FCC/CRTC Monitor: More New FM Non-Comm Stations, Upgrades

Posted on by Jon Ellis

The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions. Much of the activity this past week involved grants of non-commercial FM upgrades that were sought shortly before the FCC opened an application window for new non-comm stations, a few more of which were also granted.

Iowa

Tegna CW affiliate KCWI/23.1 (Ames-Des Moines) reported that it continues to operate at half of its licensed 246kW ERP while it awaits the delivery of a new transmitter. The station first reduced power last August. Its latest filing says supply chain issues have slowed progress in getting a replacement transmitter but it currently expects delivery in May.

Following up on last week’s report about KIOA/93.3 (Des Moines) being at reduced power, two more stations have publicly reported problems that have not yet appeared in the FCC database, though immediate filings are not required. KGGO/94.9 (Des Moines) transmits from the same tower as KIOA. KGGO first reported a problem on its Facebook page Jan. 26 and reported Feb. 5 that it was still at reduced power:

Meanwhile, K229CC/93.7 (Des Moines) put up a post using similar terminology to KIOA’s original post, though K229CC transmits from a different tower site and relays KSTZ-HD2, which transmits from a third site:

Grace Baptist Church was granted a construction permit for a new FM station on 91.9 in Glidden (see running list of new non-commercial FM grants).

The FCC approved a construction permit for Spirit in Sounds Broadcasting’s KQLF/88.3 (Ottumwa) to move to 88.1 and upgrade to 10.5kW/44m (class C3).

JKJ Educational Foundation amended its application for a new 60kW station on 89.9 in Everly to instead specify 100 Watts on 89.9 in Kiron, removing it from competition with other applications.

Manitoba

A belated report that the CRTC is considering two applications for new commercial ethnic FM radio stations on 88.7 in Winnipeg, both of which would use 800 Watts. The applicants are 888 Enterprises Inc. and U Multicultural Inc. The CRTC’s call for comments ended Jan. 31 and replies to the comments can be made through Feb. 15.

Minnesota

Ingstad Media/Iowa City Broadcasting requested program test authority for new FM translator K252GM/98.3 (Montevideo), which was granted during the AM Revitalization effort to relay KDMA/1460. KDMA is also simulcast on KDMA-FM/93.9 (Granite Falls-Montevideo) and the station’s new logo indicates the simulcast is going to continue:

Hubbard Broadcasting ABC affiliate KAAL/6.1 (Austin) reported that its control point is now located at KSTP-TV in St. Paul. The station’s news studio continues to be located in Rochester, which is in the same TV market as Austin.

Nebraska

iHeartMedia’s KFFF/93.3 (Bennington-Omaha) applied to co-locate at the site of KEZO/92.3 and KQCH/94.1, moving from its present location at the WOWT(TV) studio site about five miles to the southeast. The station would change from its current 8.5kW/170m to 1kW/361m and remain class C3. KFFF would be short-spaced with KKOT/93.5 (Columbus) but would transmit with less than the maximum facility for a class C3 station to prevent prohibited contour overlap (the FCC propagation curves calculator shows a maximized class C3 facility at 361m would use 1.8kW).

The Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission was granted a construction permit for a new station on 89.3 in Broken Bow (see running list of new non-commercial FM grants).

Radio 74 Internationale’s KJGS/91.9 (Aurora) was granted a large upgrade from its present 200W/8m (class A) to 100kW/52m (class C1).

VSS Catholic Communications’ KFJS/90.1 (North Platte) was granted an upgrade from its present 1.35kW (class A) to 13.2kW (class C3), keeping its current antenna height of 128m.

VSS’ K207BY/89.3 (Chadron) was granted a construction permit to move to 91.3 as K217GM, remaining 250 Watts. The move is being made because the FCC recently granted a full-power station to operate on 89.5.

Flood Communications of Omaha’s KOHA-LD/27 (Omaha) upgraded from 4kW to 15kW.

North Dakota

Glass Works Broadcasting LLC closed on its purchase of KDXN/105.7 (South Heart-Dickinson) from Totally Amped LLC on Feb. 1.

Vision Media’s KZTK/103.9 (Arthur) applied to upgrade from its present 25kW/100m (class C3) to 47kW/93m (class C2), remaining at its current tower site. The upgrade would improve KZTK’s signal to Fargo. Though a full class C2 allotment at Arthur is short-spaced to KBOT/104.1 (Pelican Rapids, MN), KZTK would use less than the maximum facility for a class C2 station to prevent prohibited overlap.

Ontario

The CRTC recently denied an application from United Christian Broadcasters Media Canada to amend its licenses, including CJOA-FM/95.1 (Thunder Bay), to change playlist requirements. UCB said that the rules limit how often it can play the most popular religious selections once they hit mainstream charts. The CRTC did not receive any interventions but said the proposal is a policy issue that “would be more appropriately examined as part of the Commercial Radio Policy review proceeding currently underway.”

CBC has applied to downgrade Radio One station CBQI-FM/90.1 (Atikokan) from its current 2.9kW/81m to 1.685kW/68m, remaining on its current tower. The application says CBQI’s “time-worn antenna” needs to be replaced but that it would continue to use its current transmitter, and CBQI’s coverage area wouldn’t actually lose any population. The sparsely-populated region is known for the mostly-roadless Quetico Provincial Park.

South Dakota

The FCC approved a large upgrade for Harvest Community Baptist Church of Watertown’s KPGT/89.1 (Watertown), which will increase from its current 200W/6m (class A) to 30kW/239m (class C1).

Radio 74 Internationale’s KGHW/90.7 (Onida) was also granted a large upgrade, with plans to increase from 125 Watts (class A) to 100kW (class C1). The antenna height would change slightly to 63m.

VCY America’s KVFL/89.1 (Pierre) was granted an upgrade from 400 Watts (class A) to 10kW (class C3), keeping its current 113m antenna height.

The University of Northwestern-St. Paul reported that its newly-acquired KSLP/90.3 (Fort Pierre) is operating at reduced power. Normally licensed for 2kW effective radiated power resulting from 1.4kW transmitter power output, KSLP reported that its current TPO is actually 887 Watts.

Wisconsin

2820 Communications was granted a construction permit for a new station on 89.3 in Whitewater (see running list of new non-commercial FM grants).

Alpha Media’s WIIL/95.1 (Union Grove-Kenosha) reported that it is operating at reduced power due to transmitter failure. Normally 50kW, WIIL is instead transmitting with 4.25kW ERP while a replacement transmitter is ordered.

The Salvation Poem Foundation’s WEQS/89.3 (Sparta) was granted an upgrade from its present 450W/229m (class A) to 10kW/127m (class C3).