Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/05/22/2014-11703/announcement-of-grant-application-deadlines-deadlines-and-funding-levels
Timestamp: 2017-09-20 13:33:20
Document Index: 496009807

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 180', 'art 182', 'art 1740', 'arts 3015', 'art 25', 'art 170', 'art 170', '§\u2009170']

79 FR 29409
29409-29414 (6 pages)
A. Who is eligible for grants? (See 7 CFR 1740.3)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-11703 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-11703
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces its Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program application window for fiscal year (FY) 2014. The FY 2014 funding for the Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program is $2,000,000.
Electronic copies must be received by July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 Start Printed Page 29410grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
Dates: Deadline for completed grant applications submitted electronically or on paper no later than July 7, 2014.
III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, what kinds of projects are eligible, and what criteria determine basic eligibility.
IV. Application and Submission Information: Where to get application materials, what constitutes a completed application, how and where to submit applications, deadlines, and items that are eligible.
VI. Award Administration: Award notice information, award recipient reporting requirements.
Most applications to the Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program have sought assistance towards the goal of replicating analog coverage areas through transmitter and translator transitions. The first priority has been to initiate digital broadcasting from their main transmitters. As many stations have completed the digital transition of their transmitters, the focus has shifted to power upgrades and translators, as well as digital program production equipment and multicasting/data casting equipment. There are some rural stations that may need to install translators to provide fill-in service to areas that previously received analog but are now unable to receive digital. In FY 2013, 7 awards were made, including the following project purposes: Transmitter equipment, translators, studio and production equipment, master control equipment, and microwave equipment. When compared with the first few years of the program, as the digital transition progresses, more applications were received for translators and master control and production equipment, than for transmitters. However, some stations may remain that have not achieved full analog parity in program management and creation. Continuation of reliable public television service to all current patrons understandably is still the focus for many broadcasters.
1. The amount available for grants for FY 2014 is $2,000,000. The maximum amount for grants under this program is $750,000 per public television station per year.
Prior grants cannot be renewed nor extended; however, past grantees may submit new applications for projects not covered under the prior grant. Award documents specify the term length of each award.Start Printed Page 29411
See paragraph IV.B of this notice for a summary discussion of the items that make up a completed application. You will find more complete information in the FY 2014 Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program Application Guide. You may also refer to 7 CFR 1740.9 for completed grant application requirements.
2. A completed application must include the following documentation, studies, reports and information, in a form satisfactory to RUS. Applications should be prepared in conformance with the provisions in 2 CFR part 180, and 2 CFR part 182, 7 CFR part 1740, subpart A, and applicable USDA regulations including 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019. Applicants must use the application guide for this program, which contains instructions and all necessary forms, as well as other important information, in preparing their application. Completed applications must include the following:
e. A coverage contour map showing the digital television coverage area of the application project. This map must show the counties (or county) comprising the Core Coverage Area by shading and by name. Partial counties included in the applicant's Core Coverage Area must be identified as partial and must contain an attachment with the applicant's estimate of the percentage that its coverage contour comprises of the total area of the county. If the application is for a translator, the coverage area may be estimated by the applicant through computer modeling or some other reasonable method, and this estimate is subject to acceptance by RUS. (In the Application Guide, see Section C.3, Project Core Coverage Area Map(s).)
f. The applicant's own calculation of its Rurality score, supported by a worksheet showing the population of its Core Coverage Area, and the urban and rural populations within the Core Coverage Area. The data source for the urban and rural components of that population must be identified. If the application includes computations made by a consultant or other organization outside the public Start Printed Page 29412television station, the application shall state the details of that collaboration. (In the Application Guide, see Section D. Scoring Documentation.)
(viii) Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.
4. In accordance with 2 CFR part 25, all applicants, whether applying electronically or by paper, must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly Central Contractor Registry, (CCR)), prior to submitting an application.
1. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.Start Printed Page 29413
2. Electronic grant applications must be received by July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
2. Incomplete applications as of the deadline for submission will not be considered. If an application is determined to be incomplete, the applicant will be notified in writing and the application will be returned and will not be considered for FY 2014 funding.
4. Regardless of the score an application receives, if the RUS determines that the Project is technically or financially infeasible, the Agency will notify the applicant, in writing, and the application will be returned and will not be considered for FY 2014 funding.
2. The Critical Need score will be determined by RUS based on information presented in the application. The Critical Need score is based on the reviewer's assessment of the supporting arguments made in the application. The score aims to assess how the specific digital transition purpose fits with the unique need of the television station as it moves all of its equipment through the digital transition. This score is intended to capture, from the rural public's standpoint, the necessity and usefulness of the proposed project. This scoring category will also recognize that at a specific time, some transition purposes are perceived to be more essential than others and that, over time, this perception changes. For example, during the transition from analog to digital transmitters, which concluded on June 12, 2009, a first time transition of a primary transmitter was the most essential project that could be undertaken for most stations and would have been scored accordingly. Now that all transmitters have completed the transition to digital, the focus may shift to some of the other eligible purposes such as translators, studio and production equipment, and master control equipment. But what equipment specifically is most essential may vary from station to station. For example, local production equipment can be a high priority especially if it produces an area's only local news or if the station has been historically active in producing local programming. Repositioning a digital transmitter on a tower can also be a high priority in cases where the original analog coverage area was not adequately replicated after the transition. The Critical Need score is also relative since each application is scored in comparison to other applications in the competition. These various factors explain why a similar application may receive a different Critical Need score in different years of this program.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. The items listed in the program regulation at 7 CFR 1740.9(j) implement the appropriate administrative and national policy requirements.
a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more in non-Recovery Act funds (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR part 170) must be reported by the Recipient to http://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month following the month the obligation was made. Please note that currently underway is a consolidation of eight federal procurement systems, including the Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS), into one system, the System for Award Management (SAM). As a result the FSRS will soon be consolidated into and accessed through SAM at https://www.sam.gov/​portal/​public/​SAM/​.
The applicant must have the necessary processes and systems in Start Printed Page 29414place to comply with the reporting requirements for first-tier sub-awards and executive compensation under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparence Act of 2006 in the event the applicant receives funding unless such applicant is exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to 2 CFR part 170, § 170.110(b).
[FR Doc. 2014-11703 Filed 5-21-14; 8:45 am]