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
Educational Media Foundation’s KQKL/95.3 (Keokuk) reports that it resumed transmitting full power of 100kW on April 3. The station had been at reduced power since March 14 due to a transmitter issue.
The FCC approved the transfer of KZOW/91.9 (Forest City) to the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation’s Waldorf Acquisition LLC. The transfer is part of the purchase of Waldorf College from Mayes Education.
Minnesota
Midwest’s KTCO/98.9 (Duluth) reports that it returned to its fully-licensed 100kW on April 4. The station had reported last year that it was operating at 35kW due to transmitter problems.
Edge Spectrum has returned the license for K18GF-D (Little Falls). The cancellation application did not specify why the license was being returned.
The FCC has extended the deadline for Edge Spectrum’s K47JC-D (Wadena) to return to the air until June 1, 2024.
With a pending application to transfer the license of KFIL/1060 (Preston) from Townsquare Media to the non-profit Bluff Country Community Radio, KFIL has applied to convert to non-commercial status.
Lakeland Media LLC formally closed on its purchase of KOLV/100.1 (Olivia-Willmar) from Bold Radio on April 5. The buyer already operated the station through a local marketing agreement.
R&J Broadcasting’s WWWI/1270 (Baxter-Brainerd) has applied for a construction permit to replace one that expired April 14. The plan would increase WWWI’s daytime power from 5kW to 12kW, remaining non-directional; it would continue to use 5kW directional at night.
Nebraska
The FCC has dismissed North Sun Media Broadcasting’s application for a new low-power FM station on 103.1 in Omaha for failing to provide documentation showing that it is a non-profit organization in its initial application. The FCC says the applicant later amended its application to include its Articles of Incorporation, but the document included a stamp from the Nebraska Secretary of State showing that North Sun was not incorporated until more than a month after its submitted its application.
Hi-Line Radio Fellowship has closed on its purchase of future station KAVA/89.5 (Kimball), as well as two stations in Wyoming, from Cedar Grove Broadcasting. It is the first Nebraska license for Hi-Line, the operator of “Your Network of Praise.”
North Dakota
The FCC has denied Grand Forks Bible Study Group’s application for review of the decision granting a new station to Bible Broadcasting Network, KYBD/88.3 (Grand Forks). With the application for review denied, the FCC dismissed BBN’s request for tolling of the KYBD construction permit.
The FCC has adopted a consent decree with Prairie Public Broadcasting resolving an investigation into alleged issues/program list violations. The FCC says the files for seven TV stations were placed in online public files after the deadline. Prairie Public will make a $8,150 payment to the U.S. Treasury.
South Dakota
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K294DL/106.7 (Hot Springs) went off the air April 5 due to antenna failure. The station’s filing says UNWSP is assessing whether the antenna needs to be repaired or replaced, and says it does not anticipate resuming operations within 30 days.
SagamoreHill of Portland’s K32FW-D (Pierre) has applied to upgrade from 100 Watts to 1kW, moving to a tower five miles away from the existing site.
Wisconsin
Magnum Communications’ WBKY/95.9 (Portage) has submitted a license to cover application and a request for program test authority indicating that its long-planned new facility, transmitting from near Edgerton, is ready to operate. The station will use 2kW/176m (class A), covering the Janesville area. It’s not immediately clear if the new facility has begun regular operation. The change moves WBKY from an area just north of Madison to an area just south of Madison.
Zoe Communications’ W228BQ/93.5 (Rice Lake) has applied to move east to Ladysmith, where it would serve as a translator for Zoe’s WLDY/1340. W228BQ currently relays an HD subchannel of WGMO/95.3 (Spooner). It would also increase power from 28 to 250 Watts with the move. The translator is seeking a Mattoon Waiver because the move is farther than would normally be allowed.
Civic Media’s W248DE/97.5 (Wisconsin Rapids) has applied to move its transmitter to the east, using a new 250-Watt facility that would rimshot the Stevens Point area. W248DE would continue to relay WFHR/1320 (Wisconsin Rapids).
Civic Media’s W255DN/98.9 (Wausau) has completed an upgrade to 250 Watts. The translator, which relays WXCO/1230, had temporarily run at reduced power after a windstorm damaged its previous antenna.
The FCC granted a construction permit for WRVM translator W280AF/103.9 (Phelps) to move to 103.7 as W279EM, removing it from a frequency that will be used by a new station in the future. The translator will remain 27 Watts.
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.