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
Augustana College’s W252EM/98.3 (Davenport), which is the former K289BI/105.7 and now carries Classical music from WVIK-HD2 (Rock Island), applied to move its antenna to the top of its existing tower in Moline. The 30-meter increase in antenna height will slightly expand W252EM’s reach in Davenport.
Manitoba
The agenda for a July 6 CRTC hearing includes applications from U Multicultural Inc. for new FM and TV stations in Winnipeg.
The proposed 800-Watt CHEB-FM/88.7 would target a minimum of four ethnic groups in nine languages. The group has already launched a web stream, which it calls a proof of concept for community radio service. Last year, the CRTC allowed U Multicultural’s application to proceed but rejected a competing commercial application after determining that Winnipeg cannot support another commercial radio station.
Meanwhile, the proposed CFUM-DT would transmit on channel 14 with 2.4kW. A maximum of 40% of the TV station’s programming would be third-language programs.
Minnesota
The license of WEQY-LP/104.7 (St. Paul) was formally transferred from the Dayton’s Bluff District Four Community Council to the BLCK Press Center for Broadcast Journalism on May 1.
Nebraska
South Central Oklahoma Christian Broadcasting is donating KNEF/90.1 (Franklin), along with a station in Kansas, to CSN International. The 100-Watt KNEF has been licensed since 2013.
Theatre Organ Preservation of Nebraska’s KEZL/89.7 (Culbertson) reported that it was off the air from April 14 to April 26 due to the removal of the station’s main antenna for repairs. The station is now operating with a different antenna and adjusted its transmitter power output to continue putting out the licensed 6kW ERP; it’s seeking special temporary authority to use this facility while the main antenna is repaired.
North Dakota
Major Market Broadcasting’s K22OG-D (Fargo) and K25LY-D (Fargo) both received construction permits to move their transmitters from Fargo to Gardner and change power from 8.6kW to 6.9kW.
South Dakota
Northern Plains Baptist Church is selling the construction permit for future station KFCA/88.1 (Aberdeen) to American Christian Radio, Inc. for $1. The buyer is headed by Matthew Middlebrooke of Aberdeen is also buying a CP in New Mexico; it has no other broadcast interests.
Wisconsin
The FCC has formally canceled the license of WCCX/104.5 (Waukesha) after owner Carroll University submitted a cancellation request. There was no attachment to WCCX’s filing giving the reasoning for the decision; an earlier filing indicated WCCX went off the air on May 31, 2022, due to “staffing and financial limitations.” It faced a May 31, 2023 deadline to return to the air. The 13-Watt station had been a rare grandfathered class D educational license, a type which is no longer issued.
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.