KEPC 89.7 FM traces its roots to educational broadcasting in Colorado Springs going back to the 1950s.
The lineage began in 1957 as KSHS at Colorado Springs High School, later Palmer High School. In the early 1970s the station was acquired by El Paso Community College and became KEPC, with the call letters reflecting the college’s name. El Paso Community College later became Pikes Peak Community College and, in 2022, Pikes Peak State College.
KEPC moved through several campus locations as the college grew. In 1991 the station exchanged frequencies with Christian station KTLF: KEPC moved to 89.7 FM while KTLF moved to 90.5.
For decades KEPC served as a student-focused college radio outlet. In 2021, Pikes Peak Community College announced another major operational change: Colorado Public Radio would operate KEPC and use the signal for the Indie 102.3 adult-album-alternative service, while the college shifted its student broadcasting operation to KXRE 1490 AM and associated translators.
Paired / related stations: KEPC’s modern history is directly tied to KTLF through the 1991 frequency swap and to KXRE through the 2021 operating arrangement.
Sources: FCC station history; Pikes Peak State College; published KEPC history; Colorado Public Radio.
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KEPC-FM History
KSHS-FM begins broadcasting from Colorado Springs High School
KSHS(FM) began broadcasting at 90.5 MHz with 610 watts. Owned by Colorado Springs School District 11 and operated from Colorado Springs High School, later Palmer High School, the calls reflected the school's original name. This station lineage later became KEPC.
KSHS remains on 90.5 despite yearbook misidentification
School District 11's KSHS remained on 90.5 MHz. A 1960 Broadcasting Yearbook mistakenly labels the facility “KRDO (FM),” but its ownership, frequency, power and address match KSHS; other period allocation records and the later KEPC lineage confirm KSHS.
People Who Worked Here
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Photos, Video & Airchecks
Photo · 1991
Uncle Steve’s college report card
Uncle Steve's first report card from Pikes Peak Community College. His instructors included Kurt Grow and Jack Donahue.
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