Congress Needs to Hear About VoIP Concerns
Action Needed Immediately

ISSUE:

Currently burglar and fire alarm signals are transmitted from the home or business to a central monitoring station over telephone lines. In many cases Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems will become a substitute for the current landline systems. When a VoIP (broadband) phone system is improperly installed, by either a consumer or a VoIP provider, there is a significant risk that existing alarm panels will be bypassed and no longer be able to send a signal to the alarm monitoring station.

Unless the consumer is notified and the system is properly tested he/she will be unaware that they no longer have alarm monitoring services for the protection of life and property. While some alarm consumers may learn their system is no longer operable when an automatic test is run on their system, millions of Americans who have older systems which can not be automatically tested will only learn that they no longer have alarm services during an emergency. To make matters worse, seniors with health alert systems will not be aware that they have lost their health lifeline. This is a problem which can easily be remedied if the consumer is notified in advance of VoIP installation and his/her system is then tested.

BACKGROUND:

On Wednesday, April 5, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications marked up legislation that is the first step in the rewriting of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. NBFAA’s position on this bill is that Congress should enact a provision requiring that before a VoIP system is activated, the customer is notified that the system needs to be tested.

The NBFAA is working with the Alarm Industry Communication Committee (AICC) that includes the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) to support Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) who is leading efforts to get the alarm industry's concerns on VoIP included in this bill. Rep. Stearns raised our proposed language to the Subcommittee emphasizing that consumers have paid substantial amounts to protect their homes and families with alarm systems and that it was not unreasonable to require VoIP providers to tell customers that by choosing VoIP they might disconnect their alarm system and should get it checked.

The congressman’s amendment had broad support from other members of the Subcommittee, but the Chairman, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) still had some concerns about the language. Chairman Upton stated that he wanted to include the amendment as part of the bill when it was taken up at full Committee and pledged to work with Reps. Cliff Stearns on language that would make the VoIP alarm monitoring consumer notification provision part of the bill.

The current language being proposed is noted below.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

The full House Energy and Commerce Committee plans on taking up the Bill marked-up by the Subcommittee after their Easter recess, which is from April 10th – April 25th.

ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY - KEY TALKING POINTS:

We need your help to make sure that our concerns are included in the Bill.

1. Contact your Congressperson on the House Energy and Commerce Committee (Go to Energy and Commerce Congressional Contacts for a complete list) during the Congressional Easter recess (April 10 – 24). Ask them to support Rep. Cliff Stearns’ (R-FL) amendment to the House Telecommunications Bill requiring that before a VoIP system is activated, the customer is notified that the system needs to be tested and that they should consider installation of a battery backup.
2. Below is a list of key Committee members we urge you to make a special effort to contact. If you do business in any of the states below, please contact the following Members of Congress. The stars indicate the most critical members.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our Director of Government Relations John Chwat at (703) 684-7703. Additional information on VoIP is available in the Government Relations section of the Information Center at www.alarm.org.

PROPOSED LANGUAGE TO BE INCLUDED IN TELECOMMMUNICATIONS BILL (as of April 19, 2006)

On page 29, after line 16, insert the following (and make such technical and conforming changes as may be necessary):

“(f) EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS. –

“(1) NOTICE PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OR NUMBER ACTIVATION OF VOIP SERVICE. – Prior to installation or number activation of VOIP service for a customer, a VOIP service provider shall provide clear and conspicuous notice to the customer that to ensure proper functioning of an emergency response system –

“(A) that such system must be tested after installation;

“(B) that such customer’s emergency response system provider must be notified after VOIP service is installed; and

“(C) that a 24-hour battery backup is required for customer premises equipment installed in connection with the VOIP service in order for the signaling of such system to function in the event of a power outage.

“(2) DEFINITION. – For purposes of this subsection:

“(A) The term ‘emergency response system’ means an alarm or security system, or personal security or medical monitoring system, that is connected to an emergency response center by means of a telecommunications carrier or VOIP service provider.

“(B) The term ‘emergency response center’ means an entity that monitors transmissions from an emergency response system.”