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 has canceled the license of KEMB-LP/94.1 (Emmetsburg), which was owned by the Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce. The low-power station had posted a note on social media in June indicating that the Chamber planned to shut the station down at the end of July.
A change in ownership structure for several western Iowa radio stations was formally completed on Aug. 7 with J.C. Van Ginkel selling his interest in the companies that own KJAN/1220 (Atlantic), KDSN/1530 (Denison), KDSN-FM/104.9 (Denison), and KNOD-FM/105.3 (Harlan).
Michigan
West Central Michigan Media Ministries closed on its purchase of future station WLWS/89.1 (Iron Mountain) from Cornerstone Community Radio on Aug. 2 and was granted a callsign change to WUPC.
West Central Michigan Media Ministries applied to downgrade the planned power level for future station WGTM/90.3 (Manistique) from 500 to 150 Watts.
Michigan Technological University’s WMTU-FM/91.9 (Houghton) was granted special temporary authority to remain silent during roof repairs. The station’s filing says it expects to return to the air on Sept. 15.
Minnesota
The FCC granted the callsign WWBY-LP for the City of Woodbury‘s future low-power FM station on 91.5.
The FCC approved a modification to AddiEun Foundation’s construction permit for new low-power FM station KBOR-LP/94.1 (Plymouth), changing the transmitter site to a water tower along County Road 6 using 30 Watts at 54 meters above average terrain. The water tower is across the street from the American Towers-owned structure that had been specified in the original permit.
Nebraska
Alpha Media’s KLMS/1480 (Lincoln) requested special temporary authority to transmit at 188 Watts non-directional due to damage from a July 31 storm. The station normally uses 1kW day and 750 Watts night with different day and night directional patterns.
The Nebraska Rural Radio Association’s KOLT/690 (Terrytown-Scottsbluff) requested program test authority for its new facility, which is co-located with sister station KNEB/960 (Scottsbluff). KOLT will use 1kW day and 75 Watts night, non-directional.
Gray’s KNPL-LD/10.1 (North Platte, RF 25) returned to the air on July 31.
North Dakota
In His Presence Ministries was granted a modification to the construction permit for future station KTGH/90.1 (Bowdon) to reduce power from 100kW to 117 Watts, transmitting from a grain elevator near town. KTGH faces a January 2025 construction deadline.
Wisconsin
Gray’s W31EV-D (Wausau) was granted a license to cover for its new 15kW facility transmitting from central Wood County. The station also changed its community of license to Stevens Point.
Fourth Dimension’s W224BL/92.7 (Ladysmith) applied to move to 92.3 and upgrade from 10 to 170 Watts. The translator would continue to relay WHEM/91.3 (Eau Claire). A previous construction permit for the same upgrade expired in 2015.
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.