The following NBFAA press release was distributed Tuesday, Jan. 10
to trade media. Providing Communications and Government Relations
efforts
are just two of the ways that your NBFAA membership works for you.
NBFAA Urges Industry Involvement and Seeks Input to AMPS Survey
FCC to no longer require analog service
Irving, Texas, Jan.10, 2006 – The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) is conducting a survey of alarm dealers to gather information on the potential effect of an upcoming change to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirement that cellular carriers provide Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) service. Both NBFAA members and non-members are encouraged to participate in the survey.
The FCC has established a sunset date of Feb. 18, 2008, for the requirement that cellular carriers provide AMPS service. AMPS is the analog mobile phone system standard, introduced in the Americas during the early 1980s. Most existing cellular alarm communicators are AMPS-based systems.
NBFAA said this sunset date is significant to everyone and could have an adverse impact on the thousands of alarm customers that have analog cellular (800 MHz) communicators installed in their homes or businesses for the purpose of relaying alarm signals.
The NBFAA is working with the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) to ensure that the information gathered from industry surveys will aid the FCC in determining whether the February 2008 sunset date should be extended.
The NBFAA said it is working with the U.S. Congress, the federal government, AICC and others in the industry to negotiate with the cellular companies to voluntarily extend AMPS, but they also need input from the public arena.
“We are talking to the FCC in the hopes of getting an extension, and we are working to ensure that this issue is elevated in the court of public opinion, particularly among the public safety community,” NBFAA Executive Director Merlin Guilbeau said.
To aid with the appeal to extend the sunset date and to take the survey go to www.alarm.org and click on the “We want to hear from you” link.
The NBFAA would like to note that this AMPS transition does NOT affect non-cellular (private radio) devices used for alarm monitoring purposes. Thus, customer equipment operating in the 460 MHz (UHF) central station bands, pursuant to an FCC license, is not affected.
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