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
Mary’s Holy Voice has signed on new station KMHV/89.5 (Kalona), serving an area southwest of Iowa City. The new station uses 5.5kW/56m (class A) and carries Catholic programming from EWTN Radio and Relevant Radio.
New low-power FM’s granted:
- Dyersville: 106.7, God’s Grace Radio, 100W. The station plans to carry Catholic programming from EWTN Radio and Relevant Radio.
- Knoxville: 93.9, Knoxville’s Inspiration Radio, 100W.
- Washington: 92.3, Marion Avenue Baptist Church, 100W.
Divine Mercy Educational Radio Association’s K249EP/97.7 (Fort Madison) applied to move its transmitter northwest to Saint Paul, Iowa, and change frequency to 94.3, remaining 250 Watts. If granted, the construction permit would replace a previous CP to move to 94.3 but remain at its present site in West Point.
Minnesota
New low-power FM’s granted:
- Mankato: 107.9, Minnesota State University Mankato, 14 Watts. MSU already owns KMSU/89.7 (Mankato); the new LPFM station will carry student programming.
- Plymouth: 94.1, AddiEun Foundation, 33W. See full story.
- Willmar: 101.9, NexCom Media, 100W. The application says the group promotes business growth and “plans to utilize the LPFM signal to educate and inform Willmar residents of current information regarding the community.”
Nebraska
Alpha Media’s KFRX/106.3 (Lincoln) reported that it is transmitting at reduced power of 9.2kW, rather than its licensed 100kW, due to an antenna burnout. It is was granted special temporary authority to continue transmitting at the reduced power while repairs continue.
The Educational Media Foundation’s KDAI/89.1 (Scottsbluff) reported that it has been transmitting at an unspecified reduced power since Feb. 6 due to a power supply failure.
The Nebraska Rural Radio Association’s KNEB/960 (Scottsbluff) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to transmit non-directionally with no more than 25% of its licensed power. KNEB normally uses 5kW day and 350 Watts night, with different day and night directional patterns. The reduced power operation is underway because KNEB is in the process of diplexing KOLT/690 (Terrytown-Scottsbluff) into its antenna system.
Legacy Communications’ KRGI/1430 (Grand Island) requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 250 Watts non-directional at night rather than its licensed 1kW directional. It has been using the temporary facility since 2017 and, as noted here earlier this month, has applied to permanently change its license to specify 21 Watts non-directional at night. It continues to use 5kW non-directional during the day.
North Dakota
Following a transmitter failure, Townsquare Media’s KYYZ/96.1 (Williston) has been granted special temporary authority to transmit at 2% of its licensed 100kW. The reduced power operation began Feb. 2.
South Dakota
Midwest Communications’ KTWB/92.5 (Sioux Falls) reports that it resumed full power of 100kW on Jan. 28.
Wisconsin
New low-power FM’s granted:
- Ashland: 97.7, Cheq Bay Community Radio, 100W. The application states the station will be “dedicated to connecting listeners to important news, events, information, history, arts, and ecology.”
- Egg Harbor: 94.5, Stella Maris Broadcasting, 43W. The group plans to carry Catholic programming from EWTN Radio and Relevant Radio.
- Platteville: 104.7, Bellowing Ox Properties, 100W. The group plans to carry Catholic programming from EWTN Radio and Relevant Radio.
- St Cloud: 103.3, Potawatomi Area Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America, 100W. The station will transmit from Camp Long Lake and broadcast announcements about camp activities, offering scouts the opportunity to earn a radio merit badge.
Magnum Media’s WDLS/900 (Wisconsin Dells) and its FM translator, W253DH/98.5 (Baraboo), report that they went off the air Feb. 10 due to a failed isocoupler. The station’s website has been taken down and it is no longer listed on Magnum Media’s website.
Good Karma’s WBEV-FM/95.3 (Beaver Dam) reported that it is operating at reduced power of about 950 Watts due to a transmitter failure on Feb. 4. The station normally transmits with 6kW ERP.
The Burlington Area School District’s WBSD/89.1 (Burlington) filed a license to cover application stating that it has constructed its new facility at Burlington High School and plans to begin full-power operations at the site on or about Feb. 23. The move was made because Karcher Middle School, which served as WBSD’s previous transmitter site, is due to be torn down. The station is changing from 210W/28m to 400W/20m, retaining largely the same coverage area. WBSD’s studio is already located at the high school.