[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29589-29593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12024]


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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 funds availability.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces its Public 
Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program application window 
for fiscal year (FY) 2012. The FY 2012 funding for the Public 
Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program is $3,000,000.

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 
July 17, 2012 to be eligible for FY 2012 grant funding. Late 
applications are not eligible for FY 2012 grant funding.
     Electronic copies must be received by July 17, 2012 to be 
eligible for FY 2012 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible 
for FY 2012 grant funding.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain the application guide and materials for the 
Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program at the 
following sources:
     The Internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DTV.html.
     2. You may also request the application guide and 
materials from RUS by contacting the appropriate individual listed in 
Section VII of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
    Completed applications may be submitted the following ways:
     Paper: Submit completed paper applications for grants to 
the: Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., Room 2844, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. 
Applications should be marked ``Attention: Director, Advanced Services 
Division.''
     2. Electronic: 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: Petra Schultze, Financial Analyst, 
Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities 
Service, email: [email protected], telephone: 202-690-4493, 
fax: 202-720-1051. Additional point of contact: Norberto Esteves, 
Acting Director, Advanced Services Division at 
[email protected] or at same phone numbers listed 
previously.

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: Deadline for completed grant applications submitted 
electronically or on paper.

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: Award notice information, award 
recipient reporting requirements.
    VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, email, contact name.

I. Funding Opportunity

    As part of the nation's transition to digital television, the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) required all television 
broadcasters to have converted their transmitters to broadcast digital 
signals by June 12, 2009. While stations must broadcast their main 
transmitter signal in digital, many rural stations have yet to complete 
a full digital transition of their stations across all equipment. Rural 
stations often have translators serving small or isolated areas and 
some of these have not completed the transition to digital.
    The 2009 FCC deadline did not apply to translators, and only 
recently in 2011 the FCC adopted a final deadline for analog-to-digital 
conversion of all translators by September 1, 2015. Because of this, 
translators have been allowed to continue broadcasting in analog, and 
stations are still in the process of converting some of their 
translators to digital. Some rural stations

[[Page 29590]]

also have not fully converted their production and studio equipment to 
digital, which has impaired their ability to provide the same quality 
local programming that they provided in analog. The digital transition 
has also created some service gaps where households that received an 
analog signal are now unable to receive a digital signal. For rural 
households the digital transition has meant in some cases diminished 
over-the-air public television service. These rural households are the 
focus of the Agency's 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 
completed the digital transition of their transmitters, the focus has 
shifted to power upgrades and translators, as well as digital program 
production equipment and multicasting/data casting equipment. There are 
some rural stations that may need to install translators to provide 
fill-in service to areas that previously received analog but are now 
unable to receive digital. In FY 2011, 15 awards were made, including 
the following project purposes: transmitter equipment, translators, 
studio and production equipment, master control equipment, and 
microwave 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 have achieved full analog 
parity in program management and creation even after the June 12, 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 culture) to the needs of their rural 
constituents. If public television programming is lost, many school 
systems may be left without educational programming they count on 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 part 1740).

II. Award Information

A. Available Funds for Grants

    1. The amount available for grants for FY 2012 is $3,000,000. The 
maximum amount for grants under this program is $750,000 per public 
television station per year.
    2. Assistance instrument: Grant documents appropriate to the 
project will be executed with successful applicants prior to any 
advance of funds.

B. Public Television Station Digital

    Transition Grants Cannot be Renewed. Award documents specify the 
term of each award. The award term cannot be extended.

III. Eligibility Information

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

    1. Public television stations which serve rural areas as defined in 
7 CFR 1740.2, are eligible for Public Television Station Digital 
Transition Grants. 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.
    3. Corporations that have been convicted of a felony (or had an 
officer or agency acting on behalf of the corporation convicted of a 
felony) within the past 24 months are not eligible. Any corporation 
that has any unpaid federal tax liability that has been assessed, for 
which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or 
have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to 
an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax 
liability, is not eligible

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 DTV 
programming and 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 data casting 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. The following are not eligible for grant funding (see 7 CFR 
1740.7):
    a. Funding for ongoing operations or for facilities that will not 
be owned by the applicant, except for leased facilities as provided 
above;
    b. Costs of salaries, wages, and employee benefits of public 
television station personnel unless they are for construction or 
installation of eligible facilities;
    c. Facilities for which other grant funding from any other source 
has been approved;
    d. Expenditures made prior to the application deadline specified in 
this Notice of Funds Availability.

C. Summary Discussion of a Completed Application

    See paragraph IV.B of this notice for a summary discussion of the 
items that make up a completed application. You will find more complete 
information in the FY 2012 Public Television Station Digital Transition 
Grant Program Application Guide. You may also refer to 7 CFR 1740.9 for 
completed grant application items.

[[Page 29591]]

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.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DTV.html, or 
http://www.grants.gov.
    2. The RUS Advanced Services Division, for paper copies of these 
materials call (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 
apply both the regulation and the application guide. 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 
RUS. 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, which contains 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, demonstrating 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 RUS 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. (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 RUS. (In the Application Guide, see Section C. 
3 Project Core Coverage Area Map(s)).
    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. (In the 
Application Guide, see Section D. Scoring Documentation).
    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 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 that the school district scores 
used in the computations are accurate. Applicants are to use the most 
recent data available. Some official NSLP data is posted on state and/
or local government Web sites, in which case a printout of the data may 
be provided as long as it documents the Web site source. (In the 
Application Guide, see Section D. Scoring Documentation)
    h. 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, RUS 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 (Sample certifications are provided in the application 
guide.):
    (i) Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination;
    (ii) Architectural barriers;
    (iii) Flood hazard area precautions;
    (iv) Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition 
Policies Act of 1970;
    (v) Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998 (41 U.S.C. 701);
    (vi) Debarment, Suspension; and Other Responsibility Matters--
Primary Covered Transactions;
    (vii) Lobbying for Contracts, Grants, Loans, and Cooperative 
Agreements 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 RUS, 
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 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 http://www.grants.gov/applicants/request_duns_number.jsp for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how 
to verify your organization's number.
    4. Central Contractor Registration (CCR).
    a. In accordance with 2 CFR part 25 applicants, whether applying 
electronically or by paper, must be registered in the CCR prior to 
submitting an application. Applicants may register for the CCR at 
https://www.uscontractorregistration.com/or by calling 1-877-252-2700. 
Completing the CCR registration process takes up to five business days, 
and applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process

