KTEP

"KVOF" redirects here. For the television station in San Francisco, California, that operated from 1968 to 1985, seeKVOF-TV.

KTEP

El Paso, Texas
Broadcast area	El Paso metropolitan area
Frequency	88.5MHz(HD Radio)
Branding	KTEP 88.5 FM
Programming
Format	Public Radio-News - Talk-Jazz-Classical
Affiliations	National Public Radio American Public Media Public Radio Exchange
Ownership
Owner	University of Texas at El Paso
History
First air date	September 14, 1950(1950-09-14)(originallycarrier current1946-1950)
Call signmeaning	Texas El Paso
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	69342
Class	C1
ERP	100,000watts
HAAT	223 meters (732 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	31°47′17.00″N106°28′46.00″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	ktep.org

KTEP(88.5FM) is anon-commercial,listener-supported,publicradio station,broadcasting from the Communication Department at theUniversity of Texas at El Paso.The studios and offices are in the Cotton Memorial Building on West University Avenue inEl Paso.

KTEP is aClass C1FM station. It has aneffective radiated power(ERP) of 100,000watts,the maximum for most FM stations.Thetransmitteris on theKVIA-TVtoweroff Scenic Drive in El Paso.The signal extends across parts ofTexas,New Mexicoand theMexicanstate ofChihuahua.

Programming

On weekdays, the station airs mostly news and informational programming in morning and afternoondrive time.It carries popular national shows fromNational Public Radioand other public radio networks. They includeMorning Edition,All Things ConsideredandFresh Air.FromKERA-FMinDallas,it airsThink.And it carriesTexas Standard,produced byKUT-FMAustin.In late mornings and overnights, KTEP featuresjazzmusic. On weekday early afternoons and evenings, it playsclassical music,includingPerformance Today.

On weekends, one-hour shows devoted to a variety of topics are heard, includingThe TED Radio Hour,Planet Money,Living on Earth,Snap Judgment,Travel with Rick Steves,Zorba Paster on Your Health,The Splendid TableandWait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.Musical weekend programs includeFrom The Top,Pipedreams,Classical Guitar Alive, Best of Gospel, Folk FuryandHearts of Space.

History

The station began in October 1946 as WTCM, acarrier currentstation based at what was then Texas College of Mines. It could only be heard on campus. In 1947, it changed itscall signto KVOF after finding out theWTCMcall letters were already being used by a station inTraverse City, Michigan.

In 1950, the college submitted aconstruction permitfor a fullFederal Communications Commission(FCC) FM license. Itsigned onthe air on September 14, 1950(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 (nowKDBC-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 acharter memberofNational Public Radio(NPR) and increased its broadcast day to 18 hours. The station instituted a 24-hour schedule in 1997.

In 1980, it moved itstransmitterto its current location onKVIA-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.

Notable alumni

• Sam Donaldson,later withABC News,served as station manager in 1954.

External links

• KTEP official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 69342 (KTEP)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• KTEPinNielsen Audio's FM station database