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
Knoxville’s Inspiration Radio was granted the callsign KTEW-LP for its future low-power station on 93.9 in Knoxville.
The FCC granted Digital Networks-Midwest’s K31PO-D (Des Moines) a move closer to Des Moines, a tower south of Collins with a highly-directional 2.5kW signal. K31PO is currently licensed to transmit from Marshalltown.
Michigan
Aurora Media’s W280GB/103.9 (Escanaba) filed an updated application to move its transmitter to the tower of co-owned WYKX/104.7 northwest of the city, specifying that WYKX-HD2 will be the primary station. It would continue to transmit with 250 Watts from the new site.
Minnesota
Redwood TV Improvement Corporation’s K25II-D (Redwood Falls) reports that it returned to the air March 22.
Nebraska
The FCC granted The Simple Foundation a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 105.3 in Omaha, using 100 Watts. The group is focused on refugees and low-income families and plans programming in potentially more than 50 languages.
Nebraska Public Media’s KRNE-FM/91.5 (Merriman) reported that it has been operating at 40% of its licensed 100kW since March 20 due to tower work.
Wisconsin
The FCC granted Mukwonago Baptist Church a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 100.3 in Mukwonago, using 85 Watts.
The FCC granted Rio Futuro Inc. a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 105.1 in Waupaca, using 76 Watts. The group’s application said it will “bring positive messages for English and Hispanic cultures” and “carry messages for the new and growing Waupaca, including public service pieces that speak to the growing needs of multi-culturalism in Waupaca.”
Potawatomi Area Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America was granted the callsign WLRO-LP for its future low-power FM station on 103.3 at Camp Long Lake near St. Cloud.
The Salvation Poem Foundation applied to modify the construction permit for future station WEQW/90.5 (Westfield) by moving the transmitter north and changing the planned facility from 50kW/85m (class C2) to 8kW/130m (class C3). The change would remove Portage and Wisconsin Rapids from WEQW’s main coverage area while retaining Wautoma.
WRVM’s W280AF/103.9 (Phelps) applied to move to 103.7, remaining 27 Watts. A different group, the Salvation Poem Foundation, has a construction permit for future nearby station WEQC/103.9 (Crandon).
Civic Media’s W255DN/98.9 (Wausau) was granted a power increase from 235 to 250 Watts. Until the new facility is ready, it also requested special temporary authority to operate at reduced power due to previously-reported antenna damage.
The FCC granted Digital Networks-Midwest’s W21EF-D (Waupaca) a construction permit to use 2.5kW directional from a site just east of Fond du Lac. It is currently licensed to transmit from a site near Oshkosh.
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.