The following are updates to stories previously reported here and smaller recent FCC filings and actions that do not merit a full story of their own at this time:
Iowa
Educational Media Foundation was granted another extension of special temporary authority for KIMI/107.7 (Malvern, IA) to operate at reduced power of 110 Watts as it continues to work with the Federal Aviation Administration to resolve a long-running conflict over interference to air navigation at Offutt Air Force Base. The station’s latest filing says the FAA has now approved a plan to move KIMI to a different transmitter site, but an application for that facility change has not yet been filed with the FCC. The FCC granted a license to cover for the station on 107.9 in Humboldt, NE, in 2017, but FCC records show it has been transmitting from Iowa on 107.7 since 2013 under a series of temporary authorizations.
Calvary Satellite Network’s K209EN/89.7 (Des Moines) moved to 90.9 as K215FN. The move was necessitated by the recent upgrade of KVCI/89.7 (Montezuma). The CSN translator had to drop power from 99 to 50 Watts on the new frequency.
Minnesota
Minnesota Christian Broadcasters Inc. has surrendered the license of KFNK/89.5 (Franklin), which the organization had purchased earlier this year. MCBI’s surrender letter did not say why they decided to return the license. KFNK, licensed for just 100 Watts serving an area east of Redwood Falls, was already off the air when MCBI bought it and faced a Feb. 2, 2021 deadline to return.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K207ES/89.3 (Hibbing) moved to 88.3 as K202EO. With the change, the translator moved its transmitter to nearby Chisholm and increased power from 12 to 27 Watts. K202EO carries the “Faith Radio” network via a satellite feed of KLBF (Lincoln-Bismarck, ND).
Ontario
North Superior Broadcasting is seeking approval to upgrade the signals of two repeaters of CFNO-FM/93.1 (Marathon). CFNO-FM-7 (Nakina) would upgrade from 40 to 110 Watts and CFNO-FM-5 (Longlac) would upgrade from 2 to 125 Watts. Both transmit on 107.1. The upgrades would add coverage of areas that have no other radio service. CFNO operates a half-dozen repeaters in isolated northern Ontario communities, providing the only commercial radio service in the region.
South Dakota
Prairie Winds Broadcasting’s K252FB/98.3 (Milbank) applied to move its transmitter to the KPHR tower site near South Shore and change frequency to 98.1. Due to the much taller tower (256m antenna height above average terrain), the 250-Watt signal would cover a wider area north of Watertown. The application says the translator would continue to relay the Classic Hits format of KMSD/1510 (Milbank), which recently signed on FM translator K236CU/95.1 to replace K252FB’s coverage in Milbank.
Wisconsin
Zoe Communications closed on its purchase of WJBL/93.1 (Ladysmith) and WLDY/1340 (Ladysmith) from Flambeau Broadcasting on Dec. 11. Zoe has been operating the stations for several months under a local marketing agreement.
The FCC granted a change to future translator W277DV/103.3 (Fort Atkinson) to move its planned transmitter site to a location near Edgerton, using a highly-directional antenna to prevent interference to existing stations in Madison and Janesville. The 250-Watt translator was granted during the AM revitalization window to relay Magnum Communications’ WFAW/940 (Fort Atkinson).
The Burlington Area School District’s WBSD/89.1 (Burlington) applied to move to its transmitter to Burlington High School because its present site, Karcher Middle School, is due to be torn down next year. The station would change from its present 210W/28m to 400W/20m, retaining largely the same coverage area. WBSD’s studio is already located at the high school.
The First Unitarian Society of Madison is selling WMUU-LP/102.9 (Madison) to Cow-Power Media Productions for $1. Last year, a previous application for a similar transfer was withdrawn; the new application specifies a smaller board for the buyer.
The Milwaukee Area Technical College Board applied to change the planned power for WMVS/10.1 (Milwaukee)‘s digital replacement translator on RF channel 10 from 1kW to 590 Watts. WMVS broadcasts on RF channel 8 with 32kW from the same tower as the planned translator.