[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 15943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8003]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Docket No. 090402625-9626-01


Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Notice of 
Availability of Funds

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds; Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance.

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SUMMARY: On October 20, 2008, the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration (NTIA) announced the closing date for 
receipt of applications for the Public Telecommunications Facilities 
Program (PTFP). NTIA now announces that $18 million has been 
appropriated for fiscal year 2009 grants.

DATES: Funds will be available for applications submitted by the 
originally announced deadline of December 18, 2008, as well as 
applications for certain digital television Distributed Transmission 
System (DTS) projects and replacement translator projects that must be 
received prior to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Closing Time), Monday, 
May 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a printed application package, submit completed 
applications, or send any other correspondence, write to PTFP at the 
following address: NTIA/PTFP, Room H-4812, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. Application 
materials may be obtained electronically via the Internet at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp or http://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Cooperman, Director, Public 
Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202) 482-5802; fax: (202) 482-2156; 
or [email protected]. Information about the PTFP also can be 
obtained electronically via the Internet at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 20, 2008, NTIA published a Notice 
of Closing Date for Solicitation of Applications for the FY 2009 PTFP 
grant round. The Notice established Thursday, December 18, 2008 as the 
Closing Date.\1\ The Notice indicated that ``[i]ssuance 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.'' \2\
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    \1\ Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date, 
73 Fed. Reg. 62,258 (Oct. 20, 2008) (PTFP Closing Date Notice).
    \2\ 73 Fed. Reg. at 62,258.
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    As a result of subsequent Federal Communications Commission actions 
authorizing new digital television services, NTIA extended the Closing 
Date to May 18, 2009, for Distributed Transmission System (DTS) 
projects and for replacement digital television translators.\3\
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    \3\ Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Notice of 
Amended Closing Date for Solicitation of Applications, 73 Fed. Reg. 
74,709 (Dec. 9, 2008). Public Telecommunications Facilities Program; 
Notice of Amended Solicitation of Applications, 74 Fed. Reg. 5643 
(Jan. 30, 2009).
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    On March 11, 2009, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, was signed 
into law.\4\ The Act appropriated $18 million for public 
telecommunications facilities planning and construction grants. These 
funds are now available to fund applications submitted in response to 
the Federal Register notices referenced above.
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    \4\ See Pub. L. No. 111-8.

    Dated: April 3, 2009.
Dr. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera,
Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information 
Applications.
[FR Doc. E9-8003 Filed 4-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-S