Iowa
The FCC approved the sale of KMRY/1450 (Cedar Rapids) and K226BO/93.1 (Cedar Rapids) from Sellers Broadcasting to Ecker Broadcasting.
Edge Spectrum requested a waiver to again extend the deadline for low-power TV station K20KF-D (Davenport) to resume broadcasting. The station’s former analog facility on channel 16 left the air in July 2020. Federal law says that stations forfeit their licenses if they are off the air for more than a year, but the FCC has narrow discretion to grant exceptions. Edge says it “has experienced significant and insurmountable challenges obtaining digital broadcasting equipment as a result of the global supply chain disruptions” and says it expects the transmitter for K20KF-D to ship on March 4, 2022. Filings say Edge and ARK Multicasting intend to construct K20KF-D as an ATSC 3.0 station.
Minnesota
Park Public Radio requested an amendment of its application for a new station on 88.1 in southeastern Minnesota to specify Blooming Prairie as its community of license, rather than Stewartville. The proposed 50kW/77m (class C2) facility is unchanged from the original application. The proposed amendment is under review. The application is part of mutually exclusive group 124. As noted here last week, an earlier proposal to amend the application to remove it from competition was denied.
Edge Spectrum requested waivers to again extend the deadlines for low-power TV stations KTCJ-LD/13 (Minneapolis), KHVM-LD/18 (Minneapolis), K44GH-D (Alexandria), K48KJ-D (Geneva), K38MM-D (International Falls), K43JE-D (Lake Crystal), K47JE-D (Olivia), K43MH-D (Vesta), and K47JC-D (Wadena) to return to the air. All of the stations had previously transmitted on channels above 36 that that were discontinued in July 2020 and have construction permits to operate on new channels. Federal law says that stations forfeit their licenses if they are off the air for more than a year, but the FCC has narrow discretion to grant exceptions. Similar to other recent Edge filings, the company says the global pandemic and supply chain disruptions have delayed the delivery of new transmitters for the stations, which it intends to operate in ATSC 3.0 format in coordination with ARK Multicasting. Edge expects transmitters to ship on March 4.
Nebraska
The Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission amended its application for a new FM station in Broken Bow to remove it from competition with other applicants. Instead of the original 91.3, NETC is now seeking 89.3 in Broken Bow with 12kW/77m (class C3).
Edge Spectrum requested a waiver to again extend the deadline for low-power TV station K49LK-D (North Platte) to return to the air. The station’s previous channel was discontinued in July 2020 following the spectrum auction repack and it has a construction permit to operate on channel 20. Federal law says that stations forfeit their licenses if they are off the air for more than a year, but the FCC has narrow discretion to grant exceptions. Similar to other recent Edge filings, the company says the global pandemic and supply chain disruptions have delayed the delivery of new transmitters for its stations, which it intends to operate in ATSC 3.0 format in coordination with ARK Multicasting. Edge expects transmitters to ship on March 4.
North Dakota
The FCC granted a construction permit to Jordan Zeller for a new station on 99.1 licensed to Emerado, using 6kW/100m (class A). It will deliver strong signal to Grand Forks Air Force Base with fringe coverage of Grand Forks. Zeller won the frequency, originally alloted to Gackle, in an FCC auction earlier this year.
Bible Broadcasting Network amended its application for a new station on 88.3 in Grand Forks to specify the use of a directional antenna, removing it from competition from We Have This Hope Christian Radio’s application for 88.1 in Crookston, MN. Though BBN remains in competition with Grand Forks Bible Study Group for the frequency, REC Networks has identified BBN as a potential winner under the FCC’s points system based on its larger proposed coverage area.
Gray TV was granted modifications for future low-power TV stations K28QT-D (Dickinson) and K20PB-D (Williston) to downgrade them to 350W and 360W, respectively. They face Jan. 10 construction deadlines.
Edge Spectrum requested waivers to again extend the deadlines for low-power TV stations K43JQ-D (Bismarck) and K42IM-D (Minot) to return to the air. The stations had previously transmitted on channels above 36 that that were discontinued in July 2020 and have construction permits to operate on new channels. Federal law says that stations forfeit their licenses if they are off the air for more than a year, but the FCC has narrow discretion to grant exceptions. Similar to other recent Edge filings, the company says the global pandemic and supply chain disruptions have delayed the delivery of new transmitters for the stations, which it intends to operate in ATSC 3.0 format in coordination with ARK Multicasting. Edge expects transmitters to ship on March 4.
South Dakota
The FCC approved the University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s purchase of KLMP/88.3 (Rapid City) and KSLT/107.3 (Spearfish-Rapid City) from Bethesda Christian Broadcasting. The deal also includes two KSLT satellite stations and several translators and boosters. It does not include KTPT/97.9 (Rapid City). As earlier reported, the KLMP and KSLT asset purchase agreement contemplated the possibility that KTPT may be sold to a different buyer, but no deal has been filed.
Wisconsin
Magnum Communications applied to modify its construction permit to move WBKY/95.9 (Portage) to Stoughton, changing the proposed coverage area to include Janesville rather than rimshotting Madison. WBKY has had a series of construction permits to move to Stoughton since 2008. The new proposed facility would use 2kW/176m (class A) from the WSJY/107.3 tower near Edgerton.
The Barron Calvary Baptist Church and the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, which is one of the parent organizations of Wisconsin Public Radio, modified their applications for new stations in Rice Lake to remove themselves from competition with each other, and from proposed stations in Melrose and Stanley. All had originally applied for 91.5. On Dec. 28, Both Rice Lake applicants requested amendments to change to 90.1, which were denied. WECB has now requested an amendment specifying 90.7 with 1kW/112m (class A). The Barron Calvary Baptist Church is again seeking 90.1 with 830W/120m (class A). Both applications remain pending.
2820 Communications modified its application for a new station on 89.3 in Whitewater to remove prohibited overlap with several existing stations. Originally seeking a 25kW/46m (class B) facility, the applicant is now seeking 8kW/46m (class B1).
WFAQ-LP/101.3 (Mukwonago) completed its change from 41W/47m to 100W/31m, remaining at its present site.
Gray TV informed the FCC that new 500-Watt low-power TV station WECX-LD/14 (Eau Claire) has been constructed as authorized. According to a post by Gray’s WEAU, CW network programming originating on 15kW W33DH-D (Eau Claire) has been identifying as WECX/14.1 since August.
Polnet Communications’ WPVS-LD/9 (Milwaukee), which has been operating under special temporary authority for 50 Watts but has a construction permit for 2.9kW, has now applied to use 7 Watts.
Edge Spectrum requested a waiver to again extend the deadline for low-power TV station W39CV-D (Minocqua) to return to the air. The station’s previous channel was discontinued in July 2020 following the spectrum auction repack and it has a construction permit to operate on channel 35. Federal law says that stations forfeit their licenses if they are off the air for more than a year, but the FCC has narrow discretion to grant exceptions. Similar to other recent Edge filings, the company says the global pandemic and supply chain disruptions have delayed the delivery of new transmitters for its stations, which it intends to operate in ATSC 3.0 format in coordination with ARK Multicasting. Edge expects transmitters to ship on March 4.