New User Guide

On October 29, 2007, NTIA announced the start of the LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion grant program that will help low-power television stations continue analog broadcasts after the February 17, 2009, deadline for digital conversion of full-power television.

As announced in the Federal Register, this grant program will provide funds to eligible low-power stations that must purchase a digital-to-analog conversion device to convert the incoming digital signal of a full-power television station to analog for transmission on the low-power station's analog channel.

NTIA is planning for another program to upgrade analog low-power stations to digital broadcasting. Even if a station is not eligible for the Conversion program, it may qualify for the future Upgrade program. Please see the section "Planning for Digital Upgrade Program" below.

Amount Available

1. A total of $8 million is available for grants to eligible low-power television stations.
2. Grants of $1,000 will be awarded to each eligible station.

Eligible Low-Power Stations

Any low-power television broadcast station, Class A television station, television translator station, or television booster station that meets the following three criteria:

1. Is itself broadcasting exclusively in analog format;
2. Has not purchased a digital-to-analog conversion device prior to February 8, 2006; and
3. Is re-transmitting the off-air digital signal of a corresponding full-power digital t elevision station.

Priority Compensation

Priority compensation shall be given to eligible low-power television stations in which either:

1. The license is held by a corporation that has received a determination of non-profit status under applicable state or Federal law, including stations organized under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, 26 U.S.C. 501 (c) excluding (c)(4); or
2. The low-power television station serves a rural area of fewer than 10,000 viewers. (NTIA will use the population within the station's FCC 50/50 contours to determine whether this criterion is met).

Application Procedures

1. Applications for funding will be accepted beginning October 29, 2007 and must be postmarked by February 17, 2009. Applicants qualifying for and requesting priority compensation must submit applications postmarked during the three-month period between October 29, 2007 and January 31, 2008.
2. Applications forms are only available from the program's website and must be prepared online. Once completed electronically, applicants must PRINT THE FORMS, SIGN EACH FORM INDIVIDUALLY and SEND TO NTIA.
3. Instructions for completing the application form are included in the online materials.

Register to Create an Account

1. Before completing an application on-line, applicants will need to register and create an account.
2. Once applicants have an account, they will be able to return at any time to prepare applications for several stations.
3. In order to register, applicants will need the following:
   1. FCC facility ID number for one of its low-power stations
   2. EIN number as assigned by the IRS (or the Social Security Number is the licensee is an individual without an EIN number)
   3. DUNS number: A free DUNS number can be obtained by either
      1. Calling 1-866-705-5711. This takes about 5-10 minutes, or
      2. Using the Internet,
         http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.
         This will take one business day.
      3. You will be asked for the program's CFDA number. The CFDA number for this program is 11.554.
4. No financial information is required to create an account, but must be supplied when submitting the first application.

Financial Information

1. All payments under the program will be by electronic-deposit to the applicant's bank account.
   
2. In order to set up electronic payment, a completed ACH Payment form must be submitted with the first application for funds. The ACH Payment form is included in the on-line application forms.
3. In order to complete an ACH Payment form, applicants will need the following:
   1. Name of the account where the funds will be deposited,
   2. Account number where the funds will be deposited,
   3. Bank routing number, and
   4. The name of the financial institution's ACH coordinator
      
      
4. The ACH COORDINATOR MUST SIGN the ACH Payment form prior to submission to NTIA.

Financial Assistance Terms and Conditions

The following document identifies the applicable Department of Commerce financial assistance terms and conditions for the Low-Power Television and Translator Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Planning for Digital Upgrade Program

In addition to the LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion program, NTIA is also planning for the start of another grant program, the Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program, which will assist low-power stations to upgrade from analog to digital broadcasting.

All stations, even if not eligible for this LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program, are encouraged to complete an electronic application form which requests information to assist NTIA in planning for the Upgrade Program. Many of the following stations not eligible for the Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program may be eligible for the Upgrade Program:

1. A low-power station that does not re-transmit the digital signal of a corresponding full-power station, or
2. Stations receiving signals via satellite, or via a "daisy chain" from another analog translator.

Prepare Digital-to-Analog Application

The below link will allow you to register for an account and prepare an application: