| FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FY 2008 |
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Federal Agency Name: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce
Funding Opportunity Title: Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP)
Announcement Type: Initial Announcement-Notice of Closing Date for Solicitation of Applications
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.550-Public Telecommunications Facilities Program
Program Authority: 47 U.S.C. §§ 390-393, 397-399(b)
Dates: Completed applications must be received at the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program office no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 22, 2008.
Funding Opportunity Description: The Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) assists, through matching grants, in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities in order to:
(1) extend delivery of services to as many citizens as possible by the most cost-effective means, including use of broadcast and non-broadcast technologies;
(2) increase public telecommunications services and facilities available to, operated by, and controlled by minorities and women;
(3) strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public.
Amount to be Awarded: $16.8 million will be available for award.
Funding Instrument: Grant
Eligible Applicants: To apply for and receive a PTFP Construction or Planning Grant, an applicant must be: (a) a public or noncommercial educational broadcast station; (b) a noncommercial telecommunications entity; (c) a system of public telecommunications entities; (d) a non-profit foundation, corporation, institution, or association organized primarily for educational or cultural purposes; or (e) a state, local, or Indian tribal government (or agency thereof), or a political or special purpose subdivision of a state.
Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is required.
Limitation on Number of Applications: None
FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (FFO)
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP)
Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Grant Cycle
Table of Contents for Electronic Access to this FFO
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. PTFP Rules
B. NTIA Areas of Interest for the FY 2008 Grant Round
1. Eligible Projects and Priorities
b. Radio station conversion to digital transmission
d. Public Radio Satellite System-related applications
e. Stand-by Power Generators and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units
(a) Remaining digital conversion requirements and deadlines
(b) FY 2008 procedures for digital conversion and equipment replacement applications
(1) Subpriorities for digital conversion projects
(2) Equipment eligible for digital television conversion projects and equipment replacement
(3) Effective date for expenditure of local matching funds for digital television conversion projects
(4) Funding levels for television projects
(5) Use of Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) matching funds
(6) Coordination with CPB and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), U.S. Department of Agriculture
4. Distance Learning and Nonbroadcast Projects
B. Matching Funds Requirements
C. Other
IV.Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request Application Package
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Audit Costs
5. Post-Award Grant Administration Training Costs
F. PTFP Mailing and Delivery Address for Applications
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
4. Urgency
5. (a). Technical Qualifications (construction applicants only)
(b). Planning Qualifications (planning applicants only)
6. Special Consideration (Involvement of Women and Minorities)
B. Review and Selection Process
C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
VI.Award Administration Information
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
C. Reporting
VII. Agency Contacts
VIII. Other Information
A. NTIA Policies on Procedural Matters
1. Applications Resulting from Catastrophic Damage or Emergency Situations
B. Department of Commerce Procedural Matters
I. Funding Opportunity Description
This section describes funding available under the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program, pursuant to Rules which were published on November 8, 1996 (61 FR 57966). Copies of the 1996 Rules (15 CFR Part 2301) are posted on the NTIA Internet site at www.ntia.doc.gov/Rules/currentrules.htm and NTIA will make printed copies available to applicants upon request.
B. NTIA Areas of Interest for the FY 2008 Grant Round
This section is divided into four parts. The first part provides an overview of the projects eligible for PTFP funding. The remaining three parts provide specific information about NTIA’s emphasis for funding opportunities during the FY 2008 grant cycle. The four parts in this section are:
1. Eligible Projects and Priorities
2. Radio Broadcasting, Expansion and Digital Conversion
3. Television Broadcasting and Digital Conversion
4. Nonbroadcast (Distance Learning) Projects
1. Eligible Projects and Priorities
An applicant may file an application with the Agency 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 which are summarized here and are fully described in
§ 2301.4 of the PTFP Rules:
(a) Special Applications (Nonbroadcast/Distance Learning). NTIA possesses the discretionary authority to recommend awarding grants to eligible nonbroadcast applicants whose proposals are unique or innovative and which address demonstrated and substantial community needs (e.g., service to the blind or deaf and nonbroadcast projects offering educational or instructional services).
(b) Broadcast Applications. The Broadcast Priorities are set forth in order of priority for funding.
(1) Priority 1 ── Provision of public telecommunications facilities for first radio and television signals to a geographic area. Within this category, NTIA establishes three subcategories:
(i) Priority 1A. Projects that include local origination capacity.
