The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Iowa
The FCC approved a modification for future FM translator K300DO/107.9 (Des Moines), switching from a 90-Watt facility on the east side of the metro to a 130-Watt facility on the northwest side and changing frequency to 101.3 at the same time (an initial report here neglected to mention the frequency change). The translator, granted during the AM Revitalization effort, will relay Cumulus’ KBGG/1700.
Lowcountry 34 Media, LLC informed the FCC that new low-power TV stations K24KD-D (Salix) and K27LD-D (Salix) went off the air Sept. 3 “to conserve financial resources while Lowcountry continues to build out its broadcast network.” The silence came two days after the stations told the FCC they had signed on and one day after the FCC granted their licenses to cover.
Minnesota
Rejoice Radio’s KPCS/89.7 (Princeton) is operating at 28kW, rather than its usual 40kW, due to transmitter problems. The station’s request for special temporary authority says a backlog of parts is slowing repairs. KPCS serves the far north suburban Twin Cities metro area.
Townsquare Media’s KDHL/920 (Faribault) tells the FCC it is now operating with 3.3kW day and 1kW night, directional, completing a years-long project. The station had previously transmitted with 5kW day and night from a seven-tower array; previous filings show that after beginning to operate at a variance in 2014, the station decided to remove four of the towers and had used 1.25kW non-directional while the project was completed. KDHL delivers a strong signal to the southern Twin Cities metro area.
Gray TV closed on its purchase of construction permits for future low-power TV stations from Landover 2 LLC and CTB Spectrum Services Two LLC on Sept. 22, days after receiving FCC approval. They include K23MQ-D (Duluth, MN), K43OH-D (Racine, MN), K45MO-D (Racine, MN), K33MW-D (Sherburne, MN). All are in markets where Gray owns full-power TV stations.
As specified in the above Gray TV deal, CTB surrendered the construction permit for K24OF-D (Duluth).
Lowcountry 34 Media, LLC informed the FCC that new low-power TV stations K17OV-D (Duluth) and K30QX-D (Duluth) went off the air Sept. 9 “to conserve financial resources while Lowcountry continues to build out its broadcast network.” The silence came two days after the stations told the FCC they had signed on and one day after the FCC granted their licenses to cover.
Roseland Broadcasting is transferring the construction permit for future low-power TV station K35PC-D (Rochester) to a related company, SagamoreHill Broadcasting of Minneapolis, which is owned 49% by Roseland and 51% by SagamoreHill II. Roseland is owned by Julie Huang while SagamoreHill II is owned by Louis Wall; Wall also has an attributable interest in the licensee of KXLT/47.1 (Rochester), which is operated by Gray TV.
Landover Two LLC’s construction permits for K17MA-D (Rushmore) and K27ML-D (Rushmore) were cancelled. The stations had sought extensions prior to their July construction deadlines but the FCC says Landover did not respond to a request for more information within the required 30 days.
Nebraska
Radio 74 Internationale’s KJGS/91.9 (Aurora) applied to upgrade from its present 200W/8m (class A) to 100kW/52m (class C1). The station previously had a construction permit for 11kW/36m (class C3), which expired in June.
Central Community College’s KCNT/88.1 (Hastings) applied to downgrade from 2.3kW/55m to 1.2kW/56m, moving its transmitter to a different spot on the college campus.
The FCC cancelled William L. Bruggeman, Jr. and Ruth J. Bruggeman’s construction permits for K23MC-D (Grand Island), K33MT-D (Grand Island), K38OM-D (Grand Island), K35LG-D (Hastings), K42KX-D (Hastings), and K43NV-D (Hastings).
North Dakota
Gray TV closed on its purchase of construction permits for future low-power TV stations from Landover 2 LLC and CTB Spectrum Services Two LLC on Sept. 22, days after receiving FCC approval. They include K45LQ-D (Bismarck, ND), K39LK-D (Dickinson, ND), K38OK-D (Minot, ND), K46ME-D (Williston, ND). Gray TV also owns full-power TV stations in the Bismarck-Dickinson-Minot-Williston market.
The FCC cancelled William L. Bruggeman, Jr. and Ruth J. Bruggeman’s construction permits for K41NB-D (Grand Forks) and K46LZ-D (Grand Forks).
South Dakota
Gray TV closed on its purchase of construction permits for future low-power TV stations from Landover 2 LLC and CTB Spectrum Services Two LLC on Sept. 22, days after receiving FCC approval. They include K40MR-D (Caputa, SD), K42KU-D (Caputa, SD), K46LO-D (Deadwood, SD), and K48NF-D (Deadwood, SD). All are in the Rapid City market, where Gray owns existing full-power and low-power stations.
The FCC cancelled Landover Two LLC’s construction permits for several low-power TV stations that had sought extensions, saying Landover did not respond to a request for more information within the required 30 days. The canceled permits include K14QD-D (Draper), K16LA-D (Draper), K35LZ-D (Humboldt), K33NI-D (Kimball), K35MB-D (Kimball), K24LP-D (Mitchell), K28NJ-D (Mitchell), K24LK-D (Murdo), K28NH-D (Murdo), K15JW-D (Plankinton), K19KJ-D (Plankinton), K35LZ-D (Plankinton), and K28NI-D (Wasta).
Wisconsin
The FCC reinstated Magnum Communications’ construction permit for future FM translator W255DE/98.9 (De Forest), which now has an expiration date of March 15, 2022. It’s not immediately clear why the FCC rescinded its earlier denial of a petition for reconsideration. The translator was granted during the AM Revitalization effort to relay WPDR/1350 (Portage). De Forest is a suburban area of Madison.
Magnum Communications notified the FCC that new FM translator W253DH/98.5 (Baraboo) is operating pursuant to automatic program test authority. Though licensed to Baraboo, the translator actually broadcasts from a site northwest of Portage with 250 Watts, relaying WDLS/900 (Wisconsin Dells). It was granted during the FCC’s AM Revitalization effort.
The FCC approved an application from WWMD-LP/95.3 (Ashland) to move to 94.3. As previously reported, the move is being made to get away from interference from an existing station.
The Salvation Poem Foundation applied for a construction permit to replace the expired permit to upgrade WEQS/89.3 (Sparta) from 450W/229m (class A) to 10kW/127m (class C3).