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
Dave Vickers, the general manager and minority owner of KROS/1340 (Clinton), has submitted informal objections to license renewal for Gendreau Broadcast’s KCLN/1390 (Clinton) and KMCN/94.7 (Clinton). Vickers alleges that his competitors’ online public files are incomplete and that KCLN is not reducing power at night.
The FCC cancelled the construction permit for K241CX/96.1 (Independence), which was not built by its Jan. 16 deadline. The translator had been granted during the AM revitalization effort to relay KQMG/1220.
The FCC granted KLOX/90.9 (Creston) a construction permit to replace its expired permit to upgrade from 500 Watts to 100kW.
Nebraska
The FCC has agreed to a waiver and extended special temporary authority for Gray TV CBS affiliate KOLN/10 (Lincoln) to remain silent for longer than the one year normally allowed under federal law. The station’s tower collapsed during a winter storm last year and a replacement is in the works, but won’t be ready until summer. In the meantime, the station’s programming continues to be carried on subchannels of other stations as well as cable and satellite providers. The special temporary authority to remain silent, which had been due to expire Jan. 19, is now in effect until July 19.
South Dakota
James River Broadcasting’s KGFX/1060 (Pierre) says it continues to work on repairs to damage from a 2017 lightning strike. The station has remained at its licensed power of 10kW day and 1kW night but its directional antenna patterns are operating at a variance. Its latest request for special temporary authority cites a wide variety of challenges in 2020 including wet weather, component failures, the COVID-19 pandemic, and gopher damage to wiring. The filing says some work will begin within a week but snow conditions will make field measurements difficult until spring.
Wisconsin
Polnet Communications was granted a second extension of special temporary authority to operate WPVS-LP (Milwaukee) in analog on channel 9 with 50 Watts. The station has a construction permit to transmit digitally on channel 9 with 2.9kW.
Magnum Communications low-power TV station WBOO-LP (Elk Mound-Eau Claire) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to remain silent, which is now in effect through July 13.