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,[3] and maintain studios in De Queen and Nashville.
The Federal Communications Commission issued a construction permit for KBPU to Educational Opportunities, Inc. on September 7, 1999,[4] and issued it the KBPU call sign.[5] On July 25, 2002, the permit was assigned to the American Family Association.[6] The station received its license to cover on December 6, 2002.[7] It aired a Christian format and was an affiliate of American Family Radio.[8]
On January 30, 2004, KBPU was sold to IHR Educational Broadcasting.[9][10] It was silent throughout much of 2005 and 2006.[11][12] On May 2, 2006, the station was donated to Radio Assist Ministry/Edgewater Broadcasting.[13][14] It aired a Christian format as an affiliate of Freedom Radio FM.[15][16] On June 14, 2012, the station was sold to the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas for $67,500.[17]
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.[18]
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.[19]