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KQCL (95.9 FM, “Classic Rock Power 96”) is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock music format.[2] Licensed to Faribault, Minnesota, United States, the station is currently owned by Townsquare Media.[3]

History

The station began as KDHL-FM. In May 1967, the Federal Communications Commission granted KDHL Broadcasting Co. of Faribault the KDHL-FM call sign for a new FM station.[4] Before the station was fully licensed, the Broadcast Bureau granted a modification of construction permit in February 1968 to change the transmitter type, antenna type, and antenna height to 280 feet.[5] The Broadcast Bureau granted a license covering KDHL-FM as a new station on July 10, 1968.[6] That same year, KDHL-FM also received authorization for a 67 kHz SCA subcarrier.[7]

As KDHL-FM, the station was associated with the KDHL operation in Faribault. The 1983 FM Atlas listed KDHL-FM on 95.9 MHz in Faribault with a country format.[8] The station made several facility-related filings during the late 1970s and mid-1980s. In 1977, KDHL-FM sought a construction permit to change its city of license to Faribault-Northfield, relocate the transmitter, change antenna type, and increase antenna height.[9] In 1985, the station sought modifications involving transmitter location, 3 kW ERP, 328-foot HAAT, and antenna-system changes.[10][11] One such application was returned by the FCC in February 1986.[12]

The KDHL-FM call sign was changed to KOFN in 1987; Radio & Records reported the KDHL-FM-to-KOFN call-letter change with a September 1 date.[13] As KOFN, the station filed in 1988 to make facility changes with an 810-watt, 173-meter HAAT operation from a site south of Faribault.[14][15]

In late 1988, the station received the KQCL call sign. Broadcasting listed KQCL among existing-FM call-letter grants in its November 7, 1988 issue, with KOFN, Radio Ingstad Minnesota Inc., Faribault, Minnesota, identified in the same call-letter listing.[16] Popular Communications later listed KQCL, Faribault, on 95.9 MHz as having previously been KOFN.[17] By 1989, FMedia! reported KQCL as “Power 96”, noting that the station had warmed up from its previous “Cool 96” identity.[18]

During the early 1990s, KQCL was appearing in national music-trade reporting. In April 1991, The Gavin Report listed KQCL in Faribault among stations reporting activity on Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis”; music director Grover Collins was quoted as saying the song was doing well with adults 25-plus.[19]

In 1998, The M Street Journal reported that Form 314 transfer applications had been filed from Radio Iowa Broadcasting, Inc. to Cumulus Licensing Corp. for several Minnesota stations, including KDHL and KQCL in Faribault.[20] A 2000 M Street Journal item later referred to KDHL and KQCL as stations Cumulus had previously bought from Jim Ingstad.[21]

KQCL remained part of the Cumulus group into the early 2010s. In 2011, the FCC’s order approving the Cumulus-Citadel transfer of control listed KQCL(FM), Faribault, Minnesota, Facility ID 54628, among the affected Cumulus stations.[22] In August 2013, Townsquare Media announced a multi-market transaction with Cumulus Media and Peak II Holding LLC; the company said it would acquire 53 Cumulus stations in 12 markets, including the Faribault-Owatonna market.[23] Northpine reported that the Faribault-Owatonna stations going to Townsquare included KDHL, KRFO, KQCL, and KRFO-FM.[24] Jones Day, which represented Cumulus, described the transaction as a $238 million sale of 53 radio stations in 12 small and mid-sized markets to Townsquare Media, plus a station swap involving Fresno, California.[25]

In 2021, KQCL upgraded from 3 kW to 6 kW. Northpine reported that Townsquare Media’s KQCL/95.9 in Faribault and Lakes Broadcasting’s WLKX/95.9 in Forest Lake had received construction permits to upgrade from 3 kW to 6 kW, the maximum for their Class A licenses, and later reported that both upgrades had been completed.[26][27] FCCInfo lists KQCL as a licensed Class A facility on 95.9 MHz with 6 kW ERP, 100 meters HAAT, and Facility ID 54628.[28]

KQCL continues to operate as “Power 96” with a classic rock format. The station’s official website identifies Power 96 as a Townsquare Media station playing classic rock for Faribault-Owatonna, Minnesota, and the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce lists Power96 KQCL among Townsquare’s local radio brands with a classic rock format.[29][30]

References

  1. ^ “Facility Technical Data for KQCL”. Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ “Station Information Profile”. Arbitron. Summer 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  3. ^ “KQCL Facility Record”. United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  4. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. May 15, 1967. p. 82 – via World Radio History.
  5. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. March 4, 1968. p. 76 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. July 22, 1968. p. 61 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. April 29, 1968. p. 65 – via World Radio History.
  8. ^ FM Atlas (PDF). 1983. p. 81 – via World Radio History.
  9. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. February 21, 1977. p. 82 – via World Radio History.
  10. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. February 25, 1985. p. 79 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. November 11, 1985. p. 94 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. March 3, 1986. p. 89 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ “Call Letters” (PDF). Radio & Records. September 11, 1987 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ “Facilities/Parameters: Applications” (PDF). The M Street Journal. August 1988. p. 32 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ “For the Record” (PDF). Broadcasting. September 5, 1988. p. 67 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ “Call Letters” (PDF). Broadcasting. November 7, 1988. p. 67 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ “Call Letter Changes” (PDF). Popular Communications. May 1989. p. 58 – via World Radio History.
  18. ^ “FMedia!” (PDF). FMedia!. 1989. p. 26 – via World Radio History.
  19. ^ “Top 40” (PDF). The Gavin Report. April 12, 1991. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
  20. ^ “Proposed Station Transfers” (PDF). The M Street Journal. March 18, 1998. p. 8 – via World Radio History.
  21. ^ “Station Sales” (PDF). The M Street Journal. January 2000. p. 41 – via World Radio History.
  22. ^ Memorandum Opinion and Order, DA 11-1546 (PDF) (Report). Federal Communications Commission. September 16, 2011. p. 22.
  23. ^ “Townsquare Media Acquiring Assets from Cumulus and Peak”. Townsquare Media. August 30, 2013.
  24. ^ “Broadcasting News-August 2013”. NorthPine. August 30, 2013.
  25. ^ “Cumulus Media sells 53 radio stations in 12 U.S. cities to Townsquare Media for $238 million”. Jones Day. November 2013.
  26. ^ “FCC Monitor: FM Upgrades Near Twin Cities Approved”. NorthPine. January 31, 2021.
  27. ^ “Stations On Edge of Twin Cities Metro Complete Upgrades”. NorthPine. August 3, 2021.
  28. ^ “FCCInfo Facility Search Results: Faribault, MN”. FCCInfo. Capitol Airspace Group. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  29. ^ “Power 96 – The Classic Rock Station”. Power 96. Townsquare Media. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  30. ^ “KDHL 920 AM Power 96 Radio-Faribault”. Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. Retrieved May 16, 2026.