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
Clinton Education Association, licensee of KXJX-LP/92.5 (Clinton), requested cancellation of a proposed $1,500 fine for a late license renewal application. In its pleading, the licensee alleges that it is being treated unfairly because 18 other low-power FM stations in Iowa and Missouri filed their applications after the Oct. 1 deadline but were not fined. KXJX-LP’s license renewal application has already been granted.
Minnesota
Digital Networks-Midwest’s KKTW-LD/19 (Minneapolis) was granted a construction permit to upgrade to 9.4kW, remaining at its present site in Plymouth. It would use a directional antenna to limit the signal to the east, protecting W19EN-D (River Falls, WI). The planned facility will still reach Minneapolis and the western Twin Cities metro area.
Hubbard Broadcasting applied to flash-cut three analog TV translator stations in north-central Minnesota to digital. K28DD (Bemidji), K32FY (Park Rapids), and K17FE (Wadena) would all use 15kW, the maximum for digital translator stations, increasing their potential coverage areas. All relay ABC affiliate KSTP-TV (St. Paul) via satellite KSAX (Alexandria). KSAX translator K16BQ (Brainerd) flash-cut to digital several years ago.
W219DT/91.7 (North Branch) left the air March 19 due to problems with its internet service. The translator is owned by the Maranatha Assembly of God Church and has a construction permit to move its transmitter from its present site near Stacy to the church property in Wyoming, Minn.
Nebraska
MyBridge Radio applied to move the transmitter of K282BR/104.3 (Grand Island) from a tower just east of the city to a tower the broadcaster owns just south of the city. It would remain 250 Watts but increase its antenna height, widening its coverage area.
South Dakota
Prairie Winds Broadcasting requested extensions of special temporary authority for KSDN/930 (Aberdeen) and KGIM/1420 (Aberdeen) to transmit with reduced power. Filings indicate KSDN has been at reduced power for a decade following a lightning strike. Meanwhile, KGIM lost its licensed site in 2017 and has been broadcasting from the KSDN site under special temporary authority. The stations’ latest filings say the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the projects but that KGIM intends to file to permanently co-locate with KGIM within 30 days.
Wisconsin
W230DA/93.9 (New Holstein) signed on, relaying the Oldies format of WLAK/1530. The 250-Watt translator broadcasts from the WKZY/92.9 tower northwest of Chilton using a directional antenna to limit the signal towards Oshkosh, where Cumulus Media has a construction permit for a translator on the same frequency.
Magnum Communications’ KQEG-CD/23 (La Crescent, MN-La Crosse) requested special temporary authority to continue operating at 2.25kW rather than its licensed 15kW due to ongoing transmitter and antenna issues.
The FCC granted Magnum Communications’ W290AL/105.9 (Baraboo) a construction permit to replace its expired permit to upgrade to 250 Watts.
1 thought on “FCC Monitor: New Wis. FM On Air, Iowa LPFM Appeals Fine”
Comments are closed.