The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Iowa
Future FM translator K281DB/104.1 (Davenport) applied to move its planned transmitter site from a location south of the Quad Cities to downtown Davenport, improving its future signal strength in the core of the city. The 250-Watt translator will relay Townsquare Media’s KBOB/1170 (Davenport). It was granted during the AM Revitalization effort and faces a December 8 construction deadline.
Family Radio’s KYFR/920 (Shenandoah) is operating at half of its usual 5kW daytime power due to a power module failure that also knocked the station completely off the air from Aug. 7 to 17. Its request for special temporary authority says Family Radio is pursuing an additional engineering assessment to determine the underlying issue, since the station has seen repeated failures. It was also at reduced daytime power at times over the winter. It continues to use its licensed 2.5kW at night.
Minnesota
The Herbert M. Hoppe Revocable Trust’s WMIN/1010 (Sauk Rapids-St. Cloud) applied to upgrade its daytime power from 1.7kW to 2.5kW, while nighttime power would change slightly from 240 to 230 Watts. WMIN transmits from a site used by a total of four AM stations that has seven towers; it would use three of the towers during the day and four at night to generate different directional patterns. The other stations at the site are WXYG/540, WBHR/660, and WVAL/800.
The FCC approved Rapids Radio LLC’s purchase of Lamke Broadcasting’s four stations, KOZY/1320 (Grand Rapids), K226CV/93.1 (Grand Rapids), KMFY/96.9 (Grand Rapids), and KBAJ/105.5 (Deer River-Grand Rapids). Rapids Radio is owned by Steven Hallstrom and Scott Hennen.
CTB Spectrum Services Two applied for, and was granted, licenses to cover for K17OV-D (Duluth) and K30QX-D (Duluth), indicating that the stations have been constructed. Though licensed to Duluth, the specified coverage areas do not actually reach the city since the licenses are for a tower site northwest of Duluth with directional patterns pointed towards Cloquet. Their status is unknown.
Sagamore Hill of Kansas City License’s KMWE-LD/17 (St. Cloud), which told the FCC that it signed on from a site near Albany last month and then left the air, has now received a construction permit to move closer to the Twin Cities. It will transmit from a tower in Clearwater with a 10kW directional signal reaching St. Cloud and Monticello.
Lowcountry 34 Media was granted a channel change for future low-power TV station K31LP-D (St. Cloud). It is now K24OM-D with a specified transmitter site in Albany, using a 4kW directional facility that would not reach St. Cloud.
Landover 2, LLC submitted cancellation for would-be future low-power TV station K42LR-D (Rushmore).
Nebraska
Sinclair FOX affiliate KPTM/42.1 (Omaha) and Mitts Telecasting CW affiliate KXVO/15.1 (Omaha), which is operated by Sinclair, have both applied to reduce power as part of a project that will also include an antenna replacement. KPTM would drop from 1,000kW to 800kW and KXVO would drop from 825kW to 630kW. They would remain at their site near Gretna, midway between Omaha and Lincoln.
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s KWTN/100.9 (Allen) upgraded from 100 Watts to 6kW.
Flood Communications West submitted an application for the western Nebraska station it won in the recent FCC auction. The future station was allotted for 98.1 in Bayard, but Flood has instead applied for 95.9 with a 250-Watt station transmitting from a 40-foot tower (a height four meters below average terrain).
The FCC approved an upgrade and frequency change for VSS Catholic Communications’ KETT/99.3 (Mitchell-Scottsbluff). KETT will move to 99.5 and upgrade from its current 2.65kW/258m (class C3) to 13kW/293m (class C2).
My Bridge Radio informed the FCC that K257GW/99.3 (Nebraska City) again went silent on Aug. 31 as it prepares to move to a new tower site.
South Dakota
Ownership of KXLG/99.1 (Milbank-Watertown) is changing, with two members departing licensee TMRG LLC and several more coming in. Duane Butt and Dean Sorenson will give up their respective 30% interests in the company, while Faehn Radio Enterprises will reduce its share from 40% to 25%. Boldt Media LLC, Mindy Huntington and Tracy Huntington as joint tenants, and Steve Willard and Marla Willard as joint tenants will each acquire 25% of the company. Butt and Sorenson will both receive $750,000 while Faehn will receive $875,000. The deal also includes KXLG translator K262CK/100.3 (Milbank).
Landover 2, LLC submitted cancellations for would-be future low-power TV stations K43OO-D (Draper), K45MY-D (Draper), K38OZ-D (Humboldt), K38BP-D (Kimball), K42LT-D (Mitchell), K46MT-D (Mitchell), K44MB-D (Plankinton), and K49NB-D (Plankinton).
Wisconsin
Christian broadcaster The Salvation Poem Foundation submitted applications for the two new northern Wisconsin FM stations that it won in the recent FCC auction. 100.9 Tomahawk will transmit with 8.5kW/173m (Class C3) from a tower midway between Tomahawk and Merrill, with a rimshot signal to Rhinelander and fringe coverage of Wausau. Meanwhile, 103.1 Crandon will transmit with 2.2kW/149m (class A) from Crandon.
Future Magnum Communications FM translator W224DX/92.7 (Baraboo) was granted a move to 98.5 with the callsign W253DH. The modified construction permit moves the planned transmitter from southeast of Baraboo to northwest of Portage. It was granted during the AM Revitalization effort to relay WDLS/900 (Wisconsin Dells). The new plans call for a facility that provides a rimshot signal to Portage and fringe coverage of Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo.
David R. Magnum’s W239CV/95.7 (Oshkosh), which was recently granted its license to cover, applied to move to a nearby taller tower, remaining 250 Watts.
1 thought on “FCC Monitor: St. Cloud AM Upgrade Sought; SD Station Ownership Change”
Comments are closed.