February 2005

SOUTH DAKOTA:
The Rapid City Journal reports that three Christian broadcasters have found a way to return Native American programming to Rapid City airwaves. KILI/90.1 (Porcupine) had operated a translator on 88.3, which was forced off the air when Bethesta Christian Broadcasting's KTPT/88.3 signed on. KILI programming will eventually return on 88.7, which had been applied for by the Educational Media Foundation and the Calvary Satellite Network. Bethesda convinced EMF to drop its application, and Calvary to transfer its eventual construction permit to KILI. (2/26/2005)

IOWA:
The FCC has chosen the American Family Association to receive a construction permit for a new station on 91.7 in Perry, a frequency for which Iowa State University had also applied. The new station will broadcast on 91.7 with 30kW at 101m, will provide a good signal to the northwest Des Moines metro area. It will carry American Family Radio. ISU, which has two other full-power stations in the area, likely would have used the frequency to carry the third network of Iowa Public Radio when the service launches later this year. American Family Association also received a CP for a new station in Dubuque, which will broadcast on 88.5 with 2.8kW at 158m. (2/23/2005)

WISCONSIN:
VCY America has received a construction permit for a new station on 89.9 in Fond du Lac. The class A station will broadcast with 1.4kW at 104m, vertical only. (2/22/2005)

IOWA:
The Des Moines Register reports that KOWI/97.9 (Lamoni), formerly KIIC, returned to the air last Friday (2/18). The station is now owned by Iowa State University and relays programming from WOI/640 and WOI-FM/90.1, though the lineup is likely to change with the rollout of Iowa Public Radio later this year. (2/22/2005)

MINNESOTA:
WBWX-CA/13 (Minneapolis) is now carrying Univision, bringing spanish-language TV to Minnesota's airwaves for the first time. The change follow the station's sale to Equity Broadcasting. WBWX-CA has also expanded its signal into the suburbs with an upgrade from 110W to 1.25kW. The FCC database indicates the station's callsign was changed to WUMN-CA last November, but it is still using WBWX-CA on the air. (2/20/2005)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
KTPT/88.3 (Rapid City) has signed on with a Christian Rock format as "The Point." The station is owned by Bethesda Christian Broadcasting, which also owns KLMP/97.9 (Christian Teaching) and KSLT/107.3 (Christian AC). KTPT broadcasts from Terry Peak near Lead and also has booster station KTPT-FM1/88.3 in Rapid City itself. (2/15/2005)

MINNESOTA:
CBS affiliate KDLH/3 (Duluth) and general manager Deb Messer have parted ways. New Vision Group is in the process of selling the station to Malara Communications, which has an agreement with Granite Broadcasting to run most functions of the station. (Granite also owns Duluth NBC affiliate KBJR/6.) The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the month. (2/15/2005)

MINNESOTA:
ABC affiliate WDIO/10 (Duluth) has named Kyle Underwood as chief weathercaster, taking over for Collin Ventrella, who recently left the station after nearly two decades. Underwood has been a news reporter at WDIO for two years, and served as weekend weathercastor prior to that. (2/15/2005)

WISCONSIN:
WMZK/104.1 (Merrill-Wausau) has dropped its longtime "Z104" slogan in favor of "The Blaze," reflecting a move towards more current Hard Rock. (2/15/2005)

NON-COMMERCIAL NEW STATION APPLICATIONS:
Broadcasting for the Challenged has withdrawn 70 applications for new stations in the non-commercial portion of the FM band (88-92 MHZ), including 10 in the Upper Midwest. The move could clear the way for competing applications to be approved in Dubuque, Fargo, and Sturgeon Bay. (2/14/2005)

WISCONSIN:
WATK/900 and WACD/106.1 (Antigo) have changed formats following a change in management. WATK drops ESPN Radio (which just launched last fall) in favor of Country, and WACD drops Soft Oldies for Adult Contemporary as "CD 106.1." Bruce D. Grassman's Results Broadcasting is buying the stations from NewRadio Group for $500,000. Results took over the stations through a time brokerage agreement on February 1. NewRadio Group retains ownership of WRLO/105.3 (Antigo), which now operates from Rhinelander. (2/9/2005)

WISCONSIN:
The FCC has alloted 96.5 to Rhinelander for a future class C3 (25kW/100m) station, with a site restriction 14.9km east of town. The frequency will be put up for auction at a later date. (2/9/2005)

WISCONSIN:
Radio Broadcasting LP is selling WRPN/1600 (Ripon) to Radio One Communications, LLC for $150,000. Radio One Communications is headed by Michael Enfelt of Fond du Lac. Radio Broadcasting retains ownership of WTCX/96.1 (Ripon). (2/9/2005)

NEBRASKA/SOUTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
The FCC is set to issue the first round of construction permits to winning FM Auction 37 bidders. CP's will be issued once final payments are received. Included in this first round are: