This station received its original construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a new station licensed to serve Bellevue, Nebraska, at the 1180 kHz frequency on May 21, 1984. The new station was assigned the call letters KNPE by the FCC on August 15, 1984. On January 22, 1987, while still under construction the station applied for and was granted new callsign KKAR. After several extensions, two transfers, and a permit renewal, Mitchell Broadcasting Company finally received its license to cover for KKAR from the FCC on April 26, 1989.