OUR STORY

KTCP 98.7 FM started as an idea against all odds, built on persistence, passion, and the belief that Bell County deserved its own voice.

In 2023, Joe and Sarah Royer purchased a tower intended for ham radio use, and when they picked it up, Jim Ellinger of Austin Airwaves informed them that it was, in fact, large enough to power a full radio station. Just four months later, the FCC unexpectedly opened a two-week filing window for new low-power FM licenses - the first time in over a decade that applications were accepted.

There was only one frequency left for Bell County, and we found ourselves legally competing with a group out of Chicago. It took nearly a year of research, technical revisions, documentation, and legal filings to move through the process. After a year of persistent updates to the FCC, the effort paid off -KTCP was officially approved.

From there, the vision became a shared one. The Royers met with city representatives, including the Mayor, City Manager, and City Councilwoman Dr. Zoe Grant, to find a home for the community station. The City of Temple stepped up with help from Dr. Grant, providing space at 1018 E Avenue A to host our community studio and broadcast tower.

In early 2025, JohnJohn Montelongo stepped in as a much-needed board member, helping us get the gears turning and energizing the project through incredible community outreach. He also introduced us to Judy Morales, who connected us with leaders across Bell County and helped refine and strengthen our vision as it evolved.

Working with this community has been nothing short of incredible - every step has revealed the power of collaboration and shared purpose. With the leadership of Renee Boulette and Charity Unite, our official launch began to take shape. Renee took point on organizing the KTCP Live & Local Launch Party, a celebration of everything this station stands for: connection, creativity, and community.

We were also honored to be included in Tanglefoot’s first annual concert, thanks to the team led by Leona Bishop and Devin Canales, who helped bring the spirit of live music to our community. Sierra from Echo Vision spent the weekend capturing footage to help tell our story, alongside JohnJohn Montelongo with Artists to Artists — all working together to make the moment unforgettable.

And when it came time to grow our volunteer team, Lamar Advertising stepped in with a free billboard to help spread the word - a powerful reminder of how deeply this community believes in local radio and what we’re building together.

With the dedication of our volunteers, board members, and neighbors, KTCP began streaming online 24/7 during the 2025 Thanksgiving weekend. Once the final federal approval is granted, we’ll take our place on the FM airwaves at 98.7, broadcasting throughout Bell County and beyond.

Until then, our home studio at 904 S. 5th Street remains the beating heart of our operations - built from community effort, powered by love, and sustained by belief in what local radio can do. Thanks to Matthew “Chewie” Walters, who has generously lent his engineering expertise to help advise and refine our systems, we continue building out a stronger, more connected studio - one that will soon be ready to welcome full community participation and live collaboration.

This station was built by the community, for the community, and serves over 500,000 people across Bell County. We couldn’t be prouder of how our neighbors have come together to bring local voices, real connections, and life-saving information back to the airwaves.

KTCP 98.7 FM - Informing. Inspiring. Uplifting. The Voice of Bell County.