[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60192-60197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29776]
[[Page 60191]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VII
Department of Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 215 / Friday, November 6, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 60192]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket No. 981028269-8269-01]
RIN 0660-ZA05
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, announces the solicitation of
applications for planning and construction grants for public
telecommunications facilities under the Public Telecommunications
Facilities Program (PTFP).
Applicants for matching grants under the PTFP must file their
applications on or before January 14, 1999. NTIA anticipates making
grant awards by September 30, 1999. NTIA shall not be liable for any
proposal preparation costs.
Approximately $21 million is available for FY 1999 for PTFP grants
pursuant to P.L. 105-277, the ``Department of Commerce and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999.'' The amount of a grant award by
NTIA will vary, depending on the approved project. For fiscal year
1998, NTIA awarded $19.8 million in funds to 115 projects. The awards
ranged from $3,000 to $978,033.
The applicable Rules for the PTFP were published on November 8,
1996. These rules, 15 CFR Part 2301 et seq. will be in effect for FY
1999 PTFP applications. Certain requirements of the PTFP at 15 CFR Part
2301 are modified in this Notice. Copies of the 1996 Rules will be
distributed as part of the PTFP Application Kit and applicants are
cautioned not to use older versions of the PTFP Rules which were
published in 1991.
Parties interested in applying for financial assistance should
refer to these rules and to the authorizing legislation (47 U.S.C.
Secs. 390-393, 397-399b) for additional information on the program's
goals and objectives, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and
other requirements.
DATES: Pursuant to 15 CFR Sec. 2301.8(b), the Administrator of NTIA
hereby establishes the closing date for the filing of applications for
grants under the PTFP. The closing date selected for the submission of
applications for 1999 is January 14, 1999. Applications must be
received prior to 8 p.m. on or before January 14, 1999. Applicants
sending an application should submit an original and five copies to the
place indicated in the Address section below. Applicants sending
applications by the United States Postal Service or commercial delivery
services must ensure that the carrier will be able to guarantee
delivery of the application by the Closing Date and Time. NTIA will not
accept mail delivery of applications posted on the Closing Date or
later and received after the above deadline. However, if an application
is received after the Closing Date due to (1) carrier error, when the
carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the
Closing Date, or (2) significant weather delays or natural disasters,
NTIA will, upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the
application as having been received by the deadline. Applicants
submitting applications by hand delivery are notified that, due to
security procedures in the Department of Commerce, all packages must be
cleared by the Department's security office. Entrance to the Department
of Commerce Building for security clearance is on the 15th Street side
of the building. Applicants whose applications are not received by the
deadline are hereby notified that their applications will not be
considered in the current grant cycle and will be returned to the
applicant. See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.8(c); but see also 15 CFR Sec. 2301.26.
NTIA will also return any application which is substantially
incomplete, or when the Agency finds that either the applicant or
project is ineligible for funding under 15 CFR Sec. 2301.3 or
Sec. 2301.4. The Agency will inform the applicant of the reason for the
return of any application.
ADDRESSES: To obtain an application package, submit completed
applications, or send any other correspondence, write to: NTIA/PTFP,
Room H-4625, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis R. Connors, Director, Public
Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202) 482-5802; fax: (202) 482-2156.
Information about the PTFP can also be obtained electronically via
Internet (http://www.ntia.doc.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Application Forms and Regulations
To apply for a PTFP grant, an applicant must file an original and
five copies of a timely and complete application on a current form
approved by the Agency. The current application form will be provided
to applicants as part of the application package. This form expires on
November 30, 2000, and no previous versions of the form may be used.
(In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the current
application form has been cleared under OMB control no. 0660-0003.)
Applications submitted by facsimile or electronic means are not
acceptable.
All persons and organizations on the PTFP's mailing list will be
sent a copy of the current application form and the Final Rules. Those
not on the mailing list may obtain copies by contacting the PTFP at the
telephone and fax numbers or at the Internet or mailing addresses noted
above. Prospective applicants should read the Final Rules carefully
before submitting applications. Applicants whose applications were
deferred in FY 1998 will be mailed pertinent PTFP materials and
instructions for requesting reactivation of their applications.