(ii) Priority 1B. Projects that do not include local origination capacity.
(iii) Priority 1C. Projects that provide first nationally distributed programming. This subcategory includes projects that provide satellite downlink facilities to noncommercial radio and television stations that would bring nationally distributed programming to a geographic area for the first time.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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:
(i) Priority 4A. This subcategory includes the four following types of projects:
(A) 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.
(B) The establishment of public broadcasting facilities to serve a geographic area already receiving the same type (radio or TV) of public telecommunications services.
(C) The acquisition of satellite downlinks for public radio stations in areas already served by one or more full-service public radio stations.
(D) 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.
(ii) Priority 4B. The improvement and non-urgent replacement of equipment at any public broadcasting station.
(5) 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:
(i) 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.
(ii) Priority 5B. Projects to augment production capacity beyond basic level in order to provide programming or related materials for other than local distribution.
(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 in this section. 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.
Please note that for the FY 2008 grant round, NTIA has established three subpriorities under the Broadcast Other category. These subpriorities are discussed in the sections on Radio Broadcasting and Television Broadcasting below.
NTIA will take great care to ensure that its funding of radio applications follows the directive of 47 U.S.C. § 393(c) that “a substantial amount” of each year’s PTFP funds should be awarded to public radio. For the FY 2008 grant round, the eligibility and priority of radio projects, eligibility of radio equipment, and the presumption of 50 percent funding for radio equipment replacement applications remain as they were in the FY 2007 grant round.
In response to recent events and changes in technology and in the Federal regulatory environment, NTIA is providing guidance on five issues of interest to potential radio applicants. Applicants proposing projects involving (a) radio signal expansion, (b) conversion to digital transmission, (c) Internet streaming, (d) Public Radio Satellite System-related applications, and (e) stand-by generators and uninterruptible power supply units should read the appropriate sections below.
NTIA’s highest priority is activation of public broadcasting facilities to provide a public broadcasting signal to unserved audiences. NTIA is prepared to fund new radio station projects as warranted by reviewers’ evaluations and PTFP’s financial resources.
For the first time in many years, the FCC accepted noncommercial educational FM
applications for new stations or major modifications to existing stations during an open window
which ended October 22, 2007.
NTIA anticipates receiving many applications for these newly
filed station activation or major modification projects as well as applications submitted when the
FCC resolves mutually exclusive applications, or issues authorizations for non-mutually
exclusive applications. Since NTIA cannot predict the timing of FCC processing of applications,
NTIA will accept and process applications requiring FCC action prior to the FCC’s issuance of
Construction Permits or other authorizations.
Applicants that have submitted multiple FCC
applications during the October 2007 window should submit a single PTFP application. The
application narrative should discuss each proposed facility and include a copy of the FCC
application for each location for which funding is requested. (If multiple FCC applications
request alternate frequencies for a single facility, only one copy of the FCC application is
required.) In anticipation of increased interest in these types of applications, NTIA is hereby
providing the following guidance to potential applicants. Potential applicants are also
encouraged to contact the program officers for their states, listed in Section VII, Agency
Contacts.
NTIA’s first priority for radio projects remains activations to provide the first public radio signal to an area. These projects are divided into two subgroups, Priority 1A and Priority 1B.
First Signal Activations with Local Origination: Priority 1A. As in the past, Priority 1A status will be given to first public radio signal projects that will originate a local public radio service to a geographic area. A Priority 1A application must include local offices and studios which are fully staffed for station management and program production.
NTIA has long recognized that new fully-staffed Priority 1A projects are usually submitted by organizations that are beginning to build community support. Priority 1A projects usually also incur significant project costs which are ineligible for Federal support, such as studio building acquisition/renovation and start-up staff costs. Because these projects are NTIA’s highest priority, PTFP will continue to fund Priority 1A applications with a presumption of a 75 percent Federal share, the maximum amount permitted by law.
First Signal Activations without Local Origination: Priority 1B. Priority 1B status will continue to be given to first public radio signal projects which are repeaters or translators of other public radio facilities. Projects that will serve significant additional listeners with a first public radio signal through increases in tower height and/or power upgrades may be classified as Priority 1B or Priority 2 (equipment replacement) and are discussed in the section on power increase projects below.
