Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date, 73737-73738 [05-23992]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 13, 2005 / Notices
Dated: November 29, 2005.
Donna Wieting,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–23985 Filed 12–12–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and
Information Administration
[Docket No. 051128311–5311–01]
Public Telecommunications Facilities
Program: Closing Date
National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Science, State,
Justice, Commerce, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006,
Pub. L. 109–108, 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). The 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.
DATES: Applications must be received
prior to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
(Closing Time), February 7, 2006
(Closing Date). Applications submitted
by facsimile or electronic means are not
acceptable. 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 and Closing Time, (2)
significant weather delays or natural
disasters, or (3) delays due to national
security issues, NTIA will, upon receipt
of proper documentation, consider the
application as having been received by
the deadline. NTIA will not accept
applications posted on the Closing Date
or later and received after this deadline.
ADDRESSES: To obtain a printed
application package, submit completed
VerDate Aug<31>2005
00:22 Dec 13, 2005
Jkt 208001
applications, or send any other
correspondence, write to PTFP at the
following address (please note the new
room number): NTIA/PTFP, Room H–
4096, U.S. Department of Commerce,
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230. Application
materials may be obtained electronically
via the Internet (https://
www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Cooperman, Director, Public
Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202)
482–5802; fax: (202) 482–2156.
Information about the PTFP can also be
obtained electronically via the Internet
(https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
The full funding opportunity
announcement for the PTFP FY 2006
grant cycle is available through
www.Grants.gov or by contacting the
PTFP office at the address noted above.
Funding Availability
The Congress has appropriated $20
million for FY 2006 PTFP awards. For
FY 2005, NTIA awarded $21.2 million
in PTFP funds to 123 projects, including
73 radio awards, 39 television awards
and 11 nonbroadcast awards. The radio
awards ranged from $9,255 to $451,848.
The television awards ranged from
$11,298 to $927,937. The nonbroadcast
awards ranged from $30,495 to
$440,000.
Statutory and Regulatory Authority
The Public Telecommunications
Facilities Program is authorized by the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 390–393, 397–
399(b). The PTFP operates pursuant to
rules (1996 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.
Supplemental Policies
The following supplemental policies
will also be in effect:
(A) Applicants may file emergency
applications at any time.
(B) Applicants may file requests for
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) authorizations with the FCC after
the PTFP Closing Date. Grant applicants
for Ku-band satellite uplinks may
submit FCC applications after a PTFP
award is made. NTIA may accept FCC
authorizations that are in the name of an
organization other than the PTFP
applicant.
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73737
(C) PTFP applicants are not required
to submit copies of their PTFP
applications to the FCC, nor are they
required to submit copies of the FCC
transmittal cover letters as part of their
PTFP applications. PTFP applicants for
distance learning projects must notify
the state telecommunications agencies
in the states in which they are located
but are not required to notify every state
telecommunications agency in a
potential service area.
(D) For digital television conversion
projects, NTIA has created two new
Subpriorities in the Broadcast Other
category.
(E) For digital radio conversion
projects, NTIA has created a new
Subpriority in the Broadcast Other
category.
Catalog of Domestic Federal
Assistance: 11.550, Public
Telecommunications Facilities Program.
Eligibility
To apply for and receive a PTFP
Construction Grant 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.
Evaluation and Selection Process
See 15 CFR 2301.16 for a description
of the Technical Evaluation and 15 CFR
2301.18 for the Selection Process.
Evaluation Criteria
See 15 CFR 2301.17 for a full
description of the Evaluation Criteria.
The six evaluation criteria are (1)
Applicant Qualifications, (2) Financial
Qualifications, (3) Project Objectives, (4)
Urgency, (5) Technical Qualifications
(construction applicants only) or
Planning Qualifications (planning
applicants only), and (6) Special
Consideration.
Funding Priorities and Selection
Factors
See 15 CFR 2301.4 and the
supplemental policies above for a
description of the PTFP Priorities and
15 CFR 2301.18 for the Selection
Factors.
Cost Sharing Requirements
PTFP requires cost sharing. By statute,
PTFP cannot fund a construction project
for more than 75% of the eligible project
E:\FR\FM\13DEN1.SGM
13DEN1
73738
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 13, 2005 / Notices
costs. NTIA has established a policy of
funding most new public broadcasting
station activation projects at a 75%
federal share, and most other television,
radio and nonbroadcast projects at a
50% federal share. NTIA can fund
planning applications up to 100% of the
eligible project costs, but has
established a policy of funding planning
applications at a 75% share. Any
applicant can request federal funding
greater than PTFP’s policy, up to the
statutory maximum, and provide
justification for the request.
