Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Public Telecommunications Facilities Program,
[Federal Register: December 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 72225-72234]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de99-147]
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Part V
Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket No. 991210330-9330-01]
RIN 0660-ZA10
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds.
SUMMARY: 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).
DATES: Pursuant to 15 CFR 2301.8(b), 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 FY 2000 is February 17, 2000. Applications must be received prior to 8 p.m. on or before February 17, 2000. Applications submitted by facsimile or electronic means are not acceptable.
ADDRESSES: To obtain an application package, submit completed applications, or send any other correspondence, write to: NTIA/PTFP, Room H-4625, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Cooperman, Director, Public Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202) 482-5802; fax: (202) 482-2156. Information about the PTFP can also be obtained electronically via Internet (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/ptfp).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Application Forms and Regulations
Applicants for matching grants under the PTFP must file their applications on or before Thursday, February 17, 2000. NTIA anticipates making grant awards by September 30, 2000. NTIA shall not be liable for any proposal preparation costs.
Approximately $26 million is available for FY 2000 for PTFP grants pursuant to Pub. L. 106-113, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2000''. The amount of a grant award by NTIA will vary, depending on the approved project. For fiscal year 1999, NTIA awarded $21.7 million in funds to 99projects. The awards ranged from $5,538 to $1,028,450.
The applicable Rules for the PTFP were published on November 8, 1996 (61FR 57966). Copies of the 1996 Rules will be posted on the NTIA Internet site and NTIA will make printed copies available to applicants. NTIA is hereby notifying potential applicants of the procedures that will be used to process applications for digital television conversion projects in the FY 2000 grant round. Parties interested in applying for financial assistance should refer to these rules and to the authorizing legislation (47 U.S.C. 390-393, 397-399b) for additional information on the program's goals and objectives, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and other requirements.
To apply for a PTFP grant, an applicant must file an original and five copies of a timely and complete application on a current form approved by the Agency. Applicants for television projects in the Broadcast Other category (15 CFR 2301.4(b)(6)) are requested to supply one additional copy of their application (an original and six copies), if this does not create a hardship on the applicant. The current application form will be provided to applicants as part of the application package. This form expires on November 30, 2000, 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.)
Applicants sending applications by the United States Postal Service or commercial delivery services must ensure that the carrier will be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the Closing Date and Time. NTIA will not accept mail delivery of applications posted on the Closing Date or later and received after the above deadline. However, 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, or (2) Significant weather delays or natural disasters, NTIA will, upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the application as having been received by the deadline.
Applicants submitting applications by hand delivery are notified that, due to security procedures in the Department of Commerce, all packages must be cleared by the Department's security office. Entrance to the Department of Commerce Building for security clearance is on the 15th Street side of the building. Applicants whose applications are not received by the deadline are hereby notified that their applications will not be considered in the current grant round and will be returned to the applicant. See 15 CFR 2301.8(c); but see also 15 CFR 2301.26. 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 15 CFR 2301.3 or 2301.4. The Agency will inform the applicant of the reason for the return of any application.
All persons and organizations on the PTFP's mailing list will be sent a notification of the FY 2000 Grant round. Copies of the application forms, Final Rules, Closing Date notification and application guidelines will be available on the NTIA Internet site: www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/ptfp. Those not on the mailing list or who desire a printed copy of these materials may obtain copies by contacting the PTFP at the telephone and fax numbers, at the Internet site, or at mailing address listed above. Prospective applicants should read the Final Rules carefully before submitting applications. Applicants whose applications were deferred in FY 1999 will be mailed information regarding the reactivation of their applications. Applicants whose television projects were deferred from FY 99should carefully review Section III, Television Broadcasting and Digital Conversion, regarding changes in policies which may apply to the reactivation of their applications.
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.
Special Note: NTIA has established a policy which is intended to encourage stations to increase from 25 percent to 50 percent 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 percent funding will be the general rule for the replacement, improvement or augmentation of equipment. (This 50 percent presumption, however, does not apply to digital television projects as explained in Section III. Television Broadcasting and Digital Conversion.) A showing of extraordinary need (i.e. small community-licensee stations or 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) or an emergency situation
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will be taken into consideration as justification for grants of up to 75 percent of the total project cost for such projects.
A point of clarification is in order: NTIA expects to continue funding projects to activate stations or to extend service at up to 75 percent 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.
Since NTIA has limited funds for the PTFP program, the PTFP Final Rules (published November 8, 1996) modified NTIA's policy regarding the funding of planning applications. Our policy now includes the general presumption to fund planning projects at no more than 75 percent of the project costs. NTIA notes that most of the planning grants awarded by PTFP in recent years include matching in-kind services and funds contributed by the grantee. The new NTIA policy, therefore, codifies what already has become PTFP practice. NTIA, however, is mindful that planning grants are sometimes the only resource that emerging community groups have with which to initiate the planning of new facilities in unserved areas. We, therefore, will continue to award up to 100 percent of total project costs in cases of extraordinary need (e.g. small community group proposing to initiate new public telecommunication service).
We 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'' (15 CFR 2301.6(c)(2)). NTIA intends to maintain that standard and to apply it on a case-by- case basis.
