Two established providers of broadcast emergency alert system (EAS) solutions announced that they would merge to create a one-stop shop with products to satisfy the EAS requirements of the full range of broadcast and government users. Under the terms of the merger, Digital Alert Systems (DAS) will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Monroe Electronics.
DAS’ flagship DASDEC platform is a CAP-compatible EAS encoder/decoder that affords the benefits of Internet and LAN-based communications while maintaining compatibility with current EAS protocol, thus bridging the gap between today's installed base and the emergency communications of tomorrow. Monroe offers sophisticated EAS solutions for the CATV and campus communications markets along with electrostatic measuring and cue tone switching devices.
The merger will enable DAS to focus on direct sales, marketing and customer service with Monroe handling manufacturing and development. In fact, the two companies already have an established track record of close cooperation, with Monroe having been the exclusive cable and IPTV marketing licensee for the DASDEC system. Monroe, meanwhile, gains an expanded EAS product portfolio that adds the radio-television broadcast and emergency operations center (EOC) markets to its potential customer base.
William E. Vosteen, president of Monroe Electronics, said the combined companies would leverage the expanded resources and new features for its EAS/CAP products.
Monroe Electronics began operations in 1954 designing and manufacturing specialized electrostatic discharge (ESD) instrumentation. In the 1960s the company pioneered the development of high-speed cue tone decoders to control a host of devices using a simple audio circuit. Working with HBO in the late 1970s, Monroe developed products for switching at unattended CATV headends that spawned the now $5 billion cable ad insertion business.
