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
The FCC granted a modification to the construction permit for Gray TV’s KCRG-TV/9.1 (Cedar Rapids) to move from RF channel 9 to RF 32, specifying a reduction in antenna height from 607 to 552 meters above average terrain using a side-mounted directional antenna. A separate request for tolling explains that KCRG still plans to ultimately use the top-mounted antenna at 607 meters HAAT. The top-mounted antenna will be shared by KCRG, Iowa PBS’ KRIN/32.1 (Waterloo), and Sinclair’s KGAN/2.1 (Cedar Rapids), but KCRG’s filing says there have were delays in negotiations with Iowa Public and an agreement has now been reached. As of June 21, the FCC was still considering the request to extend the construction deadline to Aug. 16.
Sinclair’s KGAN/2.1 (Cedar Rapids) requested special temporary authority to transmit with 275.47kW, rather than its licensed 850kW, during a transmitter replacement project. The filing explains that KGAN will use a temporary transmitter while it replaces the main transmitter.
DTV America’s K17MH-D (Cedar Falls) requested special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power of 8kW, rather than its licensed 11.7kW, while the station works to repair four of the six power amplifiers in its transmitter.
Weigel/TV-49’s KDIT-LD (Fort Dodge) reports that it resumed operations of its fully-licensed power of 500W on June 16.
Iowa Public Radio’s K249EJ/97.7 (Des Moines) reports that the source of its IPR Classical feed is now the HD2 channel of WOI-FM/90.1 (Ames-Des Moines). K249EJ had previously relayed KICJ/88.9 (Mitchellville).
Michigan
The Ontonagon Area School District’s WOAS/88.5 (Ontonagon) has applied to move to 91.5 and is also seeking an upgrade from 9 to 99 Watts. The application comes more than two years after the FCC granted Gospel Opportunities a construction permit for a new station on WHWM/88.5 in nearby Rockland. WOAS is a rare Class D Educational station, a type of license which is no longer issued.
Nebraska
Nebraska Public Media’s K209FS/89.7 (Columbus) returned to the air June 20 after receiving special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power of 0.0005kW. As previously reported, the translator has a construction permit to move to a new site and change frequency to 88.1; Nebraska Public Media also has a construction permit to build a full-power station in the city.
Theatre Organ Preservation of Nebraska’s KEZL/89.7 (Culbertson) reports that it returned to full power of 15kW on June 15 after making repairs.
North Dakota
DTV America’s K15MR-D (Fargo) requested special temporary authority to remain silent, stating that it went off the air June 3 due to a transmitter issue.
South Dakota
Educational Media Foundation has upgraded its “K-Love” signal in Huron, replacing 250-Watt K209EM/89.7 with 650-Watt KLUV/89.7. K209EM has a construction permit to move to 88.1 as K201JA.
VCY America’s KVCH/88.7 (Huron) reports that it returned to the air June 14. The station had been off the air since April 17 “after suffering a major antenna and transmission line burn-out.”
Wisconsin
The FCC granted Monergy Inc. a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 90.1 in Mequon, a northern Milwaukee suburb, using 100 Watts. The group’s application stated that the station “will provide programming that advances an educational objective with a focus on local community issues and needs, including, but not limited to, taxes and investments, health care, help with installing and maintaining technology systems such as cable TV, Wi-Fi and internet-controlled HVAC, locally produced music (jazz, Broadway, opera), courses in science, math and music, and news & information.” The station was also granted the callsign WOZR-LP after the group submitted a letter from the Coast Guard stating that the callsign is no longer being used by the vessel Conquest.
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.