[5] As of April 2012, the station was silent, but retained an active license under Special Temporary Authority by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Rushmore Broadcasting, filed for an extension of the special temporary authority in early 2015, due to staffing issues.
[6] In a letter dated May 12, 2017, the FCC ruled that the license of KAWK expired "on or about" October 22, 2009, under Section 312(g) of the Communications Act of 1934.
[9] In another letter dated February 23, 2018, the petition for reconsideration was denied, effectively cancelling the station's license.
The FCC also noted that the station's own actions, finances and business judgements were the reason for its cancellation.