UTEP and El Paso Community Foundation to jointly manage KTEP radio

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the El Paso Community Foundation (EPCF) are moving toward a joint management agreement for the public radio station KTEP 88.5 FM. The University of Texas System Board of Regents has preliminarily approved the framework for a Public Service Operation Agreement (PSOA).

The initiative aims to ensure the station's sustainability following the loss of federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which previously provided grants for NPR licensing. Under the proposed agreement, the EPCF would manage staffing, programming, fundraising, and general operations. UTEP would retain responsibility for the broadcast tower, facilities, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license.

UTEP President Heather Wilson noted that the partnership seeks to maintain local public broadcasting services for the community. The arrangement also intends to preserve internship and work-study opportunities for UTEP students. The two organizations have maintained a collaborative relationship for approximately 50 years.