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.
National
After earlier announcing that it had terminated its merger agreement with Standard General, Tegna submitted a filing on May 30 formally withdrawing applications to transfer its licenses. On June 1, an administrative law judge filed an order terminating the proceeding.
Iowa
The FCC has issued notices of apparent liability for forfeiture to Gendreau Broadcast LLC for alleged violations at KCLN/1390 (Clinton) and KMCN/94.7 (Clinton). The action comes after Dave Vickers, the general manager and minority owner of a competing station, submitted informal objections to the stations’ license renewal applications alleging that their online public files are incomplete and that KCLN has not been reducing power at night. The FCC says that in response to a letter of inquiry, Gendreau “acknowledged that it had failed to upload information to the Political File Section of the Station’s [online public inspection file]” and that KCLN had been experiencing technical difficulties. However, Gendreau stated that KCLN had been operating at between 50 and 70 watts 24 hours a day, which is below the station’s licensed power of 1kW daytime and 91 Watts nighttime. The KCLN NAL proposes an $11,000 forfeiture and noted that KCLN should have applied for special temporary authority to operate at reduced power. Meanwhile, the KMCH NAL proposes an $8,000 forfeiture. Gendreau has 30 days to request a reduction or cancellation of the proposed fines.
Community First Broadcasting closed on its purchase of KIWA-FM/105.3 (Sheldon), KIWA/1550 (Sheldon), and KIWA translator K264CW/100.7 (Sheldon) from the Stangland family’s Sheldon Broadcasting on May 30.
The FCC granted WVIK’s W252EM/98.3 (Davenport) a construction permit to move its antenna 30 meters higher on its current tower in Moline, remaining 250 Watts.
Edge Spectrum’s K20KF-D (Davenport) requested additional tolling of the deadline to resume operations. The station went silent after being displaced by the spectrum repack and has a construction permit to return to the air on channel 33.
Michigan
Aurora Media applied to move the transmitter of W254AG/98.7 (Escanaba) farther to the northwest of the city, co-locating with sister station WYKX/104.7. W254AG would remain 250 Watts and switch its input to WYKX (the application did not specify if an HD subchannel would be carried).
Minnesota
University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K224DB/92.7 (Willmar) requested special temporary authority to activate an HD Radio signal. It would operate with 17 Watts ERP, one-tenth the power of the analog signal. K224DB is a translator of KTIS-FM/98.5 (Minneapolis), which carries four HD channels. While many translators relay HD subchannels, it’s not clear if there are currently any translators actually broadcasting in HD format.
The FCC extended the deadline to July 1, 2023, for Edge Spectrum stations KHVM-LD (Minneapolis), K44GH-D (Alexandria), K48KJ-D (Geneva), K47JE-D (Olivia), and K43MH-D (Vesta) to return to the air. The stations had previously broadcast on the portion of the UHF band that was discontinued in 2021 and have construction permits to return to the air on lower channel numbers. Edge has reported delays in equipment delivery, zoning, and permitting. This is the third extension for the stations and the FCC wrote, “We anticipate this will be Edge’s final requests for tolling of its construction permits and extension of its licenses.”
Nebraska
Armada Media’s KBRL/1300 (McCook) reported that it is operating at about 25% of its usual power, in non-directional mode, after extensive rain at its transmitter site. “The building housing the KBRL transmitter flooded to the depth of about two feet of water damaging the transmitter which will not currently maintain licensed power,” according to the station’s request for special temporary authority. KBRL normally transmits with 5kW day and 136 Watts night, directional.
North Dakota
The Educational Media Foundation’s KLDQ/100.7 (Harwood-Fargo) reported that it returned to its full power of 40kW on May 24.
Roseland Broadcasting’s KXBK-LD/15 (Bismarck) reported that it completed an upgrade to 3kW.
The FCC extended the deadline to July 1, 2023, for Edge Spectrum stations K43JQ-D (Bismarck) and K42IM-D (Minot) to return to the air. See the Minnesota item above for additional background.
South Dakota
The FCC has issued a $750 forfeiture order to G.I.G. Inc. for alleged violations at KCPO-LP/26 (Sioux Falls). The regulator had originally proposed a $6,500 fine for “failing to timely file a license to cover application” and other issues. The order says that KCPO-LP flash-cut from analog to digital broadcasting in April 2020 but failed to file a license to cover application reporting the change until more than two years later. The reduction comes after G.I.G. requested a cancellation or reduction of the amount originally proposed in the notice of apparent liability for forfeiture issued in January.
Wisconsin
Midwest Communications’ WDKF/99.7 (Sturgeon Bay-Green Bay) was granted special temporary authority to transmit with 9.08kW ERP, rather than its licensed 46kW, due to a failure of its main transmitter. The station’s request says parts are no longer available for the transmitter and a replacement was already anticipated, and it may return to full power within 60 to 90 days.
Educational Media Foundation’s WPCK/104.9 (Denmark-Green Bay) reported that has been operating at an unspecified reduced power since May 25 due to equipment failure.
Baraboo Broadcasting Corporation reported that new low-power TV stations W22FK-D, W25FT-D, W36FN-D (Baraboo) have been constructed as authorized. Though licensed to Baraboo, the stations actually transmit from a tower near Tomah with directional signals pointing southeast.
The FCC extended the deadline to July 1, 2023, for Edge Spectrum station W39CV-D (Minocqua) to return to the air. See the Minnesota item above for additional background.
Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.