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
Youngers Colorado Broadcasting’s K295CB/106.9 (Des Moines) filed a license to cover application indicating that it has completed a frequency change to 94.1 with the new callsign K231DI. K295CB had previously related KXLQ/1490 (Indianola); the application indicates K231DI is relaying Educational Media’ Foundation’s KLOV-FM (Winchester, OR) via local translator K213DV. The translator reduced power slightly from 132 to 119 Watts with the frequency change.
TLC Broadcasting’s KCMR/97.9 (Mason City) has requested special temporary authority to transmit with 343 Watts ERP rather than its licensed 6kW due to a transmitter malfunction.
Following up on its earlier reduced power notification, Iowa Public Radio’s KSUI/91.7 (Iowa City) has requested special temporary authority to continue transmitting at 17% of its licensed 100kW. The filing states that there are problems with both the station’s main and backup transmitters.
The FCC dismissed Holy Mother Mary’s application for a new low-power FM station on 98.7 in Cascade, citing the proposed facility’s failure to protect an allotment for a future full-power station on 98.7 in Asbury.
St. Gabriel Communications’ KLOX/90.9 (Creston) has applied to upgrade from 500 Watts to 100kW. The station also had a construction permit for 100kW under previous ownership.
Minnesota
The FCC has approved Coastal Television/CTMN License LLC’s purchase of KQDS-TV/21.1 (Duluth) from KQDS Acquisition Corp. (Red River Broadcast Corp.)
Pensacola Christian College’s KPCS/89.7 (Princeton) has completed an increase in antenna height that restores its original coverage area. As previously reported, KPCS had originally used 40kW at 42 meters above average terrain but had to reduce power to 14.8kW ERP due to transmitter problems. To make up for the drop in power, the station has increased its antenna height to 74 meters HAAT with 15.5kW.
Minnesota Public Radio’s KSJR-FM/90.1 (Collegeville-St. Cloud) tells the FCC that it resumed full-power operations on Jan. 23 after resolving a transmitter issue.
Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls’ K214FP/90.7 (Fergus Falls) has signed on, replacing K201IQ/88.1 after it was displaced by the sign-on of a full-power station. The translator got a slight boost in power from 190 to 200 Watts with the frequency change.
Bold Radio has filed an application to assign the license of KOLV/100.1 (Olivia-Willmar) to Lakeland Media LLC for $100,000. The buyer has the same ownership as the seller and operates the station through a local marketing agreement. The transfer follows the sale of stations in Willmar to Lakeland Media.
In a similar transaction, Main Street Broadcasting applied to transfer the license of KRUE/92.1 (Waseca), KFOW/1170 (Waseca), and KFOW translator K292GU/106.3 (Waseca) to Blooming Prairie Farm Radio for $50,000. Both companies have the same ownership structure: Lynn Ketelsen 50%, J. David Linder’s Seagrape Trust 45%, and J. David Linder 5%.
Nebraska
The FCC has reached a consent decree with WJAG, Inc. to resolve an investigation into three transfers of control between 2017 and 2019. The issue came to light when applications were filed to transfer control of WJAG/780 (Norfolk), KEXL/97.5 (Pierce-Norfolk), and KQKX/106.7 (Norfolk) in 2021. The FCC says a majority of shares in the company had allegedly been transferred into a trust, and then transferred to two other trusts, without FCC consent. The consent decree calls for WJAG, Inc. to make an $8,000 civil penalty payment.
North Dakota
The FCC has approved Coastal Television/CTND License LLC’s purchase of KVRR/15.1 (Fargo), KBRR/10.1 (Thief River Falls, MN), KNRR/12.1 (Pembina), and KJRR/7.1 (Jamestown) from Red River Broadcast Corp.
Berean Baptist Church is selling the construction permit for future station KYPT/90.7 (Minot) to South Dakota-based American Christian Radio for $1.
South Dakota
Christian Heritage Broadcasting closed on its purchase of KEEA/90.1 (Aberdeen) from the American Family Association on Jan. 24.
Wisconsin
The FCC has dismissed UW-Milwaukee’s application for a new low-power FM station on 90.1 in Milwaukee due to the fact that it mistakenly specified a transmitter site in Chicago.
Family Worship Center Church closed on its purchase of WIWN/68.1 (Fond du Lac-Milwaukee) from Milwaukee Media LLC on Jan. 24.
Civic Media’s W230DA/93.9 (New Holstein) has gone off the air while it completes construction of its new facility near High Cliff State Park, which will improve its signal to Appleton as it changes frequency to 96.5. The station’s request for special temporary authority to remain silent states that construction of the new facility was completed in December, but it was discovered that an additional filter needed to be ordered.
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.