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
The FCC granted Vanguard Association of Sunbelt Colleges Corporation a construction permit for a new station on 88.9 in Dubuque. The new station will use 3.1kW/185m (class C3) from a tower northwest of Dubuque. In approving the application, the FCC dismissed a competing application from Augustana College for a station on 88.9 in Epworth. It also denied a petition to deny filed by Augustana and an informal objection from Iowa Public Radio. See the FCC’s Feb. 8 letter for more background.
The FCC granted St. Gabriel Communications/Iowa Catholic Radio’s KLOX/90.9 (Creston) a construction permit to upgrade from 500W/35m (class A) to 100kW/101m (class C1).
The FCC granted Old Paths Baptist Church a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 104.1 in Dubuque, using 100W. (A previous construction for an unrelated translator on 104.3 in Dubuque expired unbuilt in 2021.)
Michigan
The FCC granted Rabbit Island Foundation a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 100.1 in Calumet, using 6 Watts at 121m. The application states that the organization is planning a community-focused format called “Radio Keweenaw.”
The FCC granted Evangelistic Knights of Our Lady a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 97.7 in Escanaba, using 71 Watts.
Minnesota
The FCC granted Shalom Lutheran Church a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 102.9 in Alexandria, using 100 Watts.
The FCC has extended the deadline for Edge Spectrum’s K47JC-D (Wadena) to return to the air until April 1, 2024. Though K47JC had requested an extension until June 1, the FCC set the deadline two months earlier because the request indicated that construction was expected to be completed in early March.
Nebraska
The FCC granted Wahoo Area Broadcasting a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 99.3 in Wahoo, using 37 Watts from the city’s water tower. It has already been granted the callsign KWAB-LP. The application indicated that community-focused programming is planned.
Edge Spectrum’s K20NE-D (North Platte), formerly K49LK-D, submitted a license to cover application indicating that its new facility has been constructed.
North Dakota
Double Z Broadcasting’s KZZY/103.5 (Devils Lake) reports that it returned to its full 100kW on Jan. 31.
Wisconsin
Gateway Technical College’s W267BV/101.7 (Elkhorn) applied to move its transmitter about 2.5 miles east, dropping power slightly from 38 to 27 Watts. It would continue to relay the college’s WGTD/91.1 (Kenosha).
DTV America’s WTSJ-LD/26 (Milwaukee) requested special temporary authority to transmit with 4.9kW, rather than its licensed 10kW, while HVAC repairs are underway.
Family Life Broadcasting’s WJTY/88.1 (Lancaster) requested special temporary authority to transmit with 3kW using a backup transmitter after the main transmitter failed.
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.