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.
Michigan
The FCC approved an upgrade for Marquette Radio Group’s WNGE/99.5 (Negaunee) from 3.6kW (class A) to 50kW (class C2), with its antenna remaining at 131m above average terrain.
Minnesota
De La Hunt Media’s KAKK/1570 (Walker) and K229DJ/93.7 (Walker) report they suspended operations on Jan. 17 for financial reasons. The stations first went off the air in early 2025 and returned later in the year with Christmas music.
Nebraska
The Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission is selling K209FS/89.7 (Columbus) to Christian broadcaster MyBridge Radio for $12,297. Nebraska Public Media no longer needs the translator after signing on a full-power FM station in Columbus. The asset purchase agreement mentions that the seller will cooperate with the buyer in filing an application to move K209FS to a new transmitter site.
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska has requested an additional five months to construct new station KBVW-FM/88.9 (Winnebago). The construction permit is due to expire Feb. 16 but the tribe says delays in funding through the Next Generation Warning System program prevented it from beginning construction during most of the normal three-year construction window. KBVW-FM has also requested a reduction in the planned power from 4kW to 360W.
North Dakota
Midwest Communications’ KNFL/740 (Fargo) reports in a Feb. 4 filing that it returned to full-power operations on Nov. 19. See this previous FCC Monitor report for details.
K-Love’s KNDL/100.7 (Berthold-Minot) returned to full-power operations on Jan. 29. The station had previously reported it was working to replace its transmitter.
South Dakota
Townsquare Media’s KXRB/1140 (Sioux Falls) returned to full nighttime power of 5kW on Jan. 22. KXRB had been using reduced power at night due to problems with its directional antenna system.
The FCC approved Christensen Broadcast Group’s purchase of KJAM/1390 (Madison) and KJAM-FM/103.1 (Madison) from Connoisseur Media.
Wisconsin
Tomsun Media’s WPTT/1540 (Hartford) changed its callsign to WEMP effective Feb. 7, adopting a heritage Milwaukee-market callsign that had most recently been used by the station that is now WOMT-FM/98.9 (Manitowoc).
Gray Media’s W31EV-D (Stevens Point) returned to the air Jan. 30.