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Radio Broadcasting
During the FY 2000 grant round, NTIA is proposing no changes from prior years in its support of radio applications. The policies implemented in the next section of this document on Television Broadcasting and Digital Conversion apply only to digital television applications. The eligibility or priority of radio projects, eligibility of radio equipment and the 50% presumption of funding for radio equipment replacement applications remain as they were in the FY 99grant round. NTIA will take great care to ensure that its funding of radio applications reflects its responsibilities under 47 U.S.C. 393(c) that ``a substantial amount'' of each year's PTFP funds should be awarded to public radio.
NTIA encourages the use of digital technologies for public radio facilities. NTIA has funded projects for digital STLs and audio production equipment which will assist public radio stations as they prepare for conversion to digital technologies. These digital projects are funded as equipment replacement, improvement or augmentation projects with the presumption of a 50 percent Federal share as discussed earlier in Section I of this document, Application Forms and Regulations, unless a showing of extraordinary need for a higher percentage has been made pursuant to Sec. 2301.6(b)(ii) of the PTFP Rules.
For fiscal year 1999, NTIA awarded $2.1 million in funds to 35 grants for public radio projects. The awards ranged from $5,538 to $251,461.
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Television Broadcasting and Digital Conversion
As outlined in this section, NTIA is establishing new policies in the FY 2000 grant round that will apply only to FY 2000 applications for projects to convert public television stations to digital transmission capability. The FCC's adoption of the Fifth Report and Order in April 1997 requires that all public television stations begin the broadcast of a digital signal by May 1, 2003. This deadline is so close that NTIA decided that the new policies should be applied in the FY 2000 grant round. At the same time, NTIA wishes to invite comment on these policies. All comments received will be considered carefully for possible modification of the policies in subsequent years. They will be printed or summarized in the Notice for the next grant round. Please do not include your comments with any application you may submit, but rather send them directly to the PTFP Director. Comments may be submitted to William Cooperman, Director, Public Broadcasting Division, by mail (see the ADDRESS section), by fax at (202) 482-2156, or by e- mail to wcooperman@ntia.doc.gov.
NTIA recognizes that meeting the FCC's deadline is one of the greatest challenges facing America's public television stations. Over 350 stations must overcome both technical and financial challenges in order to complete conversion to digital broadcasting within the FCC's timetable.
In February 1999, the Administration proposed a major expansion of the PTFP and recommended that $355 million be appropriated to NTIA over a five-year period. These funds would primarily be used to assist public television stations in meeting the FCC's deadline. While these sums are significant, NTIA anticipates that the majority of funds required to convert all the nation's public television stations will actually come from non-Federal sources.
For fiscal year 1999, NTIA awarded $15.7 million in funds to 43 projects which assisted public television stations in the conversion to digital technologies. The awards ranged from $25,252 to $1,028,450. NTIA awarded approximately $5.4 million from the Broadcast Other category to complete the digital conversion of eight public television stations. NTIA also awarded an additional $5.3 million in equipment replacement funds to seven projects which completed major phases of digital conversion projects, such as the funding of two digital statewide interconnection projects and eight replacement transmitters. Further, an additional $5 million was awarded to 28 projects to purchase digital television equipment required for the orderly conversion of a station to digital broadcasting.
NTIA has considered how best to efficiently implement the distribution of digital conversion funds to public television stations through the PTFP. NTIA has received recommendations on this subject from several public broadcasting organizations, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Task Force on Digital Television Funding, the Association of America's Public Television Stations and its Legislative Advisory Group, and the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives. NTIA has also discussed with many individual public television stations the challenges presented by the May 2003 deadline.
One of NTIA's goals during the FY 2000 grant round is to ensure that PTFP's administrative procedures as well as its funds can support public television's needs in meeting the FCC's 2003 deadline. Another of NTIA's goals is to maintain an acceptable balance between equipment replacement projects and digital television conversion projects. As a result of these discussions, NTIA is implementing several new policies/ procedures which will assist public television stations in
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the application for and use of PTFP funds for digital conversion projects.
These new policies/procedures are summarized here and then are discussed fully in parts A through G later in this section:
(A) Digital television conversion projects and digital equipment replacement. NTIA has established a ``Digital TV List'' which includes the equipment eligible for PTFP funding under the Broadcast Other category. NTIA will also use the ``Digital TV List'' for most television equipment replacement projects and modifies the way it views television replacement applications.
(B) Multi-year funding. NTIA will accept applications under the Broadcast Other category for phased projects requesting funding for up to four years and which are intended to enable all of the applicant's public television stations to meet the FCC's May 2003 digital broadcasting deadline.
(C) Effective date for expenditure of local matching funds. Applicants for digital conversion projects in the Broadcast Other category may include eligible equipment from the Digital TV List in their projects when that equipment is purchased with non-Federal funds after July 1, 1999.
(D) Subpriorities for digital conversion projects. NTIA is creating three Subpriorities to aid in the processing of digital conversion applications.
(E) Funding levels for television projects. NTIA has revised the presumption of funding from 50% Federal share for most television projects to 40%, has established simplified procedures so stations can qualify for hardship grants up to a 67% Federal share, and will provide incentives for applicants who request only 25% Federal funding.
