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.
Manitoba
An item on the Nov. 5 CRTC agenda concerning CKYG-FM/90.5 (Winnipeg) has been moved to a non-appearing item after Gill Broadcasting informed the CRTC that CKYG-FM ceased operation on Sept. 26. CKYG-FM had been licensed as a low-power tourism information station but a competing broadcaster had alleged that it was operating beyond the scope of that license.
Minnesota
Bridge News’ K26PF-D (St. Cloud) has returned to the air, using 15kW from a tower near St. Joseph.
Nebraska
Flood Communications West submitted a license to cover application indicating that new station KPHL/95.9 (Bayard) is operating under program test authority. Programming is not immediately known. The 250-Watt station’s signal is limited to the immediate Bayard area, which is east of Scottsbluff, but could potentially be upgraded in the future.
North Dakota
Nexstar’s KXMA-TV/2.1 (RF 19, Dickinson) notified the FCC that it has been operating at 35% of its licensed 150kW since Oct. 19. The filing states that a power surge damaged equipment and that it is in the process of repairs.
Meanwhile, in a separate filing, Nexstar’s KXMD-TV/11.1 (RF 14, Williston) notified the FCC that it has been operating at 40% of its licensed 100kW since Oct. 19. The filing also states that a power surge damaged equipment and that it is in the process of repairs.
South Dakota
Midwest Communications’ K251BH/98.1 (Sioux Falls) submitted a license to cover application indicating that it has completed its move to one of the tall towers near Rowena. The translator, which relays KWSN/1230, remains 250 Watts but expands its coverage area due to the higher antenna height.
Midwest’s KELO/1320 (Sioux Falls) was granted special temporary authority to transmit at reduced power of 1kW non-directional day and night due to an issue switching to the station’s licensed nighttime directional pattern. KELO normally uses 5kW non-directional during the day and 5kW directional at night.
Gray Media Group’s KPRY-TV/4.1 (RF 19, Pierre) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to operate at reduced power of 8.5kW ERP, rather than its licensed 311kW, due to a transmitter problem. The station’s filing says replacement parts have been ordered but have not arrived.
Wisconsin
Magnum’s W223DN/92.5 (La Crescent, MN) was granted a construction permit to move from its present site in West Salem, WI, to a taller tower south of La Crescent, change frequency to 92.7, and upgrade to 250 Watts, giving it full coverage of La Crosse. It will have the callsign K224FW and relay the HD3 signal of Magnum’s WKBH-FM (Onalaska, WI).
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.