In recent years, the emphasis of applications received for expansion projects has changed from requests for fully staffed stations to requests for Priority 1B repeaters and translators. Given the limited availability of Federal funds and the increasing number of applications for new repeater/translator stations, PTFP will now evaluate Priority 1B applications to determine whether or not 75 percent Federal funding is justified.
In general, NTIA will continue its present presumption of 75 percent Federal funding for Priority 1B applications which construct the applicant’s first broadcast facility in a community.
An application seeking to upgrade a translator to a repeater will normally be funded by NTIA at a 50 percent Federal share. These applicants should be able to draw on the financial resources of the community served by the applicant’s existing program service. Since the broadcaster would be building upon existing infrastructure, it also would incur reduced ineligible start-up costs. Applicants for these types of Priority 1B projects may seek a higher Federal percentage by submitting justification for the increased amount, which will be evaluated by PTFP.
Power increase projects. Sometimes a project to replace a station’s transmitter or antenna results in an increase in coverage to a new, but relatively small, unserved audience. PTFP usually treats these applications with incidental coverage increases as Priority 2 applications if the equipment replacement meets the Priority 2 criteria. If an applicant requests a Priority 1B consideration of such an application, the applicant should provide documentation of a significant increase in the population that will receive a first public radio signal. PTFP will evaluate the Priority of such requests on a case-by-case basis. Since the applicant already has a facility in the community, these projects, if accepted as Priority 1B, will normally be funded by NTIA at a 50 percent Federal share. Applicants for these types of Priority 1B projects may seek a higher Federal percentage by submitting justification for the increased amount, which will be evaluated by PTFP.
Second (additional) Station Activations: Priority 4A. An application to provide an additional public radio signal to an area already served by public radio will continue to be placed in Priority 4A. The project must demonstrate that it will address underserved needs in a way that significantly differentiates its services from what is already available in the proposed coverage area (see § 2301.4(b)(ii)(b) of the PTFP Final Rules).
In order to extend its resources to assist in signal expansion projects, NTIA will usually fund Priority 4A additional signal projects at no more than a 50 percent Federal share. This is due both to the lower priority and the reduced ineligible costs of Priority 4A repeater/translator projects which build upon existing infrastructure. Applicants for Priority 4A expansion projects, including those for new fully-staffed facilities, may seek a higher Federal percentage by submitting justification for the increased amount, which will be evaluated by PTFP.
If a project to construct a second station (or other additional stations in a community) results in coverage to a new unserved audience and the applicant requests Priority 1B consideration of its application, the applicant should provide documentation of a significant increase in the population that will receive a first public radio signal. PTFP will evaluate the Priority of such requests on a case-by-case basis.
Important information for all station activation applicants:
(1) Coverage Maps. An applicant proposing to construct a Priority 1A, 1B or Priority 4A station activation should provide documentation, such as maps or tables, of the number and geographical location of persons who would receive a first public radio signal as well as the number and location of persons already covered by another public radio station who would receive added service as a result of the proposed project (see § 2301.4(b)(1)(v) of the PTFP Final Rules).
(2) Digital Transmission Equipment. An applicant proposing to construct a Priority 1A,
1B, Priority 3, or Priority 4A station activation should address whether it requests funds to equip
the new facility with digital broadcast capability. As noted below in the discussion regarding
digital conversion, NTIA anticipates that it will fund digital-upgradable transmitters as the usual
equipment for new facilities. Grant recipients will be able to add, at their own expense, in–band,
on-channel (IBOC) exciters and additional power output modules as needed to PTFP-funded
digital-upgradable transmitters.
Applicants requesting full IBOC digital transmitters as part of
their activation project must include documentation of the station’s digital plan demonstrating its
programming readiness to begin digital broadcasting upon receipt of PTFP funding. An
application for IBOC transmission equipment also must directly address in its technical exhibits
the type of analog/digital signal combining proposed. The applicant should include its plans, if
any, to utilize Program Associated Data or the Supplemental Audio Channel (multicasting) as
authorized by the FCC.
NTIA reminds potential applicants that licensing fees for the use of
IBOC technology are considered operating expenses and are not eligible for PTFP funds.
