Guidelines for Preparing an Application for
Broadcast Station Activation & Extension Projects
This section takes you step-by-step through the process of preparing a PTFP application for broadcast station activation and signal extension projects. It includes instructions for the Application Form, plus guidelines for completing and submitting your entire application.
We suggest you print out a copy of these Guidelines as you begin preparing your application. The material is in checklist form and if you keep it next to you as you work, it will help you to avoid overlooking anything that is required. Later, you can use it as a final check to be sure your application is truly complete. (Do not send this checklist to PTFP.)
We recommend that you use the online fillable version of the Application Form, which you will find at www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/application/appform.htm. It provides the instructions, with some items pre-filled and selection boxes to help you complete others. You can enter all equipment you are requesting with the costs, and the online system will automatically calculate totals and carry the dollar amounts to the appropriate sections of the forms. Once completed, you can finalize the form and print it out for signing, duplication, and submission.
Whether you are a PTFP first-timer or an experienced veteran, you need to read this material carefully in order to avoid mistakes in completing the forms and to avoid omitting information that may be crucial for a complete and accurate evaluation of your application.
____ You must use Federal government Standard Forms to submit basic information. Details of your request are submitted on special PTFP pages and in written narratives. What follows explains what information goes where and takes you through completing an application.
____ Be sure the special PTFP pages are the ones that expire 12/31/2009 (the date is printed on the bottom of each page). Applications submitted on forms with an earlier date must be returned unprocessed.
____ An original and five copies of all material must be submitted to PTFP.
____ Submit one copy of the application in the six-panel folder supplied by NTIA/PTFP (or an equivalent folder). PTFP will send you a free six-panel folder on request. Call (202) 482-5802, fax (202) 482-2156, or email ptfp@ntia.doc.gov. To allow time for your folder to be delivered, we need to have your request at least two weeks before the Closing Date. (If you want to supply your own six-panel folder, please use an ACCO #ACC-15036, Oxford ESS-920025RCP2, or equivalent.)
____ Submit the remaining five copies in plain manila file folders labeled with your organization’s name and secured with binder clips. Label one of these copies “Original.”
____ All applications must be signed. Signatures are required on page 1b of the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; on the SF-424B, Assurances; and on the CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying.
____ Signatures in the copy labeled “Original” must be original, preferably in a color ink other than black, and dated.
____ Arrange the material in all copies as described in the “Assembling the Application” instructions near the end of these guidelines.
____ Send your application so that it will be received at the PTFP office by 5:00 PM, Eastern Time, on the Closing Date.
☞ Be aware that anything sent via the United States Postal Service (including “overnight” and “Express Mail”) is subject to delivery delays due to mail security procedures at the Department of Commerce. We urge you to consider submitting your application by other means, such as alternate commercial delivery carriers. You should also consider possible delays in delivery caused by the weather and allow for such delays in sending your application.
____ Scope of Project. Each distinct project should be a separate application.
____ Submit separate requests for TV stations and radio stations unless the project calls for major equipment elements to be used by both the TV and radio operations.
____ If you applied to the FCC during the October 2007 open window for NCE applications, submit a single PTFP application for FM station activations that includes all of the stations requested. List and price each station separately on the equipment lists.
____ Otherwise, submit separate requests if you propose stations that will be placed in different locations, where each could be constructed and operated independently.
____ If you are resubmitting a deferred FY 2007 application, it should be updated, but the scope of the project should be the same as originally submitted.
____ Applications for station activation may include stand-by power generators and/or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, if appropriate. (Submit a separate application under Priority 2 or 4A, as appropriate, if such equipment is to be installed at existing facilities.)
____ If the facilities you are requesting are integrated into a network so that the removal of one facility would cause the network to be inoperable, or if the network would constitute a natural and cohesive unit, then one application should be submitted.
____ Submit translator networks as one application, but list and price each translator separately on the equipment lists.
____ Applications for new facilities to serve the visually or aurally handicapped via broadcast technologies, such as SCA channels on radio stations or closed-captioning and SAP channels on television stations, should follow the guidelines presented here.
____ Site Names and FCC Applications. A site is often known by more than one name; all references in an application to a given site should be clear and consistent. Reviewers must be able to identify each site in multi-site applications and relate the FCC applications to the project as described in the Narrative or to sites shown on a map. Be sure that the reviewers can easily verify that all necessary FCC applications or permits are contained in the application. We suggest that you use the same name for all references to a given site, that you add a label or note to each document, or that you cross reference the sites in the Narrative or in an Exhibit, e.g., “Old Town translator (McDonald Farm site)”.
