A project that combined seven FM radio stations on one tower in Nebraska’s panhandle is finished, with two stations now on new frequencies.
The tower west of Scottsbluff had previously been used by three stations with separate antennas. It now hosts four Nebraska Rural Radio Association stations using a shared antenna as well as two NRRA translators and a full-power non-commercial station.
- KOZY-FM/101.3 (Bridgeport) is the only facility that is unchanged, remaining 100kW/339m (class C0).
- KMOR/93.3 (Gering) moved its antenna higher on the tower, increasing from 311m to 339m and remaining 100kW.
- KHYY/106.9 (Minatare) moved to 107.3 with 100kW/339m, replacing its previous 25kW/28m (class C3) facility that had operated from the former KOLT/1320 site.
- KNEB-FM/94.1 (Scottsbluff) moved from its longtime site south of Scottsbluff to the tower, changing from its previous 100kW/207m to 75kW/339m (class C1).
- Translators K262CU/100.3 (Scottsbluff) and K269DO/101.7 (Scottsbluff) moved to the tower.
- VSS Catholic Communications’ KETT/99.3 (Mitchell), which had already been on the tower, changed frequency to 99.5 and upgraded from 2.65kW/258m (class C3) to 13kW/293m (class C2).
KETT, a Spirit Catholic Radio station, first reported in August that it was operating on its new frequency:
The NRRA stations reported on Sept. 1 that work was nearing completion and that the full-power FM stations were operating from the new tower at half-power at that time. They then filed license to cover applications with the FCC on Sept. 15.
An August wildfire destroyed the previously-licensed KHYY site on Kolt Lane, which was the longtime transmission site for the former KOLT/1320. It had also been in use by KMOR, KETT, and KOZY-FM during the tower work. The fire forced NRRA to find new temporary facilities for the stations until the tower was ready.
Meanwhile, the NRRA’s KOLT/690 (Terrytown), which had a construction permit to move to the Kolt Lane site, has now filed a new application to instead co-locate with sister station KNEB/960 (Scottsbluff). KOLT/690 would use 1kW day and 75 Watts night, non-directional. It currently uses 1kW day/65W night with a directional antenna in Terrytown.