Based upon NTIA's experience in implementing the PTFP during the
1998 grant round, NTIA has determined that it is in the best interests
of NTIA and applicants to modify or waive certain requirements
contained in the PTFP regulations at 15 CFR Part 2301. These changes,
which are applicable to the FY 1999 PTFP applications and resulting
awards only, are indicated in italics below. Dependent upon the
effectiveness of these changes, amendments may be made to the PTFP
regulations to implement these changes.
Section 2301.10 Applications Resulting From Catastrophic Damage or
Emergency Situations
Section 2301.10 provides for submission of applications resulting
from catastrophic damage or emergency situations. Section 2301.10(a)
requires that an emergency ``application may be filed with a request
for a waiver of the Closing Date.'' Section 2301.10(f) requires that
emergency ``applications will be subject to the same evaluation and
selection process followed for applications received in the normal
application cycle.'' This section has been revised for FY 1999 PTFP
applicants to clarify that (1) an emergency application may be filed at
any time, (2) an emergency application will be evaluated according the
evaluation criteria set forth on Sec. 2301.17(b) and the degree to
which the application satisfies the purposes of this section, and (3)
the selection process that will be used in determining a grant award.
(a) For FY 1999 PTFP applicants, when an eligible broadcast
applicant
[[Page 60193]]
suffers catastrophic damage to the basic equipment essential to its
continued operation as a result of a natural or manmade disaster, or as
the result of significant equipment failure, and is in dire need of
assistance in funding replacement of the damaged equipment, it may file
an emergency application for PTFP funding at any time. This section is
limited to equipment essential to a station's continued operation such
as transmitters, tower, antennas, STL's or similar equipment which, if
the equipment failed, would result in a complete loss of service to the
community.
(b) The emergency application must set forth the circumstances that
prompt the request and be accompanied by appropriate supporting
documentation.
(c) An application may be granted an award only if it is determined
that (1) the emergency satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (a)
of this section, and (2) the applicant either carried adequate
insurance or had acceptable self-insurance coverage.
(d) Applicants claiming significant failure of equipment must
document the circumstances of the equipment failure and demonstrate
that the equipment has been maintained in accordance with standard
broadcast engineering practices.
(e) Applications filed and accepted pursuant to this section must
contain all of the information required by the Agency application
materials and must be submitted in the number of copies specified by
the Agency.
(f) The application will be subject to the evaluation criteria set
forth in 2301.17(b). The PTFP Director takes into account program staff
evaluations (including the outside reviewers) the availability of
funds, the type of project and broadcast priorities set forth at
2301.4(b), and whether the applicant has any current NTIA grants. The
Director presents recommendations to the OTIA Associate Administrator
for review and approval. Upon approval by the OTIA Associate
Administrator, the Director's recommendation will be presented to the
Selecting Official, the NTIA Administrator. The Administrator makes
final award selections taking into consideration the Director's
recommendation and the degree to which the application satisfies the
program's stated purposes set forth at 2301.1(a) and (c) and this
section.
Section 2301.11 Service of Applications
Section 2301.11 provides that: ``On or before the closing date, all
new or deferred applicants must serve a summary copy of the application
on the following Agencies:
(a) In the case of an application for a construction grant for
which FCC authorization is necessary, the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission * * *
(b) The state telecommunications agency(-ies) if any, having
jurisdiction over the development of broadcast and/or non broadcast
telecommunications in the state(s) and community(-ies) to be served by
the proposed project * * *
(c) The state office established to review applications under
Executive Order 12372.
Sec. 2301.11(a)
For the FY 1999 PTFP, applicants are not required to submit copies
of their PTFP applications to the FCC, nor will they be required to
submit copies of the FCC transmittal cover letters as part of their
PTFP applications. NTIA routinely notifies the FCC of applications
submitted for funding which require FCC authorizations.
