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WAMU 88.5 FM Partners with Traffic.com to Offer Improved Traffic Reports

March 20, 2006

Service will deliver customized traffic reports to listeners via phone and e-mail

Contact: Maralee Csellar, AU/WAMU Media Relations, 202-885-5952

WASHINGTON, DC (March 20, 2006) -- Traffic congestion in Washington, DC ranks among the worst in the nation. On March 1, WAMU 88.5 FM partnered with Traffic.com to provide improved traffic reports that help listeners get to their destinations more quickly and with less stress. A highlight of the new service is its ability to report specific speeds along certain roadways and to quantify the delay drivers are likely to experience. Also new to WAMU’s traffic reporting will be customized information and reports sent directly to individual commuters via phone and e-mail.

Traffic.com, Inc. a leading provider of accurate, real-time traffic information in the United States, delivers traffic content to clients and consumers on terrestrial and satellite radio, on broadcast and cable TV, through wireless applications and services, and via the Internet. The service uses a state-of-the art network of proprietary road sensors, fire and police radios, mobile vehicle road reporters, airborne traffic monitors, and more than 300 area cameras to provide up-to-the minute reports on area traffic problems, allowing for flexible, cross-platform delivery of comprehensive, consumer focused content.

"WAMU always strives to bring our listeners the most accurate and useful information," said General Manager Caryn Mathes. "This will benefit our listeners by minimizing their traffic woes and supplementing the station's on-air traffic product using this new technology."

WAMU's traffic reports with Traffic.com will be differentiated from reports on other stations in the market who share reporting services with each other. From its Operations Center in Silver Spring, MD, Traffic.com will provide WAMU with its own, exclusive traffic reporter during morning and afternoon drive times. This reporter will offer live reports and interact with morning and afternoon hosts, Bill Redlin and James White.

In addition to supplying the on-air content, Traffic.com provides WAMU listeners the ability to create customized traffic reports, delivered at specified times, based on their commute. To help users to quickly get an overview of important roadways, Traffic.com assigns a 'Jam Factor' congestion rating that is calculated based upon numerous criteria. Users will receive customized updates about their routes delivered by voice reports to a phone of their choosing (home, office or cell) or by e-mail to computers and portable devices. Users are able to choose to send reports to both phone and email or to only one device. All reports will include the customized message, "Here is your WAMU report on traffic conditions for your commute."

WAMU will soon fully integrate the service into the station's website. Maps and incident reports are available at wamu.org.

WAMU 88.5 FM, American University Radio, is the premiere source of in-depth local, national and world news, interactive talk shows and engaging music, local arts and cultural programs in the nation’s capital. The member-supported NPR™ affiliate station is a community service of American University, and can be heard in HD Radio, at 88.5 FM and online at wamu.org.

For more information contact Maralee Csellar, AU/WAMU Media Relations at 202-885-5950 or aumedia@american.edu.