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:
National
Scripps Media closed on its purchase of the ION owned-and-operated stations on Jan. 7. Stations in the deal include KPXR/48.1 (Cedar Rapids), KFPX/39.1 (Newton-Des Moines), KPXM/41.1 (St. Cloud-Minneapolis), WPXE/55.1 (Kenosha-Milwaukee), and WTPX/46.1 (Antigo-Wausau). 23 stations, none in the Upper Midwest, were divested to Inyo Broadcast Holdings.
Iowa
The Iowa Department of Transportation returned the licenses of its four low-power FM stations, which had carried automated traffic and road construction information along interstates in rural Iowa. The 100-Watt stations were: KDDI-LP/102.9 (Adair), KSDE-LP/104.9 (De Soto), KSOA-LP/94.5 (Sloane), and KUBH-LP/99.9 (Urbana). Iowa DOT Communication Technology Bureau Director Peter Huffman said they cancelled the licenses because they no longer share road information via LPFM stations. Here’s an aircheck of KDDI-LP from 2005:
Meanwhile, the FCC formally deleted the license of Drake University’s KDRA-LP/94.1 (Des Moines) on Jan. 5, more than 18 months after the university requested cancellation. Drake had notified the FCC of its decision to surrender the license in a June 2019 letter but said at that time that it might continue operations until Aug. 15, 2019.
Wennes Communications Stations’ KDEC/1240 (Decorah), which was forced to leave its licensed site last year, says its new transmitter site is not yet ready. KDEC will co-locate with 1kW time-share partner KWLC/1240 and says in a request for extension of special temporary authority that it anticipates beginning testing within three to four months. KDEC is temporarily operating at reduced power of 250 Watts with a longwire antenna.
Michigan
Sovereign Communications told the FCC that the sale of seven radio stations in the Marquette and Iron Mountain markets is not ready to close, as it continues to work “to obtain the release of certain liens on the assets being sold.” It says it is making progress, with some state tax liens being released, but that the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the process. A local programming and marketing agreement indicates AMC Partners Escanaba has been operating five of the stations since last June; four stations subsequently changed format or branding.
Meanwhile, Sovereign says it “continues to investigate feasible options” for returning WDMJ/1320 (Marquette) to licensed operation following a complete antenna failure. The station’s filings do not state the nature of the failure, but local media outlets reported that there was a fire at the WDMJ site in late 2019. WDMJ has requested an extension of special temporary authority to operate with 200 Watts day and night from a longwire antenna. The station is licensed for 5kW day and 135 Watts night, nondirectional.
Nebraska
DTV America’s KAJS-LD/32 (Lincoln) went off the air Dec. 28 due to antenna damage that happened during a severe snow storm. The station is licensed to transmit from a tower near Gretna with 15kW, delivering a rimshot signal to both Lincoln and Omaha.
South Dakota
Prairie Winds Broadcasting’s K252FB/98.3 (Milbank) was granted a construction permit to move to 98.1 as K251CX and move its transmitter to a tower southwest of Milbank. The 250-Watt signal will cover an area north of Watertown. As previously reported, the application indicates K251CX will continue to relay KMSD/1510 (Milbank), which recently signed on FM translator K236CU/95.1 to replace K252FB’s coverage in Milbank.
J.F. Broadcasting’s KCWS-LP/27 (Sioux Falls) reported that it returned to the air on Jan. 6. It had gone silent in October due to a transmitter problem.
Wisconsin
Polnet Communications’ WPVS-LP (Milwaukee) requested a second extension of special temporary authority to transmit in analog on channel 9 with 50 Watts. The station has a construction permit to transmit digitally on channel 9 with 2.9kW.