The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Iowa
VCY America filed formal applications for the new FM stations on 103.9 in Dunkerton and 92.9 in Rockford that it won in the recent FCC auction. The Dunkerton station will use 6kW/100m (class A) from a site in Readlyn, rimshotting Waterloo. The Rockford station will use 6kW/68m (class A) from a site just north of Rockford, providing a rimshot/fringe signal to Mason City. The Milwaukee-based Christian broadcaster owns dozens of stations around the country.
Cumulus Media applied to move the transmitter location of future FM translator K300DO/107.9 (Des Moines) from the east metro to the northwest metro with 130 Watts. It will relay KBGG/1700 and faces a Dec. 8 construction deadline.
The FCC approved Weigel Broadcasting/TV 49 Incorporated’s purchase of KDAO-CD (Marshalltown-Des Moines) from MTN Broadcasting.
Michigan
Houghton Community Broadcasting formally applied for the new FM station on 96.3 in Houghton that it won in the recent FCC auction. The station will use 100kW/226m (class C1). Houghton Community Broadcasting owns three other radio stations in Houghton and owner Steven A. Marks has an attributable interest in 21 other radio and TV stations, mostly in the Upper Midwest and Montana.
Minnesota
The FCC approved another part of upcoming changes at the Telefarm transmitter site in Shoreview. The latest construction permit is for Hubbard ABC station KSTP-TV/5.1 (St. Paul, RF 35) to move from the north tower to a top-mounted antenna on the south tower. As previously noted, Hubbard Independent “45TV” KSTC-TV/5.2 (RF30) was granted a construction permit to move from the south tower to the north tower, where its antenna will be located just below a new combined antenna for KARE (to be RF31) and WCCO-TV (RF32).
The FCC approved the transfer of five full-power radio stations and four FM translators in northern Minnesota from companies owned by Edward De La Hunt, Sr., and his wife Carol De La Hunt to a company owned by their son and daughter-in-law. The stations include KPRM/870 (Park Rapids), KXKK/92.5 (Park Rapids), KDKK/97.5 (Park Rapids), KAKK/1570 (Walker), and KQKK/101.9 (Walker).
The FCC approved Gabriel Media’s purchase of KSKK/1070 (Verndale) and the construction permit for new FM translator K267CU/101.7 (Verndale) from the De La Hunt family’s Verndale Broadcasting.
Lowcountry 34 Media LLC closed on its purchase of low-power TV stations K17OV-D (Duluth) and K30QX-D (Duluth) from CTB Spectrum Services Two LLC on Sept. 9. As previously noted, the stations recently applied for licenses to cover facilities transmitting from near Saginaw.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s K16KM-D (Bemidji), which is currently licensed to transmit with a directional 15kW signal from a site northwest of Walker, applied to instead use 2kW directional from a site east of Walker.
Nebraska
The FCC approved power reductions for Sinclair FOX affiliate KPTM/42.1 (Omaha) and Mitts Telecasting CW affiliate KXVO/15.1 (Omaha), which is operated by Sinclair. As part of an antenna replacement project, KPTM will drop from 1,000kW to 800kW and KXVO will drop from 825kW to 630kW.
DTV America says KQMK-LD/21 (Omaha) is back on the air after an inspection of its transmission line found no problems. The station had gone off the air July 31 and returned on August 15.
South Dakota
Prairie Winds Broadcasting’s KJKQ/99.5 (Sisseton) applied to move its tower west, changing from its current 25kW/170m to 50kW/128m (both class C2). The proposed tower site near Eden is already used by sister station KBWS/102.9 (Sisseton).
Riverfront Broadcasting applied to move K278AN/103.5 (Rapid City) to 103.7 with 250 Watts, continuing to list KDDX/101.1 (Spearfish) as the station to be rebroadcast. The change comes as Riverfront seeks to move K278AM/103.5 (Spearfish) to Terry Peak, widening its coverage area significantly.
The FCC approved Roseland Broadcasting’s purchase of future low-power TV stations K38NJ-D (Beresford), K44KV-D (Elk Point), and K50MS-D (Sturgis) from Landover 2 LLC.
Roseland Broadcasting closed on its purchase of future low-power TV station K22OU-D (Reliance) from Landover 2 LLC on Sept. 8.
Wisconsin
Cumulus Media informed the FCC that new FM translator W230DB/93.9 (Oshkosh) is operating pursuant to program test authority. The translator was granted during the AM Revitalization effort to relay WOSH/1490, which has so far not mentioned the FM frequency on its website or social media feeds. The FCC granted W230DB’s license to cover on Sept. 17.
The FCC granted Magnum Radio’s W267CL/101.7 (West Bend) a move to a taller tower west of town, dropping power slightly from 250 to 220 Watts but expanding its coverage area due to the increased height.
Gray TV applied for a license to cover for W31EV-D (Wausau), informing the FCC that new low-power TV station has been constructed as specified in its permit. Programming is unknown.