(F) Use of CPB funds. Applicants may use CPB funds as part of their local non-Federal match in cases of clear and compelling need.
(G) Partnerships; urgency. NTIA encourages partnerships with commercial as well as noncommercial organizations and clarifies its consideration of urgency for digital conversion applications. NTIA believes that digital conversion applications should be afforded high urgency when they document time-sensitive partnerships, time-sensitive funding opportunities, or which include the replacement of equipment required to maintain existing service.
In developing these policies for the FY 2000 grant round, NTIA intends to remain responsive to the equipment replacement needs of public television stations. NTIA's balancing of equipment replacement and digital conversion applications is discussed in the following sections.
In order to assist public television stations in meeting the FCC's May 2003 deadline and to facilitate a station's raising non-Federal matching funds required for digital conversion projects. NTIA is adopting new application procedures in the following areas.
(A) Digital Television Conversion Projects and Digital Equipment Replacement. For FY 2000, NTIA will support the equipment necessary for a public television station to comply with the FCC's 2003 deadline. This includes equipment required for digital broadcast of programs produced locally in analog format as well as the broadcast of digital programming received from national sources. NTIA is posting on its Internet site a listing of transmission and distribution equipment (as contained in the ``Digital TV List'') which is eligible for PTFP digital television conversion funding. Printed copies of this list are also available from PTFP at the address shown in the ADDRESS section of this document. This list was developed in conjunction with the Public Broadcasting Service and is similar to equipment lists PTFP used during last year's grant round. The Digital TV List includes transmission equipment (transmitters, antennas, STLs, towers, etc.) as well as distribution equipment located in a station's master control (routing switchers, video servers, PSIP generators, digital encoders, etc.). Applications seeking funding for the equipment necessary to meet the FCC's 2003 deadline will, as in FY 98 and FY 99, be placed in the Broadcast Other category.
NTIA believes that many stations must replace obsolete equipment in order to complete their digital conversion projects. NTIA is now revising its policies to permit the replacement of obsolete equipment as part of digital conversion projects. If the conversion to digital transmission includes the urgent replacement of an existing item of equipment, the application will be considered as a Broadcast Other, rather than as replacement under Priorities 2 or 4. Replacement of existing equipment then is a normal part of a digital conversion application.
If the purpose of an application is just for replacement of urgently needed equipment, even though the equipment is drawn from the Digital TV List, the application will be classified as a Priority 2 or 4, as appropriate.
Any application which includes equipment replacement as a justification for the urgency criterion should submit documentation of downtime or other evidence in support of the urgency evaluation criterion as contained in Sec. 2301.17 of the PTFP Final Rules. The need to replace current equipment in order to maintain existing services will, in many cases, strengthen the urgency criterion of a digital conversion application.
Because of the requirement that all public television stations begin their digital broadcasts by May 2003, all public television applications, whether submitted for Priority 2, Priority 4 or the Broadcast Other category, should include the station's comprehensive plan for digital conversion to meet the FCC's deadline and explain how the requested equipment is consistent with that plan. If the applicant is still developing its plan for digital conversion, the application should address how the requested equipment will be consistent with the overall objective of converting the facility for digital broadcasting. Failure to provide detailed information on the applicant's proposed or existing digital conversion plan will place a television application at a competitive disadvantage during the evaluation of the technical qualification criterion as described in 15 CFR 2301.17 of the PTFP Rules.
NTIA calls applicants' attention to the fact that television production equipment is not included on the Digital TV List but will be found on other equipment lists posted on the NTIA Internet site or available from NTIA by mail. NTIA notes that while a television station must use digital transmission and distribution equipment to begin digital broadcasting, digital production equipment is not required to meet the FCC's May 2003 deadline. As the FCC deadline approaches, NTIA has reluctantly concluded that, with the funds available to it in FY 2000, it cannot fund television production equipment at the same level as it has in the past. Television production equipment will continue to be eligible for PTFP funding under Priority 2 and Priority 4, as appropriate. However, for the FY 2000 grant round NTIA will fund television production equipment replacement applications only for those projects that present a ``clear and compelling'' case for the urgency of such replacement. NTIA anticipates funding television production replacement projects in FY 2000, though fewer than in recent years.
When making the final selection of awards under the procedures of Sec. 2301.17, NTIA will take care to ensure that there is an acceptable balance between projects awarded for
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equipment replacement projects and those awarded for digital conversion projects. Further, NTIA will consider as part of this balance those stations in the Broadcast Other category (1) Which request digital conversion projects and (2) Which also include elements of equipment replacement. NTIA will not fund applications in the Broadcast Other category requesting digital conversion to the exclusion of those Broadcast Other applications which include documentation supporting equipment replacement as part of their urgency justification. Further, in making funding decisions for FY 2000, NTIA will limit its support of television replacement applications for production equipment to those applications which present a ``clear and compelling'' justification for funding during the current grant round.
A complete listing of equipment eligible for funding during the FY 2000 grant round is posted on the NTIA Internet site and printed copies are available from PTFP.