[[Page 29592]]

well in advance of the deadline specified in this notice.
    b. The CCR registration must remain active, with current 
information, at all times during which an entity has an application 
under consideration by an agency or has an active Federal Award.
    To remain registered in the CCR database after the initial 
registration, the applicant is required to review and update, on an 
annual basis from the date of initial registration or subsequent 
updates, its information in the CCR database to ensure it is current, 
accurate and complete.

C. How many copies of an application are required?

    1. Applications submitted on paper: Submit the original application 
and two (2) copies to RUS.
    2. Electronically submitted applications: The additional paper 
copies for RUS are not necessary if you submit the application 
electronically through http://www.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, RUS, 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. RUS 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 initiative 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. RUS 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 July 17, 2012 to be eligible for FY 2012 
grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2012 grant 
funding.
    2. Electronic grant applications must be received by July 17, 2012 
to be eligible for FY 2012 funding. Late applications are not eligible 
for FY 2012 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 RUS at the 
address and by the date specified in this notice to be eligible for 
funding. RUS will review each application for conformance with the 
provisions of this part. RUS 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 determined to be incomplete, 
the applicant will be notified in writing and the application will be 
returned and will not be considered for FY 2012 funding.
    3. Applications conforming with this part will be evaluated 
competitively by a panel of RUS employees selected by the Administrator 
of RUS, 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 the RUS 
determines that the Project is technically or financially infeasible, 
the Agency will notify the applicant, in writing, and the application 
will be returned and will not be considered for FY 2012 funding.

C. Scoring Guidelines

    1. The applicant's calculated scores in Rurality and Economic Need 
will be checked and, if necessary, corrected by RUS.
    2. The Critical Need score will be determined by RUS based on 
information presented in the application. The critical need score is a 
subjective score based on the reviewer's assessment of the supporting 
arguments made in the application. The score aims to assess how the 
specific digital transition purpose fits with the unique need of the 
television station as it moves all of its equipment through the digital 
transition. 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 at a specific time, some 
transition purposes are perceived to be more essential than others and 
that, over time, that perception changes. For example, during the 
transition from analog to digital transmitters, which concluded on June 
12, 2009, a first time transition of a primary transmitter was the most 
essential project that could be undertaken for most stations and would 
have been scored accordingly. Now that all transmitters have completed 
the transition to digital, the focus may shift to some of the other 
eligible purposes such as translators, studio and production equipment, 
and master control equipment. But what equipment specifically is most 
essential may vary from station to station. Just to name one example, 
local production equipment can be a high priority especially if it 
produces an areas' only local news or if the station has been 
historically active in producing local programming. In

[[Page 29593]]

addition to being a subjective score, the critical need score is also 
relative in the sense that each application is scored in comparison to 
other applications in the competition. These various factors explain 
why a similar application may receive a different critical need score 
in different years of this program.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    The Agency generally notifies applicants whose projects are 
selected for awards by faxing an award letter. The Agency follows the 
award letter with a grant agreement that contains all the terms and 
conditions for the grant. A copy of the standard agreement is posted on 
the RUS Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DTVResources.html.
    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. Reporting

    1. All recipients of Public Television Station Digital Transition 
Grant Program financial assistance must provide semiannual performance 
activity reports to RUS 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 semiannual report. The final report must include 
an evaluation of the success of the project.
2. Recipient and Subrecipient Reporting
    The applicant must have the necessary processes and systems in 
place to comply with the reporting requirements for first-tier sub-
awards and executive compensation under the Federal Funding 
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 in the event the applicant 
receives funding unless such applicant is exempt from such reporting 
requirements pursuant to 2 CFR part 170, Sec.  170.110(b). The 
reporting requirements under the Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR 
part 170 are as follows:
    a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more in non-Recovery Act 
funds (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR part 170) must be reported by 
the Recipient to http://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month 
following the month the obligation was made.
    b. The Total Compensation of the Recipient's Executives (5 most 
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Recipient (if 
the Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to http://www.ccr.gov by the end of the month following the month in which the 
award was made.
    c. The Total Compensation of the Subrecipient's Executives (5 most 
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Subrecipient (if 
the Subrecipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to the 
Recipient by the end of the month following the month in which the sub-
award was made.
3. Systems Necessary To Meet Reporting Requirements
    The applicant must have the necessary processes and systems in 
place to comply with the reporting requirements for first-tier sub-
awards and executive compensation under the Federal Funding 
Accountability and Transparence Act of 2006 in the event the applicant 
receives funding unless such applicant is exempt from such reporting 
requirements pursuant to 2 CFR part 170, 170.110(b).

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 points of contact: Petra Schultze, Financial Analyst, 
Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, RUS, telephone: 
202-690-4493, fax: 202-720-1051, or email: [email protected]. 
Additional point of contact at the same telephone number, or email: 
[email protected]: Norberto Esteves, Acting Director, 
Advanced Services Division.

    Dated: April 12, 2012.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12024 Filed 5-17-12; 8:45 am]
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