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.
More applications for new low-power TV stations have been submitted following the end of an FCC freeze. See last week’s FCC Monitor for the first batch of filings.
Iowa
Divine Mercy Educational Radio’s K232GF/94.3 (Fort Madison) returned to the air March 24. It was off the air for a week for antenna repairs.
K-Love Inc.’s K261DH/100.1 (Iowa City), which carries Air1, returned to full power on March 24. The translator had been at reduced power since March 2.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Slater, channel 7, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Slater, channel 9, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Slater, channel 10, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Slater, channel 12, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Slater, channel 25, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Slater, channel 27, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Slater, channel 29, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
Michigan
The FCC granted Michigan Civic Media Alliance’s W221EH/92.1 (Ironwood) a construction permit to change to 92.3 as W222DC. It will remain 250 Watts from the WIMI/99.7 tower in Montreal, Wis., but move its antenna 23 meters higher on the tower. W222DC will continue to relay WJMS/590.
Aurora Media’s WYKX/104.7 (Escanaba) was granted another extension of special temporary authority to transmit at about 10kW ERP, rather than its licensed 100kW, while it continues transmitter repairs. The station first began operating at reduced power in July 2024. The latest filing repeats that it has been difficult to find parts because of the transmitter’s “obsolescence” and that alternative options for repairs are being investigated.
Minnesota
Gabriel Media’s KSKK/1070 (Verndale) has completed a reduction in its daytime power from 10kW to 5kW non-directional. It remains 5kW directional at night.
Calvary Satellite Network’s K204ES/88.7 (Brainerd) was granted a move of its transmitter from its current site southeast of town to a more central location, upgrading from 80 to 115 Watts.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Cottage Grove, channel 7, 500W, Fair Play 4U
- Cottage Grove, channel 8, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- St. Paul, channel 13, 2kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
Meanwhile, VPlay Inc. has withdrawn applications for new LPTV stations on channels 2, 3, 4, and 6 in Minneapolis. Its application for channel 5, reported here last week, remains pending.
HC2 Station Group has applied to move KRZG-CD/27 (McAllen, Tex.) to Minneapolis on channel 36 with 15kW from the IDS Center. HC2 already owns KMQV-LD/36 (Rochester, Minn.), which also transmits from the IDS Center with 15kW, and submitted a statement acknowledging and waiving any possible interference. The specific plans for both stations and the reasons for the move were not stated.
Nebraska
The FCC approved Alan and Joanna Usher’s sale of their 32% stake in Legacy Communications (Grand Island Family Radio) to the Joseph J. Vavricek Irrevocable Trust, which already owns the other 68% of Legacy. The divestiture comes as Usher Media awaits FCC approval to buy NRG Media’s competing stations in the Tri-Cities.
NRG Media’s KSYZ-FM/107.7 (Grand Island) reported that it’s using an auxiliary transmitter with about 1kW ERP, rather than its licensed 100kW, due to a problem with the main transmitter. KSYZ has requested special temporary authority to continue at the reduced power level while repairs are made.
Connoisseur Media’s KLIR/101.1 (Columbus) submitted a license to cover application indicating it has completed a move of its antenna to a lower spot at its existing site, going from 237 to 202 meters above average terrain. It remains 100kW.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Omaha, channel 5, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Omaha, channel 6, 3kW, Wavelength Dynamics
- Omaha, channel 16, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
- Omaha, channel 14, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
Meanwhile, Fair Play 4U withdrew its application for a new LPTV station on channel 18 in Omaha. As reported last week, it also has pending applications for channels 19, 23, and 34 in Omaha.
South Dakota
Homeslice Media’s KKLS/920 (Rapid City) was granted another extension of special temporary authority to operate at reduced power as it works to switch to non-directional operation. As previously reported here, KKLS’ directional antenna pattern was impacted by a new power line and the station is temporarily using 3.2kW day and 70 Watts night. The latest filing says it has been “exceptionally difficult” to schedule a crew to dismantle one of the towers. KKLS was licensed for 5kW day and 111 Watts night from the two-tower directional array and will use 5kW day and 65 Watts night, non-directional, once the project is complete.
Wisconsin
The FCC granted VCY America’s WVCY/690 (Oshkosh) an extension of special temporary authority to transmit non-directionally at reduced power of 62 Watts day and 19 Watts night. (It normally uses a directional pattern with 250 Watts day and 77 Watts night.) WVCY’s latest filing says it has determined a new transmitter is needed.
David Magnum’s W300CM/107.9 (Appleton) has requested special temporary authority to transmit with 25 Watts from the roof of a hockey rink near its licensed site. The translator went off the air April 21, 2025, after a water main break caused the foundation of its licensed tower to become unstable. It faces an April 22 deadline to return to the air under federal law.
Gateway Technical College’s W279BV/101.7 (Elkhorn) has completed a move of its transmitter from the community’s core to a site east of town, remaining 27 Watts.
Civic Media closed on its purchase of WZTI/1290 (Greenfield-Milwaukee), W262CJ/100.3 (Milwaukee), and W279BY/107.3 (Franklin) from the Milwaukee Radio Alliance on March 23. Civic had already been operating the stations under a time brokerage agreement.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Green Bay, channel 3, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Madison, channel 7, 2.5kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Madison, channel 8, 3kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Madison, channel 14, 15kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Madison, channel 27, 15kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Madison, channel 28, 15kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Madison, channel 29, 7.5kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Madison, channel 30, 10kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Madison, channel 32, 10kW, Heritage Airwaves Capital
- Milwaukee, channel 13, 2kW, Fair Play 4U
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.