by
calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line 1-866-705-5711
or via the Internet at www.fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification of Requirements
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696) is applicable to this
solicitation.
Limitation of Liability
In no event will the Department of Commerce be responsible for
proposal preparation costs if this program fails to receive funding or
is cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this
announcement does not obligate the agency to award any specific project
or to obligate any available funds.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that
collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. The PTFP
application form has been cleared under OMB Control No. 0660-0003.
Executive Order 13132
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not required by
the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this rule
concerning grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. Sec. 553(a)(2)).
Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to
5 U.S.C. Sec. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.) are
inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been
prepared.
Dated: November 24, 2009.
Anthony G. Wilhelm,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and
Information Applications.
[FR Doc. E9-28738 Filed 12-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-S