____ Starting a New Station: As noted above, if you applied to the FCC during the October 2007 open window for NCE applications, a single application should be submitted for multiple FM station activations resulting. Projects to activate new broadcast stations cannot be funded by PTFP until the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted or is prepared to issue a Construction Permit. For information about applying for a Construction Permit, click on this link: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/howtoapply.html.
____ Low-Power FM: PTFP awards grants for the activation of LPFM stations under Priorities 1A, 3, or 4A. Applicants use the standard forms and follow the guidelines provided here.
____ Previous Planning Grant: If your construction application was preceded by a PTFP-supported Planning Grant for the proposed facility, you must include a complete copy of the Final Report — minus attachments — in one of the Optional Exhibits of your application.
____ Deferred Applications: If you are reactivating an application that did not receive a grant award in the last grant cycle, you must submit a complete application. You should examine very critically what was submitted before to see if it can be strengthened.
Notes on Emergency Generator/UPS Units for Radio or TV
____ If you request emergency power generation or UPS, you must specify:
____ (1) whether the requested system is a UPS and/or generator and the location(s) it is for (e.g., master control, transmitter, intermediate microwave site),
____ (2) the KVA rating of the requested system and for what load, and
____ (3) the size of any auxiliary fuel tank and the number of days of operation the fuel tank would support.
____ Systems for master control would be to power technical facilities required to keep the station master control on the air, including air conditioning limited to those facilities.
____ You should support your need for such equipment by documenting at least one of the following conditions in order for an application for it to be competitive:
____ the station will be part of a state/regional system to which the public is referred by local authorities for information during an emergency, such as an evacuation from a storm or other event; or
____ the station will be a relay point for the distribution of emergency information to get it to transmitters beyond its local coverage area; or
____ the station will be the sole source of emergency information in its service area in contrast to a station that is one of many in area broadcasting the Emergency Alert System.
____ Generators and UPS units to provide emergency power to entire facilities are not contemplated for PTFP support.
____ Emergency power generation and UPS equipment has been added to the online equipment lists for radio and television.
Application for Federal Assistance
Standard Form 424
The completed SF-424 will be pages 1, 1a, 1b (plus 1c, the explanation
page, if needed) of your application.
☞ We recommend that you use the on-line fillable version of the SF-424, which you will find at www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/application/appform.htm. It provides the instructions, with some items pre-filled and selection boxes to help you complete others. If you elect to print out the Application Form and manually type in the information, follow these instructions:
____ 1. Type of Submission: Check “Application.”
____ 2. Type of Application: Check “New” if first submission of this project in this grant cycle. Check “Revision” if PTFP has requested changes in your application.
____ 3. Date Received: Leave blank for PTFP use.
____ 4. Applicant Identifier: Complete the box if your organization has assigned a number or other identifier to the project.
____ 5a. Federal Entity Identifier: Leave blank for PTFP use.
____ 5b. Federal Award Identifier: Leave blank for PTFP use.
____ 6. Date Received by State: Use if your state participates in the Single Point of Contact process (see No. 19, below).
____ 7. State Application Identifier: Insert number assigned under the Single Point of Contact process, if applicable.
____ 8. applicant information:
a. Legal Name: Enter name of organization responsible for any award.
b. Enter Employer’s Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. (It will be redacted prior to any disclosure to the public.)
c. Enter the DUNS number assigned to your organization by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. You may obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the toll-free DUNS request telephone, 1-866-705-5711, or via the Internet at www.dunandbradstreet.com. A DUNS number is required on all applications.
d. Address: Please enter a street address because a P.O. Box number cannot be used for over-night delivery, which PTFP uses to send out grant awards and other documents.
e. Organizational Unit: If your organization uses Department and/or Division designations, enter them as appropriate.
f. Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application: Enter name, title, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of the person PTFP should contact on all non-engineering matters related to this application and who will be responsible for your project if it is funded.
____ 9. Type of Applicant: In the first space, enter the letter from the list below that best describes the applicant organization. If you wish, you may further describe your organization by entering an additional letter in each of the other spaces.
A. State Government |
N. Nonprofit |
B. County Government |
O. Private Institution of Higher Education |
C. City or Township Government |
P. Individual |
D. Special District Government |
Q. For-Profit Organization (other than Small Business) |
F. U.S. Territory or Possession |
R. Small Business |
G. Independent School District |
S. Hispanic-Serving Institution |
H. Public/State controlled Institution of Higher Education |
T. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) |
I. Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally recognized) |
U. Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) |
J. Indian/Native American Tribal Government (other than Federally recognized) |
V. Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions |
K. Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization |
W. Non-domestic (non-US) Entity |
L. Public/Indian Housing Authority |
X. Other (specify) |
M. Nonprofit |
|
____ 10. Name of Federal Agency: Enter “NTIA”.
____ 11. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: Enter “11.550”. Under CFDA Title, enter “PTFP”.
____ 12. Funding Opportunity Number/Title: Enter “Public Telecommunications Facilities Program”.
____ 13. Competition Identification Number/Title: Leave blank.
____ 14. Areas Affected by Project (Cities, Counties, States, etc.): List the largest political units affected by the project.