(b) Radio station conversion to digital transmission
NTIA encourages the use of digital technologies for public radio facilities. For many years, NTIA has funded projects for digital STLs and digital 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 unless a showing of extraordinary need for a higher percentage has been made pursuant to § 2301.6(b)(ii) of the PTFP Rules. NTIA will continue to support digital non-transmission equipment for radio equipment replacement projects.
Digital conversion projects. As noted, on October 10, 2002, the FCC approved digital
transmission for radio stations, although it has not yet published final and complete regulations
for such stations.
Unlike the digital conversion of television stations, the FCC has not
established a deadline for the conversion of radio stations. In addition, there is the question of
when HD receivers will achieve significant penetration in the marketplace.
These factors raise
the issue of whether projects whose primary purpose is to begin digital radio broadcasts present
compelling urgency for funding in the FY 2008 grant round.
For FY 2008, NTIA will accept applications for digital transmission equipment for public radio facilities to convert to digital broadcasting. PTFP has included a list of eligible digital equipment on its Internet site and in its printed materials. This list includes transmission and STL equipment. Applicants for digital conversion projects must include documentation of the station’s digital conversion plan demonstrating its programming readiness to begin digital broadcasting upon receipt of PTFP funding. The applicant should include its plans, if any, to utilize Program Associated Data or the Supplemental Audio Channel. Digital conversion applications must directly address in their technical exhibits the type of analog/digital signal combining proposed.
PTFP will place radio applications requesting funds to convert to digital broadcasting in the Broadcast Other category. In order to process applications for digital conversion in an orderly manner and to provide guidance to potential applicants for the FY 2008 Grant Round, NTIA will divide the Broadcast Other category into three Subpriorities. Digital television projects will be placed into Subpriorities A and B because the FCC has mandated television’s digital conversion and has established a series of deadlines that television stations must meet. Digital radio conversion projects will be placed in Subpriority C.
Broadcast Other, Subpriority C. Radio Digital Conversion. NTIA will assign the following applications for conversion of public broadcasting facilities to advanced digital technologies to the third subpriority level within the Broadcast Other category. These applications will receive equal consideration as subpriority C.
- An application to convert radio transmission facilities to digital technologies or an application to add a digital exciter to a digital-upgradable transmitter. In order to be highly competitive, an application must document its plans to utilize Program Associated Data or the Supplemental Audio Channel.
- An application to convert production equipment to digital technologies for a station already broadcasting in digital or a station proposing to broadcast in digital. In order to be highly competitive, an application must document its plans to utilize Program Associated Data or the Supplemental Audio Channel.
- An application for additional equipment necessary to originate programming utilizing the Supplemental Audio Channel. In order to be highly competitive, an application must document that current equipment is inadequate to program the Supplemental Audio Channel and that the requested equipment is required.
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 2008 in most if not all of the Subpriorities in the Broadcast Other category. The presumption of funding for radio projects in the Broadcast Other category is a 50 percent Federal share. NTIA has not set aside a specific amount for funding radio digital conversion projects. Funding of radio digital conversion projects will depend on the quality of applications received and the availability of funds.
Digital upgradable transmitters. Regarding FY 2008 applications for replacement equipment, NTIA anticipates that it will fund digital-upgradable transmitters as the usual replacement for analog transmitters at the power level required to achieve the licensed analog ERP, if justified as urgent replacement of radio transmission equipment. Transmitter replacement applications will be placed in Priority 2 or Priority 4A, as appropriate, depending on whether the applicant provides the only public radio signal to an area (see §§ 2301.4(b)(2) and (4)). Grant recipients will be able to add an IBOC exciter and additional power output modules as needed to PTFP-funded digital-upgradable transmitters. The cost for the IBOC exciter and additional power output modules above the amount initially approved for the replacement transmitter will be the responsibility of the grantee for FY 2008 awards. NTIA reminds potential applicants that licensing fees, including licensing fees related to the use of IBOC technology, are considered operating expenses and not eligible for PTFP funds.
