The following are updates to previously-reported items and other recent regulatory filings and actions concerning Upper Midwest broadcast stations. This report is created by the author and is not an official report of the FCC.
Iowa
Several minority investors are exiting KZIA Inc., which owns KZIA/102.9 (Cedar Rapids), KGYM/1600 (Cedar Rapids), three FM translators in Cedar Rapids, and two FM translators in Iowa City. Robert Downer, Jane Downer, Peter Vanderhoef, and John Phelan will sell their shares. Each individual’s payout is not listed in the FCC application, but the filing says “18,496 shares were tendered to the company which will be repurchased at a per share value of $52.33.” Nicole Keller’s interest in the company will increase from 28.3% to 35.71% and her mother Sandra Keller’s interest, controlled by Nicole Keller through power of attorney, will increase from 37.12% to 46.85%. President and CEO Julie Hein will be added as a shareholder with 0.22% interest.
Tegna submitted a filing informing the FCC that the control points for WOI-TV/5.1 (Ames-Des Moines), KCWI/23.1 (Ames-Des Moines), and WQAD/8.1 (Moline-Quad Cities) are at WCNC in Charlotte, NC. The stations continue to use studios in Des Moines and Moline.
Minnesota
EICB-TV East submitted a license to cover application indicating that new low-power TV station K14QM-D (Duluth) has been constructed as authorized. Programming is unknown.
Gray TV applied to relocate low-power TV stations K29OE-D (Racine) and K30RA-D (Racine) to sister station KTTC’s studio facility on the north side of Rochester with 1kW directional signals pointing southward. The stations currently transmit from south of Rochester with 1.55kW directional signals pointing northward.
The FCC approved Carpenter Broadcasting’s purchase of WLKX-FM/95.9 (Forest Lake) and KBGY/107.5 (Faribault) and the remaining 75% of KLCI/106.1 (Elk River) and WQPM/1300 (Princeton) from companies owned by the D.M. Peters Family Trust. The stations already operate jointly. Meanwhile, the FCC also approved Carpenter Broadcasting’s purchase of WFNX/95.3 (Grand Marais) from Shire & Shore Communications.
Minnesota Public Radio notified the FCC that translator K211FR/90.1 (Ely) is now relaying the HD3 signal of WIRC/89.3 (Ely), rather than WIRR/90.9 (Virginia-Hibbing). Another Ely translator, W267BV/101.3, already carried “The Current” via WIRC-HD2.
Tegna informed the FCC that the control point for KARE/11 (Minneapolis) is at WCNC in Charlotte, NC. The station’s main studio remains in Golden Valley.
Nebraska
Gray TV informed the FCC that the main studio of WOWT/6.1 (Omaha) has officially moved to its new facility at 3555 Farnam Street. Newscast Studio featured screengrabs of the new studio.
CSN International’s K255CJ/98.9 (Briggs-Omaha) was granted a construction permit to move to a tower about two miles north of its old site at the former WOWT facility with 75 Watts. It will continue to relay KHLW/89.3 (Tabor, IA).
The FCC has approved Hickory Radio’s purchase of K287CB/105.3 (Glenwood, IA), which is licensed to transmit from Omaha, from CSN International.
Edge Spectrum submitted a license to cover application indicating that new low-power TV station K36MO-D (Lincoln) has been constructed as authorized. The permit calls for the station to transmit with 100 Watts from York, not reaching Lincoln. Programming is unknown.
Waitt Broadcasting withdrew its application to move K30BP-D (Norfolk) to channel 17 and instead applied to permanently use the 4.7kW facility on channel 23 that it has been operating under special temporary authority since being displaced from channel 30.
North Dakota
Edge Spectrum and FideliTV submitted license to cover applications indicating that new low-power TV stations K09AAC-D (Fargo), K10RQ-D (Fargo), and K18NP-D (Fargo) have been constructed as authorized. Programming is unknown.
Wisconsin
Bruce D. Grassman is gifting his shares in Results Broadcasting to his son, Donald W. Grassman, who will hold 20% of the company assets and 100% of the votes once the transaction receives FCC approval. Results’ stations include WACD/106.1 (Antigo), WATK/900 (Antigo), WJMQ/92.3 (Clintonville), WOTE/1380 (Clintonville), WOWN/99.3 (Shawano), WTCH/960 (Shawano), and three FM translators relaying the AM stations.
The Edge Spectrum informed the FCC that new 100-Watt low-power TV station W36EI-D (Wausau) has been constructed as authorized. Programming is unknown.
The FCC approved Magnum Communications’ purchase of WCFW/105.7 (Chippewa Falls) and W256AE/99.1 (Chippewa Falls) from Roland Bushland.
Zoe Communications requested an extension of special temporary authority for WXCE/1260 (Amery) to remain off the air, saying supply chain issues have delayed the station’s return to full operation.