Frequently Asked Questions
What Application Form should I use this year?
Where should I send my Application?
What is the first thing I should do in preparing a PTFP application?
What projects are eligible for PTFP funds?
Does PTFP have any policies for converting radio stations to digital transmission?
What about digital conversion of television stations?
What about transmission equipment for stations moving from UHF back to VHF?
What about TV closed captioning?
What about Internet streaming?
What about stand-by or emergency power generators and Uninterruptible PowerSystems (UPS)?
Are Low-Power FM stations eligible for PTFP funding?
Does PTFP have guidelines on the amount of money I can request?
Is there someone I can contact if I have questions about my project or the application?
If I complete the application online, do I still have to send it to PTFP?
What happens if I spend funds prior to an award?
What if my organization has a Federal Debt?
What steps should I take if my FY 2008 application was not funded?
What happens after I submit the Application?
▪ Your application is due in the PTFP Office by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Thursday, December 18, 2008. This is the Closing Date.
▪ PTFP does not accept fax or e-mail applications, or weekend deliveries.
▪ If you send your application by overnight carrier, be sure the carrier guarantees delivery by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, December 18, 2008.
▪ If you send your application by United States Postal Service regular mail, please note that we do not accept a postmark as proof of meeting the deadline.
▪ Further, anything sent via the USPS (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 to allow for such delays in sending your application.
▪ If your application is late, we will return it to you without review.
Where should I send my PTFP application?
▪ Our mailing and delivery address is:
NTIA/PTFP
Room H-4812
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Attention: Any application being hand-delivered, MUST be brought to Entrance 10 on the 15th Street side of the Department of Commerce for clearance through building security.
Hand-deliveries of
applications must
be made through
Room 1874, located
at entrance #10 on
15th St. NW
What Application Form should I use?
■ You must use Federal government Standard Forms to submit basic information. Details of your request are submitted on special PTFP pages with an expiration date of 12/31/2009.
■ We are required to reject any applications received on PTFP forms with an earlier date and return them unprocessed.
■ All forms for FY 2009 are on this website.
■ Written narratives are also required.
What is the first thing I should do in preparing a PTFP application?
▪ Read carefully the PTFP Federal Funding Opportunity announcement and the guidelines for your type of project —
▫ Broadcast Activation and Extension
▫ Nonbroadcast Facility Activation and Extension
▫ Broadcast Equipment Replacement, Improvement or Augmentation
▫ Television Digital Conversion
▪ Do this each time you apply because PTFP makes changes every year.
What projects are eligible for PTFP Funds?
▪ Broadcast construction projects. PTFP funds broadcast projects that:
▫ Activate new public broadcasting stations or extend the service areas of existing stations.
▫ Replace old equipment at existing public broadcasting stations.
▫ Convert the transmission of a public television or radio station to digital broadcasting.
▪ Non-broadcast construction projects. Regarding nonbroadcast projects:
▫ PTFP funds nonbroadcast projects only if they activate new services or extend the service areas of existing facilities.
▫ PTFP is prohibited by law from funding projects that would improve (i.e., replace or augment) the equipment of already-operating nonbroadcast entities.
▫ You will find additional guidance on the improvement of nonbroadcast projects in “Program Policies for Distance Learning Applicants”.
▪ Planning projects. PTFP funds planning projects for broadcast and nonbroadcast purposes.
▫ Basic planning application requirements are the same as those for construction projects.
▫ Applications usually plan for the activation of a new broadcast or nonbroadcast facility.
▫ Guidelines for preparing Planning Grant applications are provided online:
• “Guidelines for Preparing an Application for Broadcast Planning Projects”
• “Guidelines for Preparing an Application for Nonbroadcast Planning Projects”
Does PTFP have any policies for converting radio stations to digital transmission?
▪ Applicants may request funds to convert radio stations to digital broadcasting. Digital conversion applications may request digital transmitters, digital exciters to upgrade digital-ready transmitters, and digital production equipment. These applications are placed in Subpriority C of the Broadcast Other category. See Section I, B, 2b of the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement.
