What is "ktep"

KTEP (88.5 FM) is a non-commercial radio station broadcasting a National Public Radio format from the Communication Department at the University of Texas at El Paso in the United States. The station plays a mixture of NPR, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and locally originated programming. Jazz forms an extensive part of the local programming, along with folk music, blues and new-age music, and public affairs programs.

The station began in October 1946 as WTCM, a carrier current station based at what was then Texas College of Mines. In 1947, it changed its calls to KVOF after finding out the WTCM call letters were already being used by a station in Traverse City, Michigan. In 1950, it applied for and won a full license. The station began broadcasting educational programming aimed at elementary school students as well. Originally broadcasting at 10 watts, in 1966 it moved to space on KROD-TV (now KDBC-TV)'s tower, boosting its coverage area to every zip code in El Paso. In 1967, the station moved to its current call letters of KTEP along with the university name change to The University of Texas at El Paso.

In 1971, the station became a charter member of National Public Radio and increased its broadcast day to 18 hours and to 24 hours in 1997. In 1980, it moved its tower to its current location on KVIA-TV's tower.