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
KM Communications of Independence’s KQMG/1220 and KQMG-FM/95.3 (Independence) have both requested special temporary authority to remain silent. The stations’ filings state they left the air Sept. 30 due to problems with power to the site. KQMG-FM had just returned to the air last August after a previous period of silence.
Edge Spectrum’s K31PP-D (Sioux City) applied to move to channel 23 with 15kW.
Manitoba
The CRTC has granted U Multicultural an extension of time to complete construction of new TV station CFUM-DT/14 (Winnipeg). Though CFUM-DT conducted program tests in October, the station tells the CRTC that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is still analyzing measurements and there is no timeline for completion. The new construction deadline is Feb. 9, 2027.
Michigan
Ontonagon Area School District’s WOAS/91.5 (Ontonagon) has returned to the air after changing frequency from 88.5. Due to its Class D license, WOAS was displaced from 88.5 last year by new Class A station WHWM/88.5 (Rockland). WOAS is operating under special temporary authority for 4 Watts with an antenna at 8 meters below average terrain. WOAS had used 9W/18m on 88.5 and has a construction permit for 99W/9m on 91.5. Its filing explains that the station did not initially realize that it would need to replace its antenna and repair or replace the tower.
Minnesota
Following the collapse of a Winona radio tower last year, the FCC has granted construction permits for two FM translators to permanently relocate to the KRIV-FM tower just across the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. K254CM/98.7 (Winona) will use 130 Watts at 103 meters above average terrain, while K268DJ/101.5 (Winona) will use 170W/109m. K254CM will continue to relay KWNO/1230 while K268DJ will continue to relay KHWK/1380. Both had already been granted special temporary authority to transmit from the KRIV-FM tower at lower power levels and antenna heights.
South Dakota
American Christian Radio’s KFCA/88.1 (Aberdeen) has returned to the air Jan. 12 using reduced power of 380 Watts rather than its licensed 2.3kW. The station’s filing explains that it is using only one of the three bays on its licensed antenna. The FCC has granted special temporary authority to use the facility while repairs are made. Separately, the FCC granted KFCA’s request to construct an auxiliary facility using 400W/25m.
Wisconsin
AMC Partners Rice Lake’s WAQE/1090 (Rice Lake) amended its application to move to a new site to specify a reduction in power to 4.2kW during critical hours. (Critical hours are two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.) The filing explains the amendment was made to address FCC concerns about possible skywave interference to WBAL/1090 (Baltimore). WAQE would remain 5kW daytime outside of critical hours, with no nighttime operation. It’s seeking to co-locate with sister station WJMC/1240 (Rice Lake).