The following are updates to previously-reported items and other recent FCC filings and actions:
National
The FCC asked Tegna for additional information about its proposed sale to an affiliate of Standard General LP. The request includes the company’s plans for retransmission consent negotiations, whether it intends to enter into any sharing agreements, how local programming would be improved, and whether there would be any staff reductions. The information will not be publicly released but which will but available to those who agree to keep it confidential.
Iowa
DTV America submitted the construction permit for K26PC-D (Ottumwa) for cancellation.
Michigan
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community closed on its purchase of WMQT/107.7 (Ishpeming-Marquette), WZAM/970 (Ishpeming-Marquette), and two FM translators from Taconite Broadcasting on May 31.
Minnesota
Following the death of Daniel Peters last year, the D.M. Peters Family Trust is selling its interest in several suburban Twin Cities radio stations to Carpenter Broadcasting LLC for $2.2 million. The Carpenter and Peters stations already operate as one group from a studio in Ramsey. Peters’ companies had full asset ownership of WLKX-FM/95.9 (Forest Lake) and KBGY/107.5 (Faribault) and 75% ownership of KLCI/106.1 (Elk River) and WQPM/1300 (Princeton). Following the transaction, Carpenter Broadcasting will fully own all of the stations. Carpenter Broadcasting is a partnership of Dennis Carpenter and his son, Lucas Carpenter. Lucas Carpenter also owns two stations in Albany through Crystal Media Group and the Carpenters are also in the process of buying and building three stations in Cook County.
One of the stations Carpenter Broadcasting is in the process of buying, Shire & Shore Communications’ WFNX/95.3 (Grand Marais), reported to the FCC that it went off the air April 29 due to ice damage to its antenna. The station transmits from the ski hill at Lutsen.
Townsquare Media’s KOLM/1520 (Rochester) tells the FCC that it continues to transmit with 200W non-directional at night rather than its licensed 800W directional as it continues to work on repairs to its six-tower antenna system. The station’s request for extension of special temporary authority says crews discovered additional issues at the site after winter weather conditions eased. KOLM continues to use 10kW non-directional daytime.
North Dakota
Northwestern Media’s KFNW-FM/97.9 (Fargo), which normally broadcasts with 100kW, is using just 1.5kW effective radiated power (300 Watts transmitter power output) following a May 25 transmitter failure. The station’s transmitter is about 20 miles from downtown and it’s encouraging listeners to try its web stream.
South Dakota
Prairie Winds Broadcasting completed the move of K236CU/95.1 (Milbank) from the South Shore tower site back to Milbank, where it relays Classic Hits station KMSD/1510.
Haugo Broadcasting says economic and supply chain challenges continue to delay work to return KXMZ/102.7 (Box Elder-Rapid City) to full power of 50kW/137m (class C2). KXMZ lost access to its licensed transmitter site in 2018 and has been temporarily using 1kW/105m. The station’s latest request for extension of special temporary authority says contractors may be able to complete the project in the coming months.
Wisconsin
Carroll University reported that WCCX/104.5 (Waukesha) went off the air May 31 due to “staffing and financial limitations.”