[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 53 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13259-13261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6044]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Docket No. 100305127-0127-01


Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: New Closing Date

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; to re-open competitive solicitation for applications to 
increase digital power levels of public radio stations.

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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) hereby announces that it will re-open the solicitation for 
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) applications until 
Thursday, April 22, 2010, to accommodate the increase in digital power 
levels of radio stations, as allowed by the provisions of the January 
29, 2010, Order announced by the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC).\1\
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    \1\ In the matter of Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and 
Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service, MB Docket 
No. 99-325, Order, DA 10-208, (January 29, 2010).

DATES: Applications to increase digital power levels of radio stations, 
as allowed by the provisions of the FCC January 29, 2010, Order, must 
be received prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (hereinafter ``New 
Closing Time''), Thursday, April 22, 2010

[[Page 13260]]

(hereinafter ``New Closing Date''). Applications submitted by facsimile 
are not acceptable. If an application is received after the New Closing 
Date due to (1) carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package 
with a guarantee for delivery by the New Closing Date and New 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 New 
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Closing Date or later and received after this deadline.

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: On December 2, 2009, NTIA began the fiscal 
year (FY) 2010 PTFP grant round with publication of a Notice of Closing 
Date for Solicitation of Applications in the Federal Register.\2\ The 
Notice established February 4, 2010, as the Closing Date (hereinafter 
``Original Closing Date'') for receipt of applications for most 
projects, and February 26, 2010, as the Closing Date (hereinafter 
``Second Closing Date'') for receipt of applications for projects filed 
at the FCC during the FCC's February 19-26 FM Window. NTIA established 
this Second Closing Date because PTFP's primary legislative mandate is 
to ``extend delivery of public telecommunications services to as many 
citizens of the United States as possible.''\3\ The FCC's February FM 
Window provides interested parties with the first opportunity in many 
years to submit noncommercial educational FM applications for new 
stations.
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    \2\ 74 Fed. Reg. 63120.
    \3\ 47 U.S.C. Sec.  390.
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    NTIA also posted a Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice 
regarding the FY 2010 PTFP grant round on the grants.gov and PTFP 
websites on the same date.\4\ In the FFO, NTIA noted that the FCC was 
considering changing the permitted power levels of digital radio 
facilities (a hybrid analog/digital In-Band-On-Channel (IBOC) system). 
NTIA indicated that it would not provide funds for transmitters to 
operate at IBOC power levels higher than those authorized by the FCC 
for the station at the time of award. If the FCC subsequently 
authorized IBOC higher power levels, grantees would be permitted to add 
non-Federal funds to purchase a higher-power transmitter that is 
partially funded by the PTFP grant.
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    \4\ The FY 2010 FFO can be found at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/attachments/FFO_Notice_10.html.
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    On January 29, 2010, the FCC released an Order permitting radio 
stations broadcasting a hybrid analog/digital signal to increase the 
effective radiated power (ERP) of the digital portion of their 
transmission.\5\ In the January 29, 2010, Order, the FCC found that:
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    \5\ See supra note 1, Appendix C, Final Rule Changes, at Sec.  
73.404.
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    13. Voluntary Increases Up to 6 dB. Virtually all of the licensees 
of the nearly 1,500 commercial and NCE FM stations currently operating 
hybrid FM digital facilities have concluded that the coverage resulting 
from their operations at maximum permissible FM Digital ERP levels does 
not replicate analog coverage, and that indoor and portable coverage 
are particularly and significantly diminished. Both the iBiquity and 
NPR studies confirm these service limitations. Moreover, the number of 
notifications of the commencement of hybrid FM digital operations has 
dropped significantly over the past two years. Based on these findings, 
we conclude that it is important to increase FM Digital ERP to improve 
FM digital coverage and to eliminate regulatory impediments to FM 
digital radio's ability to meet its full potential and deliver its 
promised benefits.
    Through the Order, the FCC acknowledged the inadequacy of the 
former digital power levels to duplicate the service areas of a 
station's analog signal. The clarifications contained in the FCC Order 
now provide additional technical guidance to stations that desire to 
provide multicasting service to serve their communities, but delayed 
investing in multicasting due to inadequate digital signal coverage.
    The FCC's adoption of the Order was released on January 29, 2010, 
less than a week before the Original Closing Date for receipt of PTFP 
applications. Because of the importance the PTFP statute places on 
extending service to as many citizens of the United States as possible, 
NTIA is re-opening the solicitation period for digital radio power 
increase applications until April 22, 2010, so stations may apply for 
financial assistance necessary to build facilities as allowed by the 
new FCC Rules. Those digital radio stations that applied by the 
Original Closing Date and that are seeking to increase power pursuant 
to the new FCC Rules may amend their application. Those digital radio 
stations that did not apply by the Original Closing Date and that are 
seeking to increase power pursuant to the new FCC Rules may now apply. 
Applicants for digital power increase applications must follow the 
procedures described in the next two sections.