Sec. 2301.11(b)
For the FY 1999 PTFP, applicants for distance learning projects are
not required to notify every state telecommunications agency in a
potential service area. NTIA has found that state telecommunication
agency input has been useful with regard to broadcast projects, but has
received little input from state agencies with regard to distance
learning projects. Since many distance learning applications propose
projects which are nationwide in nature, NTIA believes that the
requirement to provide a summary copy of the application in every state
telecommunications agency in a potential service area is unduly
burdensome to applicants. NTIA, however, does expect that distance
learning applicants will submit documentation that they have
coordinated their project with appropriate state telecommunications
agencies in their service area.
Section 2301.12 Federal Communications Commission Authorizations
Section 2301.12(a) provides, in part, that ``Each applicant whose
project requires FCC authorization must file an application for that
authorization on or before the closing date. NTIA recommends that its
applicants submit PTFP-related FCC applications to the FCC at least 60
days prior to the PTFP closing date.''
For the FY 1999 PTFP, applicants may submit applications to the FCC
after the closing date, but do so at their own risk. Applicants are
urged to submit their FCC applications with as much time before the
PTFP closing date as possible. No grant will be awarded for a project
requiring FCC authorization until confirmation has been received by
NTIA from the FCC that the necessary authorization will be issued.
Section 2301.12(b) provides that ``In the case of FCC
authorizations where it is not possible or practical to submit the FCC
application with the PTFP application, such as C-band satellite uplinks
* * * a copy of the FCC application as it will be submitted to the FCC,
or the equivalent engineering data, must be included in the PTFP
application.''
For the FY 1999 PTFP applications, since there is no potential for
terrestrial interference with Ku-band satellite uplinks, grant
applicants for Ku-band satellite uplinks may submit FCC applications
after a PTFP award is made. Grant recipients for Ku-band satellite
uplinks will be required to document receipt of FCC authorizations to
operate the uplink prior to the release of Federal funds.
Section 2301.12(d) provides that ``Any FCC authorization required
for the project must be in the name of the applicant for the PTFP
grant.''
For the FY 1999 PTFP applications, NTIA may accept FCC
authorizations that are in the name of an organization other than the
PTFP applicant in certain circumstances. Applicants requiring the use
of FCC authorizations issued to another organization should discuss in
the application Program Narrative why the FCC authorization must be in
the other organization's name. NTIA believes that such circumstances
will be rare and, in our experience, are usually limited to
authorizations such as those for microwave interconnections or
satellite uplinks.
Section 2301.12(g) provides that ``If the applicant fails to file
the required FCC application(s) by the closing date * * * the Agency
may reject or return the application.''
As noted above, for the FY 1999 PTFP applications, NTIA does not
require that the FCC applications must be filed by the closing date.
While NTIA is permitting submission of FCC applications after the
closing date, applicants are reminded that they must continue to
provide copies of FCC applications, as they were filed or will be
filed, or equivalent engineering data, in the PTFP application so NTIA
can properly evaluate the equipment request. These include applications
for permits, construction permits and licenses already received for:
(1) Construction of broadcast station
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(including a digital broadcasting facility), or translator, (2)
microwave facilities, (3) ITFS authorizations, (4) SCA authorizations,
and (5) requests for extensions of time.
Applicants should note that they must continue to comply with the
provisions of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs.'' The Executive Order requires applicants for
financial assistance under this program to file a copy of their
application with the Single Points of Contact (SPOC) of all states
relevant to the project. Applicants are required to provide a copy of
their completed application to the appropriate SPOC on or before
January 14, 1999. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate
SPOC well before the PTFP closing date.
Indirect costs for construction applications are not supported by
this program. The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in
a planning application under this program must not exceed the indirect
cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior
to the proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is
less.
You are not required to respond to a collection of information
sponsored by the Federal government, and the government may not conduct
or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number or if we fail to provide you with this notice.
All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511,
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
(1) Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to
15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
(2) Drug Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26,
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government-
wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
(3) Anti-lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of
the certification form prescribed above applies to applicants/bidders
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever
is greater; and
(4) Anti-lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities,'' (OMB Control Number 0348-0046) as required under
15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.
Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants,
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at
any tier under the grant award to submit, if applicable, a completed
Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions
and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and
should not be transmitted to the Department. SF-LLL submitted by any
tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to the Department in
accordance with the instructions contained in the award document.
If an application is selected for funding, the Department of
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in
connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the
Department.
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to
Federal assistance awards. In addition, unsatisfactory performance by
the applicant under prior Federal awards may result in the application
not being considered for funding.
If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that they have
received, there is no obligation on the part of the Department to cover
preaward costs.
No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either: (1) the delinquent
account is paid in full; (2) a negotiated repayment schedule is
established and at least one payment is received, or (3) other
arrangements satisfactory to the Department are made.
Applicants are reminded that a false statement on the application
may be grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for
possible punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C.
1001.
Special Note: NTIA has established a policy which is intended to
encourage stations to increase from 25 percent to 50 percent the
matching percentage for those proposals that call for equipment
replacement, improvement, or augmentation (PTFP Policy Statement, (56
FR 59168 (1991)). The presumption of 50 percent funding will be the
general rule for the replacement, improvement or augmentation of
equipment A showing of extraordinary need (i.e. small community-
licensee stations or a station that is licensed to a large institution
[e.g., a college or university] documenting that it does not receive
direct or in-kind support from the larger institution) or an emergency
situation will be taken into consideration as justification for grants
of up to 75 percent of the total project cost for such projects.
A point of clarification is in order: NTIA expects to continue
funding projects to activate stations or to extend service at up to 75
percent of the total project cost. NTIA will do this because applicants
proposing to provide first service to a geographic area ordinarily
incur considerable costs that are not eligible for NTIA funding. The
applicant must cover the ineligible costs including those for
construction or renovation of buildings and other similar expenses.
Since NTIA has limited funds for the PTFP program, the PTFP Final
Rules published November 8, 1996 modified NTIA's policy regarding the
funding of planning applications. Our policy now includes the general
presumption to fund planning projects at no more than 75 percent of the
project costs. NTIA notes that most of the planning grants awarded by
PTFP in recent years include matching in-kind services and funds
contributed by the grantee. The new NTIA policy therefore codifies what
already has become PTFP practice. NTIA, however, is mindful that
planning grants are sometimes the only resource that emerging community
groups have with which to initiate the planning of new facilities in
unserved areas. We therefore will continue to award up to 100 percent
of total project costs in cases of extraordinary need (e.g. small
community group proposing to initiate new public telecommunication
service).
We wish to take this opportunity to restate the policy published in
the
[[Page 60195]]
November 22, 1991, PTFP Policy Statement (56 FR 59168 (1991)),
regarding applicants' use of funds from the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting (CPB) to meet the local match requirements of the PTFP
grant. NTIA continues to believe that the policies and purposes
underlying the PTFP requirements could be significantly frustrated if
applicants routinely relied upon another Federally supported grant
program for local matching funds. Accordingly, NTIA has limited the use
of CPB funds for the non-Federal share of PTFP projects to
circumstances of ``clear and compelling need'' (15 CFR
Sec. 2301.6(c)(2)). NTIA intends to maintain that standard and to apply
it on a case-by-case basis.
II. Digital Broadcasting
The FCC's adoption of the Fifth Report and Order in April 1997
requires that all public television stations begin the broadcast of a
digital signal by May 1, 2003. NTIA believes that it is critical that
all public television applicants fully consider digital technology in
any request for equipment replacement submitted to PTFP. Any public
television applicant must describe whether it has a plan for digital
conversion to meet the FCC's mandate and whether the requested
equipment is consistent with that plan. If the applicant is developing
a plan for digital conversion, the application should address how the
requested equipment will be consistent with the overall objective of
converting the facility for digital broadcasting.