(B) Multi-year funding. NTIA anticipates that it will take many public television licensees several years to complete their digital conversion projects. The time required to complete a digital conversion project will be determined by several factors. In some instances, it will take a station several years to raise the local funds required to complete the project. Even if a station has accumulated all the funds required for its digital conversion project, the technical complexity of some projects (such as the construction of a 1,000-foot tower) will probably require several years to complete. Finally, many public television licensees operate several stations and are, therefore, responsible for the conversion of multiple broadcast facilities.
NTIA recognizes that the construction period for many of these digital conversion projects must, of necessity, be longer than the typical one to two years of the usual PTFP grant. Further, NTIA acknowledges that, with the funds available for award, the PTFP would be unable to fully fund more than a few of the digital conversion applications it could receive in FY 2000.
Therefore, for FY 2000, the PTFP will accept construction applications within the Broadcast Other category for digital television conversion projects which propose multi-year funding.
Applicants may submit project plans and budgets for up to four years. A multi-year application must contain the applicant's entire digital conversion plan. The plan must be divided into annual phases, with each year's request a severable phase of the project. The application must identify the Federal funds requested for each year. Projects will be funded for no more than one year at a time.
Once a project is approved for first year funding, applicants will not be required to compete each year for funding of subsequent phases. Funding for each subsequent year will be at the sole discretion of the Department of Commerce and will depend on satisfactory performance by the recipient and the availability of funds to support the continuation of the project(s).
Projections based on previous experience indicate availability of between $10 million and $15 million to support multi-year digital television projects in FY 2000. The exact level of funding available for multi-year awards will be determined by NTIA after a review of applications submitted for multi-year awards and those radio, television and distance learning applications requesting a regular award.
NTIA believes that initiating multi-year funding for digital television awards has significant benefits for both public television licensees and NTIA.
‹bullet› Submission of a multi-year application particularly should help applicants which must convert multiple broadcast transmitters. NTIA understands that many stations have already begun to raise significant non-Federal funds with which they can begin to implement their digital conversion plans. Upon submission of a multi-year application, an applicant could begin spending its local match--at its own risk. An applicant, therefore, might be able to complete a portion of its digital conversion project using its local non-Federal funds for which Federal matching funds may not be available for several years. (For example, a future phase of a statewide project might be the conversion of two repeater stations; one might be constructed with available non-Federal funds, the second constructed if Federal funds are received). Applicants are cautioned, however, that while expenditure of the local match is permitted, PTFP Rules (Sec. 2301.6(d)) prohibit a grantee from obligating funds from the eventual Federal share of an award before a grant is actually awarded.
‹bullet› NTIA believes that a multi-year award will reduce the administrative burden on both grantees and the PTFP. Grant recipients will submit only one application to cover the multiple years of their award, saving both the grantee and the PTFP the administrative tasks required to process applications during the annual grant round.
‹bullet› Multi-year applications and awards will also assist both NTIA and public broadcasting licensees in the advance planning required to complete the conversion of almost 350 television facilities by May 2003.
‹bullet› By issuing multi-year grants, NTIA would be able to fund the initial phases of more digital conversion projects with the monies available in FY 2000 than if PTFP funded fewer entire digital conversion plans.
NTIA believes that multi-year funding through the Broadcast Other category also is appropriate for projects which include urgent replacement of equipment, since, as noted earlier, most television equipment replacement requests can be viewed as one phase of a station's conversion to digital broadcasting.
Since NTIA for the first time is supporting multi-year funding for digital conversion applications, applicants who are reactivating applications deferred from the FY 99grant round will be permitted to revise their applications to include their full digital conversion plans. This includes those applications which were submitted during the FY 1999 grant round as Priority 2 or Priority 4 equipment replacement applications, which may be reactivated as Broadcast Other digital conversion applications. Applications which are reactivated for the FY 2000 grant round must comply with the guidelines included in this notice, including the funding levels for television projects discussed later in this document.
Applicants submitting projects for consideration under the Broadcast Other category have a choice and may request either multi- year funding or a single grant. However, applications submitted for consideration under Priority 2 or Priority 4 may only request a single grant for a project, as in the past. NTIA anticipates that a majority of the television grants funded in FY 2000 will include multi-year projects.
(C) Effective date for expenditure of local matching funds for digital conversion projects. NTIA recognizes that many public television stations have begun to raise significant non-Federal funds for their digital conversion projects. State or local governments may have appropriated funds to initiate digital conversion projects that, by local law, must be expended during the fiscal year in which they are awarded. Public television licensees that have raised significant non- Federal funds may desire to take advantage of unique opportunities (such as partnering with other stations to share broadcast
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antennas or towers). Some stations may be anxious to begin digital conversion projects with long lead times for completion, or may desire to begin digital broadcasting on the same timetable as commercial stations in their market. Within the limitations of Federal regulations, NTIA supports efforts undertaken by public television stations which bring the benefits of digital television broadcasting to their communities as quickly as possible.
In order to facilitate the raising of non-Federal funds for digital television projects and to also permit stations to begin construction of their digital facilities as soon as possible, NTIA will permit an applicant for a Broadcast Other project to include equipment in a PTFP application if the equipment was purchased with non-Federal funds after July 1, 1999. This date was selected to coincide with the beginning of the 2000 fiscal year used by many state and local governments. NTIA also anticipates that July 1, 1999 will be the effective date in the FY 2001, FY 2002 and FY 2003 grant rounds for the expenditure of non- Federal funds for projects in the Broadcast Other category. Applicants who desire to use equipment purchased prior to July 1, 1999 as part of their local match must submit a ``clear and compelling justification'' supporting their request.
