For over 30 years, PTFP has played a major role in the development of public broadcasting throughout the United States. With the program's assistance, a public television signal now reaches about 95% of our nation's population and public radio reaches approximately 90% of the population. The program has also funded radio reading services and descriptive video services for the disabled and numerous distance learning facilities that provide instructional programming for students and professionals.

For fiscal year 1997, NTIA is awarding 97 PTFP grants to public telecommunications entities in 39 states, American Samoa, and the District of Columbia. This document contains descriptions of the awarded projects.