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
Community Broadcasting/Bott Radio Network closed on its purchase of KQLF/88.3 (Ottumwa) from Sound in Spirit Broadcasting on May 14.
God’s Grace Radio has signed on new low-power FM station KGDR-LP/106.7 (Dyersville). The station carries Catholic programming from Relevant Radio.
Minnesota
The FCC has canceled the license of KSJM/89.1 (St. James), which was owned by Christian Ministries of the Valley. The station reported in November 2023 that it had gone off the air due to financial difficulties. Federal law stipulates that licenses automatically expire if a station is off the air for more than a year, and the FCC says it received no response to a March 2025 letter inquiring about KSJM’s status. The 1kW station was last known to carry a Spanish-language Christian format.
Following up on an item posted here last week, One Day Church Project was granted a modification to the construction permit for KBQA/88.1 (Rochester) to specify 4kW/44m (class A) rather than the original 20.5kW/102m (class C3). The station is facing a May 27 construction deadline.
Meanwhile, One Day Church Project submitted an assignment of authorization application stating that it intends to transfer KCJL-LP/95.1 (Dodge Center) to Ascent Adventist Academy. One Day Church Project committed to divesting the low-power FM license before signing on KBQA.
Edge Spectrum’s K15IS-D (Willmar), which is currently off the air, applied to move to a different site, remaining 100 Watts.
Nebraska
CSN International’s K208CK/89.5 (Scottsbluff) and K220FK/91.9 (Scottsbluff) both reported that they are operating at about 10% of their licensed power due to transmitter problems.
Waitt Broadcasting’s K23PU-D (Norfolk) reports that it went off the air May 5 after a voltage overload damaged the transmitter. K23PU-D is a translator of KMEG (Sioux City).
North Dakota
P&A Media’s KXDI/93.9 (Belfield) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to operate at reduced power while it works to complete antenna repairs. The station normally transmits with 100kW but reported in May 2024 that it was operating at reduced power of 5kW.
South Dakota
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology’s KTEQ-FM/91.3 (Rapid City) returned to the air May 12. It had been off the air since Nov. 2, 2024, for technical reasons.
Wisconsin
VCY America’s WVCX/98.9 (Tomah) left the air April 12 due to antenna and transmitter problems and returned April 28 using reduced power of 444 Watts ERP. It normally uses 100kW ERP. A request for special temporary authority states that WVCX intends to switch to a backup transmitter capable of producing 22.2kW ERP while work continues on the main transmitter.
Civic Media’s W248DE/97.5 (Wisconsin Rapids) has completed a move of its transmitter to a site east of town, rimshotting Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point with 250 Watts. W248DE relays WFHR/1320.
Family Stations’ WMWK/88.1 (Milwaukee) was granted an upgrade to 5.2kW/276m (class B), replacing a previous construction permit to upgrade to 4.2kW/289m. It is currently 1.1kW/276m (class B1).
The FCC granted AMC Partners Rice Lake’s WAQE-FM/97.7 (Barron-Rice Lake) an upgrade to 47kW/157m (class C2).
Marinette Radio Association is donating WLWR-LP/107.7 (Marinette) to Phase Two Foundation.
Disclosure: Jon Ellis was an employee of Gray Media Group at the time this item was posted. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.