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
Digital Networks-Midwest’s K31PO-D (Des Moines), which is currently licensed to transmit from Marshalltown, applied to move to a site midway between Marshalltown and Des Moines, remaining 2kW directional.
Michigan
The FCC approved BTC USA Holdings Management’s purchase of WIMI/99.7 (Ironwood), WJMS/590 (Ironwood), WKMJ/93.5 (Hancock-Houghton), WMPL/920 (Hancock-Houghton), and two FM translators from J&J Broadcasting and its purchase of WUPY/101.1 (Ontonagon) from SNRN Broadcasting.
Minnesota
The FCC granted Paskvan Media’s KPMI-FM/94.5 (Baudette) an upgrade from its present 3kW/62m (class A) to 100kW/148m directional (class C1), which will add coverage of Warroad and Roseau.
The FCC granted a construction permit to One Day Church Project for a new non-commercial station on on 88.7 in Mankato. The new station will use 54kW/83m (class C1) from a tower near St. Peter. As previously reported, the FCC selected One Day Church Project from among six competing applications using a points system.
Radiant Life Ministries was granted the callsign KONC for its future TV station on channel 7 licensed to Alexandria, which will transmit from a tower near St. Cloud.
The FCC canceled Mako Communications’ construction permit for low-power TV station K15ML-D (Duluth). The FCC sent Mako a letter indicating that the permit was being canceled because Mako did not file an application for license to cover by the expiration date.
Nebraska
Nebraska Public Media’s KTNE/91.1 (Alliance) is operating at about 65% of its usual 100kW due to antenna problems. A request for special temporary authority sates that inclement weather and other conditions beyond the licensee’s control are delaying the project.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K276DM/103.1 (Chadron) went off the air Feb. 17 after its “receive antenna lost all reception capability,” according to a request for special temporary authority to remain silent. The same problem was reported on the same day at a UWNSP translator in Hot Springs, SD.
Digital Networks-Midwest’s K36QD-D (Omaha), which is currently licensed to transmit with 2kW from a site near Schuyler, applied to move to a site near Valley with 3kW directional.
North Dakota
Forum Communications and Red River Broadcast Corp. submitted a joint supplemental amendment to the applications to transfer FOX affiliates KVRR/15 (Fargo) and KQDS-TV/21 (Duluth, MN) from Red River to Forum, saying the stations are facing “operational difficulties” directly related to the sale being in “limbo.” The FCC has yet to act on the applications filed Jan. 21, 2022, which include a request for a rare waiver to allow Forum to own two top-four stations in Fargo. The amendment says Forum and Red River believe “fear and uncertainty flowing from the sale of the stations…are significant contributors to Red River’s employment and hiring difficulties.” It says KVRR’s staff level has fallen from 43 in Oct. 2021 to 34 in Jan. 2023, while KQDS-TV’s staffing has declined from 39 to 37 over that time. It says KVRR no longer has any full-time news reporters and that both stations are having to run more national content to fill newscasts.
The FCC canceled Landover 2 LLCs’ construction permit for low-power TV station K20OR-D (Casselton). The FCC sent Landover a letter indicating that the permit was being canceled because Landover did not file an application for license to cover by the expiration date.
South Dakota
Forum Communications closed on its purchase of KWSD/36.1 (Sioux Falls) and KCWS-LD/27.1 (Sioux Falls) on Feb. 21. The FCC also approved a callsign change of KWSD to KSFL-TV effective Feb. 22.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K292EC/106.3 (Hot Springs) went off the air Feb. 17 after its “receive antenna lost all reception capability,” according to a request for special temporary authority to remain silent. The same problem was reported on the same day at a UNWSP translator in Chadron, NE.
Wisconsin
Civic Media closed on its purchase of WMDX/1580 (Columbus) and W224EG/92.7 (Madison) from Good Karma Broadcasting on Feb. 21.
Disclosure: Jon Ellis was an employee of Gray Media Group at the time this item was posted. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.