Applicants who are reactivating applications deferred from the FY 99grant round will be permitted to use the closing date of their original applications.
(D) Subpriorities for Digital Conversion Projects. As almost 350 public television stations are required to convert to digital broadcasting by May 2003, NTIA anticipates a significant increase in the number of applications in the Broadcast Other category for digital conversion projects. In order to process these applications in an orderly manner and to provide guidance to potential applicants for the FY 2000 grant round, NTIA will divide the applications received for digital conversion projects in the Broadcast Other category into three subpriorities; Broadcast Other-A; Broadcast Other-B, and Broadcast Other-C.
These three divisions are intended to reflect the priorities NTIA has used in the evaluation of traditional broadcast applications and to place a premium on projects either to assist stations providing sole service, to encourage cooperative efforts among different stations, or to support licensees facing the requirement to convert multiple transmission facilities in several television markets. NTIA notes that in the past it has been able to fund applications each year in most if not all of the five traditional broadcast Priorities and anticipates that it will be able to fund applications in FY 2000 in most if not all of the subpriorities for applications received under the Broadcast Other category.
NTIA will assign the following applications for conversion of public broadcasting facilities to advanced digital technologies at the first subpriority level within the Broadcast Other category. These applications will receive equal consideration as subpriority A.
-- A single applicant providing the sole service in an area unserved by a digital public television signal. This reflects PTFP's funding priority for equipment replacement projects for sole service stations (PTFP Priority 2). -- Cooperative applications by two or more licensees for the first digital public television service to an area. This is intended to encourage cooperation and efficiencies among stations in overlap markets (as listed by CPB) in constructing digital facilities. It would provide stations in overlap markets the opportunity, if they work collaboratively, to be eligible for the highest priority in funding within this category. -- A statewide staged plan for the conversion of multiple stations, whether a state network, or other appropriate statewide organization, or a staged plan from a licensee with stations in several markets. This is intended to encourage licensees that must convert multiple stations and also to encourage groups of stations to work collaboratively in developing a digital conversion project.
NTIA will assign the following applications for conversion of public broadcasting facilities to advanced digital technologies at the second subpriority level within the Broadcast Other category. These applications will receive equal consideration as subpriority B.
-- An applicant in a multi-PTV station market providing first public television service in an area. An applicant in a multi-PTV station market who chooses to file separately, rather than in conjunction with another licensee in the same area, receives a second priority for funding. -- A cooperative application by two or more licensees in an area already served by a digital public television station. The application is given a priority over Broadcast Other--C to encourage efficiency and cooperation. Since this is not the first service in the area, it is given a second priority.
NTIA will assign the following applications for conversion of public broadcasting facilities to advanced digital technologies at the third subpriority level within the Broadcast Other category. These applications will receive equal consideration as subpriority C.
-- Individual applicants proposing a second digital public television service in an area already receiving a digital public television signal. This reflects PTFP's funding priority for equipment replacement applications in served areas (Priority 4). -- All other public television digital conversion applications.
(E) Funding Levels for Television Projects. As noted earlier in Section I of this document, NTIA has published several policies regarding the presumed Federal share of a requested project. These policies are intended to aid applicants in the planning of their applications. The policy for PTFP support of equipment replacement applications has long been the presumption of a 50 percent Federal share, although applicants are permitted to submit justification for a Federal grant of up to 75 percent of project costs. Those policies are contained in Sec. 2301.6(b) of the PTFP Final Rules.
In reviewing the projected costs to convert all the public television stations in the country, NTIA has concluded that it cannot continue its 50 percent presumption of Federal funding for television equipment replacement or digital conversion projects. Furthermore, NTIA believes that many public television facilities will be unable to raise 50 percent of the project costs. A significant number of stations may need Federal funding of 67 percent of a project's cost, or even up to the legal maximum of 75 percent of a project's cost, in order for them to meet the FCC's deadline.
In order to ensure that sufficient Federal funds are available to support the conversion of the nation's public television stations, NTIA is establishing a new policy regarding the presumed Federal funding level for television equipment. As noted earlier in this section, NTIA recognizes that equipment on the PTFP Digital TV List may be included in either Broadcast Other digital conversion applications or in Priority 2 or Priority 4 equipment replacement applications. In order to treat all applicants equitably, NTIA's new policy will be the presumption of a 40 percent Federal share of the eligible project costs for television equipment for digital conversion or equipment replacement, improvement or
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augmentation projects. This 40 percent presumption will apply whether the application requests consideration under the two equipment replacement priorities (Priority 2 or 4) or under the digital conversion category (Broadcast Other). As noted earlier, NTIA will fund the replacement of production equipment upon a showing of clear and compelling need. However, since the deadline for digital conversion is rapidly approaching and Federal funds are limited, NTIA will fund replacement of production equipment at the same level of Federal support as digital conversion or equipment replacement projects. The presumption of a 40 percent Federal share will extend to all television projects to replace or upgrade equipment. However, because of the emphasis NTIA places on the extension of broadcast services to unserved areas, NTIA has retained the 75 percent level of Federal funding applications proposing new television facilities in Priority 1 (Sec. 2301.4(b)(1)).
