Due to the partial federal government shutdown, the FCC has suspended most activities, including processing of standard applications. Users attempting to access the public version of the LMS filing system are now being redirected to a page about the lapse in funding.
With the public database offline and almost nothing in the FCC’s Daily Digest reports, there will not likely be future FCC Monitor reports until the government reopens.
The following applications and actions were noted on Sept. 29 and 30, prior to LMS going offline:
Iowa
Family Radio’s KYFR/920 (Shenandoah) reports that it has been operating at reduced power of 600 Watts non-directional day and night since Sept. 16 due to multiple component failures. KYFR normally transmits with 5kW day and 2.5kW night with different day and night directional patterns.
M&H Broadcasting applied to transfer control of the company from the current shareholders’ trusts to their children, Heidi Feldman and Michael A. Suhr, as a gift. Michael A. Suhr will serve as president and hold 51% of the company. M&H owns KNIA/1320 (Knoxville), KRLS/92.1 (Pella), KCII/1380 (Washington), KCII-FM/106.1 (Washington), and three FM translators.
Michigan
WJPD/92.3 (Ishpeming-Marquette) tells the FCC that a tower crew is expected to make repairs in late 2025, but until then, requested an extension of special temporary authority to broadcast at reduced power of 3kW. It’s licensed for 100kW. As previously reported, an electrical storm caused antenna and feed line damage this past spring.
North Dakota
Gray Media’s K35PO-D (Bismarck) reports that it is currently off the air due to a transmission line failure and requested special temporary authority to operate at reduced power from a temporary antenna while repairs are made. The station requests 240 Watts horizontal and 10 Watts vertical from a side-mounted directional antenna on its licensed tower. It normally transmits with 15kW.
South Dakota
Midwest Communications’ KELO-FM/101.9 (Sioux Falls) will be able to increase power slightly after determining that the coordinates for its tower site near Colton were off by about 200 meters and, therefore, its antenna height above average terrain is a few meters lower than previously thought. 101.9 been licensed for 34kW/177m since 1999. A recalculation using the correct coordinates shows the antenna is actually 173m above average terrain. The FCC has now granted KELO-FM a construction permit to increase to 37kW from the existing antenna.
Wisconsin
The FCC granted Edge Spectrum’s W26FG-D (Eau Claire) an upgrade from 100 Watts to 15kW.
Bustos Media closed on its purchase of W250BN/97.9 (Milwaukee) on Sept. 26.
The Marinette Radio Association completed its transfer of WLWR-LP/107.7 (Marinette) to Phase Two Foundation on Sept. 29.
This report is created by the author and is not an official report of the FCC.