Austin, TX–Michael Braithwaite, chief technology officer of NetStreams, has been appointed by the CEA Distributed Audio Subdivision Board to co-chair a new committee designated to draft and approve a new packet-switched distributed audio wiring standard.
The new standard is part of CEAs on-going effort to further establish distributed audio as a major category of technology among homebuilders and buyers.
“I am confident that Michael will provide great leadership and insight toward creating an industry wiring standard that will promote healthy growth of existing and emerging audio distribution technologies, said Herman Cardenas, chief executive officer of NetStreams.
A major reason for the recent growth in structured wiring from 8.7 percent of new starts in 2002 to 12 percent in 2003 is TIA 570, the industry-consensus technical standard for structured wiring that distributes voice, data and video signals to multiple rooms in the house. Since its inception, TIA 570 has been widely embraced by manufacturers and builders because it recommends appropriate wiring grades for a variety of signal distribution needs.
CEA believes that a similar, market-enabling standard could be developed for distributed audio. To facilitate this effort, the Distributed Audio Subdivision Board of CEA has formed a new wiring subcommittee for the purpose of developing design standards for state-of-the-art distributed audio wiring in the home. The committee would define distributed audio to homebuilders and buyers and provide solid technical guidance for designers and integrators.
I am excited to be in the forefront of such an important project, Braithwaite said. A new standard will provide useful guidance on equipment placement, wiring installation and attachment techniques for system designers and installers. As more builders include distributed audio systems in new homes, the standard will give homeowners assurance that the systems are reliably installed.
