PR Contact:
Haidee Calore
hcalore@spectrarep.com
703.802.2992

SpectraRep^® Joins Forces with DHS & the Association of Public Television Stations to Develop a National Capitol Region Digital Public Alert & Warning System.

SpectraRep to provide design, implementation and management support services for this datacasting pilot.

Chantilly, VA - October 21^st, 2004 - SpectraRep LLC (www.spectrarep.com), a leading provider of solutions for the broadcast delivery of IP video, rich media and data over digital television and satellite, announced today that it is working with the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) to manage the design and implementation of a pilot public alert and warning system in the National Capital Region.

The six-month pilot program - organized and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - will provide proof of performance for the use of public television stations' digital capabilities for a digitally-based alert and warning system.

The APTS-DHS pilot will demonstrate how datacasting can enhance the Emergency Alert System (EAS) as a public warning mechanism across the greater Washington DC National Capitol Region - distributing EAS warnings not only to televisions and radios, but to computers and other devices, via digital television and satellite signals.

SpectraRep will manage the pilot project's design and implementation involving multiple technology platforms and project partners. The project will involve local public broadcaster WETA, PBS and a number of telecommunications companies and broadcast stations around the region.

"We know that timely and accurate public warnings during emergencies can save lives, reduce property losses and speed economic recovery." said Edward Czarnecki, SpectraRep's Managing Director for Government Solutions. "This pilot will show how public television's datacasting capabilities can deliver alert and warning messages to a wider range of places and electronic devices than can be accomplished with the current emergency alert system."

The pilot will demonstrate how digital television datacasting can play a role with DHS in the national delivery of a Digitally-Based Alert and Warning message - and a delivery system to radios, TVs, personal computers and other consumer wireless devices. A key element of the pilot will be to demonstrate how digital public television stations' infrastructure can allow the President of the United States to communicate with the American public during a national crisis.

"The nation requires robust and reliable public warning capabilities." said John Lawson, APTS President and CEO. "The best practices developed during the pilot may serve as a common datacasting model for state and local emergency managers around the nation to adopt for local public warning systems. The project also demonstrates the ability of public television's new digital broadcasting capacity to provide a range of new services to the American public."

Datacasting is a combination of digital broadcasting and the Internet Protocol. Advanced data applications such as streaming media, caching, and multicasting, can be accomplished more reliably, efficiently and cost-effectively using datacasting. "Datacasting service uses digital television and satellite signals to beam information such as video and audio files to computers or portable data terminals," explains Czarnecki. "DTV data network solutions can distribute wireless broadband data to an unlimited number of receive locations."

About SpectraRep^® ...  SpectraRep LLC is a leading provider of solutions for the broadcast delivery of IP video, rich media and data over digital television and satellite. SpectraRep is working with broadcasters around the country to deploy wireless datacast broadband services and applications for all-hazards emergency notification, emergency management, first responder and education applications. For additional information, visit www.spectrarep.com. SpectraRep^® is a wholly owned subsidiary of BIA Financial Network (www.bia.com), a premier financial and management consulting firm serving the broadcasting, entertainment and telecommunications industries for over 20 years.

About APTS ...  The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1980 to support the continued growth and development of a strong and financially sound noncommercial television service for the American public. APTS provides advocacy for public television interests at the national level, as well as consistent leadership and information in marshaling support for its members: the nation's public television stations.

SpectraRep Corporate Contacts:

Edward Czarnecki

Managing Director

Government Solutions

eczarnecki@spectrarep.com
703.227.9690

Richard V. Ducey

President

rducey@spectrarep.com
703.227.9690

About SpectraRep^®... SpectraRep designs DTV-IPcasting solutions based on end-user needs for homeland security, public safety, government and education. SpectraRep® offers a full range of services for business and government, including:

• Wireless content delivery for distance education, public safety, training and other applications

• DTV datacasting systems planning and implementation.

• Outsourced project and program management.

SpectraRep® designs datacasting solutions based on particular customer needs for communication, education, homeland security and information distribution. For additional information, visit www.spectrarep.com. SpectraRep® is a wholly owned subsidiary of BIA Financial Network (www.bia.com), a premier financial and management consulting firm serving the broadcasting, entertainment and telecommunications industries for over 20 years.