The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions.
Many of the applications noted below came ahead of an Oct. 5 FCC freeze on facility changes in 88-92 MHz band ahead of a filing window for new stations next month. Four other upgrade applications were reported here last week.
Iowa
St. Gabriel Communications’ KIHS/88.5 (Adel) applied to upgrade from 560W/63m (class A) to 12.5kW/57m (class C3), continuing to use a directional antenna to prevent interference to existing Des Moines stations on adjacent frequencies.
Michigan
Aurora Media is buying W280GB/103.9 (Gladstone) from David R. Magnum for $10,000. W280GB signed on in September relaying Aurora’s WDBC/680, which is also heard on W233CT/94.5. Both translators broadcast from the Escanaba area.
West Central Michigan Media Ministries’ WUPJ/90.9 (Escanaba) applied to move from its present site west of Escanaba to the WJMN-TV site north of the city, switching from its current 100kW/80m to 30kW/269m, remaining class C1.
Minnesota
The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota filed an extension of consummation for KUMD-FM/103.3 (Duluth), which will be transferred to the Duluth Superior Area Educational Television Corp. Such an extension is needed if the sale will not close within 90 days of receiving approval from the FCC. The buyer’s WDSE has recently posted a job opening for radio station manager.
DTV America’s K28PQ-D/38.1 (St. Cloud) informed the FCC that it returned to its licensed 5kW power level on Sept. 14 after resolving a transmitter issue. The station, which transmits from a tower near Big Lake, had temporarily used 2kW.
Magnum Radio’s KQEG-CD/23.1 (La Crescent-La Crosse) requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 2.25kW ERP, rather than its permitted 15kW, due to ongoing transmitter issues.
Nebraska
KIOS-FM/91.5 (Omaha) reported that it is transmitting with an auxiliary transmitter at 1.15kW, rather than its licensed 55kW ERP, due to damage to its antenna and a transmitter replacement project. KIOS is owned by the Douglas County School District and is Omaha’s NPR station.
My Bridge Radio’s KMBV/90.7 (Valentine) applied to upgrade from 2.3kW/33m (class A) to 100kW/97m (class C1).
Radio 74 Internationale’s KQQA/90.5 (Shelton) applied to upgrade from 600 Watts (class A) to 10kW (class C3), keeping its antenna height at 45m above average terrain but switching from a non-directional to a directional antenna to protect KNFA/90.7 (Grand Island).
South Dakota
Control of Bad Lands Broadcasting Company is being transferred from Steven A. Silberberg to his son, Jacob Silberberg, following Steven Silberberg’s death. The group includes KRKI/99.5 (Keystone-Rapid City), KFMH/101.9 (Belle Fourche-Rapid City), and KXZT/107.9 (Newell). Steven Silberberg owned 68.2% of The Oregon Trail Trust, which is Bad Lands’ parent company. Oregon Trail’s other companies hold numerous stations in Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho, including KHAD/104.5 (Upton, WY), which serves the northern Black Hills. Silberberg was also involved in companies that own radio stations in New England.
VCY America’s KVCF/90.5 (Freeman) applied to move its transmitter northeast to a site near Humboldt, changing from its present 9kW/246m (class C2) to 20kW/250m (class C1) using a directional antenna. The new facility would add rimshot coverage of Sioux Falls. The station is requesting waivers due to second-adjacent contour overlap with KSFS/90.1 (Sioux Falls) and KCSD/90.9 (Sioux Falls), which would both cause interference to KVCF in a small part of its coverage area.
VCY America’s KVFL/89.1 (Pierre) applied to upgrade from 400W/113m (class A) to 10kW/113m (class C3)
Harvest Community Baptist Church of Watertown’s KPGT/89.1 (Watertown) applied to upgrade from 200W/6m (class A) to 30kW/239m (class C1), moving its transmitter to the South Shore tower northeast of Watertown. The station has had approval for several previous upgrades that have gone unbuilt.
Gray TV’s K27JH-D (Pierre) went off the air Oct. 6 following a power amplifier failure. The translator was last known to relay KDLV (Mitchell).
Wisconsin
The FCC approved a move by WLAK/1530 (New Holstein) to 1520 following a downgrade by WGKB/1510 (Waukesha). WLAK will upgrade its daytime power from 350 to 550 Watts.
VCY America’s WVRN/88.9 (Wittenberg) applied to upgrade from 25kW/147m (class C2) to 90kW/146m (class C1) with a directional antenna. The upgrade would put Wausau within WVRN’s 60 dbu (protected) contour.
Radio 74 Internationale’s WGBT/91.3 (Tomahawk) applied to upgrade from 22kW/25m (class C3) to 100kW/55m (class C1) with a directional antenna.
Radio 74 Internationale’s WQMN/88.7 (Minocqua) applied to upgrade from 400W/30m (class A) to 50kW/67m (class C2), moving its transmitter to the northeast. The station is requesting a waiver due to second-adjacent contour overlap with KSPP/89.1 (Rhinelander), which transmits from a site near Minocqua. The request says just 105 people live in an area where WQMN would receive interference from KSPP.
David Magnum’s W239CV/95.7 (Oshkosh) applied to move to 102.5, remaining at its present site with 250W. The translator signed on in September, and the application says it would continue to relay Relevant Radio’s WJOK/1050 (Kaukauna).
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