The following are updates to previously-reported items and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Iowa
The FCC approved an upgrade by Radio by Grace’s K296GZ/107.1 (Muscatine) that will add more of the Quad Cities to its coverage area, using 250W from a tower along I-280 in Davenport. The application specifies that it will carry the HD3 channel of iHeartMedia’s WLLR-FM/103.7 (Davenport).
Townsquare Media’s KBOB/1170 (Davenport) reported that it is temporarily using its nighttime directional pattern both day and night due to an antenna switching issue. A request for special temporary authority said KBOB has been in nighttime mode since April 27. The station is licensed for 1kW both day and night, and the nighttime pattern created by six towers is more restrictive than the licensed daytime pattern from four towers.
The Davenport Educational Association’s KTJT-LP/103.1 (Davenport) completed a move from a site on the western side of the city to a more centrally-located site near downtown, remaining 100 Watts. The move expands the station’s coverage area to include more of the Quad Cities metro.
Minnesota
VCY America’s WQRM/850 (Duluth) continues to transmit at reduced power of 1kW daytime following a fire at its transmitter site last summer. It’s licensed for 50kW daytime. The station’s request for extension of special temporary authority says it has constructed a new concrete structure to replace the damaged wood-frame transmitter building but has faced an extended factory delay in the delivery of a new transmitter. The filing says the transmitter is scheduled to ship in the first half of May.
Nebraska
The FCC issued public notice that the license of KSXC-LD/26 (South Sioux City, NE) will expire June 1 unless an application for license renewal is filed before then. Feb. 1 was the deadline to file for renewal of Nebraska TV licenses.
Central City Baptist Church’s KOOW-LP/95.1 (Central City) went off the air April 29 due to a transmitter problem.
North Dakota
Following up to a March report on opposition to Forum Communications’ request for a waiver to buy FOX affiliate KVRR/15 (Fargo), your reporter missed Forum’s reply to the opposition that was filed a week later. The original report has been updated with Forum’s response. Forum says the opponents are largely recycling rejected arguments about retransmission consent fees, saying they “seem to have Forum confused with publicly traded companies that have a nationwide or region-wide footprint.” Forum says that it is, and would still be, a small company compared with the cable and satellite providers with which it would have to negotiate fees.
Ontario
The CRTC approved a new plan by CBC to convert Radio One station CBOI/690 (Ear Falls) to FM. The new CBOI-FM will transmit on 95.5 with 130 Watts. A similar plan had been approved in 2018 but was not implemented by the Feb. 5, 2022 deadline. The new deadline is May 3, 2024.
South Dakota
Prairie Winds Broadcasting’s K236CU/95.1 (Milbank) applied to move its transmitter from South Shore back to Milbank, remaining 250 Watts but with a lower antenna height. The application states that the move will “eliminate coverage problems.” K236CU relays KMSD/1510 (Milbank) and had originally signed on from Milbank in 2020 before moving to South Shore last year.
Wisconsin
The FCC approved Magnum Media’s application to change the frequency of north Milwaukee metro signal W283CJ/104.5 (Cedarburg) to 93.9, relaying WIBD/1470 (West Bend). As noted previously, the change will move the translator to a less-crowded spot on the dial.
Also approved was an application from Magnum’s W258CM/99.5 (Madison) to move from its present site near Maple Bluff to a tower near Sun Prairie, upgrading from 120 to 250 Watts and increasing its antenna height. The application specified that it will relay Magnum’s WSJY/107.3 (Fort Atkinson).