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
In a followup to last week’s report on Educational Media Foundation’s KIMI/107.7 (Malvern), the station has filed a license to cover application indicating that it has completed a change to 1.2kW. It represents an upgrade from 110 Watts that that the station had been using for many years under special temporary authority but is less than the 50kW Omaha rimshot facility that had once been authorized by the FCC and the 13kW that was later authorized. Aviation officials objected to the higher power levels over concerns about interference to an adjacent air navigation frequency. In the latest license to cover application, EMF states that for the first year of operation, it will take immediate action to resolve interference if it receives a complaint from the FAA. The upgrade gives KIMI a fringe signal to Omaha and Council Bluffs with strong coverage south of the metro, including to Plattsmouth and Glenwood.
Iowa Catholic Radio’s KIHS/88.5 (Adel) submitted a license to cover application requesting program test authority for its upgrade from 560 Watts to 12.5kW, changing to class C3. The station is switching to a directional antenna that increases coverage to the west but maintains the same signal strength towards the Des Moines area, where other stations operate on 88.1 and 88.7.
Iowa PBS flagship KDIN/11.1 (Des Moines) has formally applied to change its RF frequency to channel 34 after the FCC’s earlier approval to the table of allotments change.
Minnesota
The FCC approved Bridge News LLC’s purchase of WUMN-LD/21 (Minneapolis) from Media Vista Minneapolis.
Minnesota Public Radio informed the FCC that K215BL/90.9 (Alexandria) has left the air after being displaced from the frequency by new We Have This Hope Christian Radio station KSWJ/90.9 (Alexandria). MPR told listeners in an update on its station alerts page that the translator will be off air for an extended period. It had not yet applied for a facility change as Nov. 10.
Nebraska
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul has returned the license of K276DM/103.1 (Chadron). Though the filing does not list a reason for the surrender, an earlier filing stated that the licensee had “determined that the authorized site facilities presented safety concerns.” K276DM was one of seven translators Northwestern bought from International Church of the Foursquare Gospel last year.
The FCC approved an application from Nebraska Public Media’s K209FS/89.7 (Columbus) to move to a new tower site and change frequency to 88.1. It will remain 39 Watts. As previously reported here, the physical move is needed because the old tower was demolished and the frequency change is needed because a new station will soon sign on using an adjacent frequency.
Theatre Organ Preservation of Nebraska’s KEZL/89.7 (Culbertson-McCook) received a construction permit to upgrade from 15kW to 100kW.
The FCC approved a modification to Cedar Cove Broadcasting’s construction permit for KAVA/88.1 (Kimball) to change the frequency to 89.5, remaining 850 Watts with an antenna 3 meters below average terrain.
Wisconsin
The FCC granted another extension of special temporary authority for Milwaukee Media’s WIWN/68.1 (Fond du Lac) to use 34kW, rather than its licensed 9kW. WIWN transmits on VHF Low channel 5 from Milwaukee and has said that its licensed facility has trouble reaching viewers. WIWN’s application to move to VHF High channel 7 with 38kW remains pending.