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
The FCC moved forward with a proposal to move Gray TV ABC affiliate KCRG-TV/9 (Cedar Rapids) to a UHF frequency, issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking for the move to RF channel 32.
iHeartMedia’s WMT/600 (Cedar Rapids) continues to transmit with reduced nighttime power following the collapse of one of its towers during last August’s Iowa Derecho. The station says a recent rezoning of its tower site in Marion Township slowed the project, but a variance to reconstruct the fallen tower was recently approved. WMT continues to transmit with its usual 5kW non-directional daytime but is transmitting at about a quarter of its normal power, non-directional, at night.
Michigan
WRVM, Inc. translator W255CB/98.9 (Powers) has received a construction permit to move to 98.7 with the new callsign W254DY, upgrading from 27 to 55 Watts and moving its transmitter slightly to the south.
Minnesota
PBS member station KSMQ-TV/15.1 (Austin) has returned to full power after a transmitter problem that had begun late last year.
Gray TV closed on its purchase of former KTTW translator K18MO-D (Worthington) on Feb. 9. A previous filing indicated the translator would relay Gray NBC/FOX affiliate KDLT (Sioux Falls).
Landover 2 LLC requested an extension of the construction permits for K46LY-D (Albany), K380U-D (Albert Lea), K44LT-D (Albert Lea), K41NC-D (Alexandria), K43OB-D (Ashby), K45MN-D (Blue Earth), K41NF-D (Brainerd), K43OD-D (Brainerd), K44LS-D (Brewster), K45MJ-D (Hewitt), K47OF-D (Oakland), K43OH-D (Racine), K45MO-D (Racine), K42LR-D (Rushmore), K50NJ-D (Rushmore), K40NI-D (St. Charles), K39LX-D (Sauk Centre), K49MN-D (Sauk Centre), K39MD-D (Sherburne), and K50NB-D (Wells), which are now on out-of-core channels and need to seek a modification for a channel between 2-36 before they can be built. Landover 2 proposes an extension to Jan. 13, 2022.
Nebraska
The FCC moved forward with a proposal to move Sinclair ABC/FOX affiliate KHGI/13 (Kearney) to a UHF frequency, issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking for the move to RF channel 18.
The FCC approved a transfer of control of Standard Media, licensee of ABC affiliates KLKN/8 (Lincoln) and WLNE/6 (New Bedford, MA-Providence, RI), from Deb McDermott’s McDermott Communications to Soo Kim’s Paducah Television Operations LLC.
North Dakota
Midwest Communications’ KMJO/104.7 (Hope-Fargo) changed its callsign to KFGO-FM on Feb. 1 following its format change to a simulcast of KFGO/790 (Fargo). The KFGO-FM callsign had previously been used on what is now KRWK/101.9 (Fargo) from 1986 to 2002.
G.I.G., Inc. followed up on its report that analog low-power TV station KCPM-LP/2 (Fargo) had returned to the air on Feb. 3 with a notification that it went silent again Feb. 6. The filing says the silence is due to equipment failure.
Landover 2 LLC requested an extension of the construction permits for K45LS-D (Argusville), K46MQ-D (Belfield), K39LJ-D (Bismarck), K40NK-D (Bismarck), K45LQ-D (Bismarck), K43OC-D (Casselton), K44LO-D (Center), K50MW-D (Center), K39LK-D (Dickinson), K43OI-D (Garrison), K48OE-D (Garrison), K50MH-D (Hatton), K49LY-D (Hebron), K40MK-D (Hillsboro), K42KM-D (Hillsboro), K48NB-D (Horace), K47NZ-D (Jamestown), K38OK-D (Minot), K42KI-D (New Salem), K47NG-D (New Salem), K48MZ-D (Sentinel Butte), K41MG-D (Steele), K43NF-D (Tappen), K39LH-D (Valley City), K41ND-D (Valley City), K45LP-D (Valley City), K49MO-D (Valley City), K38NH-D (Wahpeton), K40MM-D (Wahpeton), K42KN-D (Wahpeton), and K46ME-D (Williston), which are now on out-of-core channels and need to seek a modification for a channel between 2-36 before they can be built. Landover 2 proposes an extension to Jan. 13, 2022.
