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
Following its move to RF channel 32 using a temporary side-mounted antenna, Gray’s KCRG-TV/9.1 (Cedar Rapids) has applied to increase its antenna height to 588 meters above average terrain, remaining 1,000kW. The filing says the height represents the location of the new top-mounted antenna that will be shared with KGAN and KRIN; it’s lower than KCRG’s old RF 9 antenna height because the VHF antenna was mounted on top of the previous KGAN/KRIN UHF antenna. Meanwhile, the FCC granted Sinclair’s KGAN/2.1 (RF 29, Cedar Rapids) special temporary authority to transmit with an auxiliary antenna using 697.2kW at 500m while the new antenna is installed.
Michigan
Sovereign Communications WYSS/99.5 (Sault Ste. Marie) and WMKD/105.5 (Pickford-Sault Ste. Marie) requested extensions of special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power following a 2018 tower collapse. Both are licensed for 100kW; previous filings indicate WYSS is using 1.3kW and WMKD is using 700 Watts. The new filings say the STA extensions will allow the stations to stay on the air “while the Licensee investigates arrangements for alternative permanent facilities.”
Nebraska
Southern Cultural Foundation was granted the following callsigns for future stations: KVKC/89.1 (Crawford), KVKG/88.3 (Gordon), KZHF/88.5 (Hemingford), and KVRZ/89.7 (Hemingford).
North Dakota
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K295BR/106.9 (Dickinson) returned to the air on Sept. 6.
South Dakota
Midwest Communications’ KTWB/92.5 (Sioux Falls) requested special temporary authority to operate at reduced power due to apparent antenna damage. The filing indicates that KTWB is operating at 55.7% of its licensed 100kW ERP.
The Praise Network was granted the callsign KGGY for its future station on 88.9 in Gregory.
Wisconsin
DTV America’s W23FC-D (Eau Claire) requested special temporary authority to remain off the air “while it constructs its permanent broadcast facility.” The filing says that the station went off the air Aug. 26, explaining that high temperatures have affected the ability of the transmitter to operate safely.
Shortly after the FCC granted the move, Fourth Dimension’s W224BL/92.7 (Ladysmith) has filed a license to cover application indicating it has changed frequency to 92.3 and upgraded from 10 to 170 Watts. The translator’s new callsign is W222DB. It continues to relay WHEM/91.3 (Eau Claire).
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.