(a)
Recognizing the necessity of converting California stations to the technologies of digital broadcasting, the Legislature intends that funds may be appropriated to the Office of Emergency Services for the purchase of equipment by eligible stations, the installation of that equipment, or purchase of other materials related to that equipment, pursuant to this article.
(b)
The office shall solicit applications for grant funds from eligible stations throughout the state, and shall allocate funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a) as follows:
(1)
Seventy-five percent of any equipment purchase funds appropriated pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall be placed in an equipment grant pool for eligible television stations, and 25 percent shall be placed in an equipment grant pool for eligible radio stations.
(2)
Fifty percent of the funds in each grant pool shall be divided equally among the stations in that grant pool.
(3)
The remaining 50 percent of the funds in each grant pool shall be divided among stations in that grant pool in proportion to their nonfederal financial support.
(c)
(1)Funds provided under this section shall be granted on a matching basis, with each station required to raise from other sources an amount equal to the funds provided to it under this section.
(2)
If any funds remain in either grant pool because of the limitations set forth in paragraph (1), the remaining funds shall be returned to the same pool for distribution to other stations that have raised the required matching funds, in amounts proportionate to the nonfederal financial support of those stations.