NTIA has found enough volunteer noncom radio general managers to review radio Public Telecommunications Facilities Program grant applications. However it still needs TV noncom GMs to step up to look at television applications.
Volunteers (whose stations must not have applied for the grants) would review between 10 to 15 of the applications submitted to PTFP in this year’s grant round. The work would be done in March and April.
Radio World recently reported that PTFP grant applications were due Feb. 22; a total of some $17 million is available for FY 2008.
The reviewers’ evaluations are a major factor in determining which applications are funded, says NTIA’s Walter Sheppard. PTFP has an engineering staff, so it cannot use station engineers as reviewers.
Contact Sheppard at wsheppard@ntia.doc.gov.