____ 15. Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: Enter “Construction Project”. (PTFP uses the term “construction” to mean the purchase of telecommunications equipment for a telecommunications project.)
____ 16. Congressional Districts of:
____ a. Applicant. Enter the number of the Congressional District that includes the applicant’s headquarters; this can be only one number.
____ b. Program/Project. Enter the numbers of all Congressional Districts in all states that would be reached by the proposed project. If a state has only one Congressional District, enter “1”. If a project would reach all Congressional Districts in a state, enter “all”.
____ 17. Proposed Project Start and End Dates: For the start date, enter “10/01/08”. For the end date, use six-month increments to estimate the completion date of your project (e.g., 9/30/09, 3/31/10, or 9/30/10).
____ 18. Estimated Funding ($): Boxes “a,” “b,” and “g” summarize your request for funding from Standard Form 424A, the Budget Form, which is discussed below.
____ Box “a,” Federal. PTFP (Federal) share. For construction project applications, box “a” cannot exceed 75% of the total in box “g” (not even by 1¢).
____ Box “b,” Applicant. Applicant’s share.
Note: Leave boxes “c,” “d,” “e,” and “f” blank.
____ Box “g,” total may include only eligible costs.
____ 19. Is Application Subject to Review by State Under Executive Order 12372 Process?
____ If your state participates in the review process under Executive Order 12372, check box “a” and enter the date you send a copy of the application to the state office. (This refers to the State Single Point of Contact process, which is discussed at the end of these Guidelines.)
____ If your state does not participate, check “b” or “c” as appropriate.
____ 20. Is the Applicant Delinquent on Any Federal Debt? (If “Yes”, provide explanation.) This question applies to the entire applicant organization, not to the authorized representative or to an individual department. Categories of debt include, but are not limited to, delinquent audit-related debts, loans, and Federal taxes. Check the appropriate box. Attach an explanation if required.
____ 21. The authorized representative of your organization must be able to check the “I AGREE” box.
Authorized Representative: Fill in the boxes as indicated. The application must be signed by an authorized representative of the applicant organization. A copy of its governing body’s authorization for the individual to sign this application must be on file in the applicant’s office and available for inspection.
PTFP REQUIRES ORIGINAL SIGNATURES ON ALL APPLICATIONS,
preferably in an ink color other than black.
Standard Form 424A — Budget Information — Non-Construction Programs
This form is required from all applicants. It is discussed after the PTFP-2.
Standard Form 424B — Assurances — Non-Construction Programs
This form is required from all applicants. It is discussed below
in the section on Exhibits.
Project Information
for Broadcast Activation & Extension Projects
PTFP-2 Form
The completed PTFP-2 will be page 2 of your application.
☞ As with the SF-424, we recommend that you use the on-line fillable version of the PTFP-2 Form, which is at www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/application/appform.htm. It provides the instructions, with some items pre-filled and selection boxes to help you complete others. If you elect to print out the Application Form and manually type in the information, follow these instructions:
____ 22. Applicant Name. Enter legal name from page 1, item 8, SF-424.
____ 23. Reactivation. If this is a reactivation of an application deferred from last year’s PTFP grant cycle; enter “Y” in item 23a and last year’s application number in 23b.
(Note: The PTFP Final Rules permit only two reactivations of a deferred application, for a total of three years consideration; see §2301.9.)
____ 24. Enter the call letters and frequency (or channel number, as appropriate) of the public radio or television station that is the subject of this application. Use the main station call letters if the application is for a translator or multiple facilities. If the facility has no call letters, please enter “N/A”. The call letters will be included in all correspondence regarding this application.
____ 25. Prior PTFP grants. If your organization received a prior PTFP grant, check “Yes” and enter the grant number for identification. If not, check “No”.
____ 26. Enter letters to classify the project. Enter “C”; “R”, “T”, or “RT”, as appropriate; and “B” or “BN”, as appropriate.
Applications may combine elements of radio and television but rarely combine broadcast and nonbroadcast. See “Scope of Project,” above, for suggestions for structuring multi-project applications.
____ 27. Priority/Category. Enter the Priority or Category listed in §2301.4 of the PTFP Rules or the Federal Funding Opportunity Notice under which you request the application be reviewed.
Note that PTFP reserves the right to change the priority/category during its review of the application.
____ 28. Number of people served by the project. Please explain and document the following in an Exhibit:
FIRST service: Enter the number of people who will receive a first public radio or TV signal as a result of this project.
ADDED service: Enter the number of people who will receive a second (or third, etc.) public radio or TV signal as a result of this project.
____ 29. Engineering contact information. Enter the information for the person PTFP should contact on engineering matters related to this application.
____ 30. Summary of Application. State the objective of your application in one brief sentence; e.g., “Anytown University seeks funding assistance to establish a public radio station operating on 90.9 MHz in Anytown to provide the first public radio service to about 75,000 people.”
☞ Supporting arguments and justifications for your project go in the Narrative and Exhibits, not here.
____ 31. FCC Authorizations. If a new FCC authorization is required to complete your project, provide the following information for each approval required:
____ FCC Community of license.
____ Channel # (e.g., “89.9” for FM, “9” for TV, etc.).
____ FCC File number (e.g., “BPED040898AB”).
____ Common name used when referencing the transmission site in other parts of the application (e.g., “Northwest National Forest”, “Old McDonald Farm”, “Central Broadcasting”).
____ Indicate by placing a “Y” or “N” in the appropriate space whether your organization owns or leases the transmission site. If site rights are pending, place a “P” in the appropriate space.
____ 32. Other Sources of Funding. Indicate whether funding to support this project has been or will be sought from any other Federal program or the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
This support could include funding to support programing or staff needed to operate the equipment as well as funding for the same equipment requested from PTFP, or funding for other equipment integral for the operation of the PTFP requested equipment.
____ Please provide information about funding from other Federal programs or CPB as an attachment to this form and in the program narrative.
____ 33. CPB Qualification. Indicate if your organization currently receives, or anticipates receiving, financial assistance from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Please note: In order to receive a PTFP grant, your organization does NOT have to receive financial assistance from CPB.
____ 34. Similar Public Telecommunications Facilities within Project Service Area. List all acceptable signals of other public telecommunications facilities of the same type as the subject of this application.
(You are not required to provide exact contours of other stations, only to list those stations that can be viewed or heard within the service area of the proposed project.)
____ TV If this application is for a television project, list all public TV stations providing a Grade B signal within the project’s service area.
____ Radio If this application is for a radio project, list all other public radio stations that provide a 1 mv/m signal within the project’s service area.
____ 35. Station Operations. Indicate the number of full-time paid employees, part-time paid employees, and volunteers currently on the staff of the organizational unit for which the project is intended.
____ Show also the total hours worked by an average staff member in each category in an average week. Then show comparable numbers projected for when the new facilities are in operation.
____ Indicate the current operating budget, if any, and projected budget for the first year of operation following construction of the proposed facilities.
Application for Federal Assistance
Standard Form 424A
Budget Information — Non-Construction Programs
The first page of the 424A will be page 3 of your completed application. It is
the standard budget form now used by all Federal grant programs.
☞ If you use the on-line fillable version of the Application Form, the system automatically fills out the SF-424A. If you elect to print out the Application Form and manually type in the information, follow these instructions:
____ You should submit only page 1 of the SF-424A. Complete only Section B, columns 1 and 5 under item 6, “Object Class Categories.”
____ Place the total for all equipment, including contractor installation costs, in columns 1 and 5 on line 6d, Equipment. This amount should equal the total of all PTFP-4 pages submitted.
____ Place all other eligible costs in columns 1 and 5 on line 6h, Other.
____ Attach a page to the SF 424A detailing the other eligible costs, and that provides sufficient explanation in order to establish the need for the funds, the basis for figures used and how they were calculated, per the following example:
Engineer |
Conduct site evaluations, perform engineering studies, meet with station Board and prepare FCC applications |
125 hours |
$100 per hour |
$12,500 |
____ Show totals in columns 1 and 5 on line 6k, totals.
____ Obligation of funds.
PTFP considers money to be obligated when an Applicant enters into any sort of binding commitment to spend the money. This means the formal acceptance of a bid offering or the issuance of a purchase order.
Applicants are not permitted to obligate any monies from the eventual Federal share of a grant’s Total Project Cost before the project Award Period begins. PTFP Award Periods usually begin October 1.
If you obligate the local match before a grant is formally awarded, you face two primary risks:
1. You may not be offered a grant award, or
2. Negotiations may reduce the amount of the total project cost, and if you have obligated funds in excess of the negotiated local match, the Federal share will be correspondingly reduced, or an eventual award may be reduced or terminated.
Eligible Equipment
PTFP-4 Form
☞ The PTFP-4 form will be page 4 of your completed application.
Complete the left side of this Form.
____ Make photocopies of the form and use as many pages as necessary to list all of the equipment categories requested. Retain a blank original in case PTFP requests revisions.
____ Please number multiple pages PTFP-4-1, PTFP-4-2, PTFP-4-3, etc.
____ Before you complete the Equipment Request portion (left side) of this form, you should review PTFP’s list of eligible and ineligible equipment and project costs here.
