FCC Monitor: KIOA at Reduced Power, More Non-Comm FM Amendments

The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:

Iowa

Saga Communications’ KIOA/93.3 (Des Moines) reported that it has been operating at reduced power since Jan. 17 due to an antenna problem. KIOA is licensed for 82kW ERP but is instead using 58.5kW ERP from its licensed antenna at 325 meters above average terrain. A tower climber has been scheduled but the station says the repair process is expected to take more than 30 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing issues at the tower firm, and anticipated supply chain issues with getting antenna parts.

Honey Creek Broadcasting says that it anticipates beginning work on a new facility for KMGO/98.7 (Centerville) in the late spring, if weather and crew availability permit. KMGO requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 19.5kW/124m from a site near Melrose, which it has been using since 2016 due to a lightning strike that knocked out its 100kW facility in Centerville. It has a construction permit to operate from a different tower near Melrose with 100kW/321m, which will extend the station’s main coverage area nearly to Des Moines.

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Michigan

The FCC approved Aurora Media’s purchase of W280GB/103.9 (Gladstone) from David R. Magnum.

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Minnesota

Lakes Broadcasting Co. and Milestone Radio II LLC, the licensees of WLKX-FM/95.9 (Forest Lake) and KBGY/107.5 (Faribault), applied to transfer control of the companies to the D.M. Peters Family Trust following Daniel Peters’ death last year.

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Nebraska

The FCC approved Flood Communications Omaha’s purchase of KLIQ/94.5 (Hastings) from Platte River Radio. A separate deal transferring Platte River Radio’s other stations to Flood Communications Tri-Cities had already received approval.

My Bridge Radio withdrew its application for a new station on 88.7 in Columbus and amended application for a new station in O’Neill to specify 88.7. The O’Neill application had originally specified 91.9 but was in competition with other proposals; My Bridge says it believes the amendment will make its application a grantable “singleton.”

My Bridge also amended its application for a new station in Scottsbluff to specify 88.7 rather than 90.1, removing it from competition with Bible Broadcasting Network’s application for 90.1 in Scottsbluff.

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North Dakota

Nexstar CBS affiliate KXMB/12.1 (Bismarck) reported that it is now back to full power after an antenna issue that had forced it to temporarily drop to 45% of normal. The station’s filing says it installed new equipment.

Gray TV withdrew a license to cover application for new low-power TV station K35PO-D (Bismarck), saying the premature filing was “due to a miscommunication with the station.” It is seeking tolling of the Jan. 10 construction deadline.

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South Dakota

The FCC approved a construction permit for KJKQ/99.5 (Sisseton) to switch from its current 25kW/170m to 50kW/128m, moving its transmitter to Eden and remaining class C2.

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Wisconsin

The FCC granted WPVS-LD/9 (Milwaukee) a construction permit to upgrade to 3kW.

Digital Networks-Midwest reported that K18NQ-D (Rhinelander) and W21EF-D (Waupaca) went silent Jan. 23 because they are both “moving to a new location.” They have not yet filed applications to change their transmitter sites.

St. Gabriel Communications amended its application for a new station in Stanley to specify 89.1 rather than 91.5, potentially removing it from competition with other applicants.

Zoe Communications’ WXNK/940 (Shell Lake) requested an extension of special temporary authority to transmit with 50 Watts, rather than its licensed 1kW daytime, following a 2019 brush clearing accident by a utility company that damaged its tower and facilities. The filing says the station is preparing to file a modification application.