Applicants who are reactivating applications deferred from the FY 99grant round will be permitted to request the same percentage of Federal support as requested in the FY 99application as long as the scope of their application remains the same. Applicants who wish to revise their deferred application to include their full digital conversion plans, however, will be subject to the new policies presented in this section.
As already noted, NTIA recognizes that many small stations, primarily in rural areas, will be unable to raise even a 50 percent local share of the funds required for their PTFP projects. NTIA has long permitted stations to request more than the standard level of Federal support upon a showing of ``extraordinary need'' per Sec. 2301.6(b)(ii) of the PTFP Rules. NTIA will permit applicants to qualify for hardship funding and receive a 67 percent Federal share of their project costs. An applicant can qualify for 67% Federal funding by certifying that it is unable to match at least 60 % of the eligible project costs, and either (a) by providing documentation that its average annual cash revenue for the previous four years is $2 million or less, or (b) by providing documentation that the eligible project costs are greater than the applicant's average annual cash revenue for the previous four years.
In addition, NTIA will continue to permit any applicant to provide justification that it has an ``extraordinary need'' for Federal funding up to the legal limit of 75 percent of eligible project costs.
In order to gather additional funds to award to stations which qualify under the hardship criteria, NTIA encourages financially able applicants to request a smaller share of Federal funds for digital equipment projects than the standard 40 percent. NTIA will add three additional points to the application evaluations from the independent review panel for applicants who request no more than 25 percent Federal funding. This provision will give extra credit to applications already highly reviewed, and, based on NTIA's previous experience, is often sufficient to move applications into the range for funding.
However, when making the final selection of awards, NTIA will take care to ensure that there is an acceptable balance between projects awarded to stations requesting a 25 percent Federal share and those requesting a higher Federal share. NTIA will not fund applications requesting a 25 percent Federal share to the exclusion of applications meeting the hardship criteria or to the exclusion of those requesting the standard 40 percent Federal share.
(F) Use of CPB funds. As discussed earlier in this document at the conclusion of Section I. Application Forms and Regulations, NTIA has limited the use of CPB funds for the non-Federal share of PTFP projects to circumstances of ``clear and compelling need'' (15 CFR 2301.6(c)(2)). NTIA recognizes that it will be difficult for many public television stations to raise the funds required to meet the FCC's digital broadcasting deadline. Therefore, NTIA continues its past policy that applicants may submit justification under this section for the use of CPB funds as part of their local match. Any request for the use of CPB funds must be accompanied by a statement regarding any limitations that CPB has placed on the expenditure of those funds.
(G) Miscellaneous Items. As discussed earlier in this section, part (D) on New Subpriorities, NTIA encourages efforts which promote efficiency within the public television system in order to save both current conversion costs and future operating costs. NTIA, therefore, also encourages public television stations to partner with commercial entities when this is in the best interests of the public station and the Federal government. In cases of public television partnerships with commercial entities, the PTFP project will be limited to the public television station's ownership share or use rights in the equipment. NTIA believes that such partnerships with commercial organizations comply with current PTFP regulations and PTFP has funded several projects for joint use of towers and broadcast antennas.
The urgency of an application is one of the criteria under which all PTFP applications are evaluated. (The evaluation criteria are listed in Sec. 2301.17 of the PTFP Rules). NTIA suggests that there are at least three situations in which Broadcast Other applications may present high degrees of urgency. As we have just noted, applications containing proposals for joint use/ownership partnerships with other organizations may demonstrate a high urgency due to a time-sensitive opportunity. NTIA encourages these applicants to document the time- sensitive nature of the partnership opportunity in their response to the urgency criterion.
NTIA also recognizes that some applicants may be presented with time-sensitive funding opportunities and, therefore, encourages these applicants to document the time sensitive nature of these funding opportunities in their response to the urgency criterion. Finally, as already noted, NTIA expects that some applications will request urgent replacement of existing equipment as part of a Broadcast Other application. NTIA encourages such applicants to provide documentation of their need to replace their equipment during the current grant round. This documentation might include maintenance logs, letters from manufacturers, reports from independent engineers, photos etc.
NTIA will instruct the panels evaluating the FY 2000 Broadcast Other applications that they should award the highest score under the urgency criterion to those applications which fully justify and document either (1) The time sensitive nature of partnerships, (2) the time sensitive nature of funding opportunities, or (3) the need for equipment replacements that must be accomplished during this grant round in order to maintain existing services.
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Distance Learning Projects
Since 1979, NTIA has funded nonbroadcast distance learning projects through the ``Special Applications'' category as established in Sec. 2301.4(a) of the PTFP Rules. In 1996, NTIA established a similar category for broadcast projects, ``Broadcast/other'' in Sec. 2301.4(b)(6). NTIA encourages applications in either category for innovative or unique distance learning projects which address demonstrated and substantial community needs. For fiscal year 1999, NTIA awarded $1.7 million in funds to nine grants for distance learning projects. The awards ranged from $50,000 to $450,000.
