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
Grinnell College’s KDIC/88.5 (Grinnell) may not be returning to the air after the all. KDIC went off the air in 2020; the FCC deleted it in July 2022 but then restored it three months later after the college filed a petition for reconsideration. Now, after its special temporary authority to remain silent expired, Grinnell College has submitted a cancellation application. The form did not include any attachment explaining the reason for the filing.
NRG Media’s KOKZ/105.7 (Waterloo-Cedar Rapids) reported that it has returned to full power of 100kW after making repairs to its transmission line and antenna.
Townsquare Media’s WJOD/103.3 (Asbury-Dubuque) has applied to move from its present tower site southeast of the city to the WDBQ/KLYV tower in the city. It would remain a Class C3 station, changing its facilities from 6.6kW/196m at its present site to 18kW/118m from the WDBQ site. WJOD would switch to a directional antenna to prevent interference to KNEI/103.5 (Waukon).
The FCC has approved Neil Lipetzy’s buyout of his partners in Community First Broadcasting, which owns 11 full-power radio stations in Iowa (see the original report for a complete list).
The FCC has approved a modification to the construction permit of future station KSHW/91.9 (Glidden) to change the planned frequency to 88.3 and adjust the facility from 600W/37m to 2kW/27m. The permit is held by Grace Baptist Church.
Des Moines-based St. Gabriel Communications was granted the callsigns KCLG for its future station on 88.7 in Odebolt and KCSL for its future station on 89.9 in Spencer.
Edge Spectrum’s K20KF-D (Davenport) submitted a request for further tolling, requesting that the deadline to return the station to the air be extended again to Aug. 1, 2024. The station’s latest filing says relations with a company hired to manage the construction process “became strained” earlier this year and that Edge has instructed its partner, ARK Multicasting, to consider other possible tower sites.
Minnesota
The FCC has granted a plan to move KMNF-LD/7 (Mankato) to channel 8 following the sign-on of new station KONC/7 (Alexandria-St. Cloud). As reported here last week, KMNF-LD will remain 3kW from its present tower site but will slightly reduce its antenna height.
After being bumped off 90.9 by a new station, Minnesota Public Radio’s K215BL (Alexandria) has applied to move to 89.7. It would remain 18 Watts.
Following its displacement from 88.1 by a new station on an adjacent frequency, CSN International’s K201IQ (Fergus Falls) has applied to move to 90.7. It would also increase power slightly from 190 to 200 Watts.
After reporting in September that it had gone off the air due to the loss of its site, Alpha Media’s K269EC/101.7 (Mankato) has applied to move its transmitter from Mankato to North Mankato. It would remain 250 Watts but switch to a different directional antenna. K269EC would continue to serve as a fill-in translator for KMKO-FM/95.7 (Lake Crystal).
Real Presence Radio’s KQAQ/970 (Austin) was granted special temporary authority to operate at reduced power of 3.5kW, rather than its licensed 5kW, due to a transmitter issue caused by suspected water damage.
The FCC has approved Neil Lipetzy’s buyout of his partners in Community First Broadcasting, which owns KKOJ/1190 and KUXX/105.7 (Jackson).
Edge Spectrum submitted a request for further tolling for K48KJ-D (Geneva), KHVM-LD (Minneapolis), KTCJ-LD (Minneapolis), K47JE-D (Olivia), and K43MH-D (Vesta), requesting that the deadline to return the stations to the air be extended again to Aug. 1, 2024. The stations’ latest filings says relations with a company hired to manage the construction process “became strained” earlier this year and that Edge has instructed its partner, ARK Multicasting, to consider other possible tower sites.
Nebraska
The FCC has canceled the license of low-power TV station KSXC-LD/26 (South Sioux City), which was owned by the Sioux City Conservatory of Music. In a letter, the FCC says its staff had phone and email correspondence with the licensee, which told staff that the station had been off the air since at least February 2020. The FCC says the station did not follow instructions to submit several required filings, including one which would have requested relief from the law that says stations automatically lose their license if they are off the air for more than a one year. The FCC found that the station’s license has automatically expired pursuant to federal law.
Edge Spectrum’s K49LK-D (North Platte) submitted a request for further tolling, requesting that the deadline for the station to return to the air be extended again to May 1, 2024. The station’s filing says the tower crew hired to do the antenna work had its safety certification expire, but that it has now been renewed.
My Bridge Radio’s KMBV/90.7 (Valentine) has applied to upgrade from 2.3kW/33m (class A) to 19kW/84m (class C3). The station was previously granted a construction permit to upgrade to 100kW/97m (class C1).
After being bumped off 90.1 by the sign-on of a new station, the Educational Media Foundation’s K211FN (Norfolk) has applied to move to 88.9, reducing power from 250 to 30 Watts.
University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K219LV/91.7 (Hemingford) applied to upgrade from 36 to 170 Watts, switching from its present highly-directional antenna to a non-directional pattern.
North Dakota
Edge Spectrum submitted a request for further tolling for K43JQ-D (Bismarck) and K42IM-D (Minot), requesting that the deadline to return the stations to the air be extended again to Aug. 1, 2024. The stations’ latest filings says relations with a company hired to manage the construction process “became strained” earlier this year and that Edge has instructed its partner, ARK Multicasting, to consider other possible tower sites.
South Dakota
University of Northwestern-St. Paul’s K294DL/106.7 (Hot Springs) has requested a waiver to switch the source of its programming to KSLS/90.7 (Dickinson, ND) via internet delivery. FCC rules normally require translators operating in the non-reserved portion of the band (92-108 MHz) to receive their programming over the air unless they are fill-in translators (i.e. translators within the primary station’s protected coverage area). K294DL is seeking a “non-commercial white area waiver” citing the fact that its coverage area is not served by any full-power non-commercial stations.
The FCC approved Christian Heritage Broadcasting’s purchase of KEEA/90.1 (Aberdeen) from the American Family Association.
The FCC has approved Neil Lipetzy’s buyout of his partners in Dakota Broadcasting, which owns KMOM/105.5 (Roscoe-Aberdeen) and KABD/107.7 (Ipswich-Aberdeen).
Wisconsin
The FCC approved a petition by the business entity of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to allot 92.9 to Lac du Flambeau for a future class A station (6kW/100m) as a tribal allotment. The FCC says it will open a filing window for the new allotment in the near future.
Civic Media’s WBZH/910 (Hayward) reported that it is operating at reduced power of 1.5kW daytime, rather than its licensed 5kW daytime, to avoid possible equipment damage while it investigates issues with its tower or associated tuning unit. The station requested special temporary authority to use the reduced power level since repairs are expected to take more than 30 days.
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.