With a year having passed since a windstorm affected numerous broadcasters in the region, several stations have provided the FCC with updates as their previous special temporary authorities expire.
iHeartMedia’s WMT/600 (Cedar Rapids) has reconstructed a tower that serves as part of its nighttime directional array, but hasn’t yet completed a proof of performance. WMT requested special temporary authority to operate its nighttime directional antenna pattern at a variance while it finishes the work. The station uses 5kW non-directional daytime and 5kW directional at night.
KROS Broadcasting’s KROS/1340 (Clinton) and K290CL/105.9 (Clinton) say they continue to work to recover. KROS is transmitting at 300 Watts instead of its usual 1kW and K290CL is still 250 Watts but is using a shorter tower than usual. The stations’ most recent requests for special temporary authority say a new tower is on order after the licensee resolved zoning issues and reached an insurance settlement.
Asian American Broadcasting’s KFXN/690 (Minneapolis) says work is nearly complete on its new facility following the collapse of one of the towers at its site in New Hope. The station is seeking an extension of special temporary authority to operate at 120 Watts non-directional daytime. It has a construction permit to use 1.7kW non-directional daytime.