Recent FCC Ruling Cause for Alarm Says Group

More than one million consumers in the United States may be impacted when cellular carriers are no longer required to provide Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) service -- the analog mobile phone system standard used today by most cellular alarm communicators  -- to more than 26 million alarm systems. Because of the potential impact to security systems that rely on AMPS technology, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) is urging consumers to contact their alarm company to ensure continued response to intrusion, fire and/or medical alert alarms.

Monitored alarm systems often use a primary and a secondary means to contact a central station for response. While land-line connections through the phone system are the primary means of communicating an alarm, it is estimated that more than one million systems rely on analog-based technology for the cellular backup in the event a land line is cut or not operating. AMPS is the analog mobile phone system standard used today by most cellular alarm communicators. Because of the cost and benefits of digital, the major telecommunications companies plan to go to all-digital service and phase out AMPS.

However, many consumers also rely on AMPS-based systems for the primary communications in the event of an emergency. According to a survey of NBFAA member companies, 92.5 percent of alarm providers use AMPS-based cellular alarm radios to serve at least some of their customers, and approximately 70 percent use analog radios to relay fire and/or intrusion alarms. A substantial number of alarm providers use AMPS radios to transmit medical alert signals as well.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established a sunset date of Feb. 18, 2008 for the requirement that cellular carriers provide AMPS service. This date is significant for any consumer with an alarm system that utilizes cellular communicators for relaying alarm signals, because after that date, carriers may terminate AMPS service. The result for consumers could be a lack of response to an intrusion, fire or medical alert alarm, according to a release from the NBFAA.

The FCC recently denied the alarm industry's attempt to extend the deadline to 2010. "We've been warning our member companies for some time to take action. Now with the certainty of the 2008 deadline, we are asking consumers to be proactive and make sure that their systems won't be affected," said NBFAA President George Gunning.