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.
Michigan
VCY America’s WVCN/104.3 (Baraga, MI) reported that it returned to full power on Aug. 15.
Minnesota
Twin Cities Public Television reported that KTCA-TV/2.1 (RF 34, St. Paul) and KTCI-TV/2.3 (RF 23, St. Paul) are operating at reduced power from a lower antenna while work is underway to replace their main shared antenna. KTCA is using about 28% of its normal 662kW ERP (185kW) while KTCI is at about half if its usual 325kW (162.5kW). The reduced power operation began Aug. 8; the filing says the stations anticipate beginning operation from their new shared antenna on or before Aug. 28.
The FCC granted Gray TV’s K29OE-D (Racine) a construction permit to upgrade from 1kW to 15kW from a tower at the KTTC(TV) studio facility in Rochester, where the station’s transmitter recently moved.
Southern Minnesota Catholic Radio withdrew an amended application for a new station on 88.9 that sought a 2kW station in Owatonna rather than a 6kW station in Waseca. The FCC had already dismissed the application after granting One Day Church Project a new station in Mankato as part of FCC Group 124. SMCR and ODCP had then asked the FCC to vacate the grant and instead consider granting the amended SMCR Owatonna application alongside ODCP’s Mankato station. The latest filing says SMCR and ODCP have now terminated a settlement agreement.
Nebraska
MyBridge Radio’s K282AX/104.3 (Paxton) returned to the air Aug. 17 after moving to a new transmitter site near Sutherland, where it uses 99 Watts.
The FCC approved a slight downgrade for VSS Catholic Communications’ construction permit for KETW/90.5 (Ogallala) to lower the antenna height from 145m to 128m above average terrain, remaining 2.46kW. VSS said the change is needed because other antennas prevent the new antenna from being mounted at the original height.
South Dakota
Jill Bisson’s K263AW/100.5 (Pierre), which relays KPLO-FM/94.5 (Reliance), has applied to move from its present site west of Pierre to the KGFX site south of Pierre. The translator would remain 250 Watts but would expand its coverage area due to the higher antenna height.
Meanwhile, James River Broadcasting’s K296FI/107.1 (Pierre) has applied to move from its current site in downtown Pierre to the currently-licensed K263AW site west of Pierre. The translator, which would relay KGFX-FM/92.7, would upgrade from 100 Watts to 250 Watts and benefit from a slightly higher antenna height.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K220IT/91.9 (Watertown) reported that has returned to full power of 250 Watts after resolving transmitter problems.
Wisconsin
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has applied for a new FM radio station using the FCC’s Tribal Priority rules for new allotments. The Tribe’s L.D.F. Business Development Corp. is seeking a new station licensed to Lac du Flambeau on 92.9 using 6kW/54m (class A). The new station would deliver a city-grade (70 dBu) signal to nearly all of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation, and about three-quarters of the population within the city-grade contour is on Tribal lands.
The FCC has approved Armada Media’s purchase of the TKC Inc. group of radio stations in Rice Lake. The stations include WJMC-FM/96.1, WAQE-FM/97.7 (Barron), WKFX/99.1, WAQE/1090, WJMC/1240, and two FM translators relaying the AM stations.
Family Life Broadcasting’s WJTY/88.1 (Lancaster) reports that it returned to full power of 49kW vertical and 7kW horizontal on Aug. 15 after resolving a transmitter issue.
Call Communications was granted the callsign WIXW for its future station on 89.1 in Ixonia. The 7.5kW station will rimshot Oconomowoc and Watertown.
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.