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
Second Generation of Iowa’s KFXA/28.1 (Cedar Rapids) reports that it is using a backup transmitter and operating at 66% of its licensed 1,000kW. The reduced power operation began July 1. The station’s filing says replacement of the transmitter is expected to take six to eight weeks.
Rincon Broadcasting closed on its purchase of KTVO/3.1 (Kirksville, MO-Ottumwa, IA), KHQA/7.1 (Hannibal, MO-Quincy, IL-Keokuk, IA), and stations in Illinois and Wisconsin from Sinclair Broadcast Group on July 8.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s K31PO-D (Des Moines), which is currently licensed to transmit from a site near Collins, was granted a move of its transmitter to Alleman with 15kW.
Edge Spectrum’s K31PP-D (Sioux City) was granted an upgrade from 100W to 15kW.
Mary’s Holy Voice’s KMHV/89.5 (Kalona) has completed an upgrade from 5.5kW/45m to 8.2kW/56m.
Minnesota
UPDATED: WCTS translator K250BY/97.9 (Minneapolis) has returned to its licensed facilities after a storm temporarily changed the orientation of its directional antenna atop the IDS Center. The translator reported the issue in a July 8 filing and the FCC granted special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power the next day. On July 14, K250BY submitted a filing indicating that it returned to full power of 250 Watts on July 11. K250BY transmits with 250 Watts from two separate directional antennas, one pointed west (270°) and the other pointed roughly northeast (50°). The filing explains that the storm rotated the antenna by 30°. It temporarily used only the antenna pointed at 80° (roughly east) with 35 Watts until a crew returned the antennas to their proper orientation.
UPDATED: Midwest Communications’ WDUL/970 (Superior-Duluth) reports that it is off the air due to transmitter failure. A request for special temporary authority to remain silent states that a new transmitter has been ordered. WDUL translator W251CD/98.1 (Superior-Duluth) subsequently also filed notification that it is off the air.
The FCC has approved WRVM’s purchase of WJRF/89.5 (Duluth) from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul.
The FCC approved One Day Church Project’s transfer of KCJL-LP/95.1 (Dodge Center) to Ascent Adventist Academy. As previously reported here, the group pledged to divest the low-power FM license as part of its sign-on of new station KBQA/88.1 (Rochester).
Nebraska
Alpha Media’s KKOT/93.5 (Columbus) reports that it’s transmitting at reduced power of 2.1kW, rather than its licensed 100kW, due to transmitter failure.
MyBridge Radio was granted a modification the construction permit for future station KHUY/89.9 (Schuyler) to switch to a more directional antenna than originally planned, using 5kW/159m (class C3). The station will still rimshot Columbus.
The FCC granted Digital Networks-Midwest’s K36QD-D (Omaha) a move from its present site near Valley to one near Gretna, using 15kW.
South Dakota
Alpha Media’s KJAM-FM/103.1 (Madison) reports that it’s transmitting at reduced power of 16kW, rather than its licensed 33kW, due to feed line damage.
Wisconsin
Rincon Broadcasting closed on its purchase of WVTV/18.1 (Milwaukee), as well as stations licensed in Illinois and Missouri, from Sinclair Broadcast Group on July 8.
W250BN/97.9 (Milwaukee), which Bustos Media is in the process of buying, has applied to switch to a directional antenna pattern limiting the signal to the north. It would transmit with 180 Watts from the U.S. Bank Center. An attachment to the application notes that the change will place W250BN’s signal within that of Bustos’ WDDW/104.7 (Sturtevant-Milwaukee) and that W250BN will switch its input signal to WDDW-HD3. Bustos’ W229CQ/93.7 (Milwaukee), which relays WDDW-HD2 and also transmits from U.S. Bank Center, has applied to switch to the same pattern as W250BN; the pattern is similar to the one W229CQ already uses.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s W35DY-D (Stoughton), which is currently licensed to transmit from a site near Janesville, was granted a move to a site between Stoughton and Madison, using 13kW.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s W21EF-D (Fond du Lac) was granted a move to a site near West Bend, using 3.5kW.
Morgan Murphy Media’s WISC-TV/3.1 (Madison) was granted a change in the planned transmitter site for its digital replacement translator on channel 22 in Janesville, moving from a site north of town to one west of town with 13.8kW. WISC also has a construction permit for a translator on channel 25 from the candelabra site in Madison. The translators are part of WISC’s license and do not have separate callsigns.
Civic Media’s WBZH/910 (Hayward) was granted special temporary authority to transmit with 2.5kW day, rather than its licensed 5kW, while repairs continue. WBZH continues to use its licensed 75 Watts at night.
The FCC approved a transfer of WAWA/91.1 (Columbus) from Columbus Community Radio to Radio 74 Internationale. WAWA already carries the Christian network.
The Wilson and Carol Trueblood Performing Arts Center applied for, and was granted, a license to cover for low-power FM station WISL-LP/98.7 (Washington Island). The station’s website indicates it signed on last year.