____ Multiple sites. If the requested equipment will be placed at several sites, enter the equipment for each location on a separate page. Identify the location for each page on the top line.
____ Enter only one equipment category on a page. Arrange the equipment requested into the categories described below.
____ Check one of the four boxes in the top block to indicate the category of equipment requested on each page.
A. Dissemination Equipment. Includes antennas, towers, transmitters, STLs, translators, cable/ITFS distribution systems, and equipment required for transmission of a broadcast signal or delivery of non-broadcast programing to the audience.
B. Origination Equipment. Includes equipment for production of television or radio programs, including such items as cameras, microphones, turntables, recorders, switching equipment, consoles, mixers, editing systems, signal processors, production lighting equipment, and other items necessary for production of broadcast-quality programing.
C. Interconnection Equipment. Includes microwave, fiber, and satellite equipment.
D. Test Equipment Includes test items necessary for good engineering practice or
Other eligible equipment. Specify any other eligible equipment not included under the other categories, such as specialized receivers used by handicapped groups (i.e., sub-carrier [SCA] receivers, caption decoders, and similar equipment).
____ Identify all major items required for the project. Proposed acquisition of multiple items grouped together for one price must be categorized sufficiently to provide assurance that no ineligible items are included.
____ In the column headed Item, place a general description of the equipment item in question; examples would be “transmitter”, “studio cameras”, or “audio console”.
____ In the column headed Description, place the manufacturer and model number of the item. (This information indicates only the level of quality of the item. After competitive bidding, different manufacturers and models are commonly purchased.)
____ The column headed Cost should include the total cost for that item..
____ Do not enter eligible Non-equipment Costs on this page. They should be included on the Budget Form, SF-424A, line 6h Other with an attached explanation.
General Information
____ Ownership of equipment.
Generally, you cannot own equipment listed as part of the proposed projectt, nor can any funds be obligated towards its purchase, before the PTFP closing date for the year the application is (or was) first submitted to PTFP. Inclusion of equipment purchased prior to the closing date will be considered on a case-by-case basis only when clear and compelling justification is provided to NTIA.
____ Installation Costs.
____NTIA support for installation costs depends on what is to be installed and by whom.
____ Transmission Equipment. NTIA strongly favors the use of either manufacturer or professional contractor personnel for the installation of transmission equipment and commonly funds these costs.
____ Master Control, On-Air and Production Control, and Production Equipment. NTIA will support appropriate costs if you use an integrator to design and install your system and to be responsible for documentation and proper communication between items of equipment, such as servers, routing switchers, automation, and audio and/or video storage devices. NTIA will also support appropriate costs if professional contractors to supplement staff installers are used for the installation of such equipment.
____ NTIA will rarely support staff installation costs. NTIA will take into account a demonstration of exceptional need for support of such installation, in which case cost estimates should be based on existing wage scales.
____ List installation costs separately on the lines “Contractor installation” and “Staff installation.”
____ Include installation costs on the PTFP-4 form and in line 6d of the SF-424A form.
____ Donated Equipment.
Items of donated equipment that are part of the proposed project should be listed within the proper categories along with items to be acquired with grant funds. Place the fair market value of donated items in the “request” section. As noted above, you may take title to donated equipment prior to the closing date only upon presentation and acceptance by NTIA of clear and compelling justification.
If donated equipment is to be used for the local match, your application should include a certified appraisal from a qualified, independent engineer as to the age, fair market value, and remaining useful life of the donated items. In addition, you must include a letter from the donor confirming the donation. Attach the appraisal document and the donation letter to Exhibit B.
Program Narrative
for Broadcast Activation & Extension Projects
Six Evaluation Criteria
☞ You must prepare a Narrative to address the six evaluation criteria contained in Section 2301.17 of the PTFP Rules and that are discussed in this section. The criteria are:
1. Applicant Qualifications
2. Project Objectives
3. Urgency
4. Technical Qualifications
5. Financial Qualifications
6. Involvement of Women and Minorities
____ Your Narrative should begin with an introduction that serves as an Executive Summary of your project. It should be a brief, straightforward statement of what you propose to accomplish and indicates which priority you think your application belongs in — 1A, 1B, 1C, 3, or 4A — and why. No supporting arguments and justifications should be included here; they go in the sections that follow.
____ You should then address the six evaluation criteria in separate sections of the Narrative. We recommend that you address them in the order that follows and that you label each section with the name of the criterion being discussed to help the reviewers who evaluate your application.
____ Several of the evaluation criteria should also be addressed in Exhibits, as explained below.
____ The Narrative is limited to a total of five pages for the Executive Summary and the first five criteria, but you may make as much use as you wish of Optional Exhibits to provide a detailed explanation of any subject. You should give cross-references to the Optional Exhibits in which you provide additional information.
