Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) At A Glance

What is it?
A competitive federal grant program to help public television and radio stations bring programming to unserved areas.

Who's eligible?
All public, non-commercial broadcast stations or groups of stations.

What does it fund?
Everything necessary for the construction of a public radio station or the extension of signals to new areas, including: studio equipment, satellite capacity, satellite uplink/downlink equipment, towers, transmitters, antennas, line, shelter, test and monitoring equipment, etc.

How much money is given out?
In 2002, PTFP awarded 52 public radio grants totaling nearly $4 million. The average grant was approximately $73,000.

Can PTFP grants be used for satellite-fed networks?
Yes, PTFP grants can be used to purchase satellite equipment and services for the purpose of extending coverage to new areas. These services are available from NPR Distribution. For more information, please contact the Business Affairs office at 202.513.2618, or via email: prssbusiness@npr.org.

What are the deadlines?
The deadline for this round of grants is April 4, 2003, at 6:00 pm

How can I find out more?
Call: 202.482.5802
Email: ptfp@ntia.doc.gov
Visit: www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp