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
Youngers Colorado Broadcasting notified the FCC that K295CB/106.9 (Des Moines) went off the air Nov. 18 due to “loss of primary feed.” K295CB had previously relayed “La Patrona” from Birach Broadcasting’s KXLQ/1490 (Indianola), but KXLQ recently signed on new FM translator K239CR/95.7 (Indianola-Des Moines).
Nexstar NBC affiliate WHO-DT/13.1 (Des Moines) submitted a change in control point location to Spartanburg, SC. WHO-DT’s main studio will remain in Des Moines.
Gray TV NBC affiliate KWQC/6.1 (Davenport) informed the FCC that it began operating at reduced power on Nov. 29 due to technical problems with its transmitter. The station normally transmits with 1,000kW and is using its auxiliary transmitter, which is licensed for 78kW.
Trinity Broadcasting Network station WMWC-TV/53.1 (Galesburg, IL-Quad Cities) applied to increase power from 23kW to 39kW, remaining on RF channel 8. The station transmits from the Orion antenna farm south of the Quad Cities that’s also used by the market’s major stations.
The Educational Media Foundation’s KQKL/95.3 (Keokuk) is operating at reduced power of 350 Watts ERP due to antenna damage. The “K-Love” station normally transmits with 100kW, reaching Burlington and Quincy.
Michigan
Heritage Broadcasting CBS/FOX affiliate WWUP/10.1 (Sault Ste. Marie) was granted a power increase from 25kW to 106kW, remaining on RF channel 10.
Minnesota
Minnesota State University-Mankato returned the license of 13-Watt translator K220AQ/91.9 (Fairmont), which had relayed KMSU/89.7 (Mankato). No background on the decision is available in FCC databases. KMSU’s music variety format is also relayed on KMSK/91.3 (Austin) and translators in Albert Lea and Blue Earth.
Townsquare Media’s KDHL/920 (Faribault) requested an extension of special temporary authority to use reduced power of 1.25kW non-directional. KDHL previously transmitted with 5kW directional but filings indicate it has been working to make repairs to its antenna system for several years. It reduced its array from seven towers to three and has a construction permit to operate with 3.3kW daytime and 1kW nighttime, using the same directional pattern day and night. Its latest filing says the project has progressed but the pandemic and winter weather have prevented it from being completed.
The previously-reported transfer of five southwestern Minnesota stations from Wallace Christensen to Christensen Broadcasting, owned by members of the Christensen family, was consummated on Nov. 27.
Nebraska
The FCC dismissed a request for special temporary authority from Gray TV CBS affiliate KOLN/10.1 (Lincoln) to channel-share with sister station KCWH-LD/18 (Lincoln). As previously reported, KOLN has been silent since a January tower collapse and had proposed channel-sharing with KCWH as it faces a statutory one-year deadline to return to the air. The reasoning for the FCC’s dismissal is not listed in its database. KCWH has been hosting some of KOLN’s programming but the arrangement it is not an officially-licensed channel-share, meaning KOLN is considered to be silent. KOLN is also working to build a new tower.
Eagle Communications closed on its purchase of KZTL/93.5 (Paxton-North Platte) and KRNP/100.7 (Sutherland-North Platte) from Legacy Communications on Dec. 2.
North Dakota
Prairie Public Broadcasting returned the license of K220FF/91.9 (Crosby) after the grain elevator which had served as its transmitter site was torn down. The 8-Watt translator had gone off the air in July 2019. Earlier filings had indicated that Prairie Public was searching for a new transmitter site, but it apparently did not meet the one-year statutory deadline to return to the air. K220FF had provided the only strong American FM signal to Crosby, which is in far northwestern North Dakota and receives two strong FM signals from Saskatchewan as well as numerous fringe signals from both sides of the border.
South Dakota
Calvary Satellite Network/CSN International’s KWRC/90.9 (Hermosa) told the FCC that it is operating at 65% of its licensed power and that engineers will be investigating to determine the problem. KWRC normally transmits with 400W/387m (class C3) from Mount Coolidge in Custer State Park.
Prairie Winds Broadcasting’s KSDN-FM/94.1 (Aberdeen) was granted a power increase from 59kW to 70kW, remaining at 134m HAAT (class C1). The station had downgraded from 100kW in 2017 when it installed a new transmitter.
Wisconsin
The FCC approved modifications of license for the Educational Media Foundation’s WLCW/100.1 (West Salem-La Crosse) and the Salvation Poem Foundation’s WGSL/104.9 (La Crosse) converting them to non-commercial status. Both stations were sold to Christian broadcasters as part of a sale earlier this year.
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