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
Maquoketa Broadcasting’s KMAQ/1320 (Maquoketa) reports that it went off the air May 26 due to a transmitter breakdown. Separately, KMAQ translator K223DA/92.5 (Bellevue) reports that it is off the air since KMAQ is off the air.
Michigan
Morgan Murphy Media/Queen Bee’s Knees’ WBUP/10 (Ishpeming) has applied to increase power from 9kW to 25kW. The application notes that a construction permit for co-channel station WWUP/10 (Sault Ste. Marie) for an upgrade expired last December.
Minnesota
Real Presence Radio’s KQAQ/970 (Austin) requested a six-month extension of special temporary authority to operate at 3.5kW, rather than its licensed 5kW, while it continues work to repair the transmitter’s power amplifier modules.
Fairmont Area Catholic Radio applied to upgrade future station KYEJ/90.1 (Fairmont) from 175W/32m to 6kW/56m.
Meanwhile, Fairmont Area Catholic Radio was granted the callsign KRYX for its future station on 91.9 in Fairmont.
Nebraska
Flood Communications’ KOHA-LD (Omaha) has completed a move from RF channel 27 to channel 30, remaining 15kW. The channel change was needed due to the pending move of KUON (Lincoln) from channel 12 to 27.
Nebraska Public Media’s K209FS/89.7 (Columbus) has requested special temporary authority to return to the air at reduced power using a non-directional antenna while it works to complete a longer-term move. As previously reported here, K209FS went off the air last year citing concerns about the long-term availability of its licensed site; the STA request specifies a temporary antenna at the licensed site.
Nebraska Rural Radio Association’s KOLT/690 (Terrytown-Scottsbluff) reports that it is in the process of completing a move to the KNEB/960 tower site, and requested special temporary authority to complete equipment tests. KOLT will use 1kW day and 75 Watts night, non-directional.
North Dakota
Prairie Public Broadcasting’s K220FI/91.9 (Beach) has applied to move to 91.5 and upgrade from 8 to 19 Watts.
South Dakota
The FCC has approved Peter John’s purchase of the shares in Gray Ghost Broadcasting LLC, the licensee of KQKD/1380 (Redfield) and K260DG/99.9 (Redfield).
Wisconsin
Audacy’s WMYX/99.1 (Milwaukee) reports that it is operating at reduced power due to June 4 antenna damage. The request for special temporary authority notes that WMYX is using 2kW transmitter power output; the exact effective radiated power (the figure usually cited on this website) is not known. The filing says repairs are expected to be completed by July 15.
Civic Media’s W255DN/98.9 (Wausau) has completed an upgrade from 235 to 250 Watts.
Digital Networks-Midwest reports that W35DY-D (Stoughton) has completed construction of a 2.5kW directional facility transmitting from near Janesville. W35DY-D was previously licensed to Sterling-Dixon, IL, and most recently transmitted from a site near Rockford.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s W21EF-D (Waupaca) reports that it has completed a move to Fond du Lac, which is now specified as its community of license. The new facility uses 2.5kW. W21EF-D had previously transmitted with 7.86kW from the Oshkosh area.
Wisconsin Public Radio’s WHA/970 (Madison) informed the FCC that it has ceased HD Radio transmissions.
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.