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
Loam Media/Family Radio’s KYFR/920 (Shenandoah) reports that it returned to full power of 5kW day and 2.5kW night on Oct. 7. It had used reduced power of 600 Watts day and night for several weeks. The filing was delayed due to the government shutdown.
K-Love Inc.’s K249DO/97.7 (Clinton), which carries Air1, reports that it has been operating at reduced power since Nov. 9 due to transmitter failure. The exact power level being used was not specified.
Michigan
After its recent purchase of WJMS/590 (Ironwood) and other stations, Michigan Civic Media Alliance reports that WJMS is operating at reduced daytime power of 2kW, rather than its licensed 5kW. The filing states, “We believe this is due to a fault in the transmission line or antenna tuning unit. We are unable to safely access that area due to heavy overgrowth, extremely wet conditions and a deteriorated walkway.” The filing says repairs may not be possible until spring. WJMS continues to use its licensed 113 Watts at night.
Minnesota
Lakeland Media’s KBMO/1290 (Benson) requested special temporary authority to operate with 100 Watts during the day, rather than its licensed 330 Watts, “due to antenna tower damage created when mounting tower tenant equipment.” KBMO continues to use its licensed 24 Watts at night.
Blooming Prairie Farm Radio’s KFOW/1170 (Waseca) was granted special temporary authority to transmit with 1kW daytime, rather than its licensed 2.5kW, after a flood damaged its transmitter and other equipment. The station continues to use its licensed nighttime power of 5 Watts.
Midwest Communications’ KQDX/106.3 (Hibbing) was granted special temporary authority to transmit with 3.2kW ERP, rather than its licensed 25kW, due to a transmitter malfunction. The reduced-power operation began Sept. 22 but the filing was not submitted until now due to the government shutdown.
Leighton Radio’s KJJK/1020 (Fergus Falls) was granted a construction permit to reduce its nighttime power and remove one tower from service. KJJK is licensed for 2kW non-directional daytime and 370 Watts directional nighttime but has been operating at 60 Watts day and night due to a problem with one of the towers. It will reduce daytime power slightly to 1.9kW and drop to 11 Watts at night, non-directional.
Townsquare Media’s KOLM/1520 (Rochester) requested an extension of special temporary authority to remain silent, stating, “economic conditions in the station’s market have not improved to the point where the licensee can justify resuming operations.” KOLM has been off the air since April 1 and requests an extension until the one-year anniversary of the silence.
Nebraska
Nebraska Public Media’s K06KR-D (Crawford) reports that it went off the air Nov. 11 due to antenna problems likely caused by a storm.
Muñoz Media closed on its purchase of KMMQ/1020 (Plattsmouth) and K258DC/99.5 (Omaha) from NRG Media on Oct. 24.
North Dakota
Radio Bismarck Mandan’s KXRV/107.5 (Cannon Ball-Bismarck) reports that it returned to full power of 100kW on Oct. 28. Meanwhile, co-owned KKBO/105.9 (Flasher-Bismarck) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power as it awaits parts. The filings explain repairs are being made as a result of reduced power to their shared site in November 2024.
The FCC granted P&A Media’s KXDI/93.9 (Belfield-Dickinson) an extension of special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power. The station normally transmits with 100kW but reported in May 2024 that it was operating at reduced power of 5kW. KXDI’s latest filing says that during repairs to the antenna system and tower, it was discovered that the transmission line will also need to be replaced.
Real Presence Radio’s K217GL/91.3 (Harvey) reports that it returned to full power on Nov. 13.
Nexstar’s KXMA-TV/2.1 (Dickinson) and KXMD-TV/11.1 (Williston) both report that they have faced delays in equipment delivery and other issues beyond their control as they work to return to full power. Both stations were damaged by power surges in October 2024 and have been transmitting at 35% and 40% of licensed power, respectively. Both have requested extensions of special temporary authority to operate at reduced power.
Prairie Public Broadcasting’s KJRE/19.1 (Ellendale) requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with alternate facilities while it awaits installation of a new transmitter. As previously reported here, KJRE is licensed for 72.3kW at 167m but that facility was damaged in a December 2023 ice storm. It returned to the air in November 2024 using a new antenna at 181m but has not yet received a new transmitter, so it’s using 65.5kW instead of the 158kW specified in the construction permit. The latest filing states that the KJRE transmitter is just one of several slated to be replaced around the state but, “Recent developments in public broadcasting and issues impacting Prairie Public have delayed the transmitter replacement project.”
South Dakota
Gray Media’s KPRY-TV/4.1 (Pierre) requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power while it awaits delivery of a new transmitter. The station first reported in April 2024 that it was operating at 8.5kW rather than its licensed 311kW.
Wisconsin
Milwaukee Radio Alliance’s WZTI/1290 (Milwaukee), which was knocked off the air by an August flood, reports that it returned to the air in early October but is temporarily transmitting with just 10 Watts rather than its licensed 5kW. It’s seeking special temporary authority to continue at the reduced power until a new transmitter can be installed, which is expected in December. WZTI is currently being operated by Civic Media while it awaits FCC approval to fully purchase the station.
Loam Media/Family Radio’s WMWK/88.1 (Milwaukee) applied to modify its construction permit for an upgrade, specifying 4.6kW/276m instead of 5.2kW/276m. WMWK currently transmits with 1.1kW at that same antenna height. The upgrade will change it from class B1 to B.
Northwestern Media’s WDNW/91.9 (Ashland) reports that it returned to full power on Nov. 19 after completing HVAC repairs.
Gray Media’s W31EV-D (Stevens Point) reports that it went off the air Oct. 30 due to a failure of the building cooling system. W31EV-D relays WZAW-LD/33.1 (Wausau).
Meanwhile, Gray’s W21DS-D (Sayner-Vilas County) reports that it resumed full-power operations on Nov. 18. W21DS-D relays WSAW/7.1 (Wausau).
Digital Networks-Midwest reports that K18NQ-D (Rhinelander) has completed a move to a new site between Lakewood and Mountain, transmitting on channel 33 as W33EW-D. The highly-directional 2.5kW facility covers a remote area between Rhinelander and Green Bay. The filing states it is relaying WOOT-LD (Chattanooga, Tenn.)