The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Illinois/Iowa
The FCC approved a construction permit for Gray TV NBC/FOX affiliate WGEM-TV/10.1 (Quincy) to move to a UHF frequency. It will use 1,000kW on channel 19.
Iowa
The FCC approved another step in the hop of Digital Networks-Midwest’s K31PO-D (Des Moines) from Waterloo to Des Moines. Currently licensed for 2.9kW from a site near Gladbrook, the latest construction permit calls for 2kW from a site near Marshalltown. The station was previously K44FK (Waterloo).
Minnesota
Minnesota Public Radio’s two stations in Bemidji are transmitting at reduced power due to damage to their antenna, which occurred on Aug. 17. Filings say Classical MPR station KCRB-FM/88.5 is using 12% of its usual 83kW ERP (about 10kW) while MPR News station KNBJ/91.3 is using 31% of its usual 65kW ERP (about 20kW).
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K256CW/99.1 (Grand Rapids) moved to 98.7 as K254DS, upgrading from 70 to 250 Watts. The translator relays “Life 97-3” (KDNW Duluth) via satellite KRFG/102.9 (Nashwauk).
SagamoreHill of Kansas City Licenses’ KMWE-LD/17 (St. Cloud), which applied for its license to cover on Aug. 13 and was granted its license on Aug. 18, notified the FCC that it went silent Aug. 20 due to unspecified technical problems.
The FCC approved the sale of future low-power TV station K26PF-D (St. Cloud) from DTV America to Innovative Media Technologies.
Nebraska
The FCC approved an upgrade for KNEB-FM/94.1 (Scottsbluff) from its present 100kW/207m to 75kW/339m, remaining Class C1. As earlier reported, the project is part of a larger consolidation of FM stations on a tower west of Scottsbluff.
The FCC approved a move of K36QD-D (Norfolk) from its current site near Howells, where it is licensed for 2.59kW, to a tower near Schuyler, where it will use 2kW. The move puts the low-power TV station slightly closer to Lincoln.
North Dakota
The FCC approved the sale of future low-power TV station K33QM-D (Grand Forks) from HC2 Broadcasting to Roseland Broadcasting.
South Dakota
The FCC adopted a consent decree with South Dakota State University over late license renewal application for KSDJ/90.7 (Brookings). The university will pay a $500 civil penalty and conduct training for all employees of the student-run station on compliance with commission rules.
The FCC approved the sale of future low-power TV station K06QJ-D (Sioux Falls) from DTV America to Innovative Media Technologies.
The FCC approved an upgrade for CSN International’s K260BT/99.9 (Rapid City) from 10 to 34 Watts.
Wisconsin
Magnum Communications has applied to change the community of license of WKBH-FM/102.7 (La Crescent, MN) to Onalaska, WI. Both communities are in the La Crosse Urbanized Area but Onalaska’s population of more than 17,000 people is more than three times as much as La Crescent. Onalaska has no existing licenses while Minnesota Public Radio’s KXLC/91.1 is licensed to La Crescent. WKBH-FM would continue to use its existing 4kW/213m from a tower near Brownsville, MN, and would not be required to make any changes other than the legal ID since the FCC has no specific programming requirements for serving a community of license.
The FCC approved a modification allowing Magnum Communications’ W290AL/105.9 (Baraboo) to change frequency to 102.1 as W271DQ it upgrades to 250 Watts, avoiding potential interference to WCWI/106.1 (Adams). W271DQ will relay WPDR/1350 (Portage).