____ Applicants submitting an application for multiple FM station activations resulting from the FCC open window for NCE applications in October 2007 should describe each proposed station briefly in the Narrative with detailed discussions of how the Evaluation Criteria apply to each in one or more Optional Exhibits. Be sure to give cross-references to the Optional Exhibit(s) in the Narrative.
☞ There is no page limit on your response to the sixth criterion, “Involvement of Women and Minorities.”
____ Indicate at the beginning of the Narrative if your organization is a government entity, an Indian Tribe, or a non-profit organization that has received a prior grant from PTFP.
____ If your organization is a government entity, an Indian Tribe, or a non-profit organization that has received a prior PTFP grant, no further documentation of eligibility is required at this time.
____ If yours is a non-profit organization that has never received a PTFP grant, you must supply certified copies of your (1) articles of incorporation, (2) by-laws, and (3) IRS 501(c)(3) letter in Exhibit G.
____ Your Narrative should include . . .
____ your organization’s staffing levels and capabilities available to construct the proposed station and operate and maintain it in the future;
____ your plans for programing the proposed station; and
____ your organization’s prior experience in providing public broadcasting service.
____ You should also . . .
____ discuss any affiliations you have with other broadcast, media, or educational organizations;
____ describe any consultants you have identified to assist in the project; and
____ if you are a newly organized non-profit organization, discuss the background of the members of your Board of Directors, including their media or business experience.
____ Is your organization experienced in broadcasting? If not, what source of the appropriate expertise will it have available to assist it in the operation of the new station?
____ How will your organization oversee the operation of a new broadcast station? Will the station have an advisory board or committee? If so, how will its members be chosen? Will there be any participation by the general public?
____ In sum, your Program Narrative should demonstrate that your organization has the experience and resources necessary to complete construction of the proposed station and to maintain and operate it in the future.
____ Your discussion of this criterion should indicate the Priority you believe is appropriate for the project and begin with a description of your project.
____ A complete technical description of the project should be placed in Exhibit B.
____ You should discuss the mission/purpose of the new station. Who will benefit from its operation?
____ What other means of communication were considered before your organization decided on constructing a station? What are the pros and cons for each type in your situation? Why did you choose a station?
____ You should make a compelling case as to how the proposed station will meet unserved needs of the community, including a discussion of any community needs assessment you conducted or have available and then explain how the proposed station will help meet those needs.
____ What evidence do you have that the population of the expected coverage area is interested in the proposed station? You should describe the number and types of organizations that have agreed to participate and cooperate with your organization in serving the community. It is very important that general public support and involvement from organizations be documented with letters of support, participation, and cooperation and placed in in Exhibit E.
____ See the instructions on Exhibit E, below, for further information on this requirement.
____ You should discuss how the project has been coordinated with any telecommunications services in the coverage area or with local, regional, or state telecommunications agencies. If there hasn’t been any coordination, you should explain why.
____ You should discuss how the project will be implemented if funded by PTFP. For example, you might discuss:
____ Your staffing plans for the construction and continuing operation of the station. Identify staff, consultants, or contractors where possible.
____ Exactly how you will go about raising the money for the local match and ineligible project costs as well as long-term operational costs. Describe the general plan in the Narrative and provide details in an Optional Exhibit.
____ As stated in the Federal Funding Opportunity notice, NTIA will normally fund projects to upgrade translators to repeaters and Priority 1B transmitter or antenna replacements at a 50% Federal share. If your application seeks a higher Federal percentage, you must provide justification for the request.
____ In addition to the general requirements mentioned in this section, you should provide the specific information requested for the following types of projects:
____ New First Service. If you request new first service (Priority 1A or 1B) activations, you must demonstrate that the proposed coverage area is currently unserved by a public radio station for a radio project or a public television station for a television project.
____ We consider an area served if it receives a public broadcast service from a grade B television signal or a 60 dBu FM radio signal. If you propose an FM station that will serve an area covered by an AM daytime-only public radio station, we will evaluate the amount of service provided via the AM station in determining the priority of the proposed FM station.
____ In some instances, the simple statement in the Narrative that “the nearest public (radio or television) station is (call letters), which is (approximate distance) miles away,” will suffice.
____ In situations where an existing public broadcast station is nearby but does not cover the proposed signal area, it is often useful to discuss the differences in coverage in the Narrative and include coverage maps in Exhibit D. (See the instructions for Exhibit D for more information on this requirement.)
____ New Additional Service. If you are proposing a new additional service (Priority 4A) broadcast activation, you must demonstrate that you will address underserved needs in a way that significantly differentiates your proposed service from what is already available in the service area.
