The following are updates to previously-reported items and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Nationwide
The FCC granted Edge Spectrum’s requests for tolling of the deadline to construct new facilities for displaced low-power TV stations, setting the new deadline on Sept. 6. The stations were displaced by the spectrum auction repack. They include: K20KF-D (Davenport, IA), K44GH-D (Alexandria, MN), K48KJ-D (Geneva, MN), K38MM-D (International Falls, MN), K43JE-D (Lake Crystal, MN), KHVM-LD (Minneapolis, MN), KTCJ-LD (Minneapolis, MN), K47JE-D (Olivia, MN), K43MH-D Vesta, MN), K47JC-D (Wadena, MN), K43JQ-D (Bismarck, ND), K42IM-D (Minot, ND), K49LK-D (North Platte, NE), and W39CV-D (Minocqua, WI). The FCC said Edge has shown that its efforts to construct the new facilities were hindered by “tower siting and equipment manufacturing and installation delays.” It also ordered Edge to provide a written update on the status of construction on July 15.
Michigan
Gray TV NBC/FOX affiliate WLUC-TV/6.1 (Marquette, RF 35) reported that it is operating at reduced power of 40.9kW while it awaits the installation of a new transmitter. It’s licensed for 63kW and has a construction permit to upgrade to 100kW. WLUC transmits from a site 25 miles southwest of Marquette and operates a fill-in translator, 15kW W14EM-D, which provides a stronger signal to the city.
Minnesota
Four applicants who had applied for six non-commercial stations in southern Minnesota have reached a settlement agreement that could see four of the applications granted, after some modifications:
- One Day Church Project will amend its application for a new station on 88.1 in Claremont to instead specify 88.1 in Rochester using 20.5kW/102m (class C3) from a site west of Rochester.
- Park Public Radio will amend its application for a new station on 88.9 in Owatonna to instead specify 88.3 in Medford with 400W/53m (class A).
- Park Public Radio will amend its application for a new station on 88.1 in Blooming Prairie to instead specify 88.1 in Belmond, IA, using 25kW/55m (class C3) and serving rural north-central Iowa between Mason City and Fort Dodge.
- Christian Ministries of the Valley will withdraw its application for 88.7 in Mankato.
- Minn-Iowa Christian Broadcasting will withdraw its application for 88.1 in Hayfield.
- REC Networks projects that among the remaining applicants in FCC Mutually Exclusive Group 124, One Day Church Project may be granted a construction permit for 88.7 in Mankato based on having a larger coverage area that reaches more people than the remaining applications in the group.
Some of the parties will reimburse each other for filing expenses. Two other applications that the FCC had previously identified as part of MX124 have already received construction permits after modifying their applications to remove themselves from the group (the Salvation Poem Foundation on 88.3 in Harmony and Poderosa Broadcasting on 88.1 in New Market Elko).
Nebraska
The FCC granted MyBridge Radio a construction permit for a new station on 91.3 in Lexington using 100kW/109m (class C1).
Sinclair Broadcast Group reported that it has completed a modification of FOX affiliate KPTM/42.1 (Omaha, RF 26) from 1,000kW to 800kW. Meanwhile, Sinclair-operated KXVO (Omaha, RF 29), which is owned by Mitts Telecasting, completed a modification from 825kW to 630kW. As previously reported, KXVO recently converted to ATSC 3.0 to serve as the NextGen TV host station for the major Omaha network affiliates.
South Dakota
Gray TV low-power TV station K22OV-D (Caputa-Rapid City) was granted an increase from 1kW to 15kW horizontal and 10.3kW vertical. It will remain on its current tower at the KOTA-TV/KEVN-TV site on Skyline Drive in Rapid City.
The FCC formally approved a frequency change for KZMX-FM/96.7 (Hot Springs) to 96.3 after first ordering the move seven years ago and recently setting a June 11 deadline for the station to make the change. The move will make way for the sign-on of new station KRCF/96.7 (Lead), owned by Alex Media.
Wisconsin
Columbus Community Radio received a construction permit for a new station on 91.1 in Columbus using 20kW/24m (class B1). It will deliver a strong signal to an area northeast of Madison, with fringe coverage of the capital city. The permittee received engineering services from Christian broadcaster Radio 74 Internationale.
Heritage Baptist Church withdrew its application for a new station on 91.5 in Janesville. It had been in competition with a half-dozen applications but, unlike some of the others, did not claim fair distribution preference based on providing a new second non-commercial service to some areas.
Gray TV CW affiliate WECX-LD/14.1 (Eau Claire) applied to move to sister station WEAU-TV’s tower near Fairchild, where it would broadcast with 10.1kW and expand its coverage area to the southeast. It would transmit from a side-mounted antenna that is also used as WEAU’s auxiliary facility. WECX-LD currently transmits with 500W from the tower at the WEAU studio in Eau Claire; W33DH-D also transmits from the same tower with 15kW and relays WECX’s programming.