Scotts Bluff National Monument is an iconic symbol of the Scottsbluff area. Photo: Jon Ellis

FCC Monitor: Seven FM Stations to Consolidate on Tower Near Scottsbluff

Posted on by Jon Ellis

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:

Illinois

The FCC issued a report and order allotting channel 9 to Freeport, in the Rockford market, for a future full-power TV station. As noted here earlier, Gray TV initiated the rulemaking process to get the allotment added but would have to participate in a competitive bidding process to get a construction permit for the channel; no date is set for such a procedure. Freeport was formerly the community of license for WIFR/23.1, which Gray TV surrendered during the spectrum auction, moving its callsign and virtual channel to a low-power TV station.

Iowa

Following up on last week’s upgrade application, the Educational Media Foundation’s KIMI/107.7 (Malvern) says efforts continue to resolve interference complaints from Offut Air Force Base. The update comes in a request for an extension of special temporary authority to use reduced power of 110 Watts until the issue is resolved. The latest filing says KIMI is waiting for the Federal Aviation Administration to change one of the frequencies used at Offut before it upgrades to cover Omaha.

Michigan

The FCC formally cancelled the license of former WLUK (Green Bay) translator W40AN-D (Escanaba), which operated on a channel that was discontinued last year and did not seek a move to a new channel. The translator license had dated back several decades and was owned by WLUK and parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Minnesota

Townsquare Media’s KDHL/920 (Faribault) continues to transmit with 1.25kW non-directional as it awaits the conclusion of a project that has taken several years. KDHL had previously transmitted with 5kW directional from a seven-tower array but reported in 2014 that it was operating at a variance and subsequently decided to remove four of the towers. Its latest filing repeats statements about delays caused by the pandemic and weather but says some new equipment has been installed and a contractor is expected to be on site in August for the system tune-up and proof. KDHL will eventually use 3.3kW day and 1kW night from the three-tower directional array.

Nebraska

The Nebraska Rural Radio Association is now planning to consolidate its six FM signals in the Scottsbluff market on one tower, instead of just three as reported here last year. The site west of Scottsbluff is currently used by KMOR/93.3 (Gering) and KOZY-FM/101.3 (Bridgeport). The NRRA was already planning to move KHYY (Minatare) to the site, changing frequency from 106.9 to 107.3. The latest filings would add KNEB-FM/94.1 (Scottsbluff), K262CU/100.3 (Scottsbluff), and K269DO/101.7 (Scottsbluff) to the tower. KOZY-FM, KMOR, KHYY, and KNEB-FM would share the same antenna at 339 meters above average terrain. KNEB-FM would use 75kW while the other three would use 100kW. Meanwhile, K262CU and K269DO would transmit with 250 Watts at 314 meters HAAT. VSS Communications’ KETT/99.3 (Mitchell) also transmits from the tower.

South Dakota

The FCC proposed $1,500 fines against Pierre Educational Radio, licensee of KPGN-LP/105.1 (Pierre), and Words of Hope Media, licensee of KRWH-LP/92.9 (Sioux Falls), for filing late license renewal applications. The renewal application deadline for South Dakota radio stations was Dec. 1. KRWH says its president was ill in November and did not see an email notification from the FCC until he returned on Jan. 13, and the application was filed the next day. Meanwhile, the FCC says KPGN didn’t offer any explanation for its tardiness when it filed for renewal on March 1. The licensees have 30 days to either pay the fine or request a reduction or cancellation. The renewal applications remain pending.

Wisconsin

PBS station WMVS/10.1 (Milwaukee), which transmits on RF channel 8, filed a license to cover application for its digital replacement translator on RF channel 10, informing the FCC that the translator has been constructed as authorized. It’s not known if the translator is currently on the air. WMVS’ main signal transmits with 32kW and the translator transmits with 590 Watts. Both signals broadcast from the same tower on the same band.

See also the sale of low-power TV stations in La Crosse and Wausau noted under the Minnesota entry above.