Digital Compliant Transmitters. NTIA may also directly fund fully compliant IBOC digital transmitters as replacement equipment, when fully justified by the application. Applicants requesting full IBOC digital transmitters as part of equipment replacement projects must include documentation of the station’s digital conversion plan demonstrating its programming readiness to begin digital broadcasting upon receipt of PTFP funding. Included should be its plans, if any, to utilize Program Associated Data or the Supplemental Audio Channel (multicasting). The request for a digital transmitter, in itself, is not sufficient justification to replace an otherwise adequate analog or composite STL. The need for the replacement of the STL should be supported by technical documentation addressing the program channel and interface requirements of the digital transmitter. Digital conversion applications must directly address in its technical exhibits the type of analog/digital signal combining proposed.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant funds. NTIA is aware that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has a grant program focused on projects to convert public radio stations to digital broadcasting. In order to facilitate application processing by both CPB and PTFP, applicants for PTFP funds should clearly identify in their application whether they have applied to CPB for funding and list the equipment requested from CPB. The submission of an application to CPB will have no effect on NTIA’s evaluation of the PTFP application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that no PTFP-funded equipment is funded by both grant programs.
Given the limited availability of funds, NTIA has emphasized support of basic equipment required for a public broadcast station to serve its local audience (see § 2301.4 of the PTFP Final Rules, passim). NTIA continues to receive more activation and replacement applications than it can fund in any cycle. NTIA has received a few applications for equipment to provide Internet streaming. The applications have not been favorably evaluated by the reviewers or the national advisory panels.
NTIA has determined that streaming on the Internet goes beyond the provision of a basic local public broadcasting service. NTIA will place any applications it receives for streaming equipment in Priority 5B (see § 2301.4(b)(5)(ii) of the PTFP Final Rules). Priority 5B relates to equipment required for the production of “programming for regional and national use.”
(d)Public Radio Satellite System-related applications
The Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) has retrofitted all downlinks at participating
stations, placed two streaming decoders and two storage receivers at each station, and also
supplied an automation system where necessary. The modernized delivery system became
operational in October 2007.
NTIA recognizes that additional stations that affiliate with the PRSS may require equipment in order to participate in the system. NTIA also recognizes that some PRSS stations may have a justifiable need for additional equipment to fully utilize PRSS services. All applications for PRSS-related equipment must document the need for the requested equipment to fully serve their community.
Applications for PRSS-related equipment for projects which would bring nationally distributed programing to a geographic area for the first time will be placed in Priority 1C. Other applications seeking PRSS-related equipment will be placed in Priority 2 or Priority 4A, according to the category in which the applicant otherwise qualifies for equipment replacement projects.
(e) Stand-by Power Generators and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units
For many years PTFP has funded stand-by power generators and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units for existing stations when an applicant has documented a pattern of frequent transmitter power outages accompanied by delayed restoration of power. Station activation projects have included stand-by power equipment only if justified by circumstances at the site where the transmitter was to be installed. Such projects will continue to be eligible for funding, but recent events have prompted NTIA to consider other conditions that might justify PTFP support for such equipment.
As a result, PTFP will now regard stand-by power generators and uninterruptible power
supply units as essential equipment when justified as discussed in this section. Applications
seeking such equipment will be placed in Priority 2 or Priority 4A, according to the category in
which the applicant otherwise qualifies for equipment replacement projects. (Applications
requesting UPS or generators should not be included within digital conversion projects submitted
under Broadcast Other Subpriorities A, B, or C.) PTFP is prepared to support only the minimum
level of equipment required to keep a station’s signal on the air. Stand-by power for STLs may
be funded if their inclusion is justified in the same way as transmitters. Emergency power for
origination equipment will be considered in addition to transmission equipment when the
applicant demonstrates that such equipment is integral to the emergency service it provides.
Applicants requesting UPS or generators 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 what load is being served, and
(3) the size of any additional fuel tank requested and the number of days of extended operation
the fuel tank would support.
Stand-by generators and UPS units to provide emergency power to
entire facilities are not contemplated for PTFP support.
In order to be highly competitive, applicants must support the need for stand-by power by documenting one or more of the following conditions—
(1) the station is 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
(2) the station is a relay point for the distribution of emergency information to get it to transmitters beyond its local coverage area; or
(3) the station is 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; or
(4) the station has experienced a pattern of frequent transmitter power outages accompanied by delayed restoration of power.
