Archives Closed Schools D-F: Educational Television Studios

Other Name: Kenneth F. Lam Educational Television Center; Educational Television Building; Lam Building

Last Address: 4309 Bishop Lane

Status   Closed - central office facility

Year Opened: 1970

Year Closed: 1976

The Jefferson County Public Schools constructed television studios for its instructional/educational television department in 1970 on Bishop Lane, adjacent to the Central Administration Office Building (later the VanHoose Education Center).  The JCPS Educational Television Building was renamed in honor of Kenneth F. Lam in July 1976.  Mr. Lam was head of the instructional/educational television department for many years.  Local noncommercial educational television began with Channel 15, WFPK in September 1958 with funding from the Ford Foundation.  The tower and transmitter were originally located at the main public library downtown but the programming was the responsibility of the county district (JCPS).  Programming was initially only during school hours but expanded into evening hours in 1964 with an affiliation with NET, National Educational Television, a forerunner of PBS (Public Broadcasting System).  In 1967 the station's license was transferred to JCPS and the call letters changed to WKPC.  The latter may have stood for Kentucky Public Communications.  The station lasted until the late 1990's when it was absorbed by Kentucky Educational Television (KET).