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.
Iowa
The FCC granted St. Gabriel Communications a construction permit for a new FM station on 89.9 in Spencer using 6kW/84m (class A). The decision comes after a dispute over the technicalities of when an applicant can change the proposed facilities of a station and when it can’t. The original application had sought a 22kW station and was identified as part of a group of four mutually-exclusive proposals; after an applicant in Fairmont, MN, was identified as the tentative selectee, St. Gabriel modified its application to specify 6kW, removing itself from competition with the other three applicants. Once the Fairmont station was granted and two other applications were dismissed, St. Gabriel again modified the application to change the power level back to 22kW since the only overlap was with an application that had been dismissed. The moves prompted an informal objection from Kevin Youngers, who said neither amendment should have been allowed. In its decision, the FCC said the first amendment was allowed but the second wasn’t, so it approved the 6kW facility. On the same day the application was granted, St. Gabriel applied to modify the new permit to specify 22kW.
The FCC has canceled the license of KUEL-LP/97.1 (Kensett) at the request of its licensee, Worth County Community Radio Association.
Michigan
The application from Lilly Broadcasting MeTV/CBS affiliate WZMQ/19 (Marquette) to upgrade to 120kW, reported here last week, was approved on Jan. 17 and the station submitted a license to cover application indicating the new facility had been constructed on Jan. 19.
Minnesota
As noted in the Weekly Log, Gray TV’s K33MW-D (Sherburn) filed a license to cover application after completing a move of its transmitter to the KEYC-TV building in North Mankato with an upgrade to 15kW. The application includes a community of license change to Mankato.
Edge Spectrum’s W22FD-D (Dodge Center) applied to upgrade from 300W to 6kW.
Nebraska
VSS Catholic Communications’ KFJS/90.1 (North Platte) reported that it has completed an upgrade from 1.35kW to 13.2kW, changing from class A to C3. The station’s antenna height remains at 128 meters above average terrain.
South Dakota
The FCC approved Forum Communications’ purchase of KWSD/36 (Sioux Falls) and KCWS-LD/27 (Sioux Falls) from JF Broadcasting. As previously noted here, Forum requested to change KWSD’s callsign to KSFL-TV.
Real Presence Radio’s K235DE/94.9 (Brookings) has completed a frequency change to 94.7 with the new callsign K234DI. It remains 250 Watts.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Public Radio’s KUWS/91.3 (Superior), which recently reported returning to full power after antenna icing problems, reported that it is again at reduced power due to icing. It was granted special temporary authority to transmit with less than 90% of its licensed 83kW while the problem continues.
Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.