Nebraska Public Media has signed on two new FM stations eight days apart, expanding its coverage in the central and southwestern parts of the state.
KGNE-FM/89.3 (Broken Bow) signed on Jan. 31, transmitting with 12kW/133m (class C3). Broken Bow previously only received weak signals from the network’s Bassett and Lexington transmitters and has no other public radio services. KGNE-FM had faced a Jan. 31 construction deadline.
Meanwhile, KNNE-FM/90.7 (McCook) signed on Feb. 7, transmitting with 19kW/95m vertical-only (class C3) from a tower site west of McCook. KNNE-FM’s sign-on came several days ahead of the Feb. 11 construction deadline.
KNNE-FM transmits from a tower site that had already been used by network translator K224CH/92.7 (Culbertson); K224CH delivered only a weak signal to McCook, which had no strong public radio signal prior to KNNE-FM. The translator’s current status is not immediately known.
KGNE-FM and KNNE-FM were among four new stations granted to Nebraska Public Media as a result of a 2021 filing window for new non-commercial FM stations. Groups have three years to construct a new station once granted. KQNE-FM/89.9 (Falls City) signed on last year, while KUNE-FM/88.7 (Columbus) faces a March 1 deadline.
In December, Nebraska Public Media sought 12-week extensions to the construction deadlines for KGNE-FM, KNNE-FM, and KUNE-FM, stating that there had been delays in funding and the state procurement process. The KGNE-FM request was dismissed simultaneously with its license to cover being granted on Jan. 31. On Feb. 7, the same day the KNNE-FM license to cover application was filed, the FCC granted an extension for KNNE-FM until April 29. The KUNE-FM request remains pending.
Nebraska Public Media’s FM network carries a traditional public radio schedule combining NPR’s flagship “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered” news magazines with Classical music and weekend entertainment programming.
This item was originally posted Feb. 2 and was updated Feb. 8 to reflect KNNE-FM’s sign-on.