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
Iowa Public Radio’s WOI/640 (Ames) is operating at reduced power at night due to a problem with its nighttime directional antenna array. Normally 1kW directional at night, WOI is currently using 250 Watts non-directional at night; it continues to use 5kW non-directional during the day.
Fieldview Communications’ K225BZ/92.9 (Webster City) has been granted a move to 99.1 with the new callsign K256DM. The station’s application cites interference from KDAO-FM (Eldora) following that station’s move to 92.9 and subsequent upgrade. K256DM will remain 250 Watts from its present site and continue to relay KZWC/1570 (Webster City).
Michigan
The FCC has granted Ontonagon Area School District’s WOAS/88.5 (Ontonagon) a move to 91.5, which will include a power increase from 9 to 99 Watts. The move is necessary because WOAS is a grandfathered class D educational license and is slated to be displaced by future station WHWM/88.5 (Rockland).
Minnesota Public Radio’s WGGL-FM/91.1 (Houghton) submitted a reduced power notification indicating that it has been using about 10% of its licensed 100kW since Dec. 3 due to icing on the station’s antenna.
Minnesota
Townsquare Media’s KLDJ/101.7 (Duluth) submitted a reduced power notification indicating that it has been operating at 25% of its licensed power since Dec. 10 due to a transmitter failure. KLDJ normally transmits with 18.5kW/249m (class C2). The filing states that repairs are expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Nebraska
The Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission is seeking 12-week extensions of the deadlines to construct future stations KUNE-FM/88.7 (Columbus), KNNE-FM/90.7 (McCook), and KGNE-FM/89.3 (Broken Bow), which are nearing the standard three-year deadline for new stations to be built. The current deadlines are March 1 for KUNE-FM, Feb. 11 for KNNE-FM, and Jan. 31 for KGNE-FM. The filings state that, after delays in funding and the state procurement process, transmitters and antennas have now been ordered but there are concerns that winter weather conditions could cause delays. NETC contends that the situation represents the “rare or exceptional circumstances” for which tolling is allowed.
Southern Cultural Foundation submitted a license to cover application indicating that new 100-Watt station KCHD/89.5 (Chadron) has signed on under automatic program test authority. KCHD’s programming is not immediately known; the group operates a network of stations in the area simulcasting a Variety Rock format.
Father Flanagans Boys Home was granted the callsign KBTI-LP for its future low-power FM station on 96.5 in Omaha.
North Dakota
In His Presence Ministries submitted a license to cover application indicating that new 120-Watt station KTGH/90.1 (Bowdon) has signed on under automatic program test authority.
Wisconsin
After being granted a smaller upgrade earlier this year, AMC Partners Rice Lake’s WAQE-FM/97.7 (Barron) has now applied for a larger increase. WAQE-FM is currently licensed for 15.5kW/88m and, in August, was granted a construction permit to upgrade to 10kW/157m, remaining class C3. Now, it’s applied for 47kW/157m with an upgrade to class C2, using a directional antenna to prevent interference to KNXR/97.5 (Rochester, MN). The change would also include moving the transmitter about two miles south from the longtime WAQE transmitter site to the WAQE/WJMC/WKFX studio site. The power boost would improve WAQE-FM’s signal to outlying communities such as Spooner, Amery, and Ladysmith.
The FCC granted Native American Music Center Ltd. was a new low-power FM station on 106.7 in Rhinelander using 100 Watts. The group plans to feature both traditional and modern Native American music. The grant comes after Winwood Lifestyle Educational Radio Corporation modified its application to specify 104.7 with 100 Watts; their application remains pending.
Meanwhile, the FCC also granted Citizens For Our Bridge, DBA Steel Bridge Creative Foundation, a new low-power FM station on 100.5 in Sturgeon Bay using 100 Watts. The group plans to feature local music and information. The grant comes after Sturgeon Bay LifeStyle Educational Radio modified its application to specify 107.7 with 100 Watts; their application remains pending.