To help build the capacity of public media stations to assist communities during crises, CPB is offering Emergency Alert and Communication Grants. The grant program is designed to fund projects that help a significant number of public media stations use digital broadcast and other wireless platforms during natural or man-made emergencies in a manner that assists public safety authorities reach local populations and/or communicate with each other.
EAC grants are intended to promote a range of station activities and capacities, for example: mobile DTV or web applications to alert citizens; dynamic bandwidth allocation to serve the needs of first responders; and, engagement efforts to develop digital broadcast communication plans and protocols.
The application process for this grant program will have two phases. In Phase One, applicants must deliver a short application that consists of a basic project description and a high level budget estimate. Phase One applications will be posted online for public review and comment. This is intended to promote openness and information-sharing among public media stations and to better inform CPB of the scope of emergency alert activities that are currently being planned or are underway in the system.
CPB will review all submitted applications and select those that best address the grant program's objectives. Those projects will then be invited to submit detailed applications for Phase Two. From those Phase Two applications, CPB plans to award at least two and up to ten grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 for a total of $1,000,000. Phase Two is only open to applicants invited by CPB based on Phase One applications.