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
Townsquare Media’s KJOC/93.5 (Bettendorf-Quad Cities) returned to full power of 6kW on Feb. 28 after repairing what had earlier been reported as an apparent antenna failure. Meanwhile, co-owned K281DB/104.1 (Davenport-Quad Cities) returned the air Feb. 28; its transmitter had been repurposed for KJOC’s temporarily facility.
Augustana College has filed a petition for reconsideration of the FCC’s decision to grant a construction permit for a new station on 88.9 in Dubuque to Vanguard Association of Sunbelt Colleges Corporation. Augustana had filed a competing application for a new station on 88.9 in Epworth. It is again alleging that Vanguard did not have reasonable assurance that it could use the tower at Sherill Mound, owned by Crown Castle, listed in its application because an Iowa Public Radio station already has an antenna overlapping the specified location on the tower. The FCC has previously decided that Vanguard did sufficiently show that it had reasonable assurance, but Augustana argues that the FCC erred by not considering the existence of the IPR antenna. Meanwhile, Vanguard has applied to modify the construction permit to move the antenna 19 meters lower on the tower using 1.12kW at 166 meters above average terrain.
The FCC identified competing applications for new low-power FM stations on 107.9 in Des Moines by Climate March and CPC of the WMM Usa-Des Moines IA-One Inc. as mutually exclusive (MX) group 39. The FCC will determine who gets the frequency using a points-based system unless the applicants reach a settlement by May 14.
The FCC has updated the FM Table of Allotments to list 97.1 at North English as a vacant class A (6kW/100m) allotment following the 2017 deletion of KMYQ’s license. The action means the allotment can go up for auction at a future unannounced date.
The FCC approved Iowa Public Radio’s purchase of K231DI/94.1 (Des Moines) from Youngers Colorado Broadcasting.
North Dakota
The FCC approved a slight upgrade for future Bible Broadcasting Network station KYBD/88.3 (Grand Forks) from 1kW to 1.5kW, switching from a directional to a non-directional antenna and remaining at 74 meters above average terrain.
Hi-Line Radio Fellowship was granted the callsign KDND for its future station on 89.1 in Dickinson.
South Dakota
Community Broadcasting/Bott Radio Network has signed on new station KCVP/88.3 (Pierre), using 26kW/133m (class C2). It’s Bott’s second station in South Dakota, joining KASD/90.3 (Rapid City).
The FCC has updated the FM Table of Allotments to list 100.9 at Murdo as a vacant class A (6kW/100m) allotment, meaning the allotment can go up for auction at a future unannounced date. A previous construction permit for the frequency expired in 2015.
Wisconsin
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul has signed on new station WDNW/91.9 (Ashland), using 4.5kW/103m (class A). WDNW relays KDNW/97.3 (Duluth) and replaces KDNW translator W220EB/91.9 (Ashland), which has a construction permit to move to 88.3.
The FCC granted Family Stations’ WMWK/88.1 (Milwaukee) a construction permit to upgrade from 1.1kW/276m (class B1) to 4.2kW/289m (class B).
The FCC identified four groups competing applications for new low-power FM stations in Wisconsin. Unless the applicants reach settlements by May 14, the FCC will determine winners using a points-based system. The Wisconsin groups are:
- MX Group 106 — 103.7 McFarland/Monona: Iglesia Pentecostal Jehova Rafa and Madison Christian LPFM Radio Inc.
- MX Group 107 — 90.1 Mequon/Milwaukee: Monergy Inc., Souls Harbor Baptist Church Inc., CPC of the WMM – Milwaukee WI – One Inc.
- MX Group 108 — 106.7 Rhinelander: Native American Music Center Ltd. and Winwood Lifestyle Educational Radio Corporation
- MX Group 109 — 100.5 Sturgeon Bay: Citizens For Our Bridge, Inc. dba Steel Bridge Creative Foundation and Sturgeon Bay Lifestyle Educational Radio
Civic Media’s WPFP/980 (Park Falls) reports that it resumed full daytime power of 1kW on March 15.