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
Grace Baptist Church has signed on new 100-Watt station KSHW/88.3 (Glidden). Posts on the station’s Facebook page state that it signed on Jan. 25 and is carrying programming from VCY America.
West Des Moines-based St. Gabriel Communications, which operates the Iowa Catholic Radio network, has requested program test authority for new station KDVM/89.3 (Mason City). KDVM will transmit with 240 Watts.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K210CG/89.9 (Spirit Lake) went off the air Jan. 16 due to the sign-on of new station KCSL/89.9 (Spencer), which reaches the Spirit Lake area. K210CG has a construction permit to move to 88.3.
Sinclair’s KGAN/2.1 (RF 29, Cedar Rapids) submitted a license to cover application indicating it is now using the new combined antenna on the KCRG-TV tower, with KGAN using 850kW at 588 meters above average terrain. KGAN had been temporarily using 697.2kW at 500m during construction.
The FCC has granted La Fiesta 971 LLC’s K246CJ/97.1 (Sioux City) a move to a different transmitter site. K246CJ will relocate from its current tower site in the northeastern part of the city to the KTFC/103.3 tower just east of the city, remaining 250 Watts and widening its coverage area due to the higher antenna height. It will continue to relay KZOI/1250 (Dakota City, NE).
Michigan
Following up on its earlier reduced power notification, Morgan Murphy Media/Queen Bee’s Knees LLC’s WBUP/10 (Ishpeming) has requested special temporary authority to continue operating at reduced power. The filing states that due to “irreparable damage to the transmitter,” WBUP is operating at about 40% of its licensed power until new equipment can be installed.
Minnesota
The FCC approved a frequency change for the University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K202EN/88.3 (Fairmont), which was displaced from 88.3 by a new full-power license. The translator will move to 91.3 as K217GP and reduce power from 205 to 110 Watts. It will relay KLBF (Lincoln, ND), which feeds UNWSP’s “Faith Radio” network to several translators.
Calvary Satellite Network’s K204ES/88.7 (Brainerd) has applied to move to 91.1, citing expected interference from a future station on 88.7 in Aitkin. The translator would increase power from 80 to 140 Watts with the frequency change.
FideliTV’s K20KW-D (St. Cloud) requested an extension of special temporary authority to remain silent while it makes upgrades to its permanent power infrastructure. K20KW-D is currently licensed to transmit from Albany with 200 Watts.
North Dakota
The FCC as approved iHeartMedia’s purchase of K295BR/106.9 (Dickinson) from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. As previously reported here, iHeart plans to relay KLTC/1460 (Dickinson) in K295BR.
South Dakota
Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting’s KFCR/1490 (Custer) requested an extension of special temporary authority to remain silent, stating that it “continues to consider all options to put the station on a financially sustainable path.”
Wisconsin
One of three remaining applicants for a new station on 91.5 in southern Wisconsin says it should now be declared the winner after a fourth group formally withdrew its application. Last fall, the FCC ordered Waterloo Christian Radio Corporation and Brookfield-based Optima Enrichment, Inc. to reach a voluntary time-sharing agreement since they had tied in the points system and all three possible tie-breakers. This month, another applicant — Community Public Radio — formally withdrew its application. In a new informal objection, WCRC asserts that CPR’s withdrawal changed the score in the FCC’s points-based system; previously, CPR received a point for reaching the largest population but now WCRC says its application should qualify for the point, breaking the tie with Optima. The FCC has not yet responded.
Lakeshore Communications’ WORQ/90.1 (Green Bay) reports that it experienced a transmitter failure on Jan. 19 and returned to the air using a lower-powered transmitter on Jan. 20. WORQ is transmitting at 7% of its usual 18kW ERP.
Armada Media’s W243ED/96.5 and W299CQ/107.7 (Rice Lake) have applied to move their antennas to lower locations on their existing tower, remaining 250 Watts. W243ED’s new antenna height would be 143 meters above average terrain and W299CQ would be at 154 meters HAAT. W243ED will continue to relay WJMC/1240 and W299CQ will continue to relay WAQE/1090. The tower, which is behind the stations’ studio facility, is also used by WJMC/1240 and WAQE-FM/97.7 (Barron) has a construction permit to move to the tower.
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.