114 STAT. 92 PUBLIC LAW 106-181—APR. 5, 2000 SEC. 203. IMPROVED AIR CARRIER SERVICE TO AIRPORTS NOT RECEIVING SUFFICIENT SERVICE. (a) IN GENERAL. —Subchapter II of chapter 417 is amended by adding at the end the following: "§ 41743. Airports not receiving sufficient service "(a) SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PILOT PRO- GRAM.—The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a pilot program that meets the requirements of this section for improving air carrier service to airports not receiving sufficient air carrier service. "(b) APPLICATION REQUIRED.—In order to participate in the program established under subsection (a), a community or consortium of communities shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— "(1) an assessment of the need of the community or consortium for access, or improved access, to the national air transportation system; and "(2) an analysis of the application of the criteria in subsection (c) to that community or consortium. "(c) CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION. — In selecting communities, or consortia of communities, for participation in the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall apply the following criteria: "(1) SIZE.— For calendar year 1997, the airport serving the community or consortium was not larger than a small hub airport (as that term is defined in section 41731(a)(5)), and— "(A) had insufficient air carrier service; or "(B) had unreasonably high air fares. "(2) CHARACTERISTICS.—The airport presents characteristics, such as geographic diversity or unique circumstances, that will demonstrate the need for, and feasibility of, the program established under subsection (a). "(3) STATE LIMIT.— No more than four communities or consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, may be located in the same State. "(4) OVERALL LIMIT.—No more than 40 communities or consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, may be selected to participate in the program. "(5) PRIORITIES.— The Secretary shall give priority to communities or consortia of communities where— "(A) air fares are higher than the average air fares for all communities; "(B) the community or consortium will provide a portion of the cost of the activity to be assisted under the program from local sources other than airport revenues; "(C) the community or consortium has established, or will establish, a public-private partnership to facilitate air carrier service to the public; and "(D) the assistance will provide material benefits to a broad segment of the travelling public, including business, educational institutions, and other enterprises, whose access to the national air transportation system is limited. "(d) TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may use amounts made available under this section—
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