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The growth of digital technologies provides new opportunities for distance learning projects using both broadcast or nonbroadcast facilities. NTIA encourages applicants to consider the use of digital technologies in proposing unique or innovative distance learning projects for funding in FY 2000. Examples of innovative digital applications might include projects (1) Which use broadband technologies for distance learning, (2) which distribute educational or informational programming via Direct Broadcast Satellite technologies, or (3) which use the multi-channel capabilities of a digital public television station. All distance learning applications must address substantial and demonstrated needs of the communities being served. NTIA is particularly interested in distance learning projects which benefit traditionally underserved audiences, such as projects serving minorities or people living in rural areas.
As discussed in Section III of this document, NTIA anticipates that, in FY 2000, it will receive numerous digital conversion applications in the Broadcast/ Other category. NTIA recognizes that, due to the multi-channel capability of digital television, distance learning components may well be a part of a digital conversion application. NTIA will, therefore, consider such distance learning proposals under the subpriorities established in Section III. If NTIA determines that a broadcast distance learning project is not part of a digital conversion application, NTIA will evaluate the application pursuant to Secs. 2301.4(b)(6) and 2301.17.
The November 22, 1991, PTFP Policy Statement (56 FR 59168 (1991)) mentioned in the Application Forms and Regulations section 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 available to all PTFP applicants as part of the Guidelines for preparing FY 2000 PTFP applications.
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Eligible and Ineligible Costs
Eligible equipment for the FY 2000 grant round includes the 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 transmitting and receiving equipment; cable television equipment; and optical fiber communications equipment.
A complete listing of equipment eligible for funding during the FY 2000 grant round is posted on the NTIA Internet site and printed copies are available from PTFP.
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 2301.2.) 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 under the heading Support for Salary Expenses in the introductory section of the document.
(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 47 U.S.C. 392(c). (b) Ineligible: Planning grant applications cannot include the cost of constructing or operating a telecommunications facility.
(3) Audit Costs. Audits shall be performed in accordance with audit requirements contained in Office of Management and Budget Circular A- 133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, revised June 30, 1997. OMB Circular A-133 requires that non-profit organizations, government agencies, Indian tribes and educational institutions expending $300,000 or more in federal funds during a one- year period conduct a single audit in accordance with guidelines outlined in the circular. Applicants are reminded that other audits may be conducted by the Office of Inspector General.
NTIA recognizes that most of its grant recipients are divisions of state and local governments or are public broadcasting facilities, all of which routinely conduct annual audits. In order to make the maximum amount of monies available for equipment purchases and planning activities, NTIA will, therefore, fund audit costs only in exceptional circumstances.
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Notice of Applications Received
In accordance with 15 CFR 2301.13, NTIA will publish a notice in the Federal Register listing all applications received by the Agency. Listing an application merely acknowledges receipt of an application to compete for funding with other applications. This listing 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. NTIA will also publish more complete information about all the applications received by the Agency on the NTIA Internet site and will make this information available by mail. The address of the NTIA Internet site is: www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/ptfp.
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Evaluation Process
See 15 CFR 2301.16 for a description of the Technical Evaluation and 15 CFR 2301.17 for the Evaluation Criteria.
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Selection Process
Based upon the above cited evaluation criteria, the PTFP program staff prepares summary recommendations for the PTFP Director. These recommendations incorporate outside reviewers rankings and recommendations, engineering assessments, and input from the National Advisory Panel, State Single Point of Contacts and state telecommunications agencies. Staff recommendations also consider project impact, the cost/benefit of a project and whether review panels have consistently applied the evaluation criteria. The PTFP Director will consider the summary recommendations prepared by program staff, will recommend the funding order of the applications, and will present recommendations to the OTIA (Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications) Associate Administrator for review and approval. The PTFP Director recommends the funding order for applications in three categories: ``Recommended for Funding,'' ``Recommended for Funding if Funds Available,'' and ``Not Recommended for Funding.'' See 15 CFR 2301.18 for a description of the selection factors retained by the Director, OTIA Associate Administrator, and the Assistant Secretary for Telecommunications and Information.
Upon review and approval by the OTIA Associate Administrator, the Director's recommendations will then
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be presented to the Selection Official, the NTIA Administrator. The NTIA Administrator selects the applications for possible grant award 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 set forth at 15 CFR 2301.1(a) and (c). Prior to award, applications may be negotiated between PTFP staff and the applicant to resolve whatever differences might exist between the original request and what PTFP proposes to fund. Some applications may be dropped from the proposed slate due to lack of FCC licensing authority, an applicant's inability to make adequate assurances or certifications, or other reasons. Negotiation of an application does not ensure that a final award will be made. The PTFP Director recommends final selections to the NTIA Administrator applying the same factors as listed in 15 CFR 2301.18. The Administrator then makes the final award selections 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 in 15 CFR 2301.1(a) and (c).
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Project Period
Planning grant award periods customarily do not exceed one year, whereas construction grant award periods for grants in the five broadcast Priorities and nonbroadcast Special Applications category commonly range from one to two years. Construction projects funded in the Broadcast Other category would commonly be awarded for a one to two year period with the expectation that they would be extended annually in subsequent years dependent on the availability of Federal funds. 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.
