QEI Corporation And USA Digital Radio Form Alliance.

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1999--

- Another Key Transmitter Manufacturer Joins IBOC DAB 

Implementation Team -

USA Digital Radio Inc., a privately-held digital radio technology company owned by the nation's largest radio broadcasters and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and QEI Corporation, a leading supplier of FM broadcast transmission equipment headquartered in Williamstown, New Jersey, announced that they have signed a joint technology and marketing agreement designed to further the implementation of digital radio.

QEI and USA Digital Radio will work together to develop, test, and promote the necessary In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) transmission equipment required for the radio broadcast industry.

Additionally, both companies will work together to define the IBOC DAB certification process for QEI transmission equipment and develop coordinating strategies required for the market launch of IBOC Technology and associated QEI product. QEI plans to integrate IBOC DAB into their Quantum Series Solid State Transmitters and their FMQ Single Tube Transmitter Series products.

"Working closely with QEI, a pioneer of solid-state FM transmitter designs, is important to help ensure an effective and efficient implementation of IBOC DAB to FM radio broadcasters," said Robert J. Struble, president and chief executive officer, USA Digital Radio, Inc. "USA Digital Radio and QEI are committed to providing a seamless digital radio transition process which will bring the great benefits of IBOC DAB to all broadcasters and their listeners."

Charles H. Haubrich, president and chief executive officer, QEI Corporation, stated, "We look forward to the technology and marketing alliance with USA Digital Radio. We believe that it will be a benefit to the industry merging our respective expertise in digital transmission technology."

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is a digital method of transmitting virtual CD quality audio signals to radio receivers. In-Band On-Channel Digital Audio Broadcasting (IBOC DAB) is a broadcasting technology that uses the current radio spectrum to transmit existing AM and FM analog simultaneously with new high-quality digital signals which eliminate multipath and noise, and reduce interference.

This technology provides a unique opportunity for broadcasters and listeners to convert from analog to digital radio without service disruption while maintaining current dial positions of existing stations. Broadcasters will use their current AM and FM frequency assignments to transmit simultaneous analog and digital high-quality audio, in addition to expanded auxiliary services.

Listeners who purchase digital radios will receive their favorite radio stations with superior sound quality free from multipath and noise, and with reduced interference. Additionally, listeners will have the capability to receive expanded auxiliary data services, such as station and program content, stock and news information, local traffic and weather, email and internet access, and more.

About QEI Corporation

QEI Corporation is a manufacturer of broadcast, scientific RF and digital products. As early as 1982 they pioneered solid-state FM transmitter design with the first commercial 1 kW solid-state FM transmitter. They continue to direct the industry in both low and high power FM systems.

In addition to meeting the needs of the broadcast community, QEI supplies many scientific RF applications, and were recently awarded a contract to supply Brookhaven National Lab with driver amplifiers for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). QEI remains one of a select group of manufacturers who still produce their RF amplifiers domestically.

About USA Digital Radio, Inc.

USA Digital Radio is developing and marketing In-Band On-Channel Digital Audio Broadcasting (IBOC DAB) technology for AM and FM radio. On October 7, 1998, the company filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the Federal Communications Commission for implementing Digital Audio Broadcasting in the United States using USA Digital Radio's IBOC technology.

Equity investors in USA Digital Radio include: ABC, Inc., New York, New York (NYSE:DIS); CBS Corporation, New York, New York (NYSE:CBS); Chancellor Media Corporation, Dallas, Texas (NASDAQ:AMFM); Chase Capital Partners, New York, New York; Citadel Communications Corporation, Las Vegas, Nevada (NASDAQ:CITC); Clear Channel Communications, San Antonio, Texas (NYSE:CCU); Cox Radio, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia (NYSE:CXR); Cumulus Media, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin (NASDAQ:CMLS); Emmis Communications, Indianapolis, Indiana (NASDAQ:EMMS); Entercom Communications Corporation, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania (NYSE:ETM); Gannett Company, Inc., Arlington, Virginia (NYSE:GCI); Heftel Broadcasting Corporation, Dallas, Texas(NASDAQ:HBCCA); Jacor Communications, Covington, Kentucky (NASDAQ:JCOR); Radio One, Inc., Lanham, Maryland; and Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (NASDAQ:SBGI).

USA Digital Radio's efforts include development agreements with several outside parties including Xetron Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio; Fraunhofer Institut fur Integriete Schaltungen (IIS), Erlangen, Germany; BittWare Research Systems, Concord, New Hampshire; Nautel Limited, Nova Scotia, Canada; and QEI Corporation, Williamstown, New Jersey.