____ Local Origination Equipment. If you request Priority 1A, 3, or 4A, your project must contain local origination equipment. Your Narrative should, therefore, describe this equipment and how the station’s staff will utilize it to address the needs of the local community.
____ First Local Origination. A Priority 3 project requests funds to bring the first local origination capability to an area already receiving some public broadcasting service from non-local sources. You should, therefore, document that the existing service does not provide for local origination. You should discuss coverage issues in the Narrative and include coverage maps in Exhibit D.
____ In some instances, the simple statement in the Narrative that “the nearest public (radio or television) station with national satellite downlink capability is (call letters), which is (approximate distance) miles away,” will suffice.
____ If your coverage area overlaps another public station of the same type (radio or television), you should provide coverage maps in Exhibit D documenting whether or not any of your service area is already served by an existing public station that carries national programing.
_____ See the instructions for Exhibit D for more information on this requirement.
____ First National Programing via Satellite Downlink. If you request Priority 1C, your application should discuss how the satellite downlink facilities will improve the programing to serve the needs of your local community. You should document that you will provide the first national programing in your service area in Exhibit D.
____ See the instructions for Exhibit D for more information on this requirement.
____ Digital Radio. As notedSection I, B, 2a of the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement, we anticipate funding digital-upgradable transmitters as the usual equipment for new radio stations.
____ If you request a Priority 1A, 1B, or 4A station activation, you should address whether you seek funds to equip the station with digital broadcast capability.
____ Radio applicants requesting a full IBOC digital transmitter in an activation application must include the station’s full digital plan, including utilization of Program Associated Data or the Supplemental Audio Channel. Summarize the plan in the Narrative and place the plan in an Optional Exhibit with a cross-reference..
____ Note: Radio grant recipients may — at their own expense — add in-band-on-channel (IBOC) exciters and power output modules as needed.
____ You should provide a compelling case that justifies funding the proposed project during the current grant cycle.
____ Documentation of urgency for broadcast activations may include . . .
____ the number of people to receive the proposed broadcast service;
____ the results of a needs assessment of the intended audience;
____ documentation that the intended target audience is eager for service and is supportive of the application (this can be documented in Exhibit E by letters, copies of petitions, resolutions from governmental bodies, etc.);
____ documentation that relevant groups/educational institutions intend to actively work with the proposed station (place such documentation in Exhibit E also);
____ fulfillment of a legislative initiative; or
____ the presence of unique circumstances such as the availability of a local partner or of matching funds that may be withdrawn after the current grant cycle.
____ You might discuss any negative consequences that may result if your project is not carried out at this time.
____ New First Service. (Priority 1A and 1B applicants). Although activation of new broadcast stations in unserved areas is our highest priority for broadcast projects, you should not presume that all Priority 1A or 1B applications will be funded automatically. Both the project objectives criterion discussed in the preceding section and the urgency criterion must be documented in the application in order to support funding the application during the current grant cycle.
____ New Additional Service or First Local Origination (Priority 3 or 4A applicants). You should discuss the urgency requiring the activation of a new station to address needs in an area that significantly differentiates your proposed service from what is already available in the area.
____ First National Programing via Satellite Downlink. If you request Priority 1C, your application should discuss how the satellite downlink facilities will improve the programing to address the unserved needs of your local community.
____ The equipment you wish to purchase with a grant must be listed on the equipment page(s) PTFP-4 of the Application Form.
____ In Exhibit A, page PTFP-5 of the Application Form, you must provide an inventory of the equipment you presently own that is similar to that requested. The exhibit should give an inventory only of equipment that corresponds to the equipment requested or is closely associated with it. If you have no equipment to list, you should include the form and check the “NA” box.
____ This part of the Narrative should give an overview of the technical aspects of your project with a full discussion of the details in Exhibit B, “Equipment Justification.”
____ If you are requesting a radio grant for a full IBOC digital transmitter, you must address the type of analog/digital signal combining proposed.
____ In exceptional circumstances you may be permitted to include as eligible costs equipment that was purchased prior to the PTFP closing date. (See §2301.6(b)(2)). We will consider inclusion of equipment purchased prior to the closing date on a case-by-case basis.
____ You must show when the equipment was acquired and what compelled you to purchase the equipment prior to the PTFP Closing Date. Attach any available supporting documentation.
____ Do you have sites for the studios, transmitter, and tower for the new station? Does your organization own them or will it buy or lease them? (Enter the information in item 31, page PTFP-2, of the Application Form).
____ If you do not have sites, explain what is being done to get them.
____ Describe the engineering resources that will be available for (a) the construction of the station and (b) the long-term maintenance of the equipment for its operation and continued useful life.
