PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES PROGRAM

Grant: Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP)
Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce
Division: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 
Deadline: March 17, 2011

Description: The PTFP assists, through matching grants, in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities in order to:

• Extend delivery of services to as many citizens as possible by the most cost-effective means, including use of broadcast and non-broadcast technologies.
• Increase public telecommunications services and facilities available to, operated by, and controlled by minorities and women.
• Strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public.

An applicant may file an application for a planning or construction grant. each application shall be identified as a broadcast or nonbroadcast project and must fall within at least one of the following categories: Radio Broadcasting, Television Broadcasting or Nonbroadcast (Distance Learning) Projects.

The following Broadcast Priorities are set forth in order of priority for funding:

• Priority 1: Provision of public telecommunications facilities for first radio and television signals to a geographic area. Within this category, NTIA establishes three subcategories:

• Priority 2: Replacement of basic equipment of existing essential broadcast stations. The term “essential stations” refers to existing broadcast stations that provide either the only public telecommunications signal or the only locally originated public telecommunications signal to a geographical area.

• Priority 3: Establishment of a first local origination capacity in a geographical area. Projects in this category include the planning or construction of facilities to bring the first local origination capacity to an area already receiving public telecommunications services from distant sources through translators, repeaters, or cable systems.

• Priority 4: Improvement of public broadcasting services. Projects eligible for consideration under this category are intended to improve the delivery of public broadcasting services to a geographic area. Within this category, NTIA establishes two subcategories:
  • Priority 4A: This subcategory includes the four following types of projects:
    • Applications to replace urgently needed equipment from public broadcasting stations that do not meet the Priority 2 criteria because they do not provide either the only public telecommunications signal or the only locally originated public telecommunications signal to a geographic area.
    • The establishment of public broadcasting facilities to serve a geographic area already receiving the same type (radio or TV) of public telecommunications services.
    • The acquisition of satellite downlinks for public radio stations in areas already served by one or more full-service public radio stations including interconnection with the Public Radio Satellite System.
    • The acquisition of the necessary items of equipment to bring the inventory of an already-operating station to the basic level of equipment requirements established by PTFP.
  • Priority 4B: The improvement and non-urgent replacement of equipment at any public broadcasting station.

• Priority 5: Augmentation of existing broadcast stations. Projects in this category would equip an existing station beyond a basic capacity to broadcast programming from distant sources and to originate local programming. Within this category, NTIA establishes two subcategories:
• • Priority 5A. Projects to equip auxiliary studios at remote locations, or to provide mobile origination facilities. While PTFP can equip a remote van for audio/video production, it cannot fund vehicles.
  • Priority 5B. Projects to augment production capacity beyond basic level in order to provide programming or related materials for other than local distribution.

• Priority 6: Broadcast Other cases (Digital Conversion). NTIA possesses the discretionary authority to recommend awarding grants to eligible broadcast applicants whose proposals are so unique or innovative that they do not clearly fall within the five priorities listed. Innovative projects submitted under this category must address demonstrated and substantial community needs or must address issues related to the conversion of public broadcasting facilities to advanced digital technologies.

Read the information about Radio Broadcasting projects here.

Read the information about Television Broadcasting projects here.

Read the Nonbroadcast (Distance Learning) projects here.

The program notice includes changes for this round of funding, so applicants are encouraged to read it thoroughly. The changes include:

• Digital Conversion subcategories ROA, ROB and ROC have been deleted.
• PTFP will not accept applications for equipment when funds are also requested from another federally-funded program, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
• PTFP will not accept applications for the following equipment:
  • Mobile TV transmission equipment.
  • CAP, CALM or Video Description Equipment.
  • The replacement of analog TV translators with analog equipment.

Eligibility: To apply for and receive a PTFP Construction Grant or Planning Grant, an applicant must be:

• Public or noncommercial educational broadcast station.
• Noncommercial telecommunications entity.
• System of public telecommunications entities.
• Nonprofit foundation, corporation, institution, or association organized primarily for educational or cultural purposes.
• State, local, or Indian tribal government (or agency thereof), or a political or special purpose subdivision of a state.

Anticipated funding: Issuance of grants is subject to the availability of FY 2011 funds. The amount of any grants awarded by NTIA will vary, depending on the approved projects. For FY 2010, NTIA awarded $20 million in PTFP funds to 125 projects, including 73 radio awards, 51 television awards and one nonbroadcast award. The radio awards ranged from $4,832 to $466,389. The television awards ranged from $9,234 to $821,707. One nonbroadcast award was made for $104,500.

Grants are customarily awarded with a start date of October 1. Construction Grant award periods customarily range from one year to 18 months. Planning Grant award periods customarily are for one year.

All PTFP Construction grantees are required to provide local matching funds. PTFP matching requirements are summarized in a table in the program notice.

How to apply: Application forms can be found online and and via Grants.gov. Applicants must file an original and five copies of a complete application in paper form or submit the application electronically through Grants.gov. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as foru weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the deadline. Completed applications must be received at the PTFP office or on Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 17, 2011.

Resources:
Program notice
Program website
PTFP will host several webinars for applicants. Contact Lynn Chadwick to enroll in a webinar.
Webinar schedule
Contact information for region-specific program officers