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
Iowa Media Network closed on its purchase of KCOG/1400 and K280GY/103.9 (Centerville) from Edwin Brand’s Honey Creek Broadcasting on April 1.
Mark Hamilton is selling his shares in Times-Citizen Communications to the company’s current minority owners, Joshua Lovelace and Carie M. Goodknight. According to documents filed with the FCC, the transfer has been taking place in stages over the past several years, with Hamilton remaining majority owner, and the parties now wish to complete the share purchases. The purchase price for the remaining shares is $333,000. Lovelace and Goodknight will each have 50% ownership of the company once the sale is complete. Times-Citizen Communications owns KIFG-FM/95.3 and KIFG/1510 (Iowa Falls) and two local newspapers.
The FCC granted a construction permit for CSN International’s K218CE/91.5 (Marshalltown) to move from a site west of town to a site south of town, upgrading from 80 to 250 Watts.
Wavelength Dynamics withdrew its application for a new low-power TV station on channel 6 in Slater.
Minnesota
Next Step Broadcasting’s KDOM/1580 (Windom) was granted special temporary authority to transmit at about 25% of its authorized power due to a transmitter problem. The issue was first noted Feb. 18. KDOM normally transmits with 1kW day and 2 Watts night, directional.
Nebraska
The FCC has approved Usher Media’s purchase of the NRG Media stations in the Tri-Cities: KROR/101.5 (Hastings), KRNY/102.3 (Kearney), KQKY/105.9 (Kearney), KSYZ-FM/107.7 (Grand Island), KGFW/1340 (Kearney), and KGFW translator K241CN/96.1 (Kearney).
The FCC has granted K209FS/89.7 (Columbus) a move to 88.1 as K201JH, using 90 Watts from a different transmitter site. MyBridge Radio is in the process of buying the translator from the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission.
South Dakota
American Christian Radio’s KFCA/88.1 (Aberdeen) returned to full power of 2.3kW on March 23 following antenna repairs.
Oasis Television Ministries applied for a new low-power TV station on channel 19 in Sioux Falls using 15kW.
Wisconsin
Cumulus Media’s WDUZ-FM/107.5 (Brillion-Green Bay) has requested special temporary authority to operate at reduced power due to a problem with its main transmitter. The filing states WDUZ-FM is using a backup transmitter, resulting in an effective radiated power of about 2.1kW ERP rather than its licensed 3.6kW.
Civic Media’s WZTI/1290 (Greenfield-Milwaukee) notified the FCC it returned to full power of 5kW on March 30 after repairing transmitter damage caused by flooding last year.
Applications for new low-power TV stations include:
- Glenmore, channel 7, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 8, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 10, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 11, 950 Watts, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 12, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 13, 3kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 21, 4kW, Fair Play 4U
- Glenmore, channel 24, 15kW, Fair Play 4U
Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.