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
The FCC granted license renewal to Panther Communications’ KWIA/100.9 (Newell) after the Media Bureau reached a consent decree with the licensee. The FCC began investigating when the station’s license renewal application disclosed that it had not complied with the Online Public Inspection File Rule. The licensee has agreed to maintain a compliance plan, and the Media Bureau has agreed to end its investigation.
Iowa Public Radio’s K231DI/94.1 (Des Moines) has completed an upgrade from 119 to 140 Watts, which coincided with the translator’s switch of its input station to KKSO/88.9 (Mitchellville).
Radiant Life Ministries’ KDMI/19.1 (Des Moines) is operating at reduced power of 419kW, rather than its licensed 839kW, due to a transmitter issue. The station’s request for special temporary authority says a new transmitter has been ordered.
Sinclair’s KGAN/2.1 (RF 29, Cedar Rapids) requested special temporary authority to transmit with an auxiliary antenna using 697.2kW at 500m while a new main antenna is installed. The station has a construction permit for 850kW at 604m. As noted here in previous FCC Monitor reports, KGAN will ultimately share an antenna with KCRG-TV and KRIN.
Michigan
WRVM Inc.’s W255CB/98.9 (Powers) as granted a construction permit to move to 98.7 as W254DY with 99 Watts directional. The permit replaces an expired permit for the frequency change that had specified 55 Watts non-directional. The project includes moving from a water tank in Powers to a tower just south of town that WRVM purchased in 2020.
Minnesota
The FCC granted Outspoken Culture a construction permit for a new low-power FM station on 96.9 in Marshall, using 100 Watts. The group’s application stated that its purpose “is to support and conduct research, provide education and information, and advocate to further social justice movements, better cultural contexts, and empower current and future leaders, especially those from marginalized groups” and that the radio station “will help inform and educate the public about a variety of issues important to the city of Marshall and surrounding area.”
Nebraska
The FCC has canceled the license of KJSO-LP/101.3 (Omaha), which had been owned by the North Omaha Loves Jazz Cultural Arts and Humanities Complex. The FCC says the cancellation comes after the station failed to respond to a June letter inquiring about its operational status. KJSO-LP had previously reported that it went off the air in February 2023; federal law stipulates that licenses automatically expire if a station is off the air for more than a year. KJSO-LP had shared time on the frequency with KXNB-LP/101.3, which remains licensed.
CSN International’s K209EV/89.7 (Hadar) reports that it has returned to the air.
Radio 74 Internationale was granted the callsign KARR for its future station on 90.3 in Alliance.
North Dakota
Prairie Public Broadcasting’s KJRE/19.1 (RF 20, Ellendale) has applied for a power increase as it plans to replace an ice-damaged antenna. The station has been off the air since Dec. 29, 2023. Currently licensed for 72.3kW, KJRE has applied to increase to 158kW with an increase in antenna height from 167 to 185 meters above average terrain.
Wisconsin
License to cover applications indicate W250BN/97.9 (Milwaukee) and W273DQ/102.5 (Milwaukee) have completed a move of their transmitters to the U.S. Bank Center, which is just under a mile east of their old transmitter site. The translators use a combined antenna, with W250BN remaining 250 Watts and W273DQ remaining 99 Watts.
2820 Communications was granted a modification to its construction permit for future station WTHX/89.3 (Whitewater) to specify 2.7kW/40m (class A) rather than the original 8kW/46m (class B1).
Fourth Dimension’s W224BL/92.7 (Ladysmith) was granted a move to 92.3 as W222DB, upgrading from 10 to 170 Watts. It will continue to relay WHEM/91.3 (Eau Claire).
Disclosure: Jon Ellis was an employee of Gray Media Group at the time this item was posted. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.