South Dakota
Real Presence Radio’s K233BR/94.5 (Brookings) was granted a construction permit to move to 94.9 with the new callsign K235DE, upgrading from 10 Watts to 250 Watts.
Alpha Media’s KBRK-FM/93.7 (Brookings) requested an extension of special temporary authority to operate at about half of its usual 100kW. The reduced power operation began last summer after the station determined its antenna feedline had been taking on water. The latest filing says “weather and financial considerations have prevented the tower contractor from ordering materials and starting work.”
Prairie Winds Broadcasting applied to move the transmitter of K236CU/95.1 (Milbank) to the KPHR/106.3 tower near South Shore. Sister translator K252FB/98.3 was also recently granted a move to the site with a frequency change to 98.1, covering an area between Watertown and Milbank. K236CU must carry the same programming as KMSD/1510 in perpetuity as a condition of the license granted during the AM revitalization effort.
Gray TV closed on its purchase of former KTTW translators K36NW-D (Aberdeen), K25OU-D (Brookings), K14IO-D (Pierre) and K32DK-D (Watertown) on Feb. 9. A previous filing indicated the translators would relay Gray NBC/FOX affiliate KDLT (Sioux Falls).
Landover 2 LLC requested an extension of the construction permits for K38NI-D (Arlington), K42KO-D (Arlington), K45LV-D (Arlington), K38NJ-D (Beresford), K42KU-D (Caputa), K46LO-D (Deadwood), K48NF-D (Deadwood), K43OO-D (Draper), K45MY-D (Draper), K44KV-D (Elk Point), K38OZ-D (Humboldt), K39MI-D (Kadoka), K41NS-D (Kadoka), K46MN-D (Kadoka), K38PB-D (Kimball), K46MT-D (Mitchell), K49NA-D (Murdo), K44MA-D (Philip), K48OI-D (Philip), K49NB-D (Plankinton), K40NT-D (Reliance), K47ON-D (Reliance), K44KU-D (Rosholt), K46LL-D (Rosholt), K40NS-D (Spencer), K50MS-D (Sturgis), and K39LN-D (Watertown), which are now on out-of-core channels and need to seek a modification for a channel between 2-36 before they can be built. Landover 2 proposes an extension to Jan. 13, 2022.
Wisconsin
Baraboo Broadcasting Corp. requested a six-month extension of special temporary authority to broadcast digitally on channel 16, which is currently scheduled to expire on Feb. 10. The digital broadcasts began last summer as a replacement for analog low-power station W43BR, which was forced to end broadcasts on channel 43 due to the discontinuation of channels 38 and up. W43BR itself had been broadcasting under special temporary authority for decades due to the FCC’s freeze on applications for new LPTV stations in certain areas. Baraboo Broadcasting says the station has continued to carry local programming such as city council meetings, high school sports, and church services, and it intends to apply for a formal license as soon as the FCC allows it to do so.
Magnum Communications filed a petition for reconsideration of the cancellation of the construction permit for DW255DE/98.9 (De Forest). The FCC deleted the permit after the Jan. 9 construction deadline passed. Magnum says it had intended to request tolling of the expiration but the deadline was “inadvertently missed” due to its counsel’s medical issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.
University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s W230AN/93.9 (Hayward) applied to increase from 50 Watts to 250 Watts, remaining a translator of KDNW/97.3 (Duluth). The translator previously had a construction permit to move to a different tower but now proposes remaining at its present site.
Landover 2 LLC requested an extension of the construction permits for W43DJ-D (Merrill), W49DX-D (Merrill), and W50EU-D (Merrill), which are now on out-of-core channels and need to seek modifications for channels between 2-36 before they can be built. Landover 2 proposes an extension to Jan. 13, 2022.