▪ Applicants may request a digital-upgradable transmitter to replace an analog transmitter or may request fully compliant IBOC digital transmitters. Applicants should read carefully the discussion of this subject in Section I, B, 2b of the FFO.
▪ Applications for digital conversion must include the applicant’s conversion plan, including its plans, if any, to use the Program Associated Data or Supplemental Audio Channel when authorized by the FCC.
What about digital conversion of television stations?
▪ PTFP will continue to support the digital conversion of television stations in FY 2009 and will support the digital conversion of television translators and low power stations as authorized by the FCC.
▪ In FY 2009, PTFP will emphasize television projects to convert existing analog transmission facilities to digital technology as a result of the FCC's digital channel election process (especially those stations seeking to move from UHF back to VHF).
▪ PTFP's balancing of TV equipment replacement and digital conversion projects is discussed in detail in the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement.
▪ The presumed funding level for TV conversion and replacement projects is a 50% Federal share.
▪ PTFP has returned to its standard Rule (§2301.6(d)) about the expenditure of local matching funds; namely, local matching funds may be expended at the applicant's own risk after the Closing Date for this grant round.
▪ DTV conversion applications deferred from the FY 2007 and FY 2008 grant rounds may be reactivated for the same equipment in FY 2009.
▪ The PTFP Rules at §2301.6(b)(2) permit an applicant to use equipment acquired prior to the Closing Date for receipt of applications "on a case-by-case basis only when clear and compelling justifications are provided to PTFP." NTIA also notes that funds received from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting can be used as local matching funds in circumstances of "clear and compelling need" (§2301.6(c)(2)). Applicants requesting special assistance pursuant to §2301.6(b) or (c) for digital transmission equipment will be evaluated on the basis of need on a case-by-case basis.
What about transmission equipment for stations moving from UHF back to VHF?
▪ Equipment for upgrading or rebuilding the system is eligible for PTFP funding.
▪ Applicants need to justify their decision to move.
▪ Applicants need to describe their future use of any digital equipment funded by PTFP that will be displaced when the move to VHF is completed.
▪ Alternatively, applicants may describe their plan to refund PTFP funds that paid for DTV equipment that will no longer be used after the move to VHF, but is still in the 10-year Federal interest period.
▪ This subject is explored in detail in the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement.
What about TV closed captioning?
▪ Equipment for closed captioning is eligible for PTFP funding.
▪ Closed captioning equipment has been added to the online television equipment lists.
What about Internet streaming?
▪ Equipment for Internet streaming is eligible for PTFP funding.
▪ Applications for streaming equipment are placed in Priority 5B (see §2301.4(b)(5)(ii) of the PTFP Final Rules).
What about stand-by or emergency power generators and Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS)?
▪ Equipment for emergency power generation and Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS) is eligible for PTFP funding.
▪ 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.
▪ Applications for station activation may include stand-by power generators and/or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units.
▪ Applicants to replace or augment existing equipment should submit a separate application under Priority 2 or 4A, as appropriate, for stand-by power generators and/or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units.
▪ Generators and UPS units to provide emergency power to entire facilities are not contemplated for PTFP support.
▪ Applicants should support their 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 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
▫ the station is a relay point for the distribution of emergency information to get it to transmitters beyond its local coverage area; or
▫ 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
▫ the station has experienced a pattern of frequent transmitter power outages accompanied by delayed restoration of power.
▪ Emergency power generation and UPS equipment has been added to the online equipment lists for radio and television.
Are Low-Power FM stations eligible for PTFP funding?
▪ Yes. The requirements for Low-Power FM applications are the same as for other applications.
▪ Applicants to activate new LPFM stations should consult the PTFP guidelines for station activation projects.
▪ Applicants requesting origination and other equipment should consult the PTFP guidelines for equipment replacement projects.
Does PTFP have guidelines on the amount of money I can request?
▪ By statute PTFP cannot fund more than 75% of a construction project. Otherwise, there is no limit on the amount of funds you can request, but PTFP will look carefully at the quantity and price of each item of equipment requested for its appropriateness to your project.
▪ Lists of radio, television and nonbroadcast equipment showing quantities and the level of cost PTFP supports are posted online for each type of project: Radio, Television, Nonbroadcast.
