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
Edge Spectrum’s K31PP-D (Sioux City) was granted a construction permit to move to channel 23 as K23PX-D, upgrading to 15kW. Meanwhile, Edge’s K22KD-D (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was granted a move to Sioux City as K25RB-D, using 10kW.
Community Broadcasting/Bott Radio Network is buying W272AL/102.3 (Fairfield) from the Fairfield Monthly Meeting of Friends for $100. W272AL relays KQLF/88.3 (Ottumwa), which Community Broadcasting bought last year.
Michigan
The FCC has approved AMC Partners Escanaba’s purchase of Radio Plus Bay Cities LLC’s five stations and two translators in the Menominee-Marinette market. They include “Cat Country 95.1” (WLST Marinette, Wis.), “The Rock 96.3” (WSFQ Peshtigo, Wis.), “Classic Hits 103.7” (WHYB Menominee, Mich.), Sports Talker WMAM/570 (Marinette), WMAM translator W283DD/104.5 (Marinette), News/Talker WAGN/1340 (Menominee), and WAGN translator W261DM/100.1 (Menominee).
Sinclair Broadcast Group’s WGTU License LLC closed on its purchase of WGTU/29.1 (Traverse City) and WGTQ/8.1 (Sault Ste. Marie) from Cunningham Broadcasting on March 1. Sinclair had already operated the stations alongside its WPBN-TV/7.1 (Traverse City) and WTOM/4.1 (Cheboygan).
Minnesota
Following its sale to Christensen Broadcasting Luv LLC, the FCC has granted a callsign change for KLQL/101.1 (Luverne) to KCLP effective March 9. The change is effective the same official date as the previously-reported switch of KQAD/800 (Luverne) to KDWC. The KQAD callsign had been in use since 1971 and KLQL since 1983.
Gabriel Media’s KSKK/1070 (Verndale) has been granted a construction permit to reduce its daytime power from 10kW to 5kW. It will remain 5kW at night.
Edge Spectrum’s W26FG-D (Eau Claire, Wis.) was granted a construction permit to become W11DX-D (Minneapolis), using 3kW from Maplewood. The change will follow KARE’s move from RF channel 11 to 31, remaining virtual channel 11.1. (As noted last week, Edge has also been granted CP’s to move LPTV stations to channels 10 and 12 in the Twin Cities.)
Moose Lake Adventist Broadcasting returned the license of WMLA-LP/99.7 (Moose Lake). The station had carried the Three Angels Broadcasting Network.
Nebraska
Rincon Broadcasting’s KLKN Lincoln License LLC closed on its purchase of KLKN/8.1 (Lincoln) from Standard Media on Feb. 27.
CSN International’s K255CJ/98.9 (Briggs) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to transmit at 25% of its licensed 62 Watts while it continues work on a new facility.
North Dakota
Pioneer Public Broadcasting’s KNNZ/89.1 (Hawley, Minn.-Fargo) has requested special temporary authority to remain silent following the death of station founder, president, and operator Ken Bartz last July. KNNZ “Ken’s FM” went off the air in September. The filing states, “A dedicated coalition of KNNZ’s core volunteer broadcasters and DJs is currently in active negotiations with the estate to acquire the station’s assets and assume control of Pioneer Public Broadcasting. This group is diligently working to secure the necessary $50,000 funding and structure a new, legally compliant Board of Directors to formally assume the license.”
Ontario
Dougall Media/Thunder Bay Electronics Limited, owner of CKPR-DT/2 and CHFD-DT/4 (Thunder Bay), is seeking permission to temporarily reduce the amount of local news and programming the stations carry. “Publicly available financial information demonstrates that, in the absence of Independent Local News Fund (ILNF) support, Thunder Bay Electronics Limited’s television operations are operating at an unsustainable loss,” the company states in its application. The “twinstick” operation is the only commercial TV broadcaster in Northwestern Ontario and currently carries 11.5 hours of local news and 14 hours per week of local original programming across both stations. It’s seeking temporary permission to reduce local news to 5 hours per week and local programming to 6 hours per week until the implementation of the Online Streaming Act is clarified. The stations are also seeking relief from described video rules and reduced closed captioning requirements until the OSA is implemented, as well as relief from minimum Canadian program expenditures until regulatory guidance is received.
South Dakota
Following its sale to Christensen Broadcast Group, the FCC has approved a callsign change for KJAM-FM/103.1 (Madison) to KMZM effective March 9. The KJAM callsign remains on KJAM/1390 (Madison).
Following an earlier reduced-power notification, Black Hills State University’s KJKT/90.7 (Spearfish) has been granted special temporary authority to continue operating at reduced power until repairs are competed. The exact power level being used was not specified. The application states KJKT’s antenna, which is located on Terry Peak, is damaged but weather has prevented the tower crew from reaching the site.
Gray Media’s K33MI-D (Aberdeen) notified the FCC that it went off the air Feb. 25 due to transmitter equipment failure. K33MI-D has also requested special temporary authority to return to the air with 3kW, rather than its licensed 15kW, while repairs are made.
Wisconsin
Digital Networks-Midwest’s W33EW-D (Rhinelander) was granted a construction permit to become W35EQ-D (Green Bay) with 15kW.
Edge Spectrum’s W36EI-D (Wausau) was granted a construction permit to become W33FC-D (Green Bay) with 15kW.
Lowcountry 34 Media’s K17OV-D (Duluth, Minn.) was granted a construction permit to become K11YA-D (Siren) with 1kW.
Lowcountry 34 Media’s W35DM-D (Minocqua) was granted a construction permit to become W11EB-D (Mattoon, Wis.) with 1kW.
Phase Two Foundation’s WLWR-LP/107.7 (Marinette) was granted a construction permit to move its transmitter from its current site northwest of the city to a location in neighboring Menominee, Mich., remaining 100 Watts.