KTEP

Last updated

KTEP
Broadcast area El Paso metropolitan area
Frequency 88.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingKTEP 88.5 FM
Programming
Format Public radio, talk, Jazz and classical
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner University of Texas at El Paso
History
Founded1946 (1946)
First air date
September 14, 1950 (1950-09-14)
Call sign meaning
Texas El Paso
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 69342
Class C1
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 223 meters (732 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 31°47′17.00″N106°28′46.00″W / 31.7880556°N 106.4794444°W / 31.7880556; -106.4794444
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website ktep.org

KTEP (88.5 FM) is a non-commercial radio station licensed to El Paso, Texas, United States, serving the El Paso metropolitan area. A service of the Communication Department at the University of Texas at El Paso, it features a mixed format of news and information from NPR, jazz and classical music. The studios and offices are in the Cotton Memorial Building on West University Avenue in El Paso.

Contents

KTEP's transmitter is located on the KVIA-TV tower, off of Scenic Drive in El Paso. [1] The signal extends across parts of Texas, New Mexico and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

History

The station began in October 1946 as WTCM, a carrier current station based at what was then Texas College of Mines. It could only be heard on campus. In 1947, it changed its call sign to KVOF after finding out the WTCM call letters were already being used by a station in Traverse City, Michigan.

In 1950, the college submitted a construction permit for a full Federal Communications Commission (FCC) FM license. It signed on the air on September 14, 1950. The station began broadcasting educational programming aimed at elementary and high school students, as well as evening shows hosted by college students. Originally powered at 10 watts, in 1966 it moved to a taller tower. It began sharing space on a tower owned by television station KROD-TV (now KDBC-TV), boosting its coverage. In 1967, the station changed its call letters to KTEP, to coincide with the school's name change to The University of Texas at El Paso.

In 1971, KTEP became a charter member of National Public Radio (NPR) and increased its broadcast day to 18 hours. The station instituted a 24-hour schedule in 1997. [2]

In 1980, it moved its transmitter to its current location on KVIA-TV's tower, coupled with a boost in power to 100,000 watts. On July 11, 2021, KTEP's transmitter was knocked off-air by a thunderstorm.

Programming

KTEP features news and information programs in mornings and afternoons, largely from NPR and other public radio stations in Texas. Jazz is featured in late mornings and overnights; classical music airs in early afternoons and evenings. Specialty shows and music programming air on weekends.

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 "Facility Technical Data for KTEP". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. 1 2 "KTEP history". Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
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