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.
Innovate Corp., the parent company of DTV America and HC2 Station Group, has completed a transaction that results in CONX Corp. owning 75% of the companies, with Innovate Corp. retaining the other 25%. DTV America and HC2 are the licensees of numerous low-power TV stations nationwide, including many in the Upper Midwest. The chairman of CONX is Charlie Ergen of DISH Network/Echostar fame.
Michigan
The FCC granted additional extensions of special temporary authority for WYSS/99.5 (Sault Ste. Marie) and WMKD/105.5 (Pickford-Sault Ste. Marie) to transmit at reduced power following a 2018 tower collapse. The latest filings say the licensee is investigating arrangements for alternative permanent facilities. Both are licensed for 100kW; previous filings indicate WYSS is using 1.3kW and WMKD is using 700 Watts.
The FCC has granted an extension of special temporary authority for Ontonagon Area School District’s WOAS/91.5 (Ontonagon) to transmit with 4 Watts with an antenna 8 meters below average terrain as it awaits replacement of its tower. WOAS has a construction permit to use 99W/9m on 91.5.
Minnesota
The FCC granted Lowcountry 34 Media a construction permit for new low-power TV station serving the Twin Cities area. Though licensed to Faribault, K02RR-D will transmit with 3kW from the tower in Empire Township also used by WGVX/105.1 (Lakeville).
KSMQ Public Service Media formally completed the transfer of KSMQ/15.1 (Austin) to Twin Cities Public Television on Sept. 1, the same day KSMQ began rebroadcasting TPT’s KTCA/KTCI under the new “Minnesota PBS” brand.
Iowa City Broadcasting’s KDMA/1460 (Montevideo) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to remain silent while it awaits transmitter work. KDMA has been off the air since Jan. 28 and cites difficulty finding professional staff to assess the site as the reason for the extension.
WRVM Inc.’s WJRF/89.5 (Duluth) returned to full power of 2.25kW/181m on Aug. 28 after transmitter repairs. Separately, WJRF has applied to increase to 3.3kW and move its antenna 39 meters higher, remaining class C3.
South Dakota
Riverfront Broadcasting closed on its purchase of six stations in the Watertown market from Connoisseur Media on Sept. 1. The stations include KSDR-FM/92.9 (Watertown), KIXX/96.1 Watertown, KDLO-FM/96.9 (Watertown), KKSD/104.3 (Milbank), KWAT/950 (Watertown), and KSDR/1480 (Watertown).
Wisconsin
Sunrise Broadcasting’s WAVL/100.5 (Rothschild-Wausau) returned to full power on Aug. 31. In early June, the station reported that it was at reduced power after a storm damaged its transmitter.
Good Karma Broadcasting’s WBEV-FM/95.3 (Beaver Dam) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to operate at 1kW, rather than its licensed 6kW, while it works to finish a project to improve air conditioning for the transmitter.
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.