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
DTV America’s K17MH-D (Cedar Falls) informed the FCC that it is operating at 7.3kW rather than its licensed 11.7kW as it awaits repairs to two power amplifiers.
Minnesota
Minnesota Public Radio informed the FCC that K211FR/90.1 (Ely) has switched its input station from WIRR/90.9 (Virginia-Hibbing) to the HD3 signal of WIRC/89.3 (Ely). It continues to carry Classical MPR.
Fairmont Area Catholic Radio has slightly increased its coverage area, replacing 100-Watt KYEJ-LP/90.1 (Fairmont) with 175-Watt KYEJ/90.1 (Fairmont). The group submitted a notification that KYEJ-LP has gone off the air, stating that they plan to return the low-power station’s license once KYEJ’s full-power license is formally granted. The organization also has a construction permit for a new 6kW station on 91.9.
North Dakota
After replacing an antenna damaged in spring storms, Prairie Public Broadcasting reported that it has discovered an error in the licensing of KCND/90.5 (Bismarck). The station has long been licensed for an antenna height of 274 meters above ground, but engineers discovered that it is actually about six meters lower. The station requested special temporary authority to continue using that antenna height while it works toward a permanent license change.
The FCC canceled Landover 2 LLC’s construction permit for new low-power TV station K14SJ-D (Grafton). FCC records indicate the station’s construction deadline was in February 2022.
South Dakota
Mount Rushmore Broadcasting’s KFCR/1490 (Custer) reported that it went off the air Oct. 10 due to equipment failure. The station has requested special temporary authority to remain silent.
Wisconsin
After closing on its purchase of W248DE/97.5 (Wisconsin Rapids) earlier this month, Civic Media reported that it discovered an error in the station’s licensing. The license specifies that W248DE’s antenna is at 125 meters above ground level, which is the height of the tower, but Civic says the antenna is actually only 84 meters above ground. Civic stated that it plans to move the antenna to the top of the tower, matching the license, and was granted special temporary authority to continue operating at the lower antenna height until the move is completed.
Civic Media formally closed on its purchase of WXCO/1230 and W255DN/98.9 (Wausau) from Sunrise Broadcasting on Oct. 20. The buyer had been operating the stations since August under a local marketing agreement .
Vanguard Association of Sunbelt Colleges Corporation was granted the callsign WBWY for its future station on 91.9 in Janesville.
The FCC extended the construction deadlines for new low-power TV stations W22FK-D, W25FT-D, and W36FN-D (Baraboo) until Jan. 10, 2023 after permittee Baraboo Broadcasting Corporation reported that it has encountered delays in working with the owner of their potential tower site.
My Central Valley’s WRJT-LD/34 (Wausau) was granted an upgrade from 7.5kW to 15kW, remaining at its present site near Milladore.