KZMX-FM's logo circa 2020.

FCC Tells South Dakota Station to Complete Move Ordered 7 Years Ago

Posted on by Jon Ellis

The FCC has sent a letter ordering an FM station in the southern Black Hills to complete a frequency change ordered seven years ago so that a new station can sign on in the northern Hills.

In December 2014, the FCC approved a plan for future Alex Media station KRCF (Lead) to change its planned frequency from 94.3 to 96.7. The frequency change will allow KRCF to reach Rapid City using 100kW/501m (class C) from the Terry Peak transmitter site.

To make way for the move, the FCC directed Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting’s KZMX-FM/96.7 (Hot Springs) to move to 96.3, keeping its class A coverage area. Alex Media will pay the costs of making the frequency change.

KZMX-FM had fought the change, saying the move would prevent it from upgrading in the future, but the FCC found that KZMX-FM actually would still have upgrade potential on 96.3. In 2014, it ordered KZMX-FM to file an application for the change within 30 days, but the application was never filed.

The FCC now writes, “MRBI accepted the construction and licensing obligations arising from the finality of the letter order modifying the KZMX-FM license to specify Channel 242A.”

In the latest letter, the FCC has told KZMX-FM that its “implied special temporary authority” to operate on 96.7 will expire on June 11, 2022. It must either move to 96.3 or leave the air by that date.

We find that continued warehousing of this spectrum by MRBI in the face of AMI’s longstanding competing demand is plainly contrary to the public interest. We will not cancel MRBI’s implied STA at this time because that would require KZMX-FM to cease operation. However, we will not allow MRBI to indefinitely delay construction and operation of KRCF(FM) either. Accordingly, we will give MRBI an additional 120 days to construct KZMX-FM’s new facilities and commence program tests on Channel 242A.

FCC letter order released Feb. 11, 2022

The FCC also informed Alex Media that is ending the tolling of the expiration date to construct KRCF, which was originally in 2017, and set a July 30, 2022 deadline for KRCF to sign on.

Alex Media does not own any other stations in South Dakota.

Mount Rushmore Broadcasting also owns KZMX/580 (Hot Springs), KZMX translator K252GD/98.3 (Hot Springs), and KFCR/1490 (Custer).