____ The statute authorizing PTFP requires construction applicants to submit “a 5-year plan outlining the applicant’s projected facilities requirements and the projected costs of such facilities requirements.”
____ See the instructions for Exhibit C for more information on this requirement.
____ We urge you to file your FCC application(s) as early as possible to permit the FCC’s processing to be completed, since PTFP will not fund a project that has not cleared the FCC review process.
____ One of your greatest challenges will be obtaining the necessary local funds to pay for the station. You should describe your organization’s history and demonstrated ability to raise operating and capital funds.
____ PTFP cannot fund many costs involved in setting up a station, such as building construction and/or renovation and land improvements.
____ You will need funds to pay for staff and operating costs while the station is being built.
____ You should discuss the funds you currently have available as well as identify funds committed or pledged by others to the construction or operation of the station.
____ The Federal government retains a 10-year interest in all equipment funded by PTFP, so we are interested in the long term financial viability of your project.
____ You should, therefore, present a business plan as to how you will raise funds necessary to complete the construction of your proposed station and pay for its continued operation.
____ You should explain how you expect to raise the funds to pay all of the costs mentioned.
____ You should provide documentation of local support that has been committed, with dollar-commitment estimates, even if the commitment is conditioned on completion of the project.
____ If you expect to get financial support from state or local governments, you should include documentation showing that the support actually will be provided if the station is constructed.
____ Include any other documentation you have to show that your financial expectations are realistic in an Optional Exhibit, cross-referenced from the Narrative, or in Exhibit E, “Letters of Support,” as appropriate.
____ If you anticipate receiving operating grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, you should indicate which CPB grants are expected and how and when the station will qualify for them.
Evaluation Criterion 6
Involvement of Women and Minorities
____ Response to this Evaluation Criterion should be included as part of the Program Narrative, but it is not subject to the five-page limitation.
____ In accordance with 392(f) of the Act, the Agency will give special consideration to applications that foster ownership of, operation of, and participation in public telecommunications entities by minorities and women. NTIA has not established any minimum minority or women participation requirements for special consideration in PTFP evaluations in order to carry out the objectives of the statute. Rather, NTIA believes that the Congressional intent can be achieved in a fair and flexible manner by taking into account all factual circumstances that might lead to special consideration.
____ The PTFP Rules, in §2301.5, provide the following clarifications about special consideration.
“Ownership and operation of” includes the holding of management and other positions in the entity, especially those concerned with programing decisions and day-to-day operation and management.
“Participation” may be shown by the entity's involvement of women and minorities in public telecommunications through its programing strategies as meeting the needs and interests of those groups
“Minorities” include American Indians or Alaska natives; Asian or Pacific Islanders; Hispanics; and Blacks, not of Hispanic Origin.
Employment of minorities or women is not the only way in which NTIA may assess whether an application promotes significant diversity in the ownership of, operation of, and participation in, public telecommunications entities by minorities and women. NTIA is also interested in outreach efforts, audience development, and programing strategies. One stated purpose of this program is to respond to the educational, cultural and related programing needs of diverse groups.
____ Applicants should provide a narrative (with supporting documentation when necessary) that documents the participation of women and minorities in the station’s ownership and management, especially those concerned with programing decisions and day-to-day operation and management. In preparing their material, applicants should take care to clarify whether they are discussing women, minorities (minorities can be considered as a single group, but the predominant group should be identified as such), or a combination of women and minorities (where the predominant group/gender should be identified, and applicants should express whether they are discussing women or minorities in the case of an individual who is a female minority).
EXHIBITS
for Broadcast Activation & Extension Projects
☞ The Importance of Legibility. All materials need to be legible.
Exhibit A: Inventory
____ Use the PTFP-5 Form to tell PTFP about other related equipment for this facility that is (1) owned, (2) on order as of the date of the application, or (3) authorized by a prior PTFP award but not yet ordered.
Related equipment refers to equipment similar to that requested in this application (i.e., provide inventory of all existing audio consoles, if audio consoles are requested), or is closely associated with the requested equipment (e.g., an inventory of all microwave equipment that would feed a signal to a requested repeater station). DO NOT PROVIDE A FULL STATION INVENTORY.
This facility. Provide inventory information only for the facility (usually a station) that is the subject of this application, not the inventory of all the stations you operate. If the station that is the subject of this application is co-located with another station you operate, however, you should provide the requested inventory information for both stations. The application should explain the relationship between the two stations regarding the sharing of equipment, studios, staffs, etc.
____ If you are applying for new broadcast facilities, you should indicate whether you already have any equipment that will be associated with or devoted to the proposed facility.
____ If you do not have applicable equipment, include the form with the “NA” box checked.
____ Please number multiple pages this way: PTFP-5-1, PTFP-5-2, etc.