The Republic Television and Radio Company (owner of the allocation's original occupant, ABC affiliate KTVQ, from November 1, 1953 until it was forced off the air by court order on December 15, 1955) donated the construction permit and license on July 25, 1958, while it was in the midst of protracted hearings regarding the predecessor station's bankruptcy. Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated the UHF channel 25 allotment in Oklahoma City for commercial broadcasting, the school district suggested operating it as a non-commercial educational independent station after obtaining the licence. The district asked that the television station use the KOKH call letters that were previously allocated to its public radio station on 88.9 FM (now KYLV).