Opportunity Information: Apply for RDUP 13 01 PTV
Apply for RDUP 13 01 PTV
- The Utilities Programs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 16, 2013 and posted on Jul 16, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,775,327.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Public Television Stations. Public television station means a noncommercial educational television broadcast station that is qualified for Community Service Grants by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under section 396 (k) of the Communications Act of 1934. These are over the air broadcast stations. Typically they are PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) member stations, although that is not a requirement. Public access cable TV stations and PEG channels (public, educational, government access channels) are NOT eligible for this grant program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number RDUP 13 01 PTV) was a discretionary grant opportunity offered through USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs to help rural, over-the-air public television stations finish the move to fully digital operations. Even though the FCC required all television broadcasters to convert their main transmitters to digital broadcasting by June 12, 2009, many rural public TV stations still had gaps in their overall conversion. These gaps often involved outlying translator sites that serve small, remote, or hard-to-reach communities, as well as remaining analog-era studio and production equipment that had not yet been replaced or upgraded to support modern digital workflows. The core purpose of the program was to close those remaining transition needs so rural audiences could continue receiving reliable public television service and stations could operate with fully digital broadcast and production systems.
Funding could be used for a practical set of transition-related costs tied directly to completing or strengthening digital capacity. Eligible uses included acquiring and installing facilities, equipment, and software necessary for the digital transition, along with equipment that supports local origination and the management of programming. In addition to hardware and software purchases, the program also allowed applicants to use grant funds for associated engineering work and environmental studies when those were needed to plan or implement upgrades at transmitter or translator sites. In short, the program aimed to cover the real-world technical and compliance steps that can be especially expensive for stations operating across wide rural geographies with multiple transmission points.
Eligibility was narrowly defined to focus the funding on true rural public broadcasting licensees. Applicants had to be noncommercial educational television broadcast stations that are qualified to receive Community Service Grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under Section 396(k) of the Communications Act of 1934. The emphasis was on over-the-air broadcast stations serving rural areas of the United States. While many eligible stations are PBS member stations, PBS membership itself was not required. The program explicitly excluded public access cable television stations and PEG channels (public, educational, and government access channels), meaning cable-only community channels could not apply.
The opportunity anticipated making about 12 awards with an estimated total program funding level of $2,775,327. Individual awards could be as large as $750,000, with no stated minimum award floor (listed as $0). There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which reduced barriers for smaller rural stations that might not have been able to raise local matching funds. The announcement was posted July 16, 2013, and the application closing date was August 30, 2013, with archiving shortly thereafter (September 2, 2013), indicating this was a time-limited funding round rather than an open-ended program.
For applicants needing more information, the notice pointed to the USDA Rural Development Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program website and provided a direct contact for access issues and applicant questions: Petra Schultze, Financial Analyst, at 202-690-4493.
Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program (RDUP 13 01 PTV) FAQs
What is the Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number RDUP 13 01 PTV)?
It was a discretionary grant opportunity offered through USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs designed to help rural, over-the-air public television stations complete the move to fully digital operations. The focus was on closing remaining gaps after the broader industry transition to digital broadcasting.
Why was this grant program created if the FCC digital transition deadline was June 12, 2009?
Although the FCC required television broadcasters to convert their main transmitters to digital broadcasting by June 12, 2009, many rural public TV stations still had incomplete conversion needs. The remaining gaps often involved outlying translator sites serving small or hard-to-reach communities and analog-era studio/production equipment that had not yet been upgraded for modern digital workflows.
What problem was the program trying to solve for rural communities?
The program aimed to ensure rural audiences could continue receiving reliable public television service by funding the technical work needed for stations to operate with fully digital broadcast and production systems, including across multiple transmission points in wide rural geographies.
What types of costs could grant funds be used for?
Funding could be used for practical transition-related costs directly tied to completing or strengthening digital capacity. Eligible uses included acquiring and installing facilities, equipment, and software needed for the digital transition, plus equipment supporting local origination and the management of programming.
Could the grant pay for engineering work?
Yes. The program allowed grant funds to be used for associated engineering work when needed to plan or implement upgrades, including work related to transmitter or translator sites.
Could the grant pay for environmental studies?
Yes. Environmental studies were an eligible cost when they were needed to plan or implement upgrades at transmitter or translator sites.
What kinds of broadcast infrastructure were commonly associated with the remaining gaps this grant targeted?
The description highlighted outlying translator sites (often serving small, remote, or hard-to-reach communities) and remaining analog-era studio and production equipment that had not been replaced or upgraded to support digital workflows.
Who was eligible to apply?
Applicants had to be noncommercial educational television broadcast stations qualified to receive Community Service Grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under Section 396(k) of the Communications Act of 1934. The emphasis was on over-the-air broadcast stations serving rural areas of the United States.
Does a station have to be a PBS member station to be eligible?
No. While many eligible stations are PBS member stations, PBS membership itself was not required for this opportunity.
Are cable-only public access channels or PEG channels eligible?
No. The program explicitly excluded public access cable television stations and PEG channels (public, educational, and government access channels). Cable-only community channels could not apply.
Is this program intended for over-the-air stations or cable distribution?
It was intended for over-the-air public television stations serving rural areas, with funding aimed at completing or strengthening digital broadcast and production capability.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipated making about 12 awards.
What was the estimated total amount of funding available?
The estimated total program funding level was $2,775,327.
What was the maximum award amount?
Individual awards could be as large as $750,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor was stated. The minimum was listed as $0.
Was matching funding or cost-sharing required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowered barriers for smaller rural stations that might not have local matching funds available.
When was the funding opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted on July 16, 2013.
What was the application deadline?
The application closing date was August 30, 2013.
Was this an ongoing program or a time-limited funding round?
The information indicates it was a time-limited funding round. The opportunity was archived shortly after the closing date (September 2, 2013), rather than being presented as an open-ended program.
Where could applicants go for more information about the program?
The notice pointed applicants to the USDA Rural Development Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program website.
Who was the listed contact person for access issues and applicant questions?
The notice provided a direct contact: Petra Schultze, Financial Analyst.
What phone number was provided for the program contact?
The phone number listed for Petra Schultze was 202-690-4493.
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