NTIA recognizes that digital technology will be an important means
for the more efficient creation and distribution of programming in the
future. Consequently, public broadcasters seeking to replace, upgrade,
and buy new equipment that employs digital technology will be
permitted, when appropriate, to use PTFP funds for such purposes.
For fiscal year 1998, NTIA awarded $12.5 million in funds to 50
projects which assisted public television stations in the conversion to
digital technologies. The awards ranged from $36,405 to $967,400. The
use of digital technologies is also appropriate for public radio
facilities. NTIA funded projects for digital STL's and audio production
equipment which will assist public radio stations as they prepare for
conversion to digital technologies. These digital projects are funded
as equipment replacement, improvement or augmentation projects with the
presumption of a 50 percent Federal share as noted earlier, unless a
showing of extraordinary need for a higher percentage has been made
pursuant to Sec. 2301.6(b)(ii) of the PTFP Rules.
III. Distance Learning Projects
The growth of digital technologies provides new opportunities for
distance learning projects using both broadcast (e.g., the multi-
channel capabilities of DTV) or nonbroadcast facilities. Since 1979,
NTIA has funded nonbroadcast distance learning projects through the
``Special Applications'' category as established in Sec. 2301.4(a) of
the PTFP Rules. In 1996, NTIA established a similar category for
broadcast projects, ``Broadcast/other'' in Sec. 2301.4(b)(6). NTIA
encourages applications in either category for innovative or unique
distance learning projects which address demonstrated and substantial
community needs.
For fiscal year 1998, NTIA awarded $3.67 million in funds to 12
grants for distance learning projects. The awards ranged from $55,452
to $594,936.
The November 22, 1991, PTFP Policy Statement (56 FR 59168 (1991))
mentioned in the Application Forms and Regulations section discussed a
number of issues of particular relevance to applicants proposing
nonbroadcast educational and instructional projects and potential
improvement of nonbroadcast facilities. These policies remain in effect
and will be available to all PTFP applicants as part of the Guidelines
for preparing FY 1999 PTFP applications.
IV. Eligible and Ineligible Costs
Eligible equipment for the 1999 grant round includes apparatus
necessary for the production, interconnection, captioning, broadcast,
or other distribution of programming, including but not limited to
studio equipment; audio and video storage, processing, and switching
equipment; terminal equipment; towers; antennas; transmitters; remote
control equipment; transmission line; translators; microwave equipment;
mobile equipment; satellite communications equipment; instructional
television fixed service equipment; subsidiary communications
authorization transmitting and receiving equipment; cable television
equipment; and optical fiber communications equipment.
The following list provides clarification regarding several
equipment and other cost areas that will be helpful in preparing
applications. NTIA also reserves the right to eliminate any costs,
whether specified here or not, that it determines are not appropriate
prior to the awarding of a grant.
A. Equipment and Supplies
(1) Buildings and Modifications to Buildings. (a) Eligible: Small
equipment shelters that are part of satellite earth stations,
translators, microwave interconnection facilities, and similar
facilities. (b) Ineligible: Purchase or lease of buildings and
modifications to buildings, including the renovation of space for
studios intended to house eligible equipment; costs associated with
removing old equipment.
(2) Land and Land Improvements. (a) Eligible: Site preparation
necessary to construct towers and guy anchors for transmission and
interconnection equipment. (b) Ineligible: Purchase or lease of land.
(3) Moving Costs. (a) Eligible: Shipping and delivery charges for
equipment acquired within the award. (b) Ineligible: Moving costs
required by relocation of any facilities.
(4) Reception Equipment. (a) Eligible: Fixed frequency demodulator,
as required by good engineering practice for monitoring the off-air
transmission of signals; subcarrier demodulator; telemetry transmitters
and receivers; satellite receivers; and subcarrier decoders for the
handicapped. (b) Ineligible: Consumer-type TV sets and FM receivers.
(5) Tower Modifications. (a) Eligible: Strengthening or modifying a
commercial entity's tower to accommodate a public broadcasting entity
(structural modifications on towers and/or antenna changes must meet
EIA (Electronic Industries Association) and any required local
standards). (b) Ineligible: Modifying or strengthening the applicant's
tower to accommodate a commercial entity.
(6) Production and Control Room Equipment. (a) Eligible: Standard
production studio and control room equipment for TV or radio program
production. (b) Ineligible: Consumer-type mixers, tape recorders,
turntables, CD players, etc; ancillary production devices such as
stopwatches and stop-clocks, building lights, sound effects, scenery
and props, cycloramas, sound insulation devices and materials,
draperies and related equipment for production use, film and still
photography processing, film sound synchronization editing.
(7) Video Equipment. (a) Eligible: Videotape editing and processing
equipment that conforms to broadcast-standard quality equipment for
field recording and production editing. (b) Ineligible: Consumer level
videotape recording formats not accepted in the industry as broadcast-
standard quality.
(8) Furniture and Office Equipment. (a) Eligible: Consoles required
to mount
[[Page 60196]]
equipment such as audio consoles and video switchers. (b) Ineligible:
Such items as office furniture, office equipment, studio clocks and
systems, blackboards, office intercoms, equipment inventory labels and
label-makers, word processors, telephone systems, and printing and
duplication equipment.
(9) Expendable Items and Spare Parts. (a) Eligible: A transmitter
spare parts kit and one set of final and driver tubes for a transmitter
awarded in the grant; a spare parts kit for video tape recorders
awarded in the grant. (b) Ineligible: Spare lenses, spare circuit
components, spare parts kits for studio equipment, except as noted
above; recording tape, film, reels, cartridge tapes, records, compact
discs, and record or tape cleaning equipment; art and graphics
supplies; maintenance supplies, including replacement final and driver
tubes normally considered in the industry as normal maintenance-budget-
provided items and similar items.
(10) Backup Equipment. (a) Eligible: Hot standby or backup
microwave for the main studio-to-transmitter link only; a backup or
spare exciter for a television transmitter, as required by good
engineering practice. (b) Ineligible: Redundant equipment, such as
spare transmitters, or costs associated with them, as well as backup
microwave equipment (except as noted above).
(11) Electric Power. (a) Eligible: Generally, all primary power
costs from the output of the main power meter panel; regulators and
surge protectors, as required by good engineering practice, to
stabilize transmitter RF output. Where primary power is not available
or is unusable for broadcast, then PTFP may provide funding for those
devices needed to power the facility if the need for that equipment is
fully documented in the application. (b) Ineligible: Costs of
installing primary power to the facility, including transformers, power
lines, gasoline or diesel powered generators, and related equipment.
(12) Test and Maintenance Equipment. (a) Eligible: Required test
equipment, as indicated by good engineering practice for the
maintenance of the project equipment. (b) Ineligible: Maintenance
equipment such as hand and power tools, storage cabinets, and
maintenance services.
(13) Air Conditioning and Ventilation. (a) Eligible: The costs to
provide ventilation of eligible project equipment, such as ducting for
transmitters and transmitter air conditioning, as required by good
engineering practice. (b) Ineligible: Unless exceptionally well-
documented, air conditioning for control rooms, or equipment rooms,
studios, mobile units, and other operational rooms and offices.
(14) Remote Vans. (a) Eligible: Items to equip a remote van for
audio/video production. (b) Ineligible: All vehicles.
B. Other Costs
(1) Construction Applications: NTIA generally will not fund salary
expenses, including staff installation costs, and pre-application legal
and engineering fees. Certain ``pre-operational expenses'' are eligible
for funding. (See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.2.) Despite this provision, NTIA
regards its primary mandate to be funding the acquisition of equipment
and only secondarily funding of salaries. A discussion of this issue
appears in the PTFP Final Rules under the heading Support for Salary
Expenses in the introductory section of the document.
(2) Planning Applications. (a) Eligible: Salaries are eligible
expenses for all planning grant applications, but should be fully
described and justified within the application. Planning grant
applicants may lease office equipment, furniture and space, and may
purchase expendable supplies under the terms of 47 U.S.C. Sec. 392 (c).
