About Us
KTAL-LP’s mission is to operate a public radio station that will entertain, inform, challenge, inspire and engage our listeners through an eclectic mix of musical, cultural, educational and community affairs programming and related activities.
The vision of Las Cruces Community Radio is for a truly local radio station that reflects the diversity of views, news, and talent in our community. Our goal is to have as much local programming as possible, including talk and call-in shows; public and community affairs; writers, and a wide range of voices and perspectives. The broadcast schedule aims to:
In November 2013, the Southwest Environmental Center applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a low-powered, FM, community radio station. The Southwest Environmental Center has an agreement with Las Cruces Community Radio to operate KTAL-LP.
The vision of Las Cruces Community Radio is for a truly local radio station that reflects the diversity of views, news, and talent in our community. Our goal is to have as much local programming as possible, including talk and call-in shows; public and community affairs; writers, and a wide range of voices and perspectives. The broadcast schedule aims to:
- Provide information, news and dialogue
- Address critical local concerns, such as education, the economy and the environment
- Profile local culture and diversity of talent
- Remember local history
- Recognize the rich natural beauty and resources of the region
- Highlight live programs and remote broadcasts
In November 2013, the Southwest Environmental Center applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a low-powered, FM, community radio station. The Southwest Environmental Center has an agreement with Las Cruces Community Radio to operate KTAL-LP.
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Board members include:
Why KTAL?
Click here to see why we choose these call letters.
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Legal Status
On November 14, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission issued the construction permit for a low-power FM, community radio station in Las Cruces. Las Cruces Community Radio is incorporated in the State of New Mexico and is classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
KTAL-LP's License from the FCC
KTAL-LP's Construction Permit from the FCC
KTAL-LP's License from the FCC
KTAL-LP's Construction Permit from the FCC
On January 26, 2021, the Southwest Environmental Center, licensee of KTAL-LP, 101.5 FM, Las Cruces, New Mexico, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to voluntarily transfer this license to Las Cruces Community Radio.
KTAL-LP's License Transfer Application
KTAL-LP's License Transfer Application
History of KTAL-LP
The story of community radio in Las Cruces begins with Kevin Bixby, Executive Director of The Southwest Environmental Center and current KTAL-LP board member. He wrote this account of how it all got started.
I received an email on 9/28/13 from Todd Urick, with a group called Common Frequency based in California that advocates for community radio. Todd informed me that the FCC would soon be accepting applications from nonprofit groups to launch low power FM community radio stations. The window to apply started in two weeks and lasted only two weeks. He urged SWEC to take advantage of the opportunity and offered to help with the application. After taking a minute to consider the offer, I sent the following email, and the die were cast:
Todd,
I'm game. How do I submit an application?
Kevin
Todd then walked me through the application process, with much back and forth of emails. Our application was submitted a day before the deadline, and accepted by the FCC. About a month later, I learned this momentous news from Todd:
The utmost community radio specialist now resides in Las Cruces, NM. CC'd to this email is Nan Rubin, Community/Public Radio genius. You should both chat; she can thoroughly tell you everything you need to do to put together a local radio station.
It turns out Nan had moved to Las Cruces the very month (October) that Todd and I were preparing the application for what is now KTAL. Talk about serendipity! From the moment Nan and I met, Nan became an indispensable partner in getting KTAL launched.
We learned we were competing with a religious group for the same frequency (101.5). We began looking at changing our proposed tower location or frequency to resolve the conflict. However, the religious group's application was dismissed on May 29, 2014 for failure to provide proof of nonprofit status. We began negotiations with Adams Radio about putting KTAL's transmitter on their Picacho Tower and signed a lease for tower space in November. On November 14, 2014, we were issued a construction permit by the FCC for our new community radio station, starting the clock ticking. We had 18 months to get on the air. (We later were granted an extension of time to give the Mexican government time to review our application since we were within a certain distance of the border.)
In January, 2014 a board was formed and the process of incorporating as a New Mexico nonprofit to operate the station was initiated.
We still didn't have call letters. After many suggestions by the public, much research and many deadends looking for available call letters, Kevin discovered that KTAL was in use by a classic rock station in Shreveport, Louisiana. He reached out to the owners, and received permission to use the same call letters for our new station in July, 2015. KTAL was born!
The board spent the next two years preparing to go on the air. After countless hours of work, discussion (often heated) and gnashing of teeth, KTAL-LP went live on July 26, 2017. The FCC granted KTAL-LP a license to operate on November 21, 2017.
On January 26, 2021, the Southwest Environmental Center, licensee of KTAL-LP, 101.5 FM, Las Cruces, New Mexico, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to voluntarily transfer this license to Las Cruces Community Radio. Members of the public wishing to view this application or obtain information about how to file comments and petitions can visit www.fcc.gov/stationsearch, and search in the list of KTAL-LP’S filed applications. You may also ask us for more information.
Todd,
I'm game. How do I submit an application?
Kevin
Todd then walked me through the application process, with much back and forth of emails. Our application was submitted a day before the deadline, and accepted by the FCC. About a month later, I learned this momentous news from Todd:
The utmost community radio specialist now resides in Las Cruces, NM. CC'd to this email is Nan Rubin, Community/Public Radio genius. You should both chat; she can thoroughly tell you everything you need to do to put together a local radio station.
It turns out Nan had moved to Las Cruces the very month (October) that Todd and I were preparing the application for what is now KTAL. Talk about serendipity! From the moment Nan and I met, Nan became an indispensable partner in getting KTAL launched.
We learned we were competing with a religious group for the same frequency (101.5). We began looking at changing our proposed tower location or frequency to resolve the conflict. However, the religious group's application was dismissed on May 29, 2014 for failure to provide proof of nonprofit status. We began negotiations with Adams Radio about putting KTAL's transmitter on their Picacho Tower and signed a lease for tower space in November. On November 14, 2014, we were issued a construction permit by the FCC for our new community radio station, starting the clock ticking. We had 18 months to get on the air. (We later were granted an extension of time to give the Mexican government time to review our application since we were within a certain distance of the border.)
In January, 2014 a board was formed and the process of incorporating as a New Mexico nonprofit to operate the station was initiated.
We still didn't have call letters. After many suggestions by the public, much research and many deadends looking for available call letters, Kevin discovered that KTAL was in use by a classic rock station in Shreveport, Louisiana. He reached out to the owners, and received permission to use the same call letters for our new station in July, 2015. KTAL was born!
The board spent the next two years preparing to go on the air. After countless hours of work, discussion (often heated) and gnashing of teeth, KTAL-LP went live on July 26, 2017. The FCC granted KTAL-LP a license to operate on November 21, 2017.
On January 26, 2021, the Southwest Environmental Center, licensee of KTAL-LP, 101.5 FM, Las Cruces, New Mexico, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to voluntarily transfer this license to Las Cruces Community Radio. Members of the public wishing to view this application or obtain information about how to file comments and petitions can visit www.fcc.gov/stationsearch, and search in the list of KTAL-LP’S filed applications. You may also ask us for more information.