CSAA Signals
Vol. 9, No. 15 —December 10, 2003
440 Maple Avenue East, Suite 201, Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-4670; Fax 703-242-4675
 
Table of Contents
Rep. Shuster Introduces Business Tax Credit for
Security-related Expenses, the "Prevent Act of 2003"

Representative Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District recently introduced "The Prevent Act of 2003' (HR 3562). This Act, which has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, proposes to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow businesses a credit for security devices, assessments, and other security-related expenses.

The building security credit would consist of:

  • 20 percent of the cost of each qualified building securities device placed in service by the taxpayer during the taxable year,
  • 30 percent of the qualified security assessment expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year, and
  • 30 percent of the co-location property placed in service by the taxpayer during the taxable year.

The term "qualified building security device" means a security device which is acquired by purchase, and which is used to provide security for any building used by the taxpayer in any trade or business.

Among the security devices covered are electronic access control device or system; biometric identification or verification device or system; closed-circuit television or other surveillance and security cameras and equipment; locks for doors and windows, including tumbler, key, and numerical or other coded devices; computers and software used to combat cyberterrorism; electronic alarm systems to provide detection notification and off-premises transmission of an unauthorized entry, attack, or fire; an electronic device capable of tracking or verifying the presence of assets; and signal repeating devices for emergency response personnel wireless communication systems.

If you would like a copy of the full Act, click here.

Impact of Cellular Number Portability
by Lou Fiore, Chairman, CSAA Standards Committee

As of November 25, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is allowing cellular number portability. Not only can a customer move his cell phone number from cell phone carrier to cell phone carrier, but he can also move a wired telephone number to a cell phone. According to Security Sales and Integration's Control Panel, "customers who switch their phone lines to digital subscriber lines (DSL) are also cutting their alarm link."

While this change is certainly good for competition, alarm companies should make their customers aware that moving a number from a telephone on which an alarm system is connected to another service will curtail service on that line. Consequently alarm panels will not be able to reach a central station in the event of an alarm.

"Alarm monitoring companies should enclose on the next bill a noticeable warning notice to their customers advising them to contact the alarm company before making any such changes," said Steve Doyle, CSAA's Executive Vice President, who added that "the American public is not aware of the potential repercussions that such a change could have on their alarm system,"

Hartford, Conn. Withdraws Non-response Proposal

The Hartford, Conn. City Council withdrew a plan on Monday, December 8, that would have allowed police to ignore any burglar alarm that could not be verified as real. Councilman Calixto Torres, sponsor of the proposal, withdrew it in response to well-organized opposition by the security industry and homeowners.

Some members of the security alarm industry suggested the city enforce the ordinance already on the books -- one that levies a progressive set of fines for false alarm offenders.

U.S. House of Representatives Approves Anti-Spam Legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, December 8, unanimously approved legislation impacting unsolicited commercial emails (spam). The President is expected to sign the bill within the next 10 days. The legislation preempts all current state spam laws, including the pending California anti-spam law.

While the bill’s effective date is January 1, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will now begin to promulgate regulations. This is an important step in the process and should not be overlooked. Specifically, the FTC has one year to codify its definition of “unsolicited commercial emails.”

The FTC also has nine months to establish its rules concerning mobile (wireless) unsolicited commercial emails, and within six months is authorized, though not required, to create a do-not-spam registry, similar to the popular do-not-call registry.

As we suggested before, our members should ensure that they have written permission from their customers to receive marketing information either through e-mail or fax.