FCC Moves Forward with Proposed TV Stations in Wisconsin, Illinois

The FCC is moving forward with proposals to create allotments for future full-power TV stations in Eagle River, WI, and Freeport, IL.

Gray TV proposed allotting channel 26 to Eagle River, which is in the Wausau-Rhinelander market, and channel 9 to Freeport, which is in the Rockford market. In its petitions, Gray indicated plans to apply for the channels if they are allotted, though other broadcasters could also apply.

Gray submitted the petitions before it reached a deal to buy other full-power stations in those markets as part of its purchase of Quincy Media. The deal includes WREX/13.1 (Rockford) and WYOW/34.1 (Eagle River), the latter of which Gray has said it plans to convert from a satellite of Quincy’s WAOW (Wausau) to Gray’s WSAW (Wausau).

Notably, Freeport is the former community of license of WIFR/23, which Gray surrendered during the spectrum auction for $50 million. It moved the WIFR callsign, virtual channel, and CBS affiliation to a low-power TV station.

Both proposed new allotments are now in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking stage, with comments being accepted until 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register.