Rural Utilities Service

Description

As part of the nation's transition to digital television, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) required all television broadcasters to have converted their transmitters to broadcast digital signals by June 12, 2009. While stations must broadcast their main transmitter signal in digital, many rural stations have yet to complete a full digital transition of their stations across all equipment. Rural stations often have translators serving small or isolated areas and some of these have not completed the transition to digital. Some rural stations also have not fully converted their production and studio equipment to digital. Grant funds may be used to acquire and install facilities and software necessary for the transition as well as equipment to facilitate local origination and management of programming. Grant funds may also be used for associated engineering and environmental studies. The program is targeted at over-the-air broadcast public television stations that serve rural areas of the U.S. Stations must be qualified for Community Service Grants by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under section 396 (k) of the Communications Act of 1934.

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

Petra Schultze <br/>Financial Analyst <br/>Phone 202-690-4493
petra.schultze@wdc.usda.gov