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.
Iowa
KCMR/97.9 (Mason City) reported that it is operating at reduced power of 3.25kW ERP after an apparent power surge damaged two transmitter power supplies on Aug. 7. The station’s filing says replacement power supply modules for its 17-year-old transmitter are no longer available as “off the shelf” equipment and it is considering its options.
Minnesota
The FCC granted Fairmont Area Catholic Radio a construction permit for a new station on 91.9 in Fairmont using 6kW/29m. The organization also has a CP for new 300-Watt station KYEJ/90.1 (Fairmont), which will replace KYEJ-LP/90.1 (Fairmont). In approving the second permit, the FCC dismissed an informal objection by Triangle Access Broadcasting, saying that the Multiple Application Rule does not apply to non-commercial applications.
Gray TV low-power TV station K23MQ-D (Duluth) informed the FCC that it has completed an upgrade from 2.5kW to 15kW.
Nebraska
MyBridge Radio has switched K260AF/99.9 (Kearney) to its Spanish-language service, relaying the programming of KMMJ/750 (Grand Island). Its notification to the FCC says K260AF is receiving KMMJ over the air. KMMJ is also relayed on K284DC/104.7 (Grand Island). Listeners in Kearney can still hear MyBridge’s English-language programming from KHZY/99.3 (Overton).
MyBridge submitted a license to cover application for K257GW/99.3 (Springfield), which has made a series of moves from Nebraska City over the past several years, as well as a notice of resumption of operations. It now transmits with 250 Watts, relaying MyBridge’s KRKR/95.1 (Waverly-Lincoln) to the far southwestern Omaha metro.
The FCC granted MyBridge a modification of its construction permit for new station KXNG/91.3 (Lexington), downgrading it from 100kW to 57kW but keeping the planned antenna height above average terrain at 109m.
At the applicant’s request, the FCC has dismissed Theatre Organ Preservation of Nebraska’s application to upgrade future station KEZL/89.7 (Culbertson) from 6kW to 32kW.
After being displaced in the spectrum auction repack, Waitt Broadcasting’s K30BP-D (Norfolk) has applied to move to channel 17 with 5kW. The KMEG translator received special temporary authority to transmit on channel 23 when it was initially displaced in 2019.
North Dakota
Fargo Baptist Church applied to upgrade future station KCBJ/90.7 (Jamestown) from 260W/6m to 550W/52m.
The FCC granted small changes in the power levels of Gray TV low-power TV stations K18NW-D (Minot) to 150W and K20PB-D (Williston) to 200W.
South Dakota
The FCC approved a modification to the Community Broadcasting/Bott Radio Network’s construction permit for KCVP/88.3 (Pierre) upgrading it from 25kW/86m (class C3) to 30kW/129m (class C2).
Also approved was a modification for Northern Plains Baptist Church’s future station KFCA/88.1 (Aberdeen) downgrading it from 6kW/85m to 800W/47m.
The FCC approved another extension of special temporary authority for Homeslice Media Group’s KKLS/920 (Rapid City) to operate at a variance. KKLS’ directional pattern was affected by the construction of a nearby power line more than six years ago and says in its most recent filing that it has now contracted with a consulting engineer who was delayed by work on TV construction permits.
An extension of special temporary authority was also granted to James River Broadcasting’s KGFX/1060 (Pierre), which has been working to bring its 1kW directional nighttime pattern into compliance. The station’s latest filing says it encountered difficulty in obtaining access from landowners to make field measurements so it decided to use the Method of Moments procedure instead, but equipment for the procedure turned out to be out of tolerance. Replacements arrived earlier this month.
Wisconsin
Magnum Media submitted license to cover applications for W253DH/98.5 (Wisconsin Dells) and W271DQ/102.1 (Baraboo) indicating both have completed upgrades giving them coverage of Baraboo, Wisconsin Dells, and Portage. The translators moved to the American Towers-owned facility southeast of Baraboo that is the longtime home to Audacy’s WOLX-FM/94.9 (Baraboo). W271DQ is the former W290AL/105.9, which previously had a much smaller coverage area relaying WBOO/102.9. The applications indicate W271DQ is now relaying Magnum’s WEZY/1350 (Portage), while W253DH continues to relay WDLS/900 (Wisconsin Dells).
Magnum’s W296EH/107.1 (La Crosse) has applied to move to 92.7, a change that it says will remove the translator from interference being received from adjacent-channel KROC-FM/106.9 (Rochester, MN). With the frequency change, the translator would switch to a non-directional antenna and reduce power slightly from 250 to 225 Watts. It would continue to relay the HD3 signal of WKBH-FM/102.7 (Onalaska-La Crosse), which originates “Alt 107.1” programming.
Magnum’s WRDB/1400 (Reedsburg) reported that it continues to broadcast at reduced power of 75 Watts using a temporary longwire antenna after its tower collapsed last winter. It has requested a six-month extension of special temporary authority.
Zoe Communications’ WCBN/910 (Hayward) reported that it went off the air Aug. 7 due to technical difficulties. WCBN had previously originated programming for W245CT/96.9, which now receives programming from WHSM-FM-HD2.
Radio Plus Bay Cities’ WMAM/570 (Marinette) has been granted a move to a new site. Its current site along the Menominee River has flooding issues. It will move to the WHYB/103.7 tower southwest of town, reducing its daytime power from 250 to 180 Watts non-directional and continuing to use 100 Watts at night.
My Central Valley informed the FCC that new low-power TV station WZEO-LD/26 (La Crosse) has been constructed as authorized.
The FCC determined that Results Broadcasting Rhinelander does not owe any more money over two defaulted bids for new FM stations in 2013 and is now eligible for a refund of the $29,175 remaining on deposit.