FCC Monitor: Head-Spinning Flurry of LPTV Filings Continues

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. Many of these items are a continuation of the situation described in last week’s article, “Last-Minute Efforts Underway to Save Some Low-Power TV Permits.”

Iowa

The FCC denied a petition for reconsideration from Clinton Education Association, licensee of KXJX-LP/92.5 (Clinton), over a proposed $1,500 fine for a late license renewal application. The reasoning for the decision is not listed in the FCC database.

Gray TV ABC affiliate KCRG-TV/9 (Cedar Rapids) was granted a construction permit to move to RF channel 32 with 1,000kW, but can continue remapping to virtual channel 9.1.

Weigel Broadcasting’s TV-49, Inc. is buying the construction permits for future low-power TV station KEOF-LD (Fort Dodge), as well as a permit in Mississippi, from DTV America for $50,000. The stations face July 13 construction deadlines and have both requested waivers to allow six-month extensions.

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Michigan

DTV America/HC2 Broadcasting is selling the construction permit for W16EF-D (Marquette) to FideliTV, LLC; see more in the North Dakota item below.

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Minnesota

Lowcountry 34 Media is buying 20 construction permits for new low-power TV stations from CTB Spectrum Services Two, LLC and Landover 2, LLC, including K43ON-D (Duluth) and K49LU-D (Duluth), for $1.2 million. Nine of the permits, including both in Duluth, are on channels that were discontinued last year and would have to apply to move to new channels before they could be built. The Duluth permits face July 13 construction deadlines and filed requests for six-month extensions earlier this year.

The FCC approved a six-month extensions to build future low-power TV stations K32OH-D (Duluth) and K31LP-D (St. Cloud), placing the deadlines in January. DTV America/HC2 Broadcasting is in the process of selling K32OH-D to My Central Valley and K31LP-D to Lowcountry 34 Media.

Julie Huang’s Roseland Broadcasting is buying the construction permits for K27LN-D (Fargo, ND) and K35PC-D (Rochester, MN) from DTV America as part of a five-station deal. The other stations are in Arkansas and Texas, and the sale price is $35,000. Companies owned by Huang are also in the process of buying LPTV permits in Bismarck and St. Cloud from DTV America. K35PC-D requested a waiver to allow a six-month extension of its construction deadline until January.

DTV America/HC2 Broadcasting is selling the construction permit for K20KW-D (St. Cloud) to FideliTV, LLC; see more in the North Dakota item below.

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Nebraska

Community Public Media’s 250-Watt KKNL/89.3 (Valentine) went off the air June 18 due to a transmitter failure. A request for special temporary authority to remain silent says it appears the transmitter will need to be replaced.

Bible Broadcasting Network’s K208CK/89.5 (Scottsbluff) was granted an upgrade from 170 to 250 Watts.

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North Dakota

DTV America/HC2 Broadcasting is selling the construction permits for future low-power TV stations W16EF-D (Marquette), K20KW-D (St. Cloud), K14PP-D (Fargo), K17LT-D (Fargo), K18NP-D (Fargo), K32KX-D (Fargo), and K33ML-D (Fargo) to FideliTV, LLC as part of a $200,000 deal that includes a total of 32 LPTV permits nationwide. The permits face July 13 construction deadlines, but the stations are seeking six-month extensions.

DTV America’s K27LN-D (Fargo) requested a waiver to allow a six-month extension of its construction deadline until January. K27LN-D is being sold in a transaction described above in the Minnesota entry.

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Wisconsin

Sinclair Broadcast Group FOX affiliate WLUK/11.1 (Green Bay) was formally granted a move from RF channel 12 to channel 18, where it will use 500kW.

The FCC approved six-month extensions to build future low-power TV stations W26FD-D (La Crosse) and W34EO-D (Wausau), placing the deadlines in January. My Central Valley is in the process of buying the permits from DTV America/HC2 Broadcasting.

Benjamin Thompson applied to move W224DE/92.7 (Janesville) from a transmitter site east of the city to site of Big Radio’s W255CZ/98.9, which is in the center of the city. W224DE would remain 250 Watts.

David R. Magnum’s W241BQ/96.1 (Watertown) upgraded from 80 to 250 Watts. Meanwhile, Magnum’s W239CD/95.7 (Beloit) was granted a construction permit to move to 94.7, changing from 250W/4m to 130W/117m. Both applications listed WSJY/107.3 (Fort Atkinson) as the primary station.