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
Northwestern Media’s KNWS/1090 (Waterloo) has added nighttime service of 57 Watts non-directional following the downgrade of KAAY/1090 (Little Rock, Ark.) Previously daytime-only, the FCC has granted a construction permit for the nighttime service on April 20 and KNWS submitted a license to cover two days later.
On April 20, Community Broadcasting/Bott Radio Network closed on its $100 purchase of W272AL/102.3 (Fairfield) from the Fairfield Monthly Meeting of Friends. The translator relays KQLF/88.3 (Ottumwa), which Community Broadcasting bought last year.
Minnesota
Hubbard Broadcasting’s KSTP/1500 (St. Paul) informed the FCC it is operating at reduced power of 25kW day and 10kW night “to analyze certain technical issues and determine whether additional steps are needed.” KSTP normally uses 50kW day and night, with a directional pattern at night.
HC2 Broadcasting’s K33LN-D (Minneapolis) returned to full power of 15kW on April 15.
VCY America’s KVCS/89.1 (Spring Valley), which has been off the air since Feb. 23 due to loss of
connectivity to the site, has requested special temporary authority to remain silent. The filing states that VCY anticipates resuming service within 30 days.
North Dakota
Major Market Broadcasting’s K25LY-D (Fargo) was granted a construction permit to move its transmitter from Fargo to the KRDK-TV tower in Galesburg, upgrading from 8.6kW to 15kW.
South Dakota
Black Hills State University’s KJKT/90.7 (Spearfish) returned to full power on April 7 following replacement of a damaged transmission cable.
Wisconsin
VCY America’s W26EE-D (Wittenberg) went off the air April 14 due to transmitter failure. It has been granted special temporary authority to remain silent while a new transmitter is ordered and installed.
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.