The following are updates to previously-reportedĀ itemsĀ and other recent regulatory filings and actions concerning Upper Midwest broadcast stations. This report is created by the author and is not an official report of the FCC.
Iowa
Tegna CW affiliate KCWI/23 (Ames-Des Moines) says it continues to operate at 127kW, which is 51% of its licensed 246kW, while it awaits installation of a new transmitter. The station’s request for extension of special temporary authority says the parts have arrived and the station is now in the process of scheduling contractors, but contractor availability has been very limited. KCWI has been operating at reduced power for nearly a year.
A filing indicates KROS/1340 (Clinton) has returned to full power of 1kW after repairing damage caused by the 2020 Iowa Derecho. KROS translator K290CL/105.9 (Clinton) transmits from the AM tower with 250 Watts.
The Hispanic Family Christian Network has submitted the construction permits for low-power TV stations K03IS-D (Sioux City) and K06QG-D (Sioux City) for cancellation.
The FCC approved St. Gabriel Communications’ purchase of a future station on 88.7 in Odebolt from Faith Lutheran Church.
Michigan
Aurora Media’s W280GB/103.9 (Escanaba) has been granted a construction permit to move its transmitter to Gladstone, with the application indicating it will switch to the HD2 channel of WYKX/104.7 (Escanaba).
WDMJ/1320 (Marquette) requested an extension of special temporary authority, but details of the request are not available in the FCC database. WDMJ has previously reported that it is transmitting at 200 Watts following a 2019 fire at its transmitter site.
The FCC tentatively selected winners of several new non-commercial FM stations in the Upper Peninsula after competing applicants failed to reach settlement agreements. The tentative selectees were identified using a point system:
- Escanaba: Evangelistic Knights of Our Lady received more points for its proposed station on 88.1 in Escanaba because it is an established local applicant. Full Potential’s proposed station on 88.1 in Wells scored one point because of its larger proposed service area, but it was not enough to edge out the three points for Evangelistic Knights of Our Lady’s local applicant claim.
- Houghton: West Central Michigan Media Ministries received more points because its proposed 25kW station on 88.9 in Houghton would cover a larger area and reach more people than Gospel Opportunities proposed 1kW station on 88.9 in L’Anse.
- Iron Mountain: Four applicants were seeking 89.1 in the Iron Mountain area, and Cornerstone’s proposed 15kW/155m station received the most points because its facility would serve more people than the other proposed stations. The other applicants were Upper Peninsula Catholic Radio (Iron Mountain), West Central Michigan Media Ministries (Norway), and The Rock Radio (Niagara, WI).
Applicants which disagree with the FCC’s selections have 30 days to file petitions for reconsideration before formal construction permits are granted.
Minnesota
The FCC approved Carpenter Broadcasting’s purchase of WZBY/92.7 (Grand Portage) from Multi-Cultural Diversity Radio.
Leighton Broadcasting’s KJJK/1020 (Fergus Falls) reported that it continues to transmit at reduced power of 60 Watts because repairs to its transmitter system have not yet been completed.
Nebraska
The Nebraska Rural Radio Association’s KMOR/93.3 (Gering-Scottsbluff) reported that it continues to operate at reduced power while an upgrade project at its tower site continues. KMOR had first reported in February that it was using 7kW rather than its licensed 100kW.
North Dakota
Central Dakota Enterprises, owner of KNDR/104.7 (Mandan), closed on its purchase of KXRP/91.3 (Bismarck) and K206EI/89.1 (Williston) from Real Presence Radio on Aug. 1.
South Dakota
Family Worship Center Church’s K207EW/89.3 (Mitchell) was granted a construction permit to move to 90.1 as K211GE due to South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s plans to sign on a new station on 89.1 in Mitchell.
Wisconsin
The FCC has tentatively selected Optima Enrichment for a new station on 91.5 in Delafield from a field of four applicants seeking to use the frequency in the area west of Milwaukee. Waterloo Christian Radio Corporation had applied for a station in Ixonia, while The Family Radio Network had sought a station in Jackson and Community Public Radio had requested a station in Waukesha. The FCC used its point-based system after the applicants failed to reach a settlement, but three of the applications tied with five points each. Optima Enrichment and Waterloo Christian Radio Corporation remained tied after the first and second tie-breakers because they would each only have one station and each filed only one application. The third tie-breaker is whether an applicant had unsuccessfully sought a station in a previous filing window, and Optima Enrichment prevailed because its 2007 application was denied. Applicants which disagree with the FCC’s selections have 30 days to file petitions for reconsideration before a formal construction permit is granted. Optima Enrichment is planning a 14kW/48m (class B1) station that will have a main coverage area stretching roughly from Pewaukee to Watertown.
Baroka Broadcasting WHRY translator W275CR/102.9 (Hurley) was a granted a construction permit to move its transmitter to the tower of co-owned WUPM/106.9 (Ironwood, MI), widening its coverage area due to the higher antenna height.