In selecting communities to participate in the
program, the statute requires DOT to give
priority to those communities where (a) average air fares are higher
than the air fares for all communities; (b) a portion of the cost of the activity contemplated by the community is provided from local, non-airport-revenue sources; (c) a public - private partnership has been or will be established to facilitate air carrier service to the public; (d) improved service will bring the material benefits of scheduled air transportation to a broad section of the traveling public, including businesses, educational institutions, and
other enterprises whose access to the National air transportation system is limited (e) the assistance will be used in a timely fashion; and, (f) multiple communities cooperate to submit a regional or multistate application to consolidate air service into one regional airport.