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FCC ruling allows cellular providers to terminate AMPS service on February 18, 2008, leaving some alarm systems vulnerable

An FCC ruling has set the stage to allow cellular providers to stop supporting Advanced Mobile Phone System, or AMPS, technology. Over 26 million alarm systems across the country rely on AMPS service to communicate alarm conditions when the main phone line is unavailable in an emergency.

 

The FCC allows the termination of analog AMPS service due to costs, and benefits of digital service. The date set by the FCC that cellular providers must continue to provide AMPS service is February 18, 2008. After that date, Cellular providers may terminate their support of AMPS service.

 

The FCC recently denied an attempt by the alarm industry to extend the deadline to 2010. The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, or NBFAA, said a survey of their members concluded that 92.5% of members use AMPS in their systems. A substantial number of alarm companies use AMPS radios to transmit medical alert signals as well, NBFAA added.

 

While the firm deadline for support of the AMPS service is February 18, 2008, expect service degradation as the deadline nears. NBFAA urges members to plan for the transition accordingly.

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That's less than a year
By Scrogneugneu on 7/25/2007 7:00:43 PM , Rating: 1
It will be a total mess. Just think back at how it was for Y2K, and we knew about it for years, but started to really get on the move only 2 years before. They only got 7 months.

If you ever dreamed of starting your alarm system company, now is the perfect time.




RE: That's less than a year
By rgsaunders on 7/25/2007 7:21:55 PM , Rating: 2
Actually, your reference to Y2K is wrong, only the procrastinators waited until the last 2 years, many of us were addressing Y2K issues 8 to 10 years in advance. The late movers did make for a lot of business opportunities and extra income in the last minute panic.


RE: That's less than a year
By James Holden on 7/25/2007 7:30:33 PM , Rating: 2
All I have to say is wow. 7 months to convert 26 million devices is not going to happen.

Anyone have any idea what it will cost to retrofit existing systems? Might not be a bad business venture for the next couple months.


RE: That's less than a year
By marvdmartian on 7/26/2007 10:03:15 AM , Rating: 2
Well, leave it up to the Federal Cockamamie Commission to do something as intelligent as this! ;)


RE: That's less than a year
By jak3676 on 7/25/2007 9:31:18 PM , Rating: 3
I'm kinda surprised that alarm companies were fighting this. A lot of the companies make nice profits on service calls to upgrade the systems. This will really cause a headache for service techs, but the companies won't loose much. Even the annual service contracts that many people purchase won't cover this sort of thing. Consumers will end up footing the bill, not the alarm industry. The only downside for the industry may be the customer support nightmare this will cause and they may loose a few monitoring customers.


RE: That's less than a year
By Nightskyre on 7/26/2007 8:10:25 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
The only downside for the industry may be the customer support nightmare this will cause and they may loose a few monitoring customers.


Everybody run! They're loosing the customers! Don't let one catch you!


RE: That's less than a year
By Bioniccrackmonk on 7/26/2007 8:50:23 AM , Rating: 2
As a guy who used to work for the biggest security company in the US, a three letter company that once stood for American District Telegraph a long time ago, I can accurately say that cellular backup was a major selling point once everyone caught on to the fact that if the phone line were down for any reason they weren't being monitored w/o one. I also know that it was a nice premium to have installed and usually added about 10 bucks a month to the monitoring service. I wonder what they will do now, glad I don't work there anymore.


RE: That's less than a year
By Chaser on 7/26/2007 9:10:32 PM , Rating: 2
The television advertising for home security systems is quite deceitful in my opinion. They make it look like some guy in a monitoring station is some big hero. Ask any cop on patrol thats already overtasked where a home security alarm response lies in his/her list of priorities when 90% or more of home security system calls to the police are false.

If it is real you'd best hope the alarm scares him away.


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