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
Gray TV applied to move the master control of FOX/NBC affiliate KYOU-TV/15 (Ottumwa) to the KCRG-TV facility in Cedar Rapids. The station’s main studio will remain in Ottumwa.
Townsquare Media’s KKHQ/92.3 (Oelwein-Waterloo) requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 70% of its usual 100kW. The station’s latest filing says a new transmitter has been obtained, but installation has been delayed as resources are directed at responding to damage from the Iowa Derecho.
Michigan
Mediabrew Communications Marquette’s WRUP/98.3 (Palmer) requested extension of special temporary authority to operate at about half of its licensed power due to storm damage. The station normally transmits with 2.6kW/310m (class C3, the equivalent of 25kW/100m). WRUP’s latest filing says its transmitter needs to be replaced but they are waiting for an insurance payment.
Minnesota
Wallace Christensen is transferring his five southwestern Minnesota radio stations to Christensen Broadcasting LLC, which is owned by family members who work at the stations. They include KLOH/1050 (Pipestone), KISD/98.7 (Pipestone), KJOE/106.1 (Slayton), K231DG/94.1 (Pipestone), and K257F/99.3 (Pipestone). Christensen Broadcasting will assume a $135,000 loan balance, with the remainder of the value of the stations considered to be a gift. Christensen Broadcasting is owned by Collin Christensen (40%), Carmen Christensen (40%), Emily Christensen (10%), Brittany Moser (5%), and Jeffrey Moser (5%).
Hubbard Radio applied for licenses to cover three northern Minnesota FM translators, which indicates they are ready to go on the air if they are not already. All were granted during the AM revitalization filing windows and are 250 Watts:
- K261EV/100.1 (Bemidji) will relay KBUN/1450.
- K253CK/98.5 (Staples) will relay KNSP/1430.
- K269HE/101.7 (Wadena) will relay KWAD/920.
Nebraska
CSN International’s K287CB/105.3 (Glenwood, IA), which is licensed to transmit from Omaha, went off the air Oct. 5. The station says it is in the process of replacing an antenna combiner but is facing supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wisconsin
Magnum Communications’ K250AZ/97.9 (La Crosse) has applied to upgrade from 28 Watts to 250 Watts. Magnum recently purchased the translator and uses it to carry an Adult Contemporary format originating on WKBH-FM-HD2.
Zoe Communications’ WXNK/940 (Shell Lake) was granted an extension of special temporary authority to operate with 50 Watts due after the station’s tower was damaged during a utility company’s brush-clearing work last year. The station says it has been a challenge to get crews and tower steel to the site due to COVID-19 and the TV repack. WXNK normally uses 1kW daytime.
The FCC approved a plan for WDMW-LD (Janesville) to move to channel 24 with 250 Watts after the station’s former channel, 45, was discontinued as part of the spectrum auction and its owner, Word of God Fellowship/Daystar, decided it did not want to move to VHF as originally planned.
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