Submit New Applications for Multicasting Projects

    Due to this recent FCC action regarding the power level of digital 
radio, NTIA now has a further opportunity to extend delivery of public 
telecommunications services during the FY 2010 grant cycle. An 
important feature of digital radio is the ability of a station to 
broadcast several program services on a single broadcast frequency, 
analogous to the multicasting capability of digital television 
stations. These additional program services are broadcast on discrete 
subchannels of the stations and are usually referred to as channels HD-
1, HD-2, etc. Through multicasting on digital radio, stations can 
provide additional programming resources to unserved and underserved 
communities within their coverage area.\6\ Because a multicast digital 
signal uses the infrastructure of an analog station, the cost of 
activating additional programming services on digital radio are much 
less than the cost of constructing a new station. Further, stations can 
add additional programming services on HD channels in communities where 
it would be impossible to construct an additional station due to lack 
of available frequencies.
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    \6\ For example, KPCC-FM, Pasadena, CA, provides English 
language news and information on its HD-1 channel, a Spanish 
language service on its HD-2 channel, and alternative music on its 
HD-3 channel. WJCT-FM, Jacksonville, FL, provides primarily news and 
information on its HD-1 channel, classical music and arts on its HD-
2 channel, and NOAA weather information on its HD-3 channel.
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    Since a station's primary digital program stream must duplicate its 
analog programming, the programming distributed via additional 
multicast channels is, by its very nature, an additional service to the 
community.

[[Page 13261]]

The PTFP Rules place additional service projects in Priority 4A, ``The 
establishment of public broadcasting facilities to serve a geographic 
area already receiving public telecommunications services. The 
applicant must demonstrate that it will address underserved needs in an 
area which significantly differentiates its service from what is 
already available in its service area.''\7\
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    \7\ 15 CFR 2301.4(b)(4)(ii).
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    NTIA will accept new applications for digital power increase 
projects for Priority 4A projects from stations that:
    1. Are currently broadcasting in digital and will add an additional 
program service (HD channel) by multicasting. These applicants can 
request funding for a digital power increase, for equipment required to 
broadcast an additional digital channel, and for production equipment 
required to program the additional channel(s); or
    2. Are currently broadcasting more than one program service via a 
digital multicast signal. These applicants can request funding for a 
digital power increase. They may also request funds for equipment 
required to produce programming and broadcast an additional digital 
channel to expand their service.
    Applicants for digital power increase projects requesting Priority 
4A consideration must:
    1. Submit a complete application as required by the December 2, 
2009, Federal Register Notice and FFO;
    2. Demonstrate that the multicast program service will address 
underserved needs in a way that significantly differentiates the 
service from what is already available in the proposed coverage area or 
on the station's analog channel;
    3. Include in Exhibits A (Inventory) and B (Equipment 
Justification) thorough descriptions of the analog and digital 
transmission system and combining system in place and the modifications 
required for the power increase, as well as any production/programming 
equipment requested to support the additional channels;
    4. Submit a copy of the station's FCC request if the project 
proposes any increase in FM Digital ERP beyond 6 dB; and
    5. Certify at time of project close out that the station is 
broadcasting diverse program services as proposed in the application.

Amend Existing Applications for Single Channel Digital Projects

    NTIA recognizes that applications for digital FM transmitters were 
submitted by the February 4, 2010, Original Closing Date that did not 
involve power increases for multicasting. These applications include 
requests for transmitter replacements, digital conversion projects, and 
the construction of new stations. Since the change in the FCC Rules 
occurred less than a week prior to the Original Closing Date, few 
applicants had the opportunity to submit applications for transmission 
equipment at the newly authorized higher digital power levels.
    NTIA believes that it is a disservice to the stations and their 
listeners, and unproductive for NTIA to expend its staff resources and 
grant funds in processing applications for less than a station's 
desired and authorized transmitter power. In keeping with the intent of 
the statute, NTIA intends to fund the highest power desired by a 
station and permitted by the FCC so a station can serve the maximum 
number of people in its coverage area. Since the FCC increased 
permitted digital power only a week before the February 4, 2010, 
Original Closing Date, NTIA believes it would be fair to all FY 2010 
applicants for digital radio transmission systems to have an equal 
opportunity to request funding for full power transmission equipment.
    NTIA, therefore, will permit stations that submitted an application 
and requested digital radio transmission equipment by the February 4, 
2010, Original Closing Date to amend their applications. The following 
are the procedures for amending a FY 2010 radio application requesting 
digital transmission equipment:
    1. Applicants must file an amended application by Thursday, April 
22, 2010.
    2. Applicants must email their PTFP program officer a notice of 
their intent to amend their application so the PTFP application 
software (Online Fillable Form) can be unlocked and they can revise 
their request.
    3. The amended application must:
    a. Include a revised SF-424 form, with the revised project amount 
and Federal funds requested, and signed by an authorized representative 
of the applicant;
    b. Contain the application number assigned by PTFP for the original 
submission;
    c. Include a revised list of equipment requested;
    d. Include revised Exhibits A (Inventory) and B (Equipment 
Justification) that contains thorough descriptions of the analog and/or 
digital transmission system and combining system in place and 
modifications that may be required for the power increase; and
    e. Submit a copy of the station's FCC request if the project 
proposes any increase in FM Digital ERP beyond 6 dB.
    NTIA will only accept applications that meet the criteria discussed 
in this Notice. NTIA will return an application for a Priority 4A 
digital power increase or amendment that does not meet the criteria of 
the above two sections.
    Applicants are reminded that no grant will be awarded until NTIA 
has received confirmation from the FCC that any necessary authorization 
will be issued.
    Applications submitted in response to the April 22, 2010, New 
Closing Date will utilize the same forms, and undergo the same review 
and evaluation process contained in the December 2, 2009, Notice. On 
January 13, 2010, NTIA published a Notice of Availability of Funds in 
the Federal Register announcing that $18 million has been appropriated 
for FY 2010 grants.\8\
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    \8\ 75 Fed. Reg. 1775.

    Dated: March 15, 2010.
Dr. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera,
Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information 
Applications.
[FR Doc. 2010-6044 Filed 3-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-S