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
Iowa PBS’ flagship station, KDIN-TV/11 (Des Moines), has submitted a proposed rulemaking to move its RF transmission to UHF channel 34, though it could continue to remap to virtual channel 11. It would transmit with 1,000kW on the new UHF channel. Like numerous previous applications from stations seeking moves from VHF to UHF, KDIN says a the change is needed to improve indoor reception. The station’s filing includes documentation of dozens of reception complaints.
Townsquare Media’s KOEL-FM/92.3 (Oelwein-Waterloo) reported that it is operating at about 25% of its licensed 100kW due to an antenna failure. Its request for special temporary authority says repairs are ongoing.
Townsquare’s KRNA/94.1 (Iowa City) reported that it is operating at 20% of its licensed 100kW due to transmitter issues. Its request for special temporary authority says a new transmitter has been ordered.
Michigan
“Smile FM” station WKPK/88.3 (Michigamme-Marquette) was granted an upgrade from its present 15kW/252m (class C2) to 40kW/285m (C1). Though co-channel with CBC Radio One’s CBQT-FM/88.3 (Thunder Bay), WKPK submitted a map showing that any interference would be over Lake Superior.
After filing a previous reduced power notification due to severe icing, VCY America’s WVCN/104.3 (Baraga) requested special temporary authority to continue operating at reduced power of 2kW. The new filing says delays in delivery of components, winter weather, and availability of contractors has slowed the project.
Minnesota
HC2 Broadcasting’s K33LN-D (Minneapolis) submitted a request for special temporary authority stating that it is currently operating at 10.5kW, rather than its licensed 15kW, while it works to repair a power amplifier.
Nebraska
The FCC granted the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska a construction permit for a new station on 88.9 in Winnebago, which will use 4kW/113m (class A). It has requested the callsign KBVW-FM.
Cedar Cove Broadcasting was granted a callsign change for future station KKAR/88.1 (Kimball) to KAVA effective Feb. 24.
South Dakota
VCY America closed on its purchase of KTPT/97.9 (Rapid City) from Bethesda Christian Broadcasting on Feb. 14 and changed its callsign to KVPC. It appears the station remains off the air for now.
Wisconsin
WRVM, Inc. has filed a petition to deny the FCC’s tentative selection of Vanguard Association of Sunbelt Colleges Corporation as the winner of a new station on 88.3 in Rosendale. As reported earlier, Vanguard’s application is one of eight competing proposals; it was selected on a tie-breaker after initially scoring the same number of points as WRVM and the Salvation Poem Foundation. However, WRVM now alleges that Vanguard’s application should not have advanced to the tiebreaker because figures showing its proposed population reach weren’t submitted until four months after the filing deadline, and should not have been counted towards its total points.
Magnum Communications’ WYZM/92.7 (Kewaunee) was granted a callsign change to WCFW, effective Feb. 20. As regular readers likely know, the WCFW callsign was previously used in Chippewa Falls. WYZM was WAUN-FM until a callsign change in November; the WAUN callsign was moved to the former WEZY/1350 (Portage) and WEZY moved to the former WCFW/105.7 (Chippewa Falls).
Magnum’s WRDB/1400 (Reedsburg) requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 75 Watts from a longwire antenna after its tower collapsed due to ice accumulation last February. The station’s latest filing says it’s estimated that the replacement project will take at least another six months.