LYNDONVILLE, N.Y.—Digital Alert Systems and Monroe Electronics have upgraded the operating system for the Digital Alert Systems DASDEC-II and Monroe One-Net SE emergency alert systems.

Version 4.0 software for the systems is a complete operating system upgrade–with a cybersecurity update and numerous security patches—and software-update management tools. It provides support for new Blue Alert (BLU) Emergency Alert System (EAS) code as well as Triggered Common Alert Protocol (CAP) Polling, which presents more complete alert information to the public, the company said.

With Triggered CAP Polling, the system immediately begins looking for a matching CAP message for every over-the-air EAS event. If one exists, the CAP message is used rather than the EAS alert to ensure better message propagation, it said.

The latest version also supports HALO, the Digital Alert Systems and Monroe Electronics enterprise-level EAS management system.

The release, which provides a new mechanism for faster security updates, includes a new log-in screen designed to prevent hackers from finding devices attached to the internet with no firewall protection, the company said.

Older products, such as DASDEC-I and the original One-Net, cannot be upgraded. An upgrade/exchange program is available for those users, it said.

Customers who have purchased a unit or upgrade since March will receive Version 4.0 at no charge. For Version 3 users, the upgrade costs $495. Those using versions earlier than Version 3.0 will need to upgrade their devices before installing Version 4, the company said.

More information is available on the Digital Alert Systems and Monroe Electronics websites.

WASHINGTON—The FCC wants to protect the men and women who serve in law enforcement and have therefore proposed the addition of a “Blue Alert” option to the nation’s Emergency Alert System. Blue Alert would be used by states to notify the public through television and radio of threats to law enforcement and to help apprehend dangerous suspects.

Situations that might be covered by these Blue Alerts include when there is actionable information related to a law enforcement officer who is missing, injured or killed in the line of duty, or when there is an imminent credible threat to an officer. The warnings would potentially warn the public of the presence of a violent suspect and provide instructions on what to do if the suspect is spotted.

The FCC issued the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Thursday and if enacted would amend the FCC’s EAS rule by creating a dedicated Blue Alert event code for state and local agencies to send out through broadcast, cable, satellite and wireline video providers.

Some states currently have similar type programs, but the goal of the FCC is to support the development of a national framework that can be adopted by all states.

The FCC said in its press release that it invites public comment on the proposal.