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.
Illinois
The FCC has granted an extension of time for Northern Illinois University to construct new station WNII/90.1 (Galena). The deadline is now June 9, 2026. WNII will deliver a strong signal to parts of Iowa and fringe coverage of Dubuque and Platteville.
Iowa
Carroll Impact Educational Radio Association has returned the license of KFIM-LP/102.1 (Carroll).
Michigan
Michigan Civic Media Alliance’s WKMJ-FM/93.5 (Hancock) returned to full power on Dec. 10 after transmitter repairs.
Minnesota
R&J Broadcasting has submitted applications indicating it has completed work to reduce nighttime power at two of its AM stations, eliminating the need for multiple towers to create directional patterns. KRWB/1410 (Roseau) remains 1kW daytime and is now 72 Watts nighttime. Meanwhile, WWWI/1270 (Baxter-Brainerd) remains 5kW daytime and is now 45 Watts at night. (WWWI’s construction permit had called for an increase to 12kW day, but the license to cover application indicates that 12kW was a typo and the daytime power remains 5kW.) Filings also indicate KRWB translator K275BB/102.9 (Roseau) and WWWI translator W242DB/96.3 (Baxter) have completed moves to their associated AM tower sites, each remaining 250 Watts.
Montana
Just west of this site’s usual coverage area, Montana State University has closed on its purchase of KXGN-TV/5 (Glendive) and KYUS-TV/3 (Miles City). The sale closed Oct. 22 during the government shutdown, according to Nov. 24 filings. KYUS-TV has been off the air since the beginning of 2025. KXGN-TV’s current programming is not known from afar; it has not reported going silent. The stations are expected to switch to Montana PBS, ending commercial TV broadcasting in eastern Montana.
Nebraska
MyBridge Radio requested program test authority for new station KHUY/89.9 (Schuyler), which will rimshot Columbus with a 5kW/159m (class C3) signal.
North Dakota
Gray Media’s K35PO-D (Bismarck) was granted special temporary to transmit at reduced power of 240 Watts horizontal and 10 Watts vertical. The station is licensed for 15kW but reported that it is working to repair a transmission line failure.
Wisconsin
Madison Christian LPFM has withdrawn an application change the frequency for its future low-power FM station in Monona from 103.7 to 102.1 and has instead applied to move to 89.1. The frequency change would avert a need to share time on 103.7 with Iglesia Pentecostal Jehova Rafa, which was also granted an LPFM station on the frequency. Magnum Communications’ W271DQ/102.1 (Baraboo), which has a construction permit to move to a tower near DeForest, had objected to the LPFM station’s original proposed move to 102.1.
Family Worship Center Church’s WIWN/68.1 (RF 5, Fond du Lac-Milwaukee) was again granted an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 34kW rather that its licensed 9kW. The latest filing says WIWN plans to file an amendment to a pending 2018 application to permanently increase power.
Courier Communications, owner of WNOV/860 (Milwaukee) and W293CX/106.5 (Milwaukee), is seeking FCC approval of the transfer of all stock in the company from Jerrel W. Jones to his daughter, Mary Ellen Jones. Jerrel Jones died June 5. The filing explains that the company did not realize that the transfer required FCC approval when a Stock and Business Transfer Agreement was executed on Nov. 22, 2024.
VCY America’s WVCY/690 (Oshkosh) returned to the air Dec. 6 at reduced power under special temporary authority. WVCY normally transmits with 250 Watts day and 77 Watts night with a directional antenna pattern; it’s temporarily transmitting non-directionally with 62 Watts day and 19 Watts night.