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
Following a partial tower collapse last winter at the site of KOEZ/104.1 (Ames-Des Moines), a new filing from the station says it does not intend to reconstruct the tower to its previous height. The tower had formerly been 313m (1,025 feet) tall but will be permanently kept at 282m (926 feet). As a result, KOEZ applied to downgrade slightly from 100kW/308m above average terrain (class C0) to 100kW/277m above average terrain (class C1). It has been temporarily using 58kW/166m from the tower. KOEZ is owned by Saga Communications.
The FCC cancelled the construction permits for K246CV/97.1 (Cedar Rapids) and K257GQ/99.3 (Centerville), which were granted during the AM Revitalization window but were not built by mid-May deadlines. K246CV would have relayed WSUI/910 (Iowa City), bringing Iowa Public Radio’s 24-hour News service to Cedar Rapids’ FM dial. K257GQ would have relayed KCOG/1400, which already has a separate FM translator.
iHeartMedia’s WOC/1420 (Davenport) requested special temporary authority to operate its directional antenna at variance and/or with reduced power. The station says several array parameters have suddenly gone out of tolerance and it is investigating to locate the fault. WOC is licensed to use 5kW day and night with different day and night directional patterns.
The FCC approved St. Gabriel Communications’ purchase of KLOX/90.9 (Creston) from Florida Public Radio.
The FCC granted extensions of the construction permits for new low-power TV stations K03IS-D (Sioux City), K24KD-D (Salix), and K27LD-D (Salix) until Jan. 10, 2022.
Manitoba
The CRTC granted one-year extensions for the CBC to make changes to its transmitters in Flin Flon. Ici Radio-Canada Première station CKSB-4-FM will move from 99.9 to 92.7 and upgrade from 76W/64m (class A1) to 351W/31m (class A), while CBC Radio One station CBWF-FM/90.9 will remain on its current frequency and upgrade from 550W/50m to 1.594kW/31m (class A). The CBC says the COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays. The new construction deadline is Aug. 21, 2022.
Minnesota
The FCC proposed a $1,500 fine against Range Paging, licensee of K280AT/103.9 (Ely), for filing a late license renewal application. The renewal application deadline for Minnesota radio stations was Dec. 1 but the licensee didn’t file an application until March 15, after the FCC put out a notice listing K280AT among licenses that would expire April 1 if a renewal application wasn’t filed before then. Range Paging has 30 days to either pay the fine or request a reduction or cancellation. The renewal application remains pending.
Nebraska
Edge Spectrum requested additional time to move low-power TV station K49LK-D (North Platte) to channel 20 as K20NE-D, a move necessary because of the discontinuation of channels 38 and up. The station faces a June 28 construction deadline. It says though equipment has been ordered, there have been delays from manufacturers due to the volume of LPTV/translator stations forced to move by the spectrum repack as well as heavy demand for tower crews. It is seeking a six-month extension. The station also requested an extension of special temporary authority to remain silent.
North Dakota
Edge Spectrum requested additional time to move low-power TV station K42IM-D (Minot) to channel 35 as K35MM-D, a move necessary because of the discontinuation of channels 38 and up. The station faced a June 6 construction deadline. It says though equipment has been ordered, there have been delays from manufacturers due to the volume of LPTV/translator stations forced to move by the spectrum repack as well as heavy demand for tower crews. It is seeking a six-month extension. The station also requested an extension of special temporary authority to remain silent.
Ontario
The CRTC approved changes to CBC Radio’s stations in Sault Ste. Marie, where the CBC says a “timeworn” horizontal-only antenna will be replaced by a new directional antenna slightly higher on the existing tower. Ici Radio-Canada Première station CBON-FM-18/88.1 will change from its present 3.6kW horizontal to a maximum of 4.894kW horizontal and 2.868kW vertical, while CBC Radio One station CBSM-FM/89.5 will change from its present 46kW horizontal to a maximum of 50kW horizontal and 31.84kW vertical. The stations’ antenna height above average terrain will increase from 116m to 125m.
South Dakota
CSN International’s KWRC/90.9 (Hermosa) continues to transmit at reduced power but could be back to full power within weeks. KWRC is licensed to transmit with 400W/387m (class C3) from Mount Coolidge in Custer State Park but has been operating at 65% of its licensed power since last year, and has requested an extension of special temporary authority to use the reduced power. The station’s latest filing says parts have been received and engineers are scheduled to make the required repairs within the next few weeks, weather permitting.