Over the past eight years, NTIA has awarded most of its television funds for projects to convert public television stations to digital broadcasting. The FCC’s adoption of the Fifth Report and Order in April 1997 announced a phased plan to bring all television stations in the United States to digital broadcasting. As part of the FCC’s phased plan, each television station was temporarily assigned a second channel (“DTV channel”) during the digital transition period. The first major milestone in the FCC’s plan required that all public television stations begin the broadcast of a digital signal on their DTV channel by May 1, 2003. In FY 2000, NTIA instituted several new policies regarding applications for projects to convert public television stations to digital transmission capability. NTIA continued those policies during the FY 2001, FY 2002, FY 2003 and FY 2004 grant cycles. During these five grant cycles, PTFP was able to assist in the digital conversion of approximately 250 public television stations by funding projects which contained over 100 tower-related projects and over 200 digital transmitters and antennas, as well as STLs, intercity microwave relays, encoders, video servers, satellite interconnect, test and monitoring equipment.
For the FY 2005 grant round, PTFP modified its procedures to address an FCC milestone
adopted on August 4, 2004, which required digital public television stations to replicate their
analog Grade B coverage or to maximize their facilities by July 1, 2006.
Stations that did not
increase their power by the FCC’s July 1, 2006, deadline could lose digital television service
protection for the uncovered area.
These two phases of digital conversion are almost complete, as nearly every public television station either has begun digital broadcasting or has funded its conversion and has facilities under construction.
(a) Remaining digital conversion requirements and deadlines
Full power station transmission equipment. Section 3002 of Public Law 109-171, known
as the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005,
directs the FCC to require
full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasting and to broadcast solely digital
transmissions after February 17, 2009.
As noted earlier, each television station in the United States was temporarily assigned a
second channel during the digital transition period. At the end of the digital transition period,
stations would cease analog broadcasting and vacate one of their two channels. In the FCC’s
Second DTV Periodic Review, the FCC adopted a multi-round channel election process by which
TV broadcasters would receive their final DTV channel inside the “core” broadcast spectrum
(channels 2-51). In February 2005, as the first step in the election process, over 1,600
commercial and noncommercial television stations requested that the FCC assign either their
existing analog or digital channel as their final digital channel. A significant number of public
television stations (approximately 20-25 percent of the total) elected to move their digital service
to their analog channel.
In order to broadcast in digital on their current analog channel,
however, these stations must either purchase new transmission facilities, including transmitters,
antennas, and transmission lines or they must be able to modify their existing facilities.
The
transmission facilities of those public television stations moving to another channel for their
digital broadcasts must be upgraded or replaced to ensure that people viewing public television
today will be able to receive public television from digital facilities in the future.
In August 2007, the FCC adopted a post-transition table of digital television channel
allotments.
Public television stations must modify their transmission facilities in 2008, so their
digital facilities can be completed by the February 17, 2009, deadline. NTIA funding of these
transmission projects will be a high priority during the FY 2008 grant cycle. NTIA priorities for
digital conversion projects during the FY 2008 grant cycle are discussed in the next section of
this document–section (b) FY 2008 procedures for digital conversion and equipment
replacement applications.
Translators. During September 2004, the FCC adopted a Report and Order which
established rules for the digital conversion of Low-Power TV (LPTV) stations and translators.
In October 2005, the FCC established procedures under which LPTV stations and translators
could either (1) file a minor facilities change application for an on-channel digital conversion of
their currently authorized analog station (“a flash cut application”) or (2) could apply for a
companion digital LPTV or TV translator station.
The FCC accepted applications for
companion digital LPTV and translator channels in May 2006. Applicants interested in filing
applications for companion channels or for the on-channel flash cut of existing facilities should
check with the Commission regarding application filing procedures.
NTIA is aware that over 500 translators and LPTV stations provide the only public television service available in many rural areas of the country. Conversion of these translators to digital broadcasting technologies will ensure the continued availability of public television to all citizens of the country.
The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 establishes two new programs within NTIA that will assist commercial as well as noncommercial translators, Class A and Low-Power Television facilities to make the digital transition. These new grant programs will not be conducted under the PTFP Rules,
Under section 3008 of the Act, NTIA can award $10 million in FY 2008 and FY 2009 to
assist in the purchase of a digital-to-analog conversion device that enables a translator, Class A
or Low-Power TV facility to convert the incoming digital signal of its corresponding full-power
television station to analog for transmission on the facility’s analog channel. On October 29,
2007, NTIA announced in the Federal Register the availability of funds for the Section 3008,
Low-Power Television and Translator Digital to Analog Conversion program.
