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 approved a NextGen modification of license for KGCW/26.1 (RF21, Burlington-Quad Cities) for ATSC 3.0 operations scheduled to begin Dec. 10. As reported here previously, KGCW will serve as the NextGen host for WHBF-CBS, KWQC-NBC, and KLJB-FOX, with KGCW’s CW and other channels carried in ATSC 1.0 format on the other stations’ transmitters. The date was originally set for Nov. 19 but was pushed back.
Coloff Media closed on its purchase of KMAQ-FM/95.1 (Maquoketa), KMAQ/1320 (Maquoketa), and KMAQ translator K223DA/92.5 (Bellevue) on Dec. 3.
Saga Broadcasting’s K252EX/98.3 (Spencer) and K273DD/102.5 (Spencer) requested special temporary authority to transmit with reduced power due to antenna damage. Normally each 250 Watts ERP, filings indicate K252EX is using 153 Watts and K273DD is using 154 Watts.
The FCC approved a modification to Grace Baptist Church’s construction permit for future station KSHW/88.3 (Glidden) to reduce power from 2kW to 100 Watts. The station is facing a Feb. 4, 2025, construction deadline.
Minnesota
Zoe Communications’ WELY-FM/94.5 (Ely) and WELY/1450 (Ely) report that they returned to the air Nov. 14 and left the air again Nov. 24, citing staffing issues. An attachment explains that the company has had two unexpected managerial deaths and that it will soon file an application to transfer control of the stations to another entity.
Nebraska
Alpha Media’s KFRX/106.3 (Lincoln) submitted a notification that it has activated an HD Radio signal using 4kW ERP.
The FCC approved modifications to the construction permits for two new FM stations in the Alliance area to allow one of them to move closer to the community. Southern Cultural Foundations’ permit for KVRZ/89.7 (Hemingford) is moved to 89.3, remaining 6kW/35m (class A), while Radio 74 Internationale’s permit for KARR/90.3 (Alliance) is modified to reduce power from 10kW/20m to 125 Watts at 20m from a transmitter site on the southeastern edge of Alliance.
NRG Media’s KMMQ/1020 (Plattsmouth) requested special temporary authority to operate at reduced daytime power while it works to repair damage from a lightning strike at its transmitter site near Glenwood, IA. KMMQ normally transmits with 50kW daytime; the reduced power level was not specified in the filing, which says a visit from a technical consultant is scheduled for January. It uses 1.4kW at night.
Armada Media’s KBRL/1300 (McCook) has been granted another extension of special temporary authority to operate at about 25% of its usual power as it continues work to recover from a spring 2023 flood at its transmitter site. The station’s latest filing says a replacement transmitter has been installed but additional parts are on order. KBRL normally transmits with 5kW day and 136 Watts night, directional.
Wisconsin
Civic Media’s W230DA/93.9 (New Holstein) submitted a license to cover application indicating it has completed a frequency change to 96.5 with the new callsign W243ER, which also included a move to a tower site closer to Appleton. W243ER relays WZBU/1520 (New Holstein), which had been silent but reports that it returned to the air Dec. 2. Programming is unknown.
The FCC approved a callsign change for The Family Radio Network’s newly-acquired WJTI/1460 (West Allis) to WEMK effective Dec. 5. The station had originally requested to use the new callsign starting Nov. 28, but the change was not approved until Dec. 4.
Manitowoc Baptist Church has amended its application for a new low-power FM station on 101.7 in Manitowoc to instead specify 105.3, potentially removing it from competition with another group that applied for 101.7.
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.