The following are updates to stories previously reported here, and smaller recent FCC filings that do not merit a full story of their own at this time:
Iowa
Townsquare Media’s KDAT/104.5 (Cedar Rapids) is operating at reduced power. The station says in an Aug. 14 request for special temporary authority that it suffered damage to its transmission line and/or antenna in a recent windstorm, presumably the Aug. 10 Iowa Derecho. KDAT is operating at 20 percent of its usual 100kW.
Community Public Media’s KPVL/89.1 (Postville) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to operate at an unknown reduced power. The station has cited technical problems in numerous requests for special temporary authority over the past five years and says its transmitter needs to be replaced. It also says the City of Postville has asked KPVL to remove its antenna from their water tower. The most recent filing says the station has located two possible new sites but that the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the project.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s KQCT-LP (Davenport) has requested special temporary authority to operate on channel 32 with 2kW. The low-power TV station has a construction permit to use 15kW on that channel but says it will not be able to achieve the 15kW signal before the construction permit deadline due to “current conditions in the post-repack environment, including the additional impact on labor and supply chains that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.”
Minnesota
New FM translator K246CW/97.1 (Fairmont) signed on relaying the Country format of City of Lakes Media’s KSUM/1370. The new FM signal was granted as part of the FCC’s AM revitalization effort.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K202EN/88.3 (Fairmont) is now also transmitting from the KSUM/K246CW site, having moved from a site southwest of town. It also changed frequency from 89.5, eliminating co-channel interference from KLFG (Fort Dodge, IA). K202EN carries UNWSP’s Faith Radio network via a satellite feed of KLBF (Lincoln, ND).
New FM translator K250CD/97.9 (Faribault) applied for a license to cover on Aug. 18, a filing which indicates the translator is either on the air or will be soon. The translator was granted during the AM revitalization window to relay Townsquare Media Farm/Country station KDHL “The Mighty 920.” The FM frequency has so far gone unmentioned on the station’s website and social media accounts.
New FM translator K233DL/94.5 (Ortonville) applied for a license to cover on Aug. 17. The translator was granted during the AM revitalization window to relay Prairie Winds Broadcasting Classic Country outlet KDIO/1350, which says K233DL signed on back in April:
FOX affiliate KQDS-TV/21.1 (Duluth) is now back up to full power of 1,000kW on its new transmitter. The station had been transmitting at reduced power after changing RF channel from 17 to 18 as part of the spectrum auction repack.
Nebraska
Standard Media Group ABC affiliate KLKN/8 (Lincoln) was quickly granted a construction permit to move its digital replacement translator from channel 31 to 35. RF channel 31 is now being used by KMTV/3.1 (Omaha), which has a coverage area fully encompassing Lincoln. With the channel change, KLKN-DR will upgrade slightly from 3.2kW to 5.6kW. The translator improves service for people in the capital who have trouble receiving KLKN’s VHF High signal, which transmits from about 30 miles west of the city.
South Dakota
Prairie Winds Broadcasting’s KGIM/1420 (Aberdeen) requested a sixth extension of its special temporary authority to operate from a temporary facility. KGIM has previously informed the FCC that it lost the use of its licensed site in 2017 and is broadcasting from the site of sister station KSDN/930, using 900 Watts day and 100 Watts night non-directional. The station is licensed for 1kW/232W non-directional. The filing says it intends to submit an application to permanently locate KGIM at the KSDN site but that the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the project.
After reporting that KABY-LD (Sioux Falls) had returned to the air on Aug. 13, Gray TV reported that the low-power station went silent again on Aug. 17. The station cited equipment issues as its reason for going off the air.
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