Please thank our 2006 CSAA Electronic Security Forum & Exposition Sponsors: ADI (Thursday Opening Social Event Beverages); Altronix (Thursday CSAA Board of Directors Luncheon); Bosch Security Systems (Thursday CSAA Board, Sponsors & Exhibitors Dinner); DICE Corporation (Saturday Continental Breakfast); Digital Security Controls (Sunday Continental Breakfast); DMP (Saturday Afternoon Coffee Break and hotel keycards); FireLite (Friday Spouses/Guests Hospitality); GE Security (Happy Hour at the Exhibit Hall); HID Corp. (Luncheon at the Exhibit Hall); Honeywell Security (Sunday CSAA Excellence Awards luncheon); Innovative Business Software (Saturday Morning Coffee Break); LaSalle Bank (Friday Afternoon Coffee Break); Micro Key Software (Opening Reception Food (partial)); NAPCO Security Group (Friday Continental Breakfast); Security Industry Association (Forum Sponsor); and System Sensor (Friday morning Coffee Break and Saturday Spouses/Guests Hospitality).
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House Commerce Committee Approves
"Alarm VoIP Consumer Notification Amendment"
House Bill Expected to Appear Next Week
Late Wednesday afternoon, the House Commerce Committee adopted by unanimous voice vote Congressman Cliff Stearns' (R-FL) "Alarm VoIP Consumer Notification Amendment." Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) supported the amendment.
The amendment requires VoIP providers to notify consumers before installation of VoIP phone service and prior to number activation that if they have an alarm system they should:
1. Arrange with their emergency response provider to test their system;
2. Notify their emergency response provider after VoIP service is installed; and
3. Have a battery backup for the alarm system.
The amendment also defines "emergency response system" as "...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" and
"emergency response center" as "...an entity that monitors transmissions from an emergency response system."
The next step will be consideration by the full House of Representatives next week.
We now need to turn our attention to the Senate, where Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) is putting together his version of a telecommunications bill, which he hopes to introduce sometime in the next few weeks.
While the House Commerce Committee staff made it clear that if we wanted their support, we had to drop the requirement that manufacturers include a clear and conspicuous warning in the packaging sold to consumers, we are trying to include that language on the Senate side. This is a very important provision since more and more consumers who install VoIP phone service are purchasing the equipment needed on their own and installing it themselves. Eliminating notice that there are things that you have to do to insure that your alarm system is working until after VoIP is installed, but prior to number activation, provides notice to the consumer way too late in the process.
You are now urged to directly contact your Senators, especially those who sit on the Senate Commerce Committee, and urge them to include the alarm industry's "Alarm VoIP Consumer Notification" in the senate version of the telecommunications bill.
Provided Materials
- Click here to access the Alarm Industry's language to be included in the Senate Telecommunications bill.
- A letter to assist you to discuss the issues with your Senator. (We sent this letter to the House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee prior to the mark. It addresses both the issue of notification at installation and number activation, as well as the need for notice to be included in the packaging of equipment sold directly to consumers.)
If you have any questions, or need help in contacting your Members of Congress or making an appointment, please feel free to contact Bill Signer, 202-973-3141 or Ankur Brahmbhatt in Bill Signer's office at 202-973-3130.
NFPA 731 Installation Standard Proposal Deadline Nears
By Shane Clary, Bay Alarm
The closing date for proposals on NFPA 731, Standard for the Installation of Electronic Premises Security Systems, is Friday, May 26, 2006. All proposals must be submitted to the National Fire Protection Association by 5:00 PM (EDT). One may submit proposals in one of two ways:
Each proposal should only address a single section, (i.e. 3.5.6.3 for example) of the Standard. The submitter must include technical substantiation for the proposed change. If the proposed section is new, the submitter should provide a placement within the present standard for the new section.
If you have concerns or suggestions on what NFPA 731 should state, and who should state it, this is your opportunity to fully participate in the NFPA standards making process.
