1. (1) Grants will be considered in order of the greatest need in accordance with the following criteria:

   1. (i) the need for equipment to comply with FCC standards and regulations;
   2. (ii) the capacity to make accessible to the residents of the region educational services equal to those provided to other regions of the State by public broadcasting stations;
   3. (iii) replacement of equipment in which irreparable damage exists;
   4. (iv) equipment needed to provide cost savings to the station; and
   5. (v) equipment that two or more stations will use in collaboration for greater fiscal efficiencies and programmatic effectiveness.
2. (2) The commissioner, in examining the applications for grants, will seek to provide for the widest possible distribution of grants consistent with the availability of funds and purposes of the grant program.

3. (3) The commissioner shall also consider each applicant's readiness and ability to provide the balance of funds required to complete the proposed project and the applicant's need relative to other proposed projects necessary for the maintenance and advancement of the highest professional standards for television and/or radio stations.

   (c) Schedules.

   Payments shall be made according to the following schedule:

   50% of grant amount	Upon receipt and approval by the commissioner of the equipment purchase contract between the vendor and the council or public radio station.
   50% of grant amount	Upon acceptance of equipment as fully operational by the council or public radio station and inspection by the commissioner's designee to insure contract compliance.

Grants will be made by the commissioner to councils and public radio stations, within the limits of appropriations, for approved capital expenses: towers, antennas, transmitters, video and audio recorders, cameras, including related switching and control equipment. Such grants shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of approved equipment purchases. Eligibility to receive grants, and the amounts thereof, shall be determined by the commissioner in accordance with the criteria and schedule of payments in this section.

(a) Application for grants.

A council or public radio station may apply for a capital grant in years for which capital grant funds are appropriated by the Legislature. Applications shall be made on forms supplied by the commissioner, and shall set forth the information required by the commissioner to determine the need for a grant.

(b) Competitive nature of grants.