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
There may finally be a solution to concerns that have prevented a full-power station from using 107.7 in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area since 2005. Educational Media Foundation’s KIMI/107.7 (Malvern, IA), which is currently using 110 Watts rather than its licensed 13kW, has now applied to use 1.2kW/124m. (Update: The application was granted Nov. 6 after this report was initially published.) The station’s application says EMF has “obtained a determination from the FAA for operation on 107.7mhz with the power limitation of 1.2kw.” According to previous filings, Offutt Air Force Base has opposed efforts to sign on higher-powered stations on 107.7 due to concerns about interference to air navigation communications on an adjacent frequency above the FM band. KIMI’s planned facility would deliver a fringe signal to the Omaha-Council Bluffs area.
The FCC has approved changes to the Table of Allotments that will allow Iowa PBS’ KDIN/11.1 (Des Moines) to move to a UHF frequency. KDIN will move to channel 34, while a vacant allotment on channel 34 in Ames (formerly occupied by now-deleted KEFB) will be replaced with channel 21. KDIN must now file a formal application to make the move.
The FCC granted a callsign change for KEWR-LP/97.5 (Cedar Rapids) to KACJ-LP effective Nov. 7. The change follows Calvary Chapel Iowa’s sale of the low-power station to Friendship Baptist Church simultaneous with Calvary Chapel Iowa’s sign-on of KEWR-FM/89.9 (Cedar Rapids).
Michigan
The FCC approved the sale of radio stations owned by the Marks family to Morgan Murphy Media. They include Houghton stations WCCY/1400, WCCY translator W257CZ/99.3, WOLV/97.7, WHKB/102.3, and the construction permit for future station WHBS/96.3, as well as Iron River stations WFER/1230, WFER translator W250CQ/97.9, and WIKB/99.1. The decision follows earlier approval of Morgan Murphy Media’s related purchase of three TV stations from companies owned by the Marks family.
Minnesota
The FCC approved a second six-month extension of tolling of the construction permit for K250BY/97.9 (Plymouth), owned by Central Baptist Theological Seminary, to move to the IDS Center. The move remains mired in administrative judicial review as KPPS-LP/97.5 (St. Louis Park) battles for an upgrade instead (see background). The countdown clock for implementing the construction permit will not begin until tolling ends.
Nebraska
The FCC has issued a six-year license renewal to Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s KWTN/100.9 (Allen). The full renewal comes a year after the FCC granted a one-year renewal over concerns about the station’s frequent periods of silence during its previous license term, part of which was under a previous owner.
The FCC approved Bible Broadcasting Network’s sale of K208CK/89.5 (Scottsbluff), K211GG/90.1 (Kearney), and three FM translators in other states to CSN International. K211GG is still officially licensed as K209CF with a construction permit to move to 90.1.
Nebraska Public Media’s K209FS/89.7 (Columbus) has modified its previous application to move to a new transmitter site to also specify a frequency change to 88.1, remaining 39 Watts. The application explains that the change is proposed to prevent interference from future station KHUY/89.9 (Schuyler). As previously reported, K209FS left the air in July due to its previous tower being dismantled, leaving Columbus temporarily without a strong public radio signal.
Following an earlier news release, Nebraska Public Media’s KXNE-FM/89.3 (Norfolk) has formally notified the FCC that it has been operating at half of its licensed 45kW since Oct. 27 due to tower work. The reduced power operation is expected to continue for several weeks.
North Dakota
Digital Syndicate Network’s KDKT/1410 (Beulah) has informed the FCC that it resumed full-power operation on Oct. 3.
South Dakota
Rapid Broadcasting’s KKRA-LD/25 (Rapid City) left the air Oct. 23 due to a transmitter failure, according to a notification of suspension of operations.
Wisconsin
The FCC approved a callsign change for Civic Media’s WVXN/1520 (New Holstein) to WZBU effective Nov. 6.
The FCC approved a construction permit for Allen Media’s WAOW/9.1 (Wausau) to increase power from 63.2kW to 96.3kW, replacing an expired 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.
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