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.
The FCC has revised the dates for an upcoming filing window for new FM translators in the non-commercial portion of the band, 88-92 MHz, pushing the window back to Nov. 4 to 17.
Iowa
The FCC granted the Iowa Public Broadcasting Board a construction permit for new low-power TV/translator station K31QN-D (Osceola), using 15kW.
The FCC granted HC2 Station Group a construction permit for new low-power TV station K36RL-D (Sioux City), using 15kW.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s K31PO-D (Des Moines) reports it returned to the air on June 24.
Michigan
New station WDRG/88.1 (Wells), which will serve the Escanaba area, submitted a license to cover application requesting program test authority. WDRG is owned by Full Potential Ministry of Imlay City, Mich.
Results Broadcasting of Iron Mountain’s WHTO/106.7 (Iron Mountain) was granted a construction permit to reduce power from 6.1kW to 3.1kW, with its antenna remaining at 206 meters above average terrain. It remains Class C3.
Sumbera Broadcasting’s WMJT/96.7 (McMillan) was granted a construction permit to move its transmitter to a site a few miles southwest of Newberry using 20.5kW/111m (class C3). WMJT is currently licensed to transmit from a site about 13 miles northwest of Newberry with 50kW/126m (class C2). The move also places the station’s tower closer to McMillan, which is west of Newberry.
Minnesota
The FCC approved a transfer of control of Salem Media to The Christian Community Foundation, Inc., doing business as WaterStone. The company’s Upper Midwest stations include KKMS/980 (Richfield-Minneapolis), WWTC/1280 (Minneapolis), KYCR/1440 (Golden Valley-Minneapolis), and KDIZ/1570 (Golden Valley-Minneapolis). KDIZ served as the lead station for the national application.
WRVM Inc.’s WJRF/89.5 (Duluth) is operating at reduced power of 1.8kW ERP, rather than its licensed 2.25kW ERP, due to failure of its main transmitter.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s K27OW-D (Rochester) reports it returned to the air on June 25.
Nebraska
Walnut Media formally notified the FCC that WOW/590 (Omaha), formerly KXSP, returned to the air July 6 as previously announced. The filing says WOW is using its licensed parameters, which are 5kW day and night non-directional. No application has been filed to change facilities.
South Dakota
Calvary Chapel Sioux Falls has surrendered the construction permit for new low-power FM station KTGN-LP/104.3 (Sioux Falls). It had faced a February 2027 deadline to sign on.
The Moody Bible Institute’s K213CL/90.5 (Huron) reports that it went off the air July 5 due to a tower collapse. Meanwhile, the FCC has granted Moody a waiver of signal delivery rules for K261CH/100.1 (Carpenter) to receive programming via internet rather than from K213CL. (Translators in the non-reserved portion of the FM band, 92-108 MHz, are only allowed to receive their program feed over the air unless they are a “fill-in” translator within their primary station’s coverage area. In this case, K213CL and K261CH are both listed as relaying Moody’s WJSO Pikeville, Ky.)
Wisconsin
Mid-West Family Radio’s WKTY/580 (La Crosse) reports that it’s using reduced power of 250 Watts, non-directional, after identifying issues with both its daytime and nighttime directional patterns. WKTY normally uses 5kW day and 740 Watts night.
The FCC has granted VCY America’s WVCX/98.9 (Tomah) an extension of special temporary authority to use 22.2kW, rather than its licensed 100kW, while work continues to install a new transmitter.
Midwest Communications notified the FCC that W270AJ/101.9 (Green Bay) is now relaying WNFL/99.7 (Sturgeon Bay) rather than WDKF/1440 (Green Bay), which was formerly WNFL. WNFL-FM began simulcasting the AM station last year.
HC2 Station Group was granted a construction permit for new low-power TV station W21EW-D (Wausau), using 15kW.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s W35DY-D (Stoughton) reports it returned to the air on June 26.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s W21EF-D (Fond du Lac) reports it returned to the air on June 27.
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.