Closing Date for Public Telecommunications Facilities Program

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announces the solicitation of applications for planning and construction grants for public telecommunications facilities under the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) for fiscal year (FY) 2010. There are two closing dates for the FY 2010 grant round. All television and nonbroadcast applications must be received at the PTFP office no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 4, 2010. With the exception of applications for new FM stations filed during the February 2010 Federal Communications Commission FM Window, all radio applications also must be received at the PTFP office no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 4, 2010. Because the FCC will accept applications for new FM facilities only during the period February 19-26, 2010, NTIA will provide sufficient time for FM applicants participating in the FM Window to file their PTFP and FCC applications. Completed PTFP applications for projects filed at the FCC during this FM Window must be received at the PTFP office no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 26, 2010. 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 nonbroadcast 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.