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 approved Des Moines-based St. Gabriel Communications’ purchase of KEDB/105.3 (Chariton) from Honey Creek Broadcasting.
The FCC dismissed Educational Media Foundation’s application to transfer the licenses of DK292FR/106.3 (Dyersville) and DK250CA/97.9 (Marshalltown) that it had returned in 2012 and 2020, respectively. The applications were for a routine transfer from EMF’s old board to its new board, but the licenses are no longer active.
Minnesota
University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K220BI/91.9 (Grand Marais) and K288BF/105.5 (Grand Marais) have completed a switch to a combined non-directional antenna, with each station using 23 Watts. The change widens K288BF’s coverage area since it previously used a directional antenna sending most of the signal over Lake Superior.
Educational Media Foundation “K-Love” translator K288GR/105.5 (Bayport) reported that it is operating at an unspecified reduced power due to tower work. K288GR transmits from a tower east of Hudson, Wis., and normally uses 250 Watts.
Meanwhile, EMF “K-Love” translator K260BA/99.9 (Coon Rapids), which transmits from Minneapolis, reported that it has changed the source of its programming to the HD4 signal of KQQL/107.9 (Anoka-Minneapolis).
Gabriel Media’s KSKK/1070 (Verndale) reported that it returned to full power of 10kW day and 5kW night on July 17 after repairing a transmitter fault. It had been operating at reduced power since June 20.
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s WGZS/89.1 (Cloquet) reported that it is operating at reduced power due to a transmitter power supply problem. WGZS normally uses 35kW transmitter power output to achieve 50kW effective radiated power; the filing says the backup transmitter is using 1kW.
Nebraska
Bible Broadcasting Network signed on new station KYHK/89.5 (Kearney), using 1kW at 106m, on July 19. The new station displaces BBN translator K209CF/89.7 (Kearney), which had broadcast from the same site. BBN has requested special temporary authority for K209CF to remain silent as it considers options for the translator’s future.
Wisconsin
The FCC approved a change to the planned facilities for the University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s new station on 91.9 in Ashland. Originally permitted for 25kW/43m (class C3), the permit now calls for 4.5kW/103m (class A). The facility’s coverage area is almost as large as the original plan due to the increased antenna height.