The following are updates to stories previously reported here and smaller recent FCC filings and actions that do not merit a full story of their own at this time:
Iowa
Grinnell College’s KDIC/88.5 (Grinnell) has gone silent due to damage from the Aug. 10 Iowa Derecho. Though the station did not immediately report going silent after the storm, the college tells the FCC that it later discovered KDIC’s antenna had been severely damaged and was removed on Aug. 31. The station also says that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and end of in-person instruction, it had ceased live student broadcasts in the spring in favor of automation and that it does not plan to return to the air until student broadcasts can resume.
KDEC/1240 (Decorah) was granted a construction permit to co-locate its facility with time-share partner KWLC/1240. Both stations would remain 1kW nondirectional. As previously reported, KDEC was forced to leave its licensed site and was granted special temporary authority to use a temporary longwire antenna.
Digital Networks-Midwest notified the FCC that KQCT-LP/32 (Davenport) returned to the air on Sept. 27. KQCT-LP is using 2kW under special temporary authority and has a construction permit for 15kW digital.
HC2 Broadcasting/DTV America returned the licenses of low-power TV stations KCDR-LD/18 (Cedar Rapids), KRUB-LD/24 (Cedar Rapids), KBBA-LD/14 (Cedar Falls), and KMIK-LD/21 (Cedar Falls). The company has a total of 16 cancellations listed on this page and had also surrendered five Iowa and South Dakota licenses in August.
Minnesota
WFNX/95.3 (Grand Marais) requested an extension of special temporary authority to broadcast with transmitter power output of 100 Watts after the station’s main transmitter, located at the Lutsen Mountains Recreation Area, suffered storm damage.
Digital Networks-Midwest informed the FCC that KKTW-LD/19 (Minneapolis) returned to the air on Sept. 27. It is licensed to transmit with 435 Watts from the western suburb of Plymouth.
HC2 Broadcasting/DTV America returned the license of KILW-LD/28 (Rochester).
Nebraska
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s KRNU/90.3 (Lincoln) notified the FCC that it may have to return to reduced power this winter due to transmission line damage. The station first noticed that ice had gotten into its transmission line last year and subsequently discovered that its entire 50-year-old tower needs to be replaced, but the project has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. KRNU’s latest filing says that it has been able to operate at its full power of 100 Watts during the summer months but expects the ice problem to return with colder weather. It has requested an extension of special temporary authority to broadcast with 30% of its licensed power.
HC2 Broadcasting/DTV America returned the licenses of KJII-LD/19 (Lincoln), KIJK-LD/24 (Lincoln), KBLI-LD/31 (Lincoln), and KQLD-LD/34 (Lincoln).
NET’s KYNE-TV/26.1 (Omaha), which transmits on RF channel 17, completed its upgrade from 21.5kW to 36.1kW.
NET’s KLNE-TV/3.1 (Lexington), which transmits on RF channel 26, completed its upgrade from 375kW to 425kW.
North Dakota
Real Presence Radio signed on K223DF/92.5 (Grand Forks), relaying the Catholic network from KWTL/1370 with 250 Watts.
Digital Syndicate Network’s KDKT/1410 (Beulah) is operating at reduced power due to transmitter issues. It normally uses 1kW but is temporarily transmitting with 500 Watts. KDKT’s Sports format is also heard on FM translator K293CS/106.5 (Beulah), and its AM signal offers secondary coverage of Bismarck.
South Dakota
Mount Rushmore Broadcasting’s KFCR/1490 (Custer) went off the air Aug. 24 due to equipment failure. The station said in a Sept. 30 filing that it hopes to resume operations within 30 days. KFCR has been granted special temporary authority to remain silent, or extensions of those STA’s, ten times over the past decade for technical and staffing issues.
HC2 Broadcasting/DTV America returned the licenses of KHJL-LD/17 (Rapid City), K18IW-D (Rapid City-Sioux Falls), K31KU-D (Rapid City-Sioux Falls), and K32JG-D (Rapid City-Sioux Falls).
Wisconsin
The FCC granted a major downgrade for WRRD/1510 (Waukesha). As previously reported, the station will drop to 250 Watts daytime-only using one of its current three towers. The land upon which the station’s other two current towers sits is up for sale.
HC2 Broadcasting/DTV America returned the licenses of WWEA-LD/14 (Wausau-Green Bay), WODR-LD/19 (Wausau-Green Bay), and WEHG-LD/29 (Wausau-Green Bay).