Nearly three years after it went silent, WELY-FM/94.5 (Ely) has returned to the air at reduced power and is stunting.
The path to returning to the air has included two station sales, numerous FCC filings, construction of a new studio site, and replacement of the transmitter and antenna.
WELY-FM and WELY/1450 went off the air at the end of November 2022 as the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa sold the stations to Zoe Communications, which later sold them to Civic Media. The stations returned to the air briefly a few times to maintain their licenses.
On Nov. 21, WELY-FM returned to the air with 450 Watts ERP using a single-bay antenna at 114 meters above average terrain. The FCC has also granted the station special temporary authority to use 3.9kW/100m from an eight-bay antenna. A filing explains that wind conditions would not allow a tower crew to raise the larger antenna when they were on site Nov. 20, so the temporary one-bay antenna was installed instead.
The station is licensed for 6kW/100m (class A) and has a construction permit to upgrade to 35kW/100m (class C2), which would improve its signal to eastern Iron Range cities.
WELY-FM is currently airing a mix of songs about “help” and “friends.” While long-term format plans haven’t been announced, Civic Media has said WELY will feature local news, weather, sports, and information.
Meanwhile, WELY/1450 returned to the air in the spring with Oldies and a new simulcast on K280AT/103.9, which Civic Media bought from Range Paging. The AM signal and FM translator carry CBS News and the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.
The only other commercial radio station with a strong signal to Ely is Midwest Communications’ WEVE-FM/97.9 (Eveleth), which carries an Adult Contemporary format. Ely also has local transmitters carrying all three of Minnesota Public Radio’s networks and two regional Christian radio services.
Ely is almost literally at the “end of the road,” a slogan long used by the station, with Minnesota Highway 169 ending just a few miles east of town. Ely was first built as a mining town and is now also known for tourism due to its location on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Photos courtesy Civic Media