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.
Program note: this item was intended to be posted on Oct. 30 but did not appear due to a scheduling error. My apologies!
Iowa
Calvary Chapel Iowa submitted a license to cover application indicating that new station KEWR-FM/89.9 (Cedar Rapids) has signed on, using 870 Watts at 206 meters above average terrain. Simultaneously, Calvary Chapel Iowa completed its sale of KEWR-LP/97.5 (Cedar Rapids) to Friendship Baptist Church for $1. As previously noted here, Calvary Chapel Iowa received the construction permit after working out a settlement with Friendship Baptist Church and Extend The Dream Foundation to avoid a three-way time share on the frequency.
Youngers Colorado Broadcasting withdrew a request for special temporary authority for K295CB/106.9 (Des Moines) to remain silent, saying the filing was submitted under the wrong callsign and K295CB is actually still on the air.
The FCC has formally renewed the licenses of KCLN/1390 (Clinton) and KMCN/94.7 (Clinton) after agreeing to consent decrees with the licensee last month.
JAM Media Solutions, LLC has requested FCC approval to transfer its licenses to Jeffrey Test as a trustee pursuant to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. The company’s stations include KMCS/93.1 (Muscatine), KWPC/860 (Muscatine), KWPC translator K236CF/95.1 (Muscatine), and four stations in North Carolina. The Muscatine Journal reports that the stations are for sale.
Michigan
The FCC approved Morgan Murphy Media’s purchase of WBUP/10.1 (Ishpeming-Marquette), WBKP/5.1 (Calumet), and WBKB-TV/11.1 (Alpena) from companies owned by the Marks family. Related sales of radio stations in Houghton and Iron River remained pending as of close of business Friday, Oct. 27.
Minnesota
We Have This Hope Christian Radio has signed on new 250-Watt station KSWJ/90.9 (Alexandria), the network’s fourth new station in recent months. KSWJ displaces Minnesota Public Radio’s K215BL/90.9 (Alexandria).
Central Baptist Theological Seminary’s WCTS/1030 (Maplewood-Minneapolis) notified the FCC that it is operating at 10kW daytime, rather than its licensed 50kW daytime, due to a power transformer failure. The filing states that WCTS may have to further reduce power to 5kW temporarily before full power is restored. The station uses 4kW at night.
Edge Spectrum requested another extension of the deadline to return K38MM-D (International Falls) and K47JC-D (Wadena) to the air, saying the licensee continues to encounter circumstances beyond its control. The low-power TV stations need to change channels due to the 2020 discontinuation of channels 38 and up. Their latest filings say the most recent delay came because the tower crew’s certification expired, but it has since been recertified. It now seeks an extension until March 1, 2024.
Nebraska
Victor A. Michael’s Cedar Cove Broadcasting is seeking FCC approval to sell the construction permit for future station KAVA/88.1 (Kimball) to Hi-Line Radio Fellowship. The deal also includes licensed stations KKWY/88.1 (Wheatland, WY) and KRKY-FM/88.7 (Douglas, WY) and totals $50,000 for all three. Meanwhile, KRKY-FM has applied for an upgrade, KKWY has applied to move to 91.3, and KAVA has applied to move to 89.5. KAVA would retain its planned facilities of 850 Watts at 3 meters below average terrain. KAVA would be the first Nebraska station for Montana-based Hi-Line, which operates “Your Network of Praise.”
Having recently completed an upgrade from 6kW to 15kW, Theatre Organ Preservation of Nebraska’s KEZL/89.7 (Culbertson-McCook) has now applied to upgrade to 100kW. The station would also increase its antenna height slightly from 102 to 105 meters above average terrain.
Edge Spectrum requested another extension of the deadline to return K49LK-D (North Platte) to the air, saying the licensee continues to encounter circumstances beyond its control. The low-power TV station needs to change channels due to the 2020 discontinuation of channels 38 and up. Its latest filing says the most recent delay came because the tower crew’s certification expired, but it has since been recertified. It now seeks an extension until March 1, 2024.
Wisconsin
Good Karma Brands’ WGKB/1510 (Waukesha) reports that it returned to its licensed power of 250 Watts non-directional daytime on Oct. 20. The station had been using 10 Watts due to transmitter damage caused by an April 20 storm. (WGKB downgraded from its previous 23kW daytime directional facility in 2021.)
Allen Media’s WAOW/9.1 (Wausau) applied to increase power from 63.2kW to 96.3kW. The station previously had a permit to upgrade to 100kW.
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.