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.
A freeze on applications for new low-power TV/translator stations was lifted on March 19, resulting in a flurry of filings.
Iowa
The FCC approved Achen Becker Media’s purchase of KCHA-FM/95.9 (Charles City), KCHA/1580 (Charles City), KCHA translator K277DM/103.3 (Charles City), and KCZE/95.1 (New Hampton) from Coloff Media.
CSN International’s K218CE/91.5 (Marshalltown) applied to move from its current site west of town to a site south of town, upgrading from 80 to 250 Watts.
Divine Mercy Educational Radio’s K232GF/94.3 (Fort Madison) went off the air March 17 for antenna repairs.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Cedar Rapids, channel 24, 15kW, Grigsby Way Broadcasting
- Centerville, channel 21, 15kW, Iowa Public Broadcasting Board (Iowa PBS)
- Davenport, channel 24, 15kW, Grigsby Way Broadcasting
- Davenport, channel 28, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
- Des Moines, channel 2, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Des Moines, channel 3, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Des Moines, channel 4, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Des Moines, channel 14, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Des Moines, channel 15, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Des Moines, channel 20, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Des Moines, channel 30, 5kW, Fair Play 4U
- Des Moines, channel 33, 15kW, Word Of God Fellowship
- Des Moines, channel 35, 15kW, Grigsby Way Broadcasting
- Des Moines, channel 35, 15kW, Oasis Television Ministries
- Dubuque, channel 19, 15kW, Iowa Public Broadcasting Board (Iowa PBS)
- Osceola, channel 31, 15kW, Iowa Public Broadcasting Board (Iowa PBS)
- Sioux City, channel 36, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
- Slater, channel 6, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Slater, channel 18, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Slater, channel 22, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Walker, channel 20, 15kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
Michigan
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Houghton, channel 23, 15kW, Queen Bee’s Knees LLC (Morgan Murphy Media)
- Marquette, channel 21, 15kW, Queen Bee’s Knees LLC (Morgan Murphy Media)
- Marquette, channel 27, 3kW, Northern Michigan University (WNMU)
Minnesota
Minnesota Public Radio’s KRSU/88.5 (Appleton) returned to full power on March 4 after completing repairs.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Alexandria, channel 31, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Bemidji, channel 14, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Duluth, channel 14, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
- Duluth, channel 21, 15kW, Duluth-Superior Area Educational Television Corporation
- Faribault, channel 2, 3kW, Lowcountry 34 Media
- Faribault, channel 3, 3kW, Lowcountry 34 Media
- Faribault, channel 4, 3kW, Lowcountry 34 Media
- Faribault, channel 6, 3kW, Lowcountry 34 Media
- Hibbing, channel 25, 15kW, Duluth-Superior Area Educational Television Corporation
- Mankato, channel 27, 3kW, SagamoreHill of Minneapolis
- Minneapolis, channel 2, 3kW, VPlay Inc. (application later withdrawn)
- Minneapolis, channel 3, 3kW, VPlay Inc. (application later withdrawn)
- Minneapolis, channel 4, 3kW, VPlay Inc. (application later withdrawn)
- Minneapolis, channel 5, 3kW, VPlay Inc.
- Minneapolis, channel 6, 3kW, VPlay Inc. (application later withdrawn)
- Minneapolis, channel 6, 3kW, Oasis Television Ministries
- Minneapolis, channel 11, 3kW, Grigsby Way Broadcasting
- Minneapolis, channel 27, 2.2kW, Fair Play 4U
- Rochester, channel 14, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
- St. Paul, channel 4, 1kW, One Ministries
- St. Paul, channel 6, 1kW, One Ministries
Nebraska
The FCC approved MyBridge’s purchase of K209FS/89.7 (Columbus) from the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission. K209FS has applied to move to 88.1 with 90 Watts.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Omaha, channel 2, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Omaha, channel 3, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Omaha, channel 4, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Omaha, channel 18, 15kW, Fair Play 4U (application later withdrawn)
- Omaha, channel 19, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Omaha, channel 23, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Omaha, channel 34, 7.5kW, Fair Play 4U
North Dakota
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Bismarck, channel 33, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
- Devils Lake, channel 16, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Dickinson, channel 14, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Williston, channel 23, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
South Dakota
Gray Media’s K33MI-D (Aberdeen) has resumed full-power operations after making repairs.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Aberdeen, channel 14, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Pierre, channel 16, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Rapid City, channel 14, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Sioux Falls, channel 17, 15kW, BEK Sports Network
- Sioux Falls, channel 18, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
Wisconsin
JJK Media’s W241CI/96.1 (Milwaukee) applied to move to the US Bank building in downtown Milwaukee, which is about a mile east of its current site. The new antenna height would be 109 meters higher than it is now, remaining 99 Watts. It will continue to relay WGLB/1560 (Elm Grove).
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Baraboo, channel 31, 15kW, Television Wisconsin (Morgan Murphy Media)
- Brule, channel 26, 12kW, State of Wisconsin – Educational Communications Board (PBS Wis.)
- Glenmore, channel 19, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 26, 12kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 27, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 28, 8kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 29, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 32, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 34, 12kW, Fair Play 4U
- Green Bay, channel 2, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Green Bay, channel 4, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Green Bay, channel 20, 15kW, ARCJ LLC
- Green Bay, channel 20, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
- Green Bay, channel 28, 9kW, ARCJ LLC
- Green Bay, channel 30, 6kW, Roseland Broadcasting
- Green Bay, channel 32, 15kW, ARCJ LLC
- Janesville, channel 22, 13.8kW, Television Wisconsin (Morgan Murphy Media)
- Madison, channel 25, 15kW, Television Wisconsin (Morgan Murphy Media)
- Milwaukee, channel 3, 3kW, VPlay Inc.
- Milwaukee, channel 4, 1.9kW, VPlay Inc.
- Milwaukee, channel 6, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Milwaukee, channel 7, 3kW, Milwaukee Media LLC
- Milwaukee, channel 7, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Milwaukee, channel 11, 1kW, Fair Play 4U
- Milwaukee, channel 18, 8kW, Fair Play 4U
- Milwaukee, channel 20, 15kW, Charles Dowen Johnson
- Milwaukee, channel 20, 6kW, Fair Play 4U
- Milwaukee, channel 22, 1.28kW, Milwaukee Area Technical College District Board (WMVS/WMVT)
- Milwaukee, channel 22, 3.3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Milwaukee, channel 22, 3.66kW, Milwaukee Area Technical College District Board (WMVS/WMVT)
- Milwaukee, channel 25, 15kW, Grigsby Way Broadcasting
- Milwaukee, channel 33, 5kW, Fair Play 4U
- Milwaukee, channel 35, 5kW, Fair Play 4U
- Oshkosh, channel 16, 10kW, TV-49 Inc. (Weigel)
- Wausau, channel 21, 15kW, HC2 Station Group
Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.