Public Telecommunications Facilities Planning and Construction
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.550
- Agency
-
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 1,117 $262,283,960 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- (PTFP)
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Eligible applicants
-
- Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans)
- U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments
- Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Intrastate
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals
- Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Beneficiaries
-
- Public nonprofit institution/organization
- U.S. Territories
- State
- Local
- Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments
- Treasury account
-
- 13-0551-0-1-503
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce is no longer accepting applications for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Planning and Construction program (CFDA 11.550), with the most recent grant award issued on March 31, 2015.
This program historically funded planning grants and matching construction grants for public telecommunications infrastructure—broadcast and nonbroadcast facilities operated by public television and radio stations, educational institutions, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and state and local agencies. Recent awards included facility upgrades and equipment acquisition at public broadcasting entities, universities, and tribal organizations, such as $1.2 million to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, $1.1 million to the University of New Mexico, and $621 thousand to the White Earth Land Recovery Project for facility construction and modernization projects completing within one to two years of award.
The program disbursed $262.3 million in federal dollars across 1,117 awards over its active period (2000–2015), with recipients contributing an additional $306.2 million in non-federal matching funds, for a total obligation of $568.5 million. NTIA was the sole funding agency. The assistance-type portfolio consisted almost entirely of Project Grants (1,112 awards); five Cooperative Agreements represented a negligible fraction. Award volumes declined sharply after 2010, when 118 awards were issued; only four awards followed across 2011–2015, with the last three consisting of small printing and administrative expenses.
The most recent grant opportunity listed was posted February 3, 2011, with a March 17, 2011 due date. No current or recent solicitations are open. The program is inactive for new applications.
Objective and description
- Objective
To assist in the planning, acquisition, installation, and modernization of public telecommunications facilities, through planning grants and matching construction grants, in order to: (a) extend delivery of public telecommunications services to as many citizens of the United States and territories as possible by the most efficient and economical means, including the use of broadcast and nonbroadcast technologies; (b) increase public telecommunications services and facilities available to, operated by and owned by minorities and women; and (c) strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications service to the public.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
A public or noncommercial educational broadcast station; a noncommercial telecommunications entity; a system of public telecommunications entities; a nonprofit foundation, corporation, institution or association organized primarily for educational or cultural purposes; State, local, and Indian Tribal governments (or an agency thereof); or a political or special purpose subdivision of a State. Special consideration is given to applications which would increase minority and women's ownership of, operation of, and participation in public telecommunications entities.
- Beneficiary eligibility
General public and students.
- Credentials and documentation
All applicants must supply proof of eligibility. Applicants must supply proof of their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license, permit, or application if FCC authorization is required for any aspect of the proposed project. Applicants must provide assurances required under Program Rules and Regulations.
- Uses of assistance
Provides grants for the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities. Matching grants are given for apparatus necessary for the production, dissemination, interconnection, captioning, broadcast, or other distribution of noncommercial educational, cultural radio and television programs, as well as noncommercial instructional or informational services.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Projects must be completed within a reasonable period of time, generally one to two years as specified in the award document. Prompt completion is expected. Extensions, however, may be requested in writing if circumstances require additional time. Extensions must be approved by the Grants Officer.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
NTIA is no longer accepting applications for the program.
- Application procedure
NTIA is no longer accepting applications for the program.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
In order to achieve the objectives of Section 393 of the Communications Act, the Administrator, in determining whether to approve a construction grant application in whole or in part and the amount of such grant, will consider the projects conformance with priorities, and funding criteria set forth in the Act and the PTFP Rules and Regulations.
- Award procedure
Applications were reviewed on the basis of funding criteria for construction and planning applications as set forth in the regulations.
- Deadlines
NTIA is no longer accepting applications for the program.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Telecommunications Facilities Program Notice of Application Closing Date | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 1,117 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of Hawaii | $1,991,089 | 1% |
| 2 | Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc. | $1,813,326 | 1% |
| 3 | University Of Utah | $1,415,773 | 1% |
| 4 | University Of Montana | $1,404,542 | 1% |
| 5 | Nashville Public Television Inc. | $1,300,757 | <1% |
| 6 | Louisiana Educational Television Authority | $1,189,250 | <1% |
| 7 | Public Television 19, Inc. | $1,135,734 | <1% |
| 8 | University Of North Carolina System Office | $1,133,404 | <1% |
| 9 | Kentucky Authority For Educational Television | $1,129,544 | <1% |
| 10 | Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission | $1,111,607 | <1% |
10 of 276 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2019 | -$296,448 |
| FY2018 | -$152,108 |
| FY2016 | -$4,350 |
| FY2015 | $9,500 |
| FY2014 | $9,500 |
| FY2013 | -$927,878 |
| FY2012 | -$2,442,802 |
| FY2011 | -$5,521,733 |
| FY2010 | $20,207,257 |
| FY2009 | $19,811,976 |
| FY2008 | $18,046,155 |
| FY2007 | $22,190,655 |
| FY2006 | $19,722,831 |
| FY2005 | $22,971,883 |
| FY2004 | $22,351,388 |
| FY2003 | $43,069,259 |
| FY2002 | $41,844,754 |
| FY2001 | $41,394,121 |
Show all 18
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.550?
Assistance Listing 11.550 is Public Telecommunications Facilities Planning and Construction, a federal grant program run by National Telecommunications and Information Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Public Telecommunications Facilities Planning and Construction?
Its CFDA number is 11.550: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.550 awarded?
1,117 grant awards under 11.550 have obligated $262,283,960 in federal funds to 276 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.550?
The recipients obligated the most under Public Telecommunications Facilities Planning and Construction are University Of Hawaii ($1,991,089), Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc. ($1,813,326) and University Of Utah ($1,415,773).
Are there open grant opportunities under 11.550?
No opportunity listed under 11.550 is open now. The latest, Public Telecommunications Facilities Program Notice of Application Closing Date, was posted on February 3, 2011.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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