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
Gray’s KCRG-TV/9.1 (Cedar Rapids) formally notified the FCC that it has moved to RF channel 32. The station continues to remap to virtual channel 9.1.
Following KCRG’s move to channel 32, DTV America’s KFKZ-LD (RF 32, Cedar Falls) has moved to channel 30 after FCC grant of its displacement application. KFKZ-LD continues to transmit with 15kW from a tower near Walker.
Sinclair’s KGAN/2.1 (RF 29, Cedar Rapids) reports that it has returned to full power of 850kW. In June, KGAN received special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power of 275.47kW using a temporary transmitter while its main transmitter was replaced.
Gray’s K27LD-D (Salix) has applied to move to channel 17 and upgrade from 200 Watts to 15kW, transmitting from a tower just outside Sioux City. The application follows an end to an FCC freeze on channel-change applications; it’s not immediately clear if this application overlaps with an application by K06QJ-D (Sioux Falls, SD) to move to the same channel.
Weigel/TV-49’s KDIT-LD/17 (Fort Dodge) has applied to move to channel 11 from a tower site near Buffalo Center using 3kW directional. It would also change its community of license to Blue Earth, MN, with additional coverage of Algona. While it is licensed to Fort Dodge, the current transmitter site is actually in Algona. A co-owned station with a similar callsign, KDIT-CD (RF 17, Des Moines), is not tied to the KDIT-LD license.
Following an FCC decision last month to reinstate its application, Holy Mother Mary has amended its application for a new low-power FM station in Cascade to specify a station on 98.3, rather than 98.7. The change was needed because 98.7 is allotted to Asbury for a future station.
Family Stations’ KYFR/920 (Shenandoah) reports that it has returned to its full power of 5kW day and 2.5kW night. It had been at reduced power since April 29 due to storm damage to its transmitter.
Michigan
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s WZAM/970 (Ishpeming) has completed a downgrade in daytime power from 5kW to 250 Watts. It continues to use 62 Watts at night.
Minnesota
Leighton Enterprises’ KJJK/1020 (Fergus Falls) requested another extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 60 Watts, which it has been using since early 2022 due to a problem with its antenna system. The latest filing says rainy weather has made it impossible to install the feed line. KJJK normally transmits with 2kW day and 37 Watts night.
Nebraska
Alpha Media’s KLMS/1480 (Lincoln) notified the FCC that it has returned to full power of 1kW day and 750 Watts night. The station had been at reduced power for a few weeks due to damage from a July 31 storm.
Chadron State College’s KJZC/90.5 (Chadron) was granted special temporary authority to operate at about 10% of its licensed 865 Watts ERP due to transmitter problems. A replacement transmitter has been ordered.
VSS Catholic Communications has applied to change the frequency of K205FP/88.9 (Falls City) to 89.5 and move the transmitter to a site near Schubert with 250 Watts. VSS is awaiting FCC approval for its purchase of K205FP from the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission and received authorization to file for the facility change.
CSN International’s K209EV/89.7 (Hadar) reports that it has gone off the air due to technical problems.
North Dakota
Townsquare Media’s KYYZ/96.1 (Williston) requested an extension of temporary authority to operate at reduced power, stating that it “has been unable to complete repairs due to ongoing infrastructure issues at the station’s tower site.” KYYZ has been transmitting at 2 percent of its licensed 100kW since Feb. 2 due to a transmitter failure.
South Dakota
Bridge News’ K06QJ-D (Sioux Falls) has applied to move to channel 17 with 15kW. The application follows an end to an FCC freeze on channel-change applications; it’s not immediately clear if this application overlaps with an application by K27LD-D (Salix, IA) to move to the same channel.
Wisconsin
Civic Media’s WGBW/1590 (Denmark-Green Bay) is operating at reduced power after one of its four towers fell. The station’s request for special temporary authority states: “On Wednesday morning, August 21, 2024, construction equipment working on the driveway at the WGBW AM tower site clipped guy wires to the northernmost, #3 tower in the station’s 4-tower array. The tower fell and the station went off the air.” The station returned to the air the next day using 2.5kW day and 125 Watts night, non-directional, and has been granted special temporary authority to continue using that power level while repairs are made. The filing states that it is estimated that repairs can be completed within 90 days. WGBW normally uses 10kW day and 500 Watts night, with different directional patterns day and night.
Magnum Communications’ WRDB/1400 (Reedsburg) says that a project to replace its tower, which collapsed in 2022, is almost complete, but may not be finished by the end of the current special temporary authority. It requested an extension of the STA to transmit with 75 Watts using a longwire antenna.
Less than a week after signing on, Salvation Poem Foundation’s WEQC/103.9 (Crandon) applied for an upgrade. Currently 3.3kW/136m (class A), WEQC has applied for an increase to 13.3kW/135m (class C3).
Digital Networks-Midwest’s K18NQ-D (Rhinelander) has applied to move to channel 33 and increase power from 1.64kW to 2.5kW. Its transmitter would move from its presently-licensed site in Crandon to a location south of Lakewood. The application follows the end of an FCC freeze on LPTV channel changes.
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.