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NTIA Policies on Procedural Matters
Based upon NTIA's experience during the PTFP 1999 grant round, NTIA has determined that it is in the best interest of NTIA and applicants to continue recent policies regarding three procedural matters. The following policies are applicable only to the FY 2000 PTFP grand round and resulting awards.
Applications Resulting From Catastrophic Damage or Emergency Situations.
Section 2301.10 provides for submission of applications resulting from catastrophic damage or emergency situations. NTIA would like to clarify its implementation of this provision.
For FY 2000 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. NTIA limits this request to equipment essential to a station's continued operation such as transmitters, towers, antennas, STLs or similar equipment which, if the equipment failed, would result in a complete loss of service to the community.
When submitting an emergency application, the applicant should describe the circumstances that prompt the request and should provide appropriate supporting documentation. NTIA requires that applicants claiming significant failure of equipment will document the circumstances of the equipment failure and demonstrate that the equipment has been maintained in accordance with standard broadcast engineering practices.
NTIA will grant an award only if it determines that (1) The emergency satisfies this policy, and (2) the applicant either carried adequate insurance or had acceptable self-insurance coverage.
Applications filedand accepted for emergency applications must contain all of the information required by the Agency application materials and must be submitted in the number of copies specified by the Agency.
NTIA will evaluate the application according to the evaluation criteria set forth in Sec. 2301.17(b). The PTFP Director takes into account program staff evaluations (including the outside reviewers) the availability of funds, the type of project and broadcast priorities set forth at Sec. 2301.4(b), and whether the applicant has any current NTIA grants. The Director presents recommendations to the Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications (OTIA) Associate Administrator for review and approval. Upon approval by the OTIA Associate Administrator, the Director's recommendation will be presented to the Selecting Official, the NTIA Administrator. The Administrator makes final award selections taking into consideration the Director's recommendation and the degree to which the application fulfills the requirements for an emergency award and satisfies the program's stated purposes set forth at Sec. 2301.1(a) and (c).
Service of Applications
For the FY 2000 PTEP, applicants are not required to submit copies of their PTFP applcations to the FCC, nor will they be required to submit copies of the FCC transmittal cover letters as part of their PTFP applications. NTIA routinely notifies the FCC of projects submitted for funding which require FCC authorizations.
For the FY 2000 PTFP, applicants for distance learning projects are not required to notify every state telecommunications agency in a potential service area. Many distance learning applications propose projects which are nationwide in nature. NTIA, therefore, believes that the requirement to provide a summary copy of the application in every state telecommunications agency in a potential service area is unduly burdensome to applicants. NTIA, however, does expect that distance learning applicants will notify the state telecommunication agencies in the states in which they are located.
Federal Communications Commission Authorizations
For the FY 2000 PTFP, applicants may submit applications to the FCC after the closing date, but do so at their own risk. Applicants are urged to submit their FCC applications with as much time before the PTFP closing date as possible. No grant will be awarded for a project requiring FCC authorization until confirmation has been received by NTIA from the FCC that the necessary authorization will be issued.
For the FY 2000 PTFP applications, since there is no potential for terrestrial interference with Ku-band satellite uplinks, grant applicants for Ku-band satellite uplinks may submit FCC applications 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.
For the FY 2000 PTFP applications, NTIA may accept FCC authorizations that are in the name of an organization other than the PTFP applicant in certain circumstances. Applicants requiring the use of FCC authorizations issued to another organization should discuss in the application Program Narrative why the FCC authorization must be in the
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other organization's name. NTIA believes that such circumstances will be rare and, in its experience, are usually limited to authorizations such as those for microwave interconnections or satellite uplinks.
As noted above, for the FY 2000 PTFP applications, NTIA does not require that the FCC applications be filedby the closing date. While NTIA is permitting submission of FCC applications after the closing date, applicants are reminded that they must continue to provide copies of FCC applications, as they were filedor will be filed, or equivalent engineering data, in the PTFP application so NTIA can properly evaluate the equipment request. These include applications for permits, construction permits and licenses already received for (1) construction of broadcast station, (including a digital broadcasting facility) or translator, (2) microwave facilities, (3) ITFS authorizations, (4) SCA authorizations, and (5) requests for extensions of time.
For those applicants whose projects require authorization by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), NTIA reminds applicants that the mailing address for the Federal Communications Commission has changed to: 445 12th St. SW, Washington DC 20554.
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Department of Commerce Application Requirements
Applicants should note that they must continue to 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 February 17, 2000. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate SPOC well before the PTFP closing date. A listing of the state SPOC offices may be found with the PTFP application materials at the NTIA Internet site. A list of the SPOC offices is available from NTIA (see the ADDRESS section above).
You are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number or if we fail to provide you with this notice. (In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the current application form has been cleared under OMB control no. 0660-0003.)
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, Sec. 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, Sec. 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, Subpart F, ``Government-wide Requirements for 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,'' (OMB Control Number 0348-0046) 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.
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.
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.
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.
Authority: The Public Telecommunications Financing Act of 1978, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 390-393, 397-399(b). (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 11.550). Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications.
[FR Doc. 99-33327Filed12-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
