KBPU (88.7 FM) and KTYC (88.5 FM) are radio stations in De Queen and Nashville, Arkansas. The two stations form a simulcast known as Ed 88 with a variety/classic hits format. The stations are owned and operated by Cossatot Community College, part of the University of Arkansas System, and maintain studios in De Queen and Nashville.
History The Federal Communications Commission issued a construction permit for KBPU to Educational Opportunities, Inc. on September 7, 1999, and issued it the KBPU call sign. On July 25, 2002, the permit was assigned to the American Family Association. The station received its license to cover on December 6, 2002. It aired a Christian format and was an affiliate of American Family Radio.
On January 30, 2004, KBPU was sold to IHR Educational Broadcasting."Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. December 14, 2003. Retrieved June 29, 2019. It was silent throughout much of 2005 and 2006.Application Search Details – BLSTA-20050708ACR, fcc.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2019.Application Search Details – BLESTA-20060111ABH, fcc.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2019. On May 2, 2006, the station was donated to Radio Assist Ministry/Edgewater Broadcasting."Silent Arkansas Noncomm Donated", All Access Music Group. March 23, 2006. Retrieved June 29, 2019. It aired a Christian format as an affiliate of Freedom Radio FM. On June 14, 2012, the station was sold to the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas for $67,500."Noncom FMs sold in Arkansas, Illinois", Radio & Television Business Report. March 27, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
In 2007, the University of Arkansas had applied for a construction permit for a station in Nashville, which the FCC approved on May 5, 2009. KTYC was granted program test authority in May 2012, initially broadcasting at 850 watts.
In January 2020, the Ed 88 stations entered into a consent decree with the FCC which saw the payment of a $76,000 penalty for broadcasting improper underwriting announcements that impermissibly promoted products or services in 2016.
See also Campus radio List of college radio stations in the United States
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