TODAY IS:

For complete information about the FY 2009 grant cycle click on the links in the table below.

• Funds Available: 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. Pub. L. No. 110 -329 (2008), to fund operations of the PTFP through March 6, 2009. Further notice will be made about the final status of funding for this program at the appropriate time.
  
  
• The criteria for evaluation and the information required in an application are exactly the same as during the FY 2008 grant cycle.
  
  
• Applicants can use the on-line fillable forms to prepare their applications.
  
  
• Applicants should prepare their applications based on the FY 2009 Federal Funding Opportunity announcement and Guidelines for Preparing an Application. The Guidelines for Preparing an Application are essentially the same for FY 2009 as in the FY 2008 grant cycle.
  
  
• Highlights of the FY 2009 grant cycle generally relate to the equipment eligible for funding. They appear below.
  
  

RADIO APPLICANTS

• If you applied to the FCC during the October 2007 open window for NCE applications, submit a single PTFP application for multiple FM station activations that includes all of the stations requested. List and price each station separately on the equipment lists.
  
  
• Stand-by power generators and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units will be funded when justified under the conditions specified in the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement.
  
  For Existing Stations: Separate applications specifically for this equipment should be submitted under Priority 2 or 4A, as appropriate, if such equipment is to be installed at existing faciliteis.
  
  For New Stations: Applicatons for station activation may include stand-by power generators and/or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, if appropriate.
  
  
• Digital transmitters. Radio applicants may request digital transmitters to replace analog transmitters, to activate first-service stations, or to add a digital exciter to a digital-upgradable transmitter.
  
  
• Digital production equipment. Applicants may request digital production equipment as part of a digital conversion project and for additional equipment to provide programming utilizing the Secondary Audio Channel when authorized by the Federal Communications Commission.
  
  

TELEVISION APPLICANTS

• PTFP will continue to support the digital conversion of television stations in FY 2009.
  
  
• In FY 2009, PTFP will emphasize television projects for:
  
  • digital conversion of analog transmission facilities to bring stations into compliance with the FCC's Post-Transition DTV Table Allotments, including digital channel changes.
    
  • the digital conversion of master control equipment, including integrated master control systems.
    
  • production equipment, including studio and field cameras.
    
  • the digital conversion of Low Power TV (LPTV) stations and translators.
    
    
• PTFP will also fund projects for power increases for lower-power digital transmission facilities to meet the FCC's July 2006 deadlines for coverage area replication and maximization. Applications for these projects must discuss the status of any waiver of the FCC's July 1, 2006, deadline to complete the project.
  
  
• Applications for new, digital facilities or for the replacement of analog equipment with digital equipment will receive equal consideration under the Broadcast Other, Subpriority B category.
  
  
• Stand-by power generators and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units will continue to be funded when justified under the conditions specified in the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement. A separate application specifically for the equipment should be submitted under Priority 2 or 4A, as appropriate, for such equipment.
  
  
• Equipment for providing closed captioning has been added to the online list of television equipment supported by PTFP.
  
  
• Expedited processing. NTIA will consider expedited processing of transmission applications that request it and provide a clear timetable and adequate justification detailing why expedited processing is needed to meet any condition placed on a station's authorization by the FCC.
  

NONBROADCAST APPLICANTS

• No change from FY 2008