Intergovernmental Review
PTFP applications are subject to
Executive Order 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,’’ if the state in which the
applicant organization is located
participates in the process. Usually
submission to the State Single Point of
Contact (SPOC) needs to be only the
first two pages of the PTFP application
form, but applicants should contact
their own SPOC offices to find out about
and comply with its requirements. The
names and addresses of the SPOC
offices are listed on the PTFP website
and at the Office of Management and
Budget’s home page at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/
spoc.html.
Universal Identifier
All applicants (nonprofit, state, local
government, universities, and tribal
organizations) will be required to
provide a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number during the application process.
See the October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66177)
and April 8, 2003 (68 FR 17000) Federal
Register notices for additional
information. Organizations can receive a
DUNS number at no cost by calling the
dedicated toll-free DUNS Number
request line 1–866–705–5711 or via the
Internet (www.dunandbradstreet.com).
The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification of Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
contained in the Federal Register notice
of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389) is
applicable to this solicitation.
Limitation of Liability
In no event will the Department of
Commerce be responsible for proposal
preparation costs if this program fails to
receive funding or is cancelled because
of other agency priorities. Publication of
this announcement does not obligate the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
00:22 Dec 13, 2005
Jkt 208001
agency to award any specific project or
to obligate any available funds.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Notwithstanding any other provision
of the law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall any person be
subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with, a collection of information subject
to the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA), unless that
collection displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The PTFP
application form has been cleared under
OMB Control No. 0660–0003.
Executive Order 13132
It has been determined that this notice
does not contain policies with
Federalism implications as that term is
defined in Executive Order 13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and opportunity for
public comment are not required by the
Administrative Procedure Act or any
other law for this rule concerning
grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C.
553(a)(2). Because notice and
opportunity for comment are not
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any
other law, the analytical requirements of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore,
a regulatory flexibility analysis has not
been prepared.
Bernadette McGuire-Rivera,
Associate Administrator, Office of
Telecommunications and Information
Applications.
[FR Doc. 05–23992 Filed 12–12–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research—Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program—Spinal Cord
Injury Model Systems Centers (SCIMS
Centers) and Disability Rehabilitation
Research Projects (DRRPs)
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities for
SCIMS Centers and DRRPs.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes certain funding
priorities and a selection criterion for
the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers Program
administered by the National Institute
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this
notice proposes a priority for Spinal
Cord Injury Model Systems Centers
(SCIMS centers) and a priority and
selection criterion for Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects
(DRRPs). The Assistant Secretary may
use these priorities and selection
criterion for competitions in fiscal year
(FY) 2006 and later years. We take this
action to focus research attention on
areas of national need. We intend these
priorities and selection criterion to
improve rehabilitation services and
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.
We must receive your comments
on or before January 12, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about
these proposed priorities and selection
criterion to Donna Nangle, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., room 6030, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20204–
2700. If you prefer to send your
comments through the Internet, use the
following address:
donna.nangle@ed.gov or
NIDRR.comments@ed.gov.
You must include the term ‘‘Notice of
proposed priorities for SCIMS Centers
and DRRPs’’ in the subject line of your
electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 245–
7462.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.
Individuals with disabilities may
obtain this document in an alternative
format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
DATES:
This
notice of proposed priorities is in
concert with President George W.
Bush’s New Freedom Initiative (NFI)
and NIDRR’s Proposed Long-Range Plan
for FY 2005–2009 (Plan). The NFI can
be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: https://
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/
newfreedom. The Plan, which was
published in the Federal Register on
July 27, 2005 (70 FR 43522), can be
accessed on the Internet at the following
site: https://www.ed.gov/legislation/
FedRegister/other/2005–3/
072705d.html).
Through the implementation of the
NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to—(1)
Improve the quality and utility of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\13DEN1.SGM
13DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73737-73738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23992]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket No. 051128311-5311-01]
Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, Pub. L. 109-108, 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). The 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.
DATES: Applications must be received prior to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time (Closing Time), February 7, 2006 (Closing Date). Applications
submitted by facsimile or electronic means are not acceptable. 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 and Closing Time, (2) significant weather
delays or natural disasters, or (3) delays due to national security
issues, NTIA will, upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the
application as having been received by the deadline. NTIA will not
accept applications posted on the Closing Date or later and received
after this deadline.
ADDRESSES: To obtain a printed application package, submit completed
applications, or send any other correspondence, write to PTFP at the
following address (please note the new room number): NTIA/PTFP, Room H-
4096, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230. Application materials may be obtained
electronically via the Internet (https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Cooperman, Director, Public
Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202) 482-5802; fax: (202) 482-2156.
