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
Riverfront Broadcasting’s KLGZ/1600 (Algona) went off the air April 1 due to transmitter issues. The station’s notification of suspension of operations says parts are no longer available for its 50-year-old transmitter and a new transmitter will be ordered. KLGZ is relayed on K253BJ/98.5 (Algona), and its “Home Country” format continues to stream through the station’s website.
Minnesota
The FCC granted an application from R&J Broadcasting’s WWWI/1270 (Baxter-Brainerd) to upgrade its daytime power to 12kW non-directional, remaining 5kW directional at night.
SagamoreHill of Kansas City licenses says it intends to get K17OJ-D (St. Cloud), which it is in the process of buying from DTV America, on the air in June or July. The update comes in an amendment to a request from K17OJ-D to extend its construction deadline by six months until January 2022. K17OJ-D is one of the first two stations SagamoreHill says it plans to get on the air, with others in other parts of the country signing on later in the year.
The FCC approved a flash-cut to digital for Hubbard Broadcasting ABC translators K32FY (Park Rapids) and K17FE (Wadena). A similar application from K28DD (Bemidji) remains pending.
Nebraska
Standard Broadcasting ABC affiliate KLKN/8 (Lincoln) completed an upgrade from 25.9kW to 53kW, remaining on RF channel 8.
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s KWTN/100.9 (Allen) reported that it went off the air again March 28 as it awaits FCC action on an application to move to a new site. The station says it intends to resume broadcasting at the new location once the move is granted.
North Dakota
KNDK-FM/95.7 (Langdon) changed its callsign to KLME on April 2 following the sign-on of FM translator K254DC/98.7, which relays KNDK/1080 (Langdon). 95.7’s “The Rock Farm” format continues.
Gray TV NBC/CBS affiliate KVLY-TV/11.1 (Fargo) was granted an upgrade from 330kW to 720kW, remaining on RF channel 36.
Low-power TV station K35KD-D (Fargo), owned by Digital Networks-Midwest, changed its callsign to KFGX-LD.
South Dakota
Gray Ghost Broadcasting closed on its purchase of KQKD/1380 and K260DG/99.9 (Redfield) from i3G Media on April 15. As previously reported, the new owners plan a hyperlocal format with a broad mix of Classic Hits and Classic Country.
Wisconsin
The FCC granted construction permits to move W14ER-D (Eau Claire) and W33DH-D (Eau Claire) to the tower next to the WEAU(TV) building in Eau Claire. WEAU owner Gray TV is in the process of buying the low-power TV stations from DTV America/HC2 Broadcasting. W14ER and W33DH will both transmit with 15kW using different directional antennas, with W14ER’s signal limited to the east and W33DH slightly limited to the southeast.
After an eight-year wait, the FCC has approved an upgrade for Quincy Media’s WYOW/34.1 (Eagle River) from 70kW to 80kW, remaining on RF channel 28. WYOW currently relays ABC affiliate WAOW (Wausau) but buyer Gray TV has indicated plans to switch it to CBS/FOX affiliate WSAW (Wausau).
The FCC approved new construction permits to replace expired permits for W276CO/103.1 (Fond du Lac), W258CM/98.5 (Madison), and W241BQ/96.1 (Watertown) to upgrade to 250 Watts.
Future FM translator W267CT/101.7 (Seneca) was granted a modification to move to 99.5 with the new callsign W258DW, dropping the planned power from 250 to 175 Watts. The translator faces a July 21 deadline to sign on. It was granted during the AM revitalization window to relay Robinson Media Corporation’s WPRE/980 (Prairie du Chien), which has an existing FM translator in Prairie du Chien.