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
Iowa PBS’ KRIN/32.1 (RF 35, Waterloo) submitted a filing indicating it is now transmitting from 588 meters above average terrain, marking the apparent end of a three-station project at the KCRG tower near Walker. The antenna is shared with KGAN/2.1 (RF 29, Cedar Rapids) and KCRG/9.1 (RF 32, Cedar Rapids). KRIN continues to transmit with 250kW while KGAN uses 850kW and KCRG uses 1,000kW.
The FCC approved VMPP, LLC’s purchase of KMCS/93.1 (Muscatine), KWPC/860 (Muscatine), and KWPC translator K236CF/95.1 (Muscatine) from the trustee for JAM Media Solutions.
Minnesota
KSCR-FM/93.5 (Benson) has applied to increase its power from 25kW (class C3) to 50kW (class C2), remaining at 100 meters above average terrain from its current site. (The application includes a correction to the existing site’s coordinates.) The upgrade would add Montevideo, Morris, and part of Willmar to KSCR-FM’s main coverage area. Lakeland Media is awaiting FCC approval to purchase the station.
Selective TV’s K17NW-D (Alexandria) reports that it returned to the air Feb. 15.
North Dakota
Townsquare Media’s KYYZ/96.1 (Williston) requested an extension of special 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 and, more recently, winter weather.” KYYZ has been operating at 2 percent of its licensed 100kW since Feb. 2, 2024, due to a transmitter failure.
Faith Broadcasting requested an extension of special temporary authority for KHRT-FM/106.9 (Minot) to remain silent, stating that buyer RadioDifferently LLC will take control of the station the week of Feb. 24 and has ordered new equipment, which will be installed in early April.
South Dakota
Gray Media’s KDLV/5.1 (RF 26, Mitchell) reports that it returned to full power of 1,000kW on Nov. 25, 2024.
Wisconsin
Following its earlier reduced power notification, Lakeshore Communications’ WORQ/90.1 (Green Bay) has been granted an auxiliary facility using 4.23kW ERP. A separate filing explains that WORQ plans to use the 4.23kW facility until a new transmitter arrives to return to full power of 18kW ERP.
Wisconsin Public Radio’s WSSU/88.5 (Superior) was granted special temporary authority to transmit at an unspecified reduced power due to antenna damage. WSSU had already notified the FCC that it was operating at reduced power and says in its STA request that it needs to install a new antenna. WSSU transmits from the Duluth antenna farm and normally uses 950 Watts ERP.
Citizens For Our Bridge, Inc. was granted the callsign WHMM-LP for its future low-power FM station on 100.5 in Sturgeon Bay.
Civic Media closed on its purchase of WHSM-FM/101.1 (Hayward) and W245CT/96.9 (Hayward) on Feb. 14. Civic had already been operating the stations under a time brokerage agreement.
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.