Steve Davis is the general manager of WCTS(AM). Steve Moravec is president of the Saint Paul based-Phoenix Media Group and is a consultant for WCTS.
For generations, 1030 WCTS(AM), operated by Central Baptist Theological Seminary, has been a steadfast voice of faith across Minnesota’s Twin Cities. While their powerful 50kW AM signal has served the community well since 1992, they recognized the changing landscape of radio listening habits called for a return to the FM band.
The beginning: A local signal returns
In October 2019, after much planning and preparation, WCTS celebrated a significant milestone when their FM translator K250BY(FM) began service on 97.9 MHz. Broadcasting from the church steeple at Fourth Baptist Church, this modest west metro signal brought WCTS back to FM, providing coverage to their campus and the northwestern metro area.
While this was a celebration-worthy accomplishment, they recognized that the signal from suburban Plymouth couldn’t begin to reach the greater Twin Cities community they had once served with their original Class C facility decades ago.
The question became: How could they maximize their impact within the technical constraints they faced from FCC rules?
A vision for greater impact
Early in 2021 after numerous dead-ends, Steve Moravec, president of Saint Paul based-Phoenix Media Group — WCTS’ long-time general consultant — identified an opportunity. He noticed that KQEP, an LPFM broadcasting in the east metro and also on 97.9 MHz — which WCTS had been protecting — seemed to be inactive and perhaps unlikely to apply for its upcoming license renewal. He took his hunch to Dr. Steve Davis, WCTS’ veteran general manager, who was highly receptive.
With this development, “Steve & Steve,” as they came to be known by the project’s leadership team, envisioned a bold next step. On April 1, 2021 WCTS filed for a minor modification to its FM translator station with the FCC. The proposal was ambitious yet technically sound: relocate the transmitting facilities to the top of the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis – at 792 feet high, arguably the tallest building in Minnesota.
This strategic location would dramatically increase K250BY’s coverage — and potential listenership. From this height, the signal could reach communities across the metro area that had been without WCTS’ FM voice for nearly three decades. In raw numbers, their translator station’s population count would dramatically increase from approximately 55,000 potential listeners to a whopping 1.430 million.
The unexpected challenge
What seemed like a straightforward technical modification quickly became complicated. WCTS discovered that just one day before their filing, Park Public Radio had submitted an application for an adjacent frequency to upgrade 97.5 KPPS(LP) in the same coverage area — a situation not permitted under FCC rules due to potential interference.
Thus began a lengthy regulatory process few could have anticipated. On July 5, 2022, after more than a year of technical reviews, the FCC’s Media Bureau issued a letter decision granting Central’s application and denying Park’s application, which was a positive step forward for their expansion efforts.
However, the journey was far from over. In August 2022, Park filed a petition for reconsideration with the commission, beginning yet another round of regulatory review. By February 2023, the FCC issued a second decision denying Park’s petition, seemingly clearing the way for the project to proceed.
Persistence through process
The legal and regulatory challenges continued when Park filed an application for review in March 2023, further extending the timeline of the project. For the next year and a half, the WCTS leadership team patiently navigated the complex FCC process while continuing to serve listeners through their existing AM and limited FM signals.
Last August, nearly three and a half years after the initial filing, the FCC issued a memorandum opinion and order that rescinded the original grant of the WCTS modification application. While disappointing, this wasn’t the end of the story. The order permitted Park to correct deficiencies in their application, opening the door for potential resolution.
Divine timing and resolution
After years of patience and prayer, a breakthrough came later in August. Central reached a settlement agreement with Park, finding a solution that would allow both stations to serve their communities without interference. On Sept. 4, WCTS received the grant of their application for the K250BY minor modification.
It was the green light they had been waiting for!
With the construction permit in hand, their engineering contractors worked diligently through the fall and early winter to prepare for the installation. By Jan. 15, construction of the expanded K250BY broadcast facility on the downtown IDS Center was complete — perfectly timed as they prepared to celebrate WCTS’ 60th Anniversary year.
On Jan. 27, Central received the FM translator license for 97.9 K250BY Minneapolis. While still broadcasting with 250 watts — the maximum allowed — their signal now reaches across the metropolitan area from the most prominent location on the Minneapolis skyline. WCTS is resoundingly pleased with the upgraded signal.
Expanding to serve: The legacy continues
This expansion of the FM signal coinciding with their 60th anniversary is more than coincidence — it’s a reminder of their ongoing mission to bring God’s Word to the community through broadcasting. From humble beginnings on FM in 1965, through the transition to AM in 1992, to the return to broader FM coverage in 2025, WCTS continues to adapt while remaining faithful to their founding purpose.
As WCTS celebrates 60 years of radio ministry with the anniversary theme “expanding to serve.” The FM translator expansion project stands as a symbol of their commitment to reach new generations of listeners with the unchanging Gospel message that has defined WCTS since its first broadcast on June 26, 1965.
On June 25, K250BY will be dedicated to the station’s continuing ministry as envisioned by Dr. Richard Vernon Clearwaters, the visionary founder of WCTS Radio and Central Seminary, and long-time pastor of the related Fourth Baptist Church.
As the signal now radiates from the heart of the Twin Cities, WCTS remains committed to being a voice of hope and faith for another 60 years!
