Iowa
Augustana College filed a petition to deny Vanguard Association of Sunbelt Colleges Corporation’s application for a new non-commercial FM station on 88.9 in Dubuque. The FCC named Vanguard as the tentative selectee in October, rather than Augustana’s application for 88.9 in Epworth, based on a point system that scored Vanguard more highly because its proposed station would not overlap with any co-owned stations. In its petition, Augustana alleges that Vanguard does not actually have enough money to construct all eight of the stations it applied for. It also alleges that Vanguard “may be part of a scheme to exceed the ten-application limit” since Vanguard’s technical consultant was also involved in applications by other groups.
Edwin Brand’s KCOG Inc. is transferring KCOG/1400 and K280GY/103.9 (Centerville) to Honey Creek Broadcasting, which is the licensee of two FM stations that already operate alongside KCOG. Brand has 100% of the votes and 34% interest in Honey Creek Broadcasting; Frederic L. Jenkins and Carolyn E. Jenkins each hold 33% interest. The purchase price is $1.
Minnesota
The FCC granted Park Public Radio a new non-commercial station on 88.9 in Medford. It will use 400W at 58 meters above average terrain, providing a strong signal to an area southwest of Faribault. The application had previously been in conflict with others but was modified to remove it from competition.
The Bois Forte Tribal Council formally notified the FCC that WELY/1450 and WELY-FM/94.5 (Ely) went silent Dec. 1 for financial reasons. Plans to take the stations silent were reported as part of the announcement of the stations’ pending sale.
Nebraska
The FCC issued a one-year license renewal to Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s KWTN/100.9 (Allen). The station had been off the air for much of its previous license term and the FCC questioned how KWTN could have been serving the public interest when it was off the air so often. The tribe noted that the station was already silent when it was acquired in 2018 and its previous facilities did not reach tribal lands. It returned to the air in 2021 after an upgrade to 6kW. The FCC wrote that it was granting the one-year renewal instead of designating the license renewal application for a hearing. The FCC and the tribe also reached a consent decree ending an investigation into maintenance of the station’s online public inspection files.
North Dakota
Bible Broadcasting Network filed a petition to deny Grand Forks Bible Study Group’s application for a new station on 88.3 in Grand Forks, which the FCC announced as the tentative selectee for the frequency in October. The selection was made based on the FCC’s points system. BBN also applied for the frequency and alleges that GFBSG should not have been allowed to make its point claims via an amendment after the filing window closed.
Ontario
The CRTC approved Acadia Broadcasting’s purchase of CKQV-FM/103.3 (Vermillion Bay), along with its secondary transmitters on 104.5 in Kenora and Sioux Lookout and 104.3 in Dryden, from Golden West Broadcasting. Acadia also owns the only other commercial stations in the region, which are in Dryden and Kenora; the combination is within ownership caps since Acadia will have no more than two FM stations in any of the markets. The CRTC decision noted that “CKQV-FM has been struggling financially and has incurred significant losses over the course of the last ten years.” Acadia pledged to continue Golden West’s commitment to employing two full-time news reporters who create 55 newscasts per week. The CRTC denied Acadia’s request for an exception to the requirement that it contribute to Canadian content development funds. It will have to contribute $117,194, representing 6% of the $1,953,231 transaction value.
Wisconsin
Seehafer Broadcasting’s WQTC/102.3 (Manitowoc) is operating at reduced power of 500 Watts, rather than its licensed 4.5kW, due to antenna damage suffered in a Nov. 28 storm. The station’s request for special temporary authority says tower climber availability and a supply chain shortage may delay repairs for “a number of months.”
Good Karma Broadcasting’s W224EG/92.7 (Madison) applied to switch from one directional antenna to another, improving the signal in the De Forest area. W224EG will continue to relay WTTN/1580 (Columbus).
The FCC approved an application by W230DA/93.9 (New Holstein) to move its transmitter to a tower near High Cliff State Park and change frequency to 96.5, a facility which will rimshot Appleton. The translator’s new callsign will be W243ER. It will continue to relay WLAK/1520 (New Holstein).
The FCC also approved Civic Media’s purchase of WLAK, W230DA, WGBW/1590 (Denmark), and W250CV/97.9 (Green Bay) from Mark Heller and Metro North Communications.
Magnum Communications’ WRDB/1400 (Reedsburg) applied to reduce its nighttime power from 1kW to 640 Watts as part of a tower replacement project. It would remain 1kW daytime and non-directional 24 hours (1400 is one of six Class C AM frequencies on which all stations are non-directional with a maximum power of 1kW).
VCY America filed a petition to deny Northern Illinois University’s application for a new station on 90.1 in Galena, IL, which is in competition with VCY’s application for a new station on 90.1 in Mineral Point, WI. The FCC identified NIU as the tentative selectee of the new station in October on a points-based system that scored NIU’s application higher because of its claim of being an established local applicant. However, VCY alleges that NIU does not meet the FCC’s qualification to be considered an established local applicant because its campus is more than 25 miles from Galena.
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