The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Iowa
Saga Communications’ KOEZ/104.1 (Ames-Des Moines) submitted a license to cover application confirming that it is now back up to 100kW after a partial tower collapse earlier this year. The station’s antenna had previously been at 308 meters above average terrain; it is now slightly lower at 277 meters, resulting in a change in class from C0 to C1. It had temporarily used 58kW at 166m while work was underway.
M&M Broadcasting’s KGRA/98.9 (Jefferson) is operating at reduced power due to a transmitter failure. Replacement parts have been ordered. The exact power being used is not specified in a request for special temporary authority, which notes that KGRA is operating at less than 90% of its licensed 11kW.
DTV America submitted a license to cover application informing the FCC that new low-power TV station K17MH-D (Cedar Falls) has been constructed as permitted, and a license was granted on Dec. 16.
Edge Spectrum asked the FCC to waive its tolling rules to give the construction permit for future low-power TV station K31PP-D (Sioux City) another six-month extension, until July 9, 2022. Edge says it has been working with ARK Multicasting for more than a year to construct dozens of LPTV stations in ATSC 3.0 format but says it has faced a lack of available transmitters, delays in antenna deliveries, and limited availability for people to install the equipment. Edge’s filing says they have experienced a high failure rate and interference issues with the transmitters they have been able to obtain.
Fieldview Broadcasting submitted a license to cover application telling the FCC that new FM translator K268DS/101.5 (Boone) is now ready for regular operation. It was granted during the AM Revitalization window to relay KWBG/1590.
M&M Broadcasting submitted a license to cover application telling the FCC that new FM translator K232FX/94.3 (Dallas Center) is ready for regular operation. It was granted during the AM Revitalization window to relay KDLS/1310 (Perry). KDLS is also relayed on K259AT/99.7, which is licensed to Boone but transmits from near Perry.
Michigan
Kingsford Community Radio amended its application for a new station in Iron Mountain to change its proposed frequency from 89.1 to 88.1, removing it from competition with several other applications. Kingsford Community Radio says it has not received any consideration from the other applicants.
Minnesota
The FCC database is listing the construction permit for K298DD/107.5 (Stillwater) as cancelled, with a D added to the callsign to signify a deleted station. The permit expired Nov. 27. K298DD would have relayed KLBB/1220, which has been looking for a new tower site for several years.
The FCC formally granted a construction permit for a new station on 96.9 in Grand Marais to Wireless LLC, which won the allotment in this year’s auction. The new station, which does not yet have a callsign, will broadcast with 25.5kW/209m (class C2) and will be the second commercial radio station in Cook County. Wireless LLC is owned by companies that have an interest in several central Minnesota stations.
Lakes Broadcasting, the owner of WLKX/95.9 (Forest Lake), and Milestone Radio II LLC, the owner of KBGY/107.5 (Faribault), submitted transfer of control applications following the Aug. 28 death of Daniel Peters, who held 100% interest in the companies. Control will be transferred to Renae Peters, his wife.
The FCC granted a construction permit for WMIN/1010 (Sauk Rapids-St. Cloud) to switch from its licensed 1.7kW day and 240W night to 2.5kW day and 230W night. It will continue to use separate daytime and nighttime directional patterns.
Fairmont Area Catholic Radio changed the community of license for its proposed new station on 91.9 from Fairmont to Welcome, with no changes to the proposed facility.
SagamoreHill of Minneapolis applied to change the orientation of the directional antenna for low-power TV station KMWE-LD/17 (St. Cloud), which is licensed to transmit from a residential neighborhood in Corcoran after several transmitter and facility changes since August that moved the station in from central Minnesota. The licensed pattern overlaps with its previous coverage area from Big Lake, while the new pattern would instead point towards Minneapolis. Programming is unknown.
Nebraska
Walnut Radio says the “theft of the copper ground system” from the licensed site for KIBM/1490 (Omaha) has made it unusable. It requested special temporary authority for KIBM to transmit from the site of co-owned KCRO/660. KIBM already has a construction permit to move to the KCRO site permanently.
Community Broadcasting, the operator of the Bott Radio Network, modified its application for a new station in Ogallala to specify 8kW/43m (class C3) on 89.5. It had originally sought a class A station on 89.7. The change removes the application from competition with applicants for 89.7 in Culbertson and McCook. Community Broadcasting says it did not receive any consideration from the other applicants.
My Bridge Radio amended its application for a new station on 90.1 in Norfolk to remove it from competition with another My Bridge application for the same frequency in Schuyler. The Norfolk station, originally proposed for 35kW/177m (class C2), is now proposing 4kW/77m (class A).
The FCC approved a transaction that will see Justin Fluke take 100% ownership of KNZA, Inc. The company’s stations include KLZA/101.3 (Falls City), KTNC/1230 (Falls City), and KTNC translator K296HK/107.1 (Falls City).
North Dakota
Northwestern Media’s KFNW/1200 (West Fargo) submitted a method of moments application indicating that it has completed its move to a new tower site near Davenport, about ten miles southwest of its old site. It continues to use 50kW day and 13kW night from a four-tower directional array, with different day and night patterns.
South Dakota
The FCC approved the sale of KTTW/7 (Sioux Falls) and KTTM/12 (Huron) from Independent Communications to Radiant Life Ministries, a sister organization to the Tri-State Christian Television network.
Rapid Broadcasting reported that former analog low-power TV stations KKRA-LD/25 (Rapid City) and KWBH-LD/27 (Rapid City) have returned to the air after constructing digital facilities. Applications say both are relaying Rapid Broadcasting NBC affiliate KNBN/21.
Wisconsin
El Sol Broadcasting requested program test authority for new 99-Watt FM translator W273DQ/102.5 (Milwaukee), which was granted during the AM Revitalization effort to relay WJTI/1460. WJTI was already heard on pre-Revitalization translator W250BN/97.9 (West Allis), which transmits from the same downtown Milwaukee site as W273DQ with 250W. Separately, W250BN submitted a modification application specifying Audacy’s WMYX/99.1 as its future primary station. A report on Radio/DX Information from Wisconsin indicates that WJTI and W273DQ have been heard carrying Christmas music.
The FCC formally granted a construction permit to the Salvation Poem Foundation for a new station on 103.1 in Crandon, using 2.85kW/149m (class A). Salvation Poem Foundation won the permit, and another in Tomahawk, during a recent FCC auction.
Heritage Baptist Church amended its application for a new non-commercial station on 91.5 to specify Janesville as its community of license, rather than Roscoe, IL. The amendment notes that the original application did specify Janesville in its technical certification. The application is in competition with a half-dozen others.
W224DE/92.7 (Janesville), which relays WCLO/1230, has completed a move of its transmitter from the edge of town to downtown, remaining 250 Watts.
The FCC approved the sale of WDLB/1450 (Marshfield), WOSQ/92.3 (Spencer-Marshfield), and WDLB translator W254DL/98.7 (Marshfield) from Seehafer Broadcasting to Central Wisconsin Broadcasting.
The FCC approved modifications to My Central Valley LLC’s construction permits for new low-power TV stations in La Crosse and Wausau. The CP for WZEO-LD/26 (La Crosse) now specifies 15kW from a site near La Crescent, MN, while the CP for WRJT-LD/34 (Wausau) now specifies 7.5kW from a site near Milladore. They face Jan. 10 construction deadlines.
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