Information about the PTFP can also be obtained electronically via the
Internet (https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
The full funding opportunity announcement for the PTFP FY 2006
grant cycle is available through www.Grants.gov or by contacting the
PTFP office at the address noted above.
Funding Availability
The Congress has appropriated $20 million for FY 2006 PTFP awards.
For FY 2005, NTIA awarded $21.2 million in PTFP funds to 123 projects,
including 73 radio awards, 39 television awards and 11 nonbroadcast
awards. The radio awards ranged from $9,255 to $451,848. The television
awards ranged from $11,298 to $927,937. The nonbroadcast awards ranged
from $30,495 to $440,000.
Statutory and Regulatory Authority
The Public Telecommunications Facilities Program is authorized by
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 390-393, 397-
399(b). The PTFP operates pursuant to rules (1996 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.
Supplemental Policies
The following supplemental policies will also be in effect:
(A) Applicants may file emergency applications at any time.
(B) Applicants may file requests for Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) authorizations with the FCC after the PTFP Closing
Date. Grant applicants for Ku-band satellite uplinks may submit FCC
applications after a PTFP award is made. NTIA may accept FCC
authorizations that are in the name of an organization other than the
PTFP applicant.
(C) PTFP applicants are not required to submit copies of their PTFP
applications to the FCC, nor are they required to submit copies of the
FCC transmittal cover letters as part of their PTFP applications. PTFP
applicants for distance learning projects must notify the state
telecommunications agencies in the states in which they are located but
are not required to notify every state telecommunications agency in a
potential service area.
(D) For digital television conversion projects, NTIA has created
two new Subpriorities in the Broadcast Other category.
(E) For digital radio conversion projects, NTIA has created a new
Subpriority in the Broadcast Other category.
Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance: 11.550, Public
Telecommunications Facilities Program.
Eligibility
To apply for and receive a PTFP Construction Grant 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.
Evaluation and Selection Process
See 15 CFR 2301.16 for a description of the Technical Evaluation
and 15 CFR 2301.18 for the Selection Process.
Evaluation Criteria
See 15 CFR 2301.17 for a full description of the Evaluation
Criteria. The six evaluation criteria are (1) Applicant Qualifications,
(2) Financial Qualifications, (3) Project Objectives, (4) Urgency, (5)
Technical Qualifications (construction applicants only) or Planning
Qualifications (planning applicants only), and (6) Special
Consideration.
Funding Priorities and Selection Factors
See 15 CFR 2301.4 and the supplemental policies above for a
description of the PTFP Priorities and 15 CFR 2301.18 for the Selection
Factors.
Cost Sharing Requirements
PTFP requires cost sharing. By statute, PTFP cannot fund a
construction project for more than 75% of the eligible project
[[Page 73738]]
costs. NTIA has established a policy of funding most new public
broadcasting station activation projects at a 75% federal share, and
most other television, radio and nonbroadcast projects at a 50% federal
share. NTIA can fund planning applications up to 100% of the eligible
project costs, but has established a policy of funding planning
applications at a 75% share. Any applicant can request federal funding
greater than PTFP's policy, up to the statutory maximum, and provide
justification for the request.
Intergovernmental Review
PTFP applications are subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' if the state in which
the applicant organization is located participates in the process.
Usually submission to the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) needs to
be only the first two pages of the PTFP application form, but
applicants should contact their own SPOC offices to find out about and
comply with its requirements. The names and addresses of the SPOC
offices are listed on the PTFP website and at the Office of Management
and Budget's home page at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/
spoc.html.
Universal Identifier
All applicants (nonprofit, state, local government, universities,
and tribal organizations) will be required to provide a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number during the
application process. See the October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66177) and April
8, 2003 (68 FR 17000) Federal Register notices for additional
information. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by
calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line 1-866-705-5711
or via the Internet (www.dunandbradstreet.com).
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification of Requirements
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389) is applicable to this
solicitation.
Limitation of Liability
In no event will the Department of Commerce be responsible for
proposal preparation costs if this program fails to receive funding or
is cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this
announcement does not obligate the agency to award any specific project
or to obligate any available funds.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that
collection displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The PTFP application form has been cleared under
OMB Control No. 0660-0003.
Executive Order 13132
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not required by
the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this rule
concerning grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2). Because
notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable.
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.
Bernadette McGuire-Rivera,
Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information
Applications.
[FR Doc. 05-23992 Filed 12-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
