The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Iowa
The FCC has approved VCY America’s purchase of KTIA-FM/99.3 (Huxley-Des Moines) from Truth Broadcasting.
Weigel Broadcasting’s TV-49 Inc. closed on its purchase of Class A digital TV station KDAO-CD (Marshalltown) from MTN Broadcasting on Sept. 28.
Digital Networks-Midwest informed the FCC that K31PO-D (Des Moines) is now transmitting from its new site near Marshalltown, having moved from a site near Gladbrook. The low-power TV station was originally licensed to Waterloo and its current coverage area does not reach Des Moines.
The FCC approved a modification for future FM translator K281DB/104.1 (Davenport) to change its transmitter site to downtown Davenport. The 250-Watt translator will relay Townsquare Media’s KBOB/1170 (Davenport).
Sound in Spirit Broadcasting’s KQLF/88.3 (Ottumwa) applied to move to 88.1 and upgrade from 1.4kW to 10.5kW, remaining at its present site with its antenna at 44 meters above average terrain. It previously had a construction permit to move to 88.1 with 4.5kW/112m, which expired earlier this year.
Michigan
WRVM, Inc. applied to move translator W290CO/105.9 (Iron Mountain) to a different site in the city, dropping from 70 to 13 Watts but improving its signal to Quinnesec, MI, and Niagara, WI.
Minnesota
On Sept. 24, the De La Hunt family closed on a transaction transferring five full-power stations and four FM translators from Edward De La Hunt, Sr., and his wife Carol De La Hunt to a company owned by Edward and Tamara De La Hunt, who are their son and daughter-in-law. The stations include KXKK/92.5 (Park Rapids), KDKK/97.5 (Park Rapids), KPRM/870 (Park Rapids), KQKK/101.9 (Walker), and KAKK/1570 (Walker). The family also closed on its sale of KSKK/1070 (Verndale) to a Christian broadcaster on Sept. 27.
SagamoreHill Broadcasting of Kansas City filed more applications for KMWE-LD/17 (St. Cloud) on a hop towards Minneapolis. The station told the FCC it operated briefly from a site near Albany in August before leaving the air for unspecified technical problems. On Sept. 13, it told the FCC a new facility had been constructed at Clearwater, only to leave the air again a week later due to more unspecified technical problems. Then on Sept. 29, it applied to move its transmitter to the northwestern Twin Cities suburb of Corcoran, where it would transmit from a private residence with 7.5kW.
Gray TV told the FCC that K18MO-D (Worthington) returned to the air on Sept. 21. Gray says the former KTTW (Sioux Falls) translator had gone off the air May 31 so it could reconfigure its program stream; the filing does not say what K18MO-D is currently carrying but an earlier filing had specified NBC/FOX affiliate KDLT (Sioux Falls) as the primary station.
Nebraska
VSS Catholic Communications, which operates Spirit Catholic Radio, applied to upgrade KFJS/90.1 (North Platte) and KJWM/91.5 (Grand Island). KFJS would increase from 1.35kW to 13.2kW, remaining at its present site with an antenna 128 meters above average terrain. KJWM would also remain at its current site and increase from 11.5kW to 35kW at 180m.
Independent Omaha Radio Project’s KIOR-LP/98.1 (Omaha) is seeking to change frequency to 91.9 as part of a transmitter move. The station would move west, switching from 100W/11m to 25W/59m. KIOR says the frequency change is needed to get away from interference it receives from KFGE/98.1 (Milford-Lincoln).
The University of Nebraska’s KRNU-FM/90.3 (Lincoln) says contractors continue to work on a project to replace the station’s tower and transmission line, issues which were first revealed when the station found water and ice in the transmission line in September 2019. It been operating at 30% of its licensed 100 Watts at times since then. A newly-filed request for extension of special temporary authority says contractors are working with building structural engineers to work the tower calculations into the building’s structural limits before ordering tower materials.
Digital Networks-Midwest informed the FCC that K36QD-D (Norfolk) is now transmitting from its new site near Schuyler. The station is now specifying Omaha as its community of license, though its current coverage area does not reach Omaha. It had previously transmitted from a site near Howells.
South Dakota
Radio 74 Internationale’s KGHW/90.7 (Onida) applied to upgrade from its present 125 Watts to 100kW, with its antenna height essentially unchanged at 63 meters above average terrain. The new facility would deliver a strong signal to the area northeast of Pierre. The station previously had a construction permit to transmit with 100kW from a different site, which expired in 2014.
The FCC approved a construction permit for Riverfront Broadcasting’s K278AN/103.5 (Rapid City) to move to 103.7 as K279DF. As reported previously, the frequency change comes as a co-owned translator on the same frequency plans an upgrade.
Roseland Broadcasting closed on its purchase of future low-power TV stations K38NJ-D (Beresford), K44KV-D (Elk Point), and K50MS-D (Sturgis) from Landover 2 LLC on Sept. 23.
Wisconsin
David Magnum informed the FCC that new FM translator W234DR/94.7 (Beloit) is operating pursuant to automatic program test authority, relaying WSJY/107.3 (Fort Atkinson).
The FCC approved a license to cover for the downgraded 250-Watt facility of WGKB/1510 (Waukesha), clearing the way for consideration of an application by WLAK/1530 (Chilton) to move to 1520.