Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date, 62258-62259 [E8-24849]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 62258 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 203 / Monday, October 20, 2008 / Notices substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation to appropriate Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into account during the course of implementing recovery actions. The purposes of the Plan are to: (1) delineate those aspects of white abalone biology, life history, and threats that are pertinent to its endangerment and recovery; (2) outline and justify a strategy to achieve recovery; (3) identify the site-specific management actions necessary to achieve recovery; (4) identify goals and criteria by which to measure the achievement of recovery; (5) serve as an outreach tool by articulating the reasons for white abalone’s endangerment, and by explaining why the particular suite of recovery actions described is the most effective and efficient approach to achieving recovery; (6) help potential cooperators and partners understand the rationale behind the recovery actions identified, and assist them in identifying how they can facilitate recovery; (7) serve as a tool for monitoring recovery activities; and (8) be used to obtain funding for NMFS and its partners by identifying necessary recovery actions and their relative priority in the recovery process. The objective of this Plan is to provide a framework for the recovery of white abalone so that protection under the ESA is no longer necessary. As recovery criteria are met, the status of the white abalone will be reviewed and considered for reclassification to threatened status or for removal from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR part 17). The white abalone will be considered for delisting when: (1) the density of emergent (detectable by human observation without substrate disturbance) animals (short term) is greater than 2, 000 per hectare for 75 percent of the geographic localities; (2) a total of 380,000 animals are maintained in the wild, distributed among all geographic localities in the USA and Mexico; (3) the proportion of size of emergent animals in 75 percent of geographic localities includes at least 85 percent intermediate-size animals (90 to 130 mm); (4) proportion of size of emergent animals in 75 percent of geographic localities includes no more than 15 percent large animals (≤130 mm); (5) there is a stable or increasing estimate of geometric population growth (lambda ≥1) for >75 percent of the geographic localities over a ten year period; and (6) there is reoccupation of white abalone over a spatial scale that encompasses their historic range such that 75 percent of the geographic VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:42 Oct 17, 2008 Jkt 217001 localities in the USA and Mexico are reoccupied and meet the recovery criteria. Dated: October 14, 2008. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–24921 Filed 10–17–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration [Docket No. 0810141353–81354–01] Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Closing Date for Solicitation of Applications; Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance AGENCY: SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Public Law No. 110–329 (2008), 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; and (3) strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public. Applications must be received prior to 5 p.m. Eastern Time (Closing Time), December 18, 2008 (Closing Date). Applications submitted by facsimile 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 DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (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– 4812, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Application materials may be obtained electronically via the Internet at https:// www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp or https:// www.grants.gov. 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 at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access The full funding opportunity announcement for the PTFP fiscal year (FY) 2009 grant cycle is available through https://www.Grants.gov or by contacting the PTFP office at the address noted above. Funding Availability Issuance of grants is subject to the availability of FY 2009 funds. At this time, the Congress has passed the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Public Law No. 110–329 (2008), to fund operations of the PTFP through March 6, 2009. Further notice will be made in the Federal Register about the final status of funding for this program at the appropriate time. For FY 2008, NTIA awarded $18.5 million in PTFP funds to 109 projects, including 61 radio awards, 45 television awards and 3 nonbroadcast awards. The radio awards ranged from $8,800 to $337,684. The television awards ranged from $10,000 to $801,345. The nonbroadcast awards ranged from $89,853 to $187,931. 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 E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 203 / Monday, October 20, 2008 / Notices CFR Part 2301) are posted on the NTIA Internet site at https://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 they 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. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 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. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:42 Oct 17, 2008 Jkt 217001 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 per cent of the eligible project costs. NTIA has established a policy of funding most new public broadcasting station activation projects at a 75 per cent federal share, and most other television, radio and nonbroadcast projects at a 50 per cent federal share. NTIA can fund planning applications up to 100 per cent of the eligible project costs, but has established a policy of funding planning applications at a 75 per cent federal 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 SF 424 and PTFP–2 pages of the application, but applicants should contact their own SPOC offices to find out about and comply with its requirements. The PTFP Internet site has a link to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) home page which has the names and addresses of the SPOC offices. Applicants may directly access the OMB Internet site at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/ spoc.html. Printed copies of the SPOC list are available from PTFP. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 62259 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 (https:// 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 February 11, 2008, (73 FR 7696) 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. Dr. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications. [FR Doc. E8–24849 Filed 10–17–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–60–P E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 203 (Monday, October 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62258-62259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24849]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 0810141353-81354-01]


Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Closing Date for Solicitation of Applications; 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, 
and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Public Law No. 110-329 (2008), 
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; and (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 Time 
(Closing Time), December 18, 2008 (Closing Date). Applications 
submitted by facsimile 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-
4812, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230. Application materials may be obtained 
electronically via the Internet at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp or 
https://www.grants.gov.

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 at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    The full funding opportunity announcement for the PTFP fiscal year 
(FY) 2009 grant cycle is available through https://www.Grants.gov or by 
contacting the PTFP office at the address noted above.

Funding Availability

    Issuance of grants is subject to the availability of FY 2009 funds. 
At this time, the Congress has passed the Consolidated Security, 
Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Public 
Law No. 110-329 (2008), to fund operations of the PTFP through March 6, 
2009. Further notice will be made in the Federal Register about the 
final status of funding for this program at the appropriate time. For 
FY 2008, NTIA awarded $18.5 million in PTFP funds to 109 projects, 
including 61 radio awards, 45 television awards and 3 nonbroadcast 
awards. The radio awards ranged from $8,800 to $337,684. The television 
awards ranged from $10,000 to $801,345. The nonbroadcast awards ranged 
from $89,853 to $187,931.

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

[[Page 62259]]

CFR Part 2301) are posted on the NTIA Internet site at https://
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 they 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 per cent of the eligible project 
costs. NTIA has established a policy of funding most new public 
broadcasting station activation projects at a 75 per cent federal 
share, and most other television, radio and nonbroadcast projects at a 
50 per cent federal share. NTIA can fund planning applications up to 
100 per cent of the eligible project costs, but has established a 
policy of funding planning applications at a 75 per cent federal 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 SF 424 and PTFP-2 pages of the application, but applicants 
should contact their own SPOC offices to find out about and comply with 
its requirements. The PTFP Internet site has a link to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) home page which has the names and addresses 
of the SPOC offices. Applicants may directly access the OMB Internet 
site at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. Printed copies 
of the SPOC list are available from PTFP.

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 (https://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 February 11, 2008, (73 FR 7696) 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.

Dr. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera,
Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information 
Applications.
 [FR Doc. E8-24849 Filed 10-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P

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