March 2005

NEW FM TRANSLATOR/LPFM CONSTRUCTION PERMITS:

NEW LOW-POWER TV CONSTRUCTION PERMITS:

IOWA:
KROJ/107.1 (Vinton) has received a modification to its construction permit which will give the new station better coverage of Cedar Rapids. The CP is now for 2.5kW at 113m from a tower between Vinton and Center Point. The facility will provide a good signal to the northeast and northwest sections of Cedar Rapids. KROJ must begin broadcasting by June 24, 2005, or the CP will expire. It's held by George S. Flinn, Jr., who owns a group of stations in Memphis, TN. (3/26/2005)

MINNESOTA:
James D. Pennino has filed a petition to deny the renewal of license for WCCO/830. (3/26/2005)

MINNESOTA:
The Star Tribune reports that WUMN-CA/13 (Minneapolis), which started carrying Univision last month, will soon air local spanish-language newscasts at 5 and 10 p.m. weekdays. The newscasts will actually originate at the Independent News Network in Davenport, using news gathered by reporters and photojournalists in the Twin Cities. The station and INN are owned by Equity Broadcasting. (3/26/2005)

MINNESOTA:
WUSG-LP/88.7 (Cambridge) signed on March 15, carrying the Lifetalk Radio Network. The 100W station can be heard for about ten miles. (3/24/2005)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
Clear Channel has petitioned the FCC to change the community of license of KSNR/100.3 from Thief River Falls, MN, to Fisher, MN. The station's facilities would not change. (3/22/2005)

WISCONSIN FORMAT CHANGES REPORTED ELSEWHERE:

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
Two Duluth Clear Channel stations have new linups beginning Monday (3/21). At B105 (KKCB), mornings are covered by former KDWB'er Derek Moran and former B105 midday host Amanda Wild. Abby Taylor moves from the midday shift at Kool 101.7 (KLDJ) to middays at B105. At Kool, Brian Dennish and Steve Tanko are the interim morning hosts, while Pat Puchalla moves from mornings to middays. Puchalla is searching for new morning talent for Kool. (3/18/2005)

WISCONSIN:
At Prairie du Chien's Q94 (WQPC/94.3), Dan Moris replaced Ed Brady on the morning shift today. (3/18/2005)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN:
Deb Messer, the former general manager at Duluth CBS affiliate KDLH/3, has been hired as general sales manager at ABC affiliate WDIO/10. She replaces Ray Spellerberg, who recently became general manager of a North Carolina station. (3/13/2005)

NEW FM STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMITS:

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
Duluth-Superior radio legend Roger Johnson has died at age 57. He's best known for his talk show on AM970 and as co-host of the "RJ and Dave" morning show on 99WAKX up until 1992, and moved to a career in teaching after a heart attack. Your reporter is privileged to have learned from RJ during his time at KUWS radio in 1996 and 1997. Follow this link to read a profile of RJ written for a student newspaper in 1997. For his 1997 masters degree at UW-Superior, Johnson wrote this thesis on the history of WEBC radio. His funeral is set for Saturday, March 19. (3/11/2005)

ONTARIO:
Kenora's CJRL has made the move from AM1220 to FM89.5, according to DX Mid-America. 1220 will rebroadcast the "Mix 89.5" Adult Contemporary format for 90 days and then leave the air permanently. The station is owned by Fawcett Broadcasting, which converted its Fort Frances station (CFOB) to FM in 2003 and has applied to convert its Dryden station (CKDR) to FM as well. (3/11/2005)

MINNESOTA:
Radio Assist Ministry has received modifications to two Minnesota translator construction permits, which could allow the facilities to be used as "feeder" translators. A CP in Mora moves from 92.1 to 91.9, and a CP in Redwood Falls moves from 101.9 to 91.1. Radio Assist Ministry has CP's and applications for dozens of other Minnesota translators in the non-reserved portion of the band (92-108 MHz). "Feeder" translators receive a station's programming via satellite, which is then received over-the-air and rebroadcast by translators in the non-reserved portion of the FM band, 92-108 MHz. (Only stations in the non-commercial portion of the band, 88-92 MHz, can receive their feed via satellite.) Radio Assist Ministry is based in Twin Falls, Idaho, which is also home to the Calvary Satellite Network (KAWZ) and the Effect Radio Network (KEFX). (3/10/2005)

MINNESOTA:
Pensacola Christian College has returned its construction permit for a new translator on 91.9 in Medina, which would have served parts of the northwest Twin Cities metro area. (3/10/2005)

MINNESOTA:
Seth A. Neidhardt has filed a petition to deny renewal of license for KKSR/96.7 (Sartell-St. Cloud). (3/10/2005)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN:
The sale of Duluth CBS affiliate KDLH/3 was completed Tuesday (3/8), meaning dozens of job cuts and the closure of the newsroom at the market's oldest TV station. Granite Broadcasting, owner of NBC affiliate KBJR/6, is operating the station under a shared services agreement with new KDLH owner Malara Broadcast Group. Dozens of KDLH employees were fired, including longtime anchor Amy Rutledge, meteorologist Phil Johnson, news director Jim Wisniewski, chief photographer Dave Stokes, news anchors, weathercasters, news reporters, and production staff. News anchor Pat Kelly, sports director Chris Earl, and weathercaster Erin Jordan will keep their jobs, fronting content from KBJR. The Duluth News-Tribune reports that KDLH will air news in a half-hour broadcast at 5:30 p.m. and an abbreviated newscast at 10 p.m., similar to the "Topline" format used by KBJR in the 1990's. KDLH had aired newscasts at 6 a.m. and 5, 6, and 10 p.m. (3/9/2005)

SOUTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
The FCC has dismissed dozens of AM applications for failure to file full applications and/or pay a filing fee. The applications had no competition and likely would have otherwise been approved. In the Upper Midwest, these applications have been dismissed:

IOWA:
KFFF/1260 and KFFF-FM/99.3 (Boone) continue to simulcast a Christian format following callsign changes from KFGQ and KFGQ-FM. The move comes after a change on the board of directors, which has also applied to convert KFFF-FM's license from noncommercial to commercial. The station plans to continue Christian programming as a commercial non-profit. (3/7/2005)

RECENT CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR NEW FM STATIONS (AUCTION 37):

RECENT CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR NEW FM TRANSLATORS:

RECENT CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR NEW LOW-POWER TV STATIONS:

IOWA:
KDMR/88.9 (Mitchellville) has signed on, relaying KUNI/90.9 (Cedar Falls). The 1kW station provides a fair signal to parts of Des Moines. (3/3/2005)

IOWA:
Mark Anthony has been promoted to chief meteorologist at CBS affiliate KGAN/2 (Cedar Rapids) and FOX affiliates KDSM/17 (Des Moines) and KFXA/28 (Cedar Rapids). Anthony joined the stations as weekend meteorologist last fall. He also does work for KHAK/98.1 and KDAT/104.5 in Cedar Rapids. (3/3/2005)

MICHIGAN:
WUPY/101.1 (Ontonagon) is being sold to Bruce Lindsey of Port Charlotte, FL, for $75,000 and the cancellation of debt owed to Lindsey by the current owners, Sandra and Robert Schulz of Ontonagon. (3/3/2005)