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:
Michigan
An application to modify the license of W227CJ/93.3 (Marquette) revealed that the station plans to switch its programming. W227CJ has relayed ESPN Radio from WZAM/970 (Ishpeming) for several years, but WZAM also has a construction permit for new FM translator W295CX/106.9 (Marquette). An application to move W227CJ’s transmitter from the edge of town to downtown Marquette lists sister Taconite Broadcasting station WMQT/107.7 (Ishpeming) as the future programming source for W227CJ.
Minnesota
KTTW-FOX translator K18MO-D (Worthington) returned to the air after going silent in July due to antenna damage.
The FCC granted the assignment of the license of WWAX/92.1 (Hermantown-Duluth) from Twin Ports Radio LLC to Townsquare Media, which has been operating the station since March.
Nebraska
My Bridge Radio’s K257GW/99.3 (Nebraska City) went off the air Sept. 4 as it prepares to move equipment. As previously reported, K257GW has a construction permit to move its transmitter closer to Omaha.
North Dakota
Major Market Broadcasting’s KRDK/4.1 (Valley City-Fargo) is proposing what appears to be the first use of a Distributed Transmission System in the Upper Midwest. DTS is a digital TV transmission method in which synchronized transmitters broadcast on the same RF channel to cover a market area, in this case, channel 24. KRDK transmits from about 35 miles northwest of Fargo and says construction of a new 18-story building in downtown Fargo has caused reception issues. Namely, at the local receive facility for DirecTV in the market, which says it can no longer receive KRDK. The Cozi TV affiliate is requesting special temporary authority to use a 500-Watt directional facility in downtown Fargo in addition to its 285kW facility near Galesburg.
Wisconsin
Gray TV NBC affiliate WEAU/13.1 (Eau Claire) has applied for a digital replacement translator on channel 24 in Eau Claire, which would use 15kW from the WEAU studio. WEAU transmits from a tower about 25 miles southeast of the city and says it began to receive reception complaints from Eau Claire viewers when it moved to RF channel 17 in the repack. The station formerly transmitted with 1,000kW on channel 38 and now uses 740kW on channel 17. Despite the power drop, the FCC had theorized that the change would actually achieve slightly increase WEAU’s coverage area due to the lower frequency, but the station says the viewer complaints show that this is not the case. WEAU also operates a translator on channel 30 in La Crosse.
Nexstar FOX affiliate WLAX/25.1 (La Crosse) has completed its spectrum repack-related construction and is now operating at full power of 1,000kW on RF channel 33.
Sinclair CW affiliate WVTV/18.1 (Milwaukee) has completed its spectrum repack-related construction and is now operating at full power of 1,000kW on RF channel 27.
Word of God Fellowship, which operates the Daystar network, asked the FCC to dismiss a construction permit to move WDMW-LD (Janesville) to channel 7, saying VHF has been found to be attenuated by modern indoor antennas. Instead, WDMW-LD has applied to move to channel 24 with 250 Watts. The station had previously been licensed to transmit with 15kW on channel 45, which was discontinued as part of the spectrum repack.
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