The following are updates to previously-reported items 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.
Minnesota
Hubbard Broadcasting’s KSTC-TV/5.2 (Minneapolis) reported that it has completed an upgrade from 780kW to 1,000kW which coincided with the activation of a new antenna on the north tower of the Telefarm broadcast site in Shoreview. The station, identifying as “45TV,” continues to broadcast on RF channel 30 and originates virtual channels 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.6.
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Foretelling a possible long battle over the use of part of the FM band in Minneapolis, the FCC granted tolling of the construction permit for Central Baptist Theological Seminary’s K250BY/97.9 (Plymouth) to move its transmitter to the IDS Center. As previously reported, Park Public Radio had filed a competing application to move KPPS-LP/97.5 (St. Louis Park) to 97.7 in Minneapolis and filed a petition for reconsideration of the K250BY move. The K250BY upgrade deadline was originally set for July 5, 2025; an Oct. 13 FCC letter granted tolling for six months, meaning the three-year countdown on the construction permit will now start on April 13, 2023, setting the deadline in 2026. CBTS can request additional tolling by filing status reports every six months.
Paskvan Media’s KPMI-FM/94.5 (Baudette) applied for a large upgrade that would add coverage of Roseau. The station would replace its current 3kW/62m (class A) facility with 100kW/148m (class C1) from a site midway between Baudette and Roseau.
The FCC approved the transfer of KZYS-LP/105.1 (St. Cloud) from the St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization to Hayaan Inc., which has a mission “to advance the unique culture of the local Somali Community including music, literature, folk lore, etc.”
My Central Valley’s KMYN-LD/32 (Duluth) applied to upgrade from 7.5kW to 15kW.
Nebraska
The FCC approved a construction permit for Hickory Radio’s K287CB/105.3 (Glenwood, IA-Omaha) to become K281DG/104.1 (Omaha). The application states it will relay KIBM/1490 (Omaha), potentially becoming a fourth FM signal in the “Boomer Radio” network. Hickory recently bought the translator, which already transmitted from Omaha, from CSN International and reported that it is off the air.
Theatre Organ Preservation of Nebraska’s KEZL/89.7 (Culbertson), which signed in in August, was granted an upgrade from 6kW to 32kW, keeping its 102m antenna height above average terrain and changing from class C3 to C2.
K296DS/107.1 (Alliance), which Northwestern Media is in the process of buying, applied to move to 95.7, switch to a non-directional antenna, and upgrade from 74 to 250 Watts. The frequency change is due to the recent upgrade by KHYY/107.3 (Minatare-Scottsbluff). The Alliance translator will also switch its input station to KSLS (Dickinson, ND).
Following up on a report that the Nebraska Rural Radio Association is buying K205CU/88.9 (Burwell), the translator has applied to move to 99.7 so it can relay KRVN/880 (Lexington). FCC rules allow the large frequency change because 99.7 is the IF frequency of 88.9. The translator will also move to a tower site north of town and upgrade to 250 Watts.
North Dakota
KEYA/88.5 (Belcourt) submitted a filing indicating that it expects to be back up to full power within two weeks after replacing its tower, which collapsed earlier this year. The station has temporarily been using 500 Watts.
Ontario
The CRTC approved a new low-power FM station at Wauzhushk Onigum Nation near Kenora. WONation will operate CKWO-FM/101.3 using a maximum of 50 Watts with an antenna at 17.8 meters above average terrain. The application stated, “The people of Waushushk Onigum First Nation look forward to having their own radio station giving voice to their community, revitalizing and promoting their rich culture and traditions.” WONation plans to offer 126 hours of local programming per week, playing pop, rock, country, and Indigenous music. Local programming will include seven weekly hours in the Ojibway language.
CBC received approval for a slight upgrade to Radio One station CBQV-FM/101.1 (Sandy Lake) as part of an antenna replacement project. The station will increase its antenna height from 38 to 57 meters above average terrain with a slight reduction in power from 37 to 33 Watts.
South Dakota
The Educational Media Foundation’s K209EM/89.7 (Huron) applied to move to 88.1, remaining 250 Watts. The translator is slated to be displaced by new EMF station KLHU/89.7 (Huron).
EMF’s K209FX/89.7 (Mitchell) was granted a construction permit to move to a tower site closer to Mitchell, reducing power from 250 to 60 Watts but maintaining its current signal strength in Mitchell.
Wisconsin
Driftless Community Radio’s WDRT/91.9 (Viroqua) completed an upgrade from 480W to 3kW, remaining at the same site north of town.
My Central Valley’s WRJT-LD/34 (Wausau), which transmits from a site near Milladore, applied to upgrade from 7.5kW to 15kW.