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Security Industry Issues Call to Action to Stop HR3630
Dealers are asked to call Senators to stop bill, which is labeled as a "grave threat to the alarm industry," that allows unverified alarm signals to go directly to 9-1-1.
The Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) is asking all alarm professionals to call or email their Senators within the next 36 hours to encourage the Senate to modify the House Payroll Tax Bill (H.R. 3630) and prohibit the funding of unverified alarm signals that go directly into 9-1-1 centers.
The House of Representatives has included in its so-called Payroll Tax Bill (H.R. 3630) a provision that would encourage the FCC to allow 9-1-1 centers to directly receive unverified alarm signals for emergencies.
"This presents a grave threat to the alarm industry," according to AICC. "Sending automatic unverified signals, as well as unverified signals from Personnel Emergency Response Systems (PERS), would overwhelm 9-1-1 centers with calls that do not require the dispatch of public safety responders."
The House passed the Payroll Tax Forgiveness Bill, which includes an extension of unemployment insurance and the “Doc Fix” – a cost-of-living update.
The Senate will take up H.R. 3630 in the next 48-72 hours. The payroll tax, unemployment insurance and Doc Fix have high priority in the Senate, as they are considered to be must-pass legislation.
"It is critical, therefore, that alarm professionals call or email their senators within the next 36 hours and urge them to change the provision that would allow automatic, unverified alarm signals to go directly to 9-1-1 centers," says Lou Fiore, chairman of the AICC.
The message to senators is as follows:
“As a provider of monitoring services in your state for burglar, fire and Personnel Emergency Response Systems, I am concerned that the Next Generation 9-1-1 portion of H.R. 3630 would encourage the FCC to allow automatic unverified alarm signals, as well as unverified signals from Personnel Emergency Response Systems’ used by seniors, to go directly into 9-1-1 centers.”
“As an industry, we receive more than 100 million alarm signals a year, of which more than 95% do not require the dispatch of emergency services. Allowing unverified alarm signals to go into 9-1-1 centers would cripple the emergency response system. Please tell the Senate leadership NOT to allow unverified alarm signals to go directly into 9-1-1 centers.”
AICC has identified these key Senate legislative assistants. Dealers can also call 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to their Senator.
The House of Representatives has included in its so-called Payroll Tax Bill (H.R. 3630) a provision that would encourage the FCC to allow 9-1-1 centers to directly receive unverified alarm signals for emergencies.
"This presents a grave threat to the alarm industry," according to AICC. "Sending automatic unverified signals, as well as unverified signals from Personnel Emergency Response Systems (PERS), would overwhelm 9-1-1 centers with calls that do not require the dispatch of public safety responders."
The House passed the Payroll Tax Forgiveness Bill, which includes an extension of unemployment insurance and the “Doc Fix” – a cost-of-living update.
The Senate will take up H.R. 3630 in the next 48-72 hours. The payroll tax, unemployment insurance and Doc Fix have high priority in the Senate, as they are considered to be must-pass legislation.
"It is critical, therefore, that alarm professionals call or email their senators within the next 36 hours and urge them to change the provision that would allow automatic, unverified alarm signals to go directly to 9-1-1 centers," says Lou Fiore, chairman of the AICC.
The message to senators is as follows:
“As a provider of monitoring services in your state for burglar, fire and Personnel Emergency Response Systems, I am concerned that the Next Generation 9-1-1 portion of H.R. 3630 would encourage the FCC to allow automatic unverified alarm signals, as well as unverified signals from Personnel Emergency Response Systems’ used by seniors, to go directly into 9-1-1 centers.”
“As an industry, we receive more than 100 million alarm signals a year, of which more than 95% do not require the dispatch of emergency services. Allowing unverified alarm signals to go into 9-1-1 centers would cripple the emergency response system. Please tell the Senate leadership NOT to allow unverified alarm signals to go directly into 9-1-1 centers.”
AICC has identified these key Senate legislative assistants. Dealers can also call 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to their Senator.
- Hap Rigby – Senator Demint - 202-224-1251 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Matthew Hussey – Senator Snowe - 202-224-5344 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Derrick Brent – Senator Boxer - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Neeta Bidwai – Senator Warner – 202-224-2023 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- David Quinalty – Senator Hutchison – 202-224-0411 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Margaret McCarthy – Senator Klobuchar – 202-224-3244 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Darren Achord – Senator Rubio – 202-224-3041 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Andria Winters & Nicole Barrett– Sen. Kirk – 202-224-2854 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Mark Smith – Senator Cantwell – 202-224-3441 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Anthony Ching – Senator Inouye – 202-224-3934 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Greg Buzzard – Senator Rockefeller – 202-224-6472 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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About the Author
Jason has covered low-voltage electronics as an editor since 1990. He joined EH Publishing in 2000, and before that served as publisher and editor of Security Sales, a leading magazine for the security industry. He served as chairman of the Security Industry Association’s Education Committee from 2000-2004 and sat on the board of that association from 1998-2002. He is also a former board member of the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation. He is currently a member of the CEDIA Education Action Team for Electronic Systems Business. Jason graduated from the University of Southern California.
5 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
It seems the “grave threat” to the alarm industry is the loss of revenue this bill would pave the way for. No longer would a consumer have to pay ridiculous monthly fees to alarm companies to ‘monitor’ their alarms. The signal (intruder, fire, etc..) would be sent directly to the 9-1-1 switch board versus a middle man (the alarm company).
I don’t agree with the first comment above about the government having audio and video access to your equipment. My understanding is this bill will make it an option to send a signal TO 9-1-1, not allow 9-1-1 to access your systems.
@Matt—There is no doubt that there are financial considerations at play here, but I think the potential for an increasing number of false alarms from this bill is a strong argument. Right now, 93% of all alarm activations are “false” and a private central station is able to filter out most of those before law enforcement is dispatched on a wild goose chase.
Senate version up today doesn’t show this provision; did they strip it out?
@ Bill M - Yes. See this link. http://www.cepro.com/article/new_bill_language_staves_off_alarm_industry_worries/
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Lets see, we get big government quality and loose the ability to shop our monitoring services!? If the 911 Centers are setup to take over the direct monitoring including Video and Audio of our homes and businesses, then have we signed off our rights for privacy? Plus, if the local authorities has a bone to pick or wants additional TAX & FEES since they are already over-budget now, who sets these rates? I read that The Senate will be considering this on the Dec 17th Saturday AM.
Hmm. Seems to me if you want to pass a Bill full of issues, then the best time to pass it WITHOUT alot of scrutiny would be on a shopping weekend!!!!
“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain”...Wizard of Oz
So, lets see how the “Wizards” of Washington do this weekend in protecting their constituents.