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
Hearst CBS affiliate KCCI/8 (Des Moines) was granted a construction permit to increase from its present 28.3kW to 44.6kW. KCCI had originally applied for 49.7kW but had to pull back on the power level due to its proximity to KLKN/8 (Lincoln, NE), which was separately granted a power increase (see below).
KZIA/102.9 (Cedar Rapids) is operating at reduced power due to problems that pre-date the Aug. 10 Iowa Derecho. The station says its transmitter began experiencing unexpected technical issues on Aug. 2 that were not resolved before the derecho, which has diverted engineers’ attention to other issues. KZIA is broadcasting with 22kW rather than its usual 100kW.
Keokuk Broadcasting applied for a license to cover for K227DO/93.3 (Keokuk), which was granted during the AM revitalization window to relay KOKX/1310. Such a filing indicates that a new station is either on the air or will be soon. The FM frequency has so far gone unmentioned on KOKX’s website and social media feeds.
Minnesota
Iowa City Broadcasting’s KTRF/1230 (Thief River Falls) received an eighth extension of special temporary authority to operate at half of its usual 1kW. The reduced power is due to tower damage caused by a 2015 storm that has not yet been repaired. The station’s most recent filing cites “restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the unavailability of labor and the economic realities of the economic downturn” for the continued STA operation.
Nebraska
Standard Media Group ABC affiliate KLKN/8 (Lincoln) was granted a construction permit to upgrade from its present 25.9kW to 53kW.
My Bridge Radio was granted a construction permit to move K257GW/99.3 closer to Omaha. The translator is licensed to Nebraska City but has made a series of chain-link moves to the north over the past several years and is presently licensed to transmit from a rural area south of Omaha. The new CP calls for 250 Watts from a tower southeast of Gretna, covering areas just southwest of Omaha.
North Dakota
Digital Networks-Midwest was granted a construction permit to flash-cut K21GQ (Minot) from analog to digital with 2kW.
Digital Networks-Midwest was granted a construction permit to move its former analog low-power TV station on channel 40 in Williston to channel 28 as K28QQ-D with 1kW.
South Dakota
Digital Networks-Midwest was granted a construction permit to move its former analog low-power TV station on channel 56 in Sioux Falls to channel 23 as K23PM-D with 2kW.
Wisconsin
Hmong Radio Broadcast is buying W277CW/103.3 (New Richmond) from Edgewater Broadcasting for $10,000. The 250-Watt translator already relays the buyer’s WIXK/1590 from WIXK’s tower site. The buyer had a previous deal to buy W277CW but it was dismissed at Edgewater’s request in 2017. Another broadcaster had filed an informal objection to the previous sale over claims about the availability of a different transmitter site made in a separate filing.
Menomonie Christian Radio’s WGHF-LP/105.7 (Menomonie) went off the air July 22 due to “undiagnosed technical problems.”
Mark Heller’s Metro North Communications, licensee of WLAK/1530 (New Holstein), filed comments in support of an application from WRRD/1510 (Waukesha) to downgrade. Metro North said it intends to apply to move WLAK to 1510 with a directional pattern shooting north to avoid overlap with WRRD, using somewhere between 5kW and 7kW depending on a final engineering analysis. WLAK is currently a 350-Watt daytimer and an upgrade would improve its signal to Appleton.
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