▪ Construction Projects: PTFP has established presumed Federal percentages for the funding of various types of broadcast station Construction projects. These are shown in the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement.
▪ Planning Projects: While we don’t require local matching funds for Planning Grants, our presumption for planning projects is 75% Federal funding of eligible project costs.
▪ Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds: Our policy limits the use of CPB funds to meet the local matching requirements; see the FFO.
Is there someone I can contact if I have questions about my project or the application?
■ Yes. PTFP Program Officers are available to answer questions during regular business hours until the Closing Date.
■ A list of PTFP Program Officers and their assignments appears at "Contact PTFP."
If I complete the Application Form online, do I still have to send it to PTFP?
▪ Yes, applications cannot be submitted online.
▪ We urge you to use the online Application Form. It will automatically do all math, carry figures from one page to the others, and check whether you have completed all items.
▪ You must print the Application Form, add your narratives and any other materials that do not appear online, sign it on page 1b of Standard Form 424, and duplicate, assemble, and send the required number of copies.
■ You must also sign Standard Form 424B and the CD-511.
What happens if I spend funds prior to an award?
▪ You can spend your local matching funds, at your own risk, after the Closing Date.
▪ If your application is a reactivated application, the Closing Date of the original submission is the date after which you may obligate local matching funds.
▪ No Federal funds may be obligated before an award is made.
▪ PTFP may eventually propose an award much lower than the amount you originally requested. If you obligate funds before the start of the grant, the amount of money we can award may have to be reduced so that no Federal funds are obligated before the award date. (You have obligated funds when you accept a bid or issue a purchase order.)
▪ You should consider all project monies obligated before the start date as part of your local match.
What if my organization has a Federal Debt?
▪ You must certify (in item 20 of Standard Form 424) whether your organization is delinquent on any Federal debt.
▪ If your organization is delinquent in paying any Federal agency, you cannot receive a grant until the debt is paid or until you make arrangements to pay the debt.
▪ We must consider debts owed to any agency of the Federal government, not just to the Department of Commerce or NTIA. We must also consider debts incurred by other divisions of your organization (such as another department within a university) as well as any debt from your specific division (e.g., the university TV station).
What steps should I take if my FY 2008 application was not funded?
▪ If your FY 2008 application was deferred (that is, not funded), you may reactivate it if its purpose and scope remain the same in FY 2009.
▪ To reactivate your application, enter “Y” in item 23a of the PTFP-2 form and enter your FY 2008 application file number in item 23b (e.g., 09999).
▪ If items 23a and 23b are blank, the application will be treated as a new one, and any local funds expended since the original filing will be ineligible for inclusion in the project.
▪ You must submit a complete application just like any other applicant.
▪ To make your application more competitive, we urge you to:
▫ Look closely at your total application and exhibits, since applications can often be strengthened by updating or expanding the materials originally submitted.
▫ Contact your state’s Program Officer for a summary of what the reviewers said about the original submission. (A list of PTFP Program Officers and their assignments appears at "Contact PTFP." )
▪ Note that the PTFP Final Rules permit only two reactivations of a deferred application, for a total of three years consideration §2301.9).
NOTE: It should be understood that reactivated applications have no special standing at PTFP in the evaluation process. They are evaluated without reference to a prior submission.
What happens after I submit the Application?
▪ We will send an acknowledgment of receipt after the Closing Date.
▪ The acknowledgement will give you the file number we assign and the priority under which your application will be reviewed. Please put this file number on any subsequent correspondence with PTFP.
▪ We may also request any additional information needed to evaluate your application properly. You must provide the requested information within 15 days of the request.
▪ PTFP may request information any time during the application review process.
▪ We are interested in receiving certain information that materially affects your application. A list of this information is in the PTFP Rules, §2301.14. If you receive any information after the Closing Date that materially affects the application (per the list in the Rules), you should notify us immediately. You may not, however, submit substantive amendments to your application after the Closing Date.
▪ Unless otherwise instructed, you need submit only an original and one copy of any additional information submitted to PTFP as part of the application review procedure.