(b) Ineligible: Planning grant applications cannot include the cost of
constructing or operating a telecommunications facility.
(3) Audit Costs. Audits shall be performed in accordance with audit
requirements contained in Office of Management and Budget Circular A-
133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,
revised June 30, 1997. OMB Circular A-133 requires that non-profit
organizations, government agencies, Indian tribes and educational
institutions expending more than $300,000 in federal funds during a
one-year period conduct a single audit in accordance with guidelines
outlined in the circular. Applicants are reminded that other audits may
be conducted by the Office of Inspector General.
NTIA recognizes that most of its grant recipients are divisions of
state and local governments or are public broadcasting facilities, all
of which routinely conduct annual audits. In order to make the maximum
amount of monies available for equipment purchases and planning
activities, NTIA will therefore only fund audit costs in exceptional
circumstances.
V. Notice of Applications Received
In accordance with 15 CFR Sec. 2301.13, NTIA will publish a notice
in the Federal Register listing all applications received by the
Agency. Listing an application in such a notice merely acknowledges
receipt of an application to compete for funding with other
applications. Publication does not preclude subsequent return of the
application for the reasons discussed under the Dates section above, or
disapproval of the application, nor does it assure that the application
will be funded. The notice will also include a request for comments on
the applications from any interested party.
VI. Evaluation Process
See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.16 for a description of the Technical
Evaluation and 15 CFR Sec. 2301.17 for the Evaluation Criteria.
VII. Selection Process
Based upon the above cited evaluation criteria, the PTFP program
staff prepares summary recommendations for the PTFP Director. These
recommendations incorporate outside reviewers rankings and
recommendations, engineering assessments, and input from the National
Advisory Panel, State Single Point of Contacts and state
telecommunications agencies. Staff recommendations also consider
project impact, the cost/benefit of a project and whether review panels
have consistently applied the evaluation criteria. The PTFP Director
will consider the summary recommendations prepared by program staff,
will recommend the funding order of the applications, and will present
recommendations to the OTIA (Office of Telecommunications and
Information Applications) Associate Administrator for review and
approval. The PTFP Director recommends the funding order for
applications in three categories: ``Recommended for Funding,''
``Recommended for Funding if Funds Available,'' and ``Not Recommended
for Funding.'' See 15 CFR Sec. 2301.18 for a description of the
selection factors retained by the Director, OTIA Associate
Administrator, and the Assistant Secretary for Telecommunications and
Information.
Upon review and approval by the OTIA Associate Administrator, the
Director's recommendations will then be presented to the Selection
Official, the NTIA Administrator. The NTIA Administrator selects the
applications for possible grant award taking into consideration the
Director's recommendations and the degree to which the slate of
applications, taken as a whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes
set forth at 15 CFR Sec. 2301.1(a) and (c). Prior to award,
applications may be negotiated between PTFP staff and the applicant to
resolve whatever differences might exist between the
[[Page 60197]]
original request and what PTFP proposes to fund. Some applications may
be dropped from the proposed slate due to lack of Federal
Communications Commission licensing authority, an applicant's inability
to make adequate assurances or certifications, or other reasons.
Negotiation of an application does not ensure that a final award will
be made. The PTFP Director recommends final selections to the NTIA
Administrator applying the same factors as listed in 15 CFR
Sec. 2301.18. The Administrator then makes the final award selections
taking into consideration the Director's recommendations and the degree
to which the slate of applications, taken as a whole, satisfies the
program's stated purposes in 15 CFR Sec. 2301.1 (a) and (c).
VIII. Project Period
Planning grant award periods customarily do not exceed one year,
whereas construction grant award periods commonly range from one to two
years. Although these time frames are generally applied to the award of
all PTFP grants, variances in project periods may be based on specific
circumstances of an individual proposal.
Authority: The Public Telecommunications Financing Act of 1978,
as amended, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 390-393, 397-399(b).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 11.550)
Bernadette McGuire-Rivera,
Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information
Applications.
[FR Doc. 98-29776 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
