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
Edge Spectrum’s K33QA-D/K20KF-D (Davenport) reports that it has completed construction of its new facility on channel 33.
Edge Spectrum’s K22LJ-D (Mason City), K35PA-D (Mason City), and K31PP-D (Sioux City) report that they went off the air June 1. Each notification states that Edge “has been unable to negotiate ongoing lease terms with American Tower” and that an alternate site is being sought.
Iowa Public Radio’s K231DI/94.1 (Des Moines) has applied for a slight power increase from 119 to 140 Watts, changing to a different directional antenna that slightly adds coverage to the north without much change to the south. The application also states that K231DI will switch its input to KICJ/88.9 (Mitchellville); it has relayed WOI-FM/90.1 (Ames) since moving to 94.1 a few months ago.
iHeartMedia’s WOC/1420 (Davenport) requested another extension special temporary authority to operate its directional antenna at variance and/or with reduced power. The latest filing states, “Appropriate engineering staff has not been available to continue work on these repairs.” The station’s original 2021 filing said several array parameters suddenly went out of tolerance. WOC is licensed to use 5kW day and night with different day and night directional patterns. The possible reduced power level has not been specified in filings.
Michigan
Gospel Opportunities, owner of the WHWL Christian radio network across the Upper Peninsula, was granted program test authority for new station WHWT/89.3 (Ironwood). WHWT uses 500W/111m (class A). Meanwhile, a separate filing indicates longtime 10-Watt WHWL translator W280DD/103.9 (Ironwood) remains on the air but now relays WHWT.
Minnesota
Northland Community and Technical College’s KSRQ/90.1 (Thief River Falls) has applied to upgrade from its current 24kW/102m (class C3) to 44kW/128m (class C2), remaining at its present site.
The FCC granted Fairmont Area Catholic Radio’s KYEJ/90.1 (Fairmont) an upgrade from its present 175W/32m to 6kW/56m.
R&J Broadcasting’s WWWI/1270 (Baxter-Brainerd) was granted a renewed construction permit to increase its daytime power from 5kW to 12kW, non-directional. It will remain 5kW directional at night.
The FCC approved Adventures on the Air LLC’s purchase of KLQP/92.1 (Madison) from Lac Qui Parle Broadcasting.
Edge Spectrum’s K25QV-D/K44GH-D (Alexandria) and K15LT-D/K47JE-D (Olivia) report that they have constructed their new facilities. The low-power TV stations had been off the air for nearly four years and were required to change channels due to the discontinuation of channels 38 and up.
Edge Spectrum’s K29NY-D (Alexandria), K26KF-D (Duluth), K35JN-D (Duluth), K31LN-D (Rochester), and K15IS-D (Willmar) report that they went off the air June 1. Each notification states that Edge “has been unable to negotiate ongoing lease terms with American Tower” and that an alternate site is being sought.
Nebraska/Wyoming
The FCC approved Gray TV’s swap of several stations in Wyoming and the Nebraska panhandle to Marquee Broadcasting in exchange for the construction permit for a new station in Utah. The stations going to Marquee include CBS/NBC affiliate KGWN/5.1-5.2 (Cheyenne), KGWN satellite KSTF/10.1-10.2 (Scottsbluff), NBC affiliate KNEP/4.2 (Sidney-Scottsbluff), and NBC affiliate KCWY/13.1 (Casper). The FCC concluded that even though the transaction will result in Marquee holding two top-four network affiliations in Cheyenne, the market “likely would not support four independent network-affiliated stations.” The order notes that there was no opposition to the transfer.
North Dakota
WDAY/970 (Fargo) was granted special temporary authority to operate at 6kW, rather than its licensed 10kW, after a lightning strike damaged its main transmitter on or about June 15.
FideliTV’s K18NP-D (Fargo) reports that it went off the air June 1 because Edge Spectrum “has been unable to negotiate ongoing lease terms with American Tower” and that an alternate site is being sought.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s KFGX-LD/35 (Fargo) was granted an upgrade from its present 2kW directional facility to 15kW non-directional.
South Dakota
Mount Rushmore Broadcasting’s KFCR/1490 (Custer) reports that it returned to the air on June 24.
Following the sign-on of KLUV/89.7 (Huron), K209EM/89.7 (Huron) reported that it went off the air June 18 and requested special temporary authority to remain silent as it works to move to 88.1. Both are owned by the Educational Media Foundation.
Edge Spectrum’s K22KD-D (Sioux Falls) reports that it went off the air June 1 because Edge “has been unable to negotiate ongoing lease terms with American Tower” and that an alternate site is being sought.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s KSXF-LD/23 (Sioux Falls) was granted a construction permit to move its transmitter to a site north of town, rimshotting the city with a 15kW non-directional signal. KSXF-LD is currently licensed for a highly-directional 2kW signal.
Wisconsin
Edge Spectrum’s W26FG-D (Eau Claire), W19DP-D (La Crosse), and W36EI-D (Wausau) report that they went off the air June 1. Each notification states that Edge “has been unable to negotiate ongoing lease terms with American Tower” and that an alternate site is being sought.
Gray TV’s W31EV-D (Wausau), which is currently licensed to transmit with 1.2kW directional from a tower near Stevens Point, has applied to move its transmitter to a site in central Wood County with 15kW non-directional. The proposed facility would reach Stevens Point, Marshfield, and Wisconsin Rapids. It would replace a previous permit to upgrade to 15kW from the present site.
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.