This program
will provide a $1,000 grant on a non-competitive basis to all eligible low-power and translator
stations to purchase a digital-to-analog conversion device that enables each station to convert the
incoming digital signal of its corresponding full-power television station to analog for
transmission on the facility’s analog channel.
Under section 3009 of the Act, NTIA can award $65 million beginning in FY 2009 to
upgrade translators, Class A and Low-Power stations from analog to digital in eligible rural
communities.
Guidelines for this program have not yet been established.
Digital translator projects remain eligible for PTFP funding during the FY 2008 grant
round. This will enable public television licensees to begin this lengthy and costly conversion
and will fulfill NTIA’s mandate to “extend delivery of public telecommunications services to as
many citizens of the United States as possible by the most efficient and economical means.”
Master control and production equipment. NTIA also recognizes that conversion of transmission equipment to digital technology, while important, is only part in the conversion of a public television station to digital broadcasting. NTIA believes that many stations have an immediate need to convert their basic master control support infrastructure to store, distribute and broadcast digital signals. In the longer term, many stations will also need to convert their production equipment to digital technologies so they can originate local programming at a technical level that is compatible and comparable in quality with productions available from national sources or other local stations.
For the FY 2008 grant cycle, NTIA continues the procedures it used during the FY 2007 grant cycle regarding funding of digital television equipment to emphasize 1) transmission equipment necessary to broadcast on a station’s ultimate DTV channel or for projects that have received a waiver of the July 1, 2006, FCC deadline for power increases of lower-power digital facilities, 2) increased digital conversion of master control equipment and production equipment, and 3) digital conversion of LPTV stations and translator facilities.
For FY 2007, NTIA awarded $15 million to 48 projects which assisted public television stations in the conversion of transmission and master control/production equipment to digital technologies, and also awarded $2.2 million for eight urgent television equipment replacement projects. The television awards ranged from $24,091 to $1,189,250.
(b) FY 2008 procedures for digital conversion and equipment replacement applications
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 broadcasting licensees in converting to digital technologies, NTIA is adopting the application procedures for the FY 2008 grant round which are summarized below and discussed further in the following six portions of this section. Changes in these sections from the procedures in place during the FY 2007 grant cycle are discussed in the following sections.
(1) Subpriorities for digital conversion projects.
• Transmission equipment required by public television stations to complete their digital broadcast facilities will be considered in Broadcast Other, Subpriority A. NTIA will consider expedited processing for projects that provide adequate justification why expedited processing is required to meet the February 17, 2009 deadline or the requirements of the FCC’s Seventh Report and Order.
• No change from FY 2007. Digital master control and production equipment for either replacement or digital conversion will receive equal consideration as Broadcast Other, Subpriority B.
• No change from FY 2007. Production equipment, whether for new digital facilities or as replacement equipment, will be placed in Subpriority B of the Broadcast Other category.
• Digital conversion of translators and LPTV stations has been authorized by the FCC without a deadline. These applications will be placed in Subpriority B. Translator projects that qualify for NTIA’s Low-Power Television Conversion program (Section 3008 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005) will not be eligible for PTFP funding.
(2) Equipment eligible for digital television conversion projects and equipment replacement.
• No change from FY 2007. Equipment eligible for digital television conversion and replacement is updated each year as appropriate in the on-line Digital TV equipment list, and includes studio and field cameras as well as digital television translators.
• No change from FY 2007. Stand-by power generators and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units remain on the equipment list for digital conversion and equipment replacement projects.
(3) Effective date for expenditure of local matching funds for digital television conversion projects.
• No change from FY 2007. The Closing Date for receipt of FY 2008 applications will be the effective date after which applicants may expend local matching funds for digital television conversion projects.
(4) Funding levels for television projects.
• No change from FY 2007. Fifty (50) percent Federal funding will be the general presumption for digital television conversion and television equipment replacement projects.
(5) Use of Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) matching funds.
• No change from FY 2007. NTIA has limited the use of CPB funds for the non-federal share of PTFP projects to circumstances of “clear and compelling need.”
(6) Coordination with CPB and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• No change from FY 2007. Applicants must clearly identify in their applications whether they have applied to CPB or RUS for funding, and list the equipment requested from CPB or RUS.