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.
Minnesota/North Dakota
Following the announcement earlier this year that Red River Broadcast Corp. had terminated its deal to sell stations to Forum Communications following FCC inaction, Red River has formally withdrawn applications to transfer its licenses. They include KQDS-DT/21.1 (Duluth), KVRR/15.1 (Fargo), KBRR/10.1 (Thief River Falls), KNRR/12.1 (Pembina), and KJRR/7.1 (Jamestown).
Nebraska
CSN International closed on its purchase of K208GD/89.5 (Grand Island) from Bible Broadcasting Network on Nov. 17. With the sale, K208GD has switched its primary station to CSN’s KAWZ (Twin Falls, ID).
Ontario
The CRTC has extended the authorizations for upgrades CFNO-FM-5/107.1 (Longlac) and CFNO-FM-7/107.1 (Nakina) until March 10, 2024. The Longlac transmitter will increase from 4 to 125 Watts while the Nakina transmitter will increase from 40 to 110 Watts, with both upgrading from class LP to class A. The transmitters are among several rebroadcasting North Superior Broadcasting’s CFNO-FM/93.1 (Marathon).
South Dakota
Catching up on a long-missed item, the construction permit for new station KRCF/96.7 (Lead) was deleted on Aug. 17, 2022. The station would have broadcast from Terry Peak using 100kW/501m (class C). Alex Media originally won a permit for 94.3 Lead during a 2012 auction and successfully applied to change the frequency to 96.7, allowing a better signal to Rapid City, but the frequency change required KZMX-FM (Hot Springs) to move from 96.7 to 96.3. After seven years of delays, the FCC in February 2022 ordered KZMX-FM to leave the frequency by June 11, 2022, and ended tolling for KRCF’s permit, setting a July 30, 2022 deadline to begin broadcasting. KZMX-FM did make the frequency change but KRCF never signed on, meaning 96.7 could be sold during a future FCC auction.
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.