WASHINGTON, D.C.
— The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has denied an
alarm industry petition to extend the advanced mobile phone service
(AMPS) “Sunset” date.
In 2002, the FCC established Feb. 18, 2008, as the date
cellular carriers could begin discontinuing support of analog wireless
networks. At that time, the FCC said a five-year sunset was sufficient
to facilitate the migration to digital handsets.
The industry says of the 950,000 analog alarm radios yet to be
replaced, there would only be time enough to swap about 400,000 before
Feb. 18, 2008.
The alarm industry initially lobbied for a two-year extension
of the sunset date. After those efforts proved fruitless, a proposal
was submitted for a nine-month extension for “second and
third tier” metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), which
cover 39.4 percent of the U.S. population.
“To have both of the extensions denied is a big
disappointment for the industry,” Alarm Industry
Communications Committee (AICC) Chairman Louis Fiore told Security Sales &
Integration.
Despite being denied an extension, Fiore said he is pleased
the FCC did mandate that carriers would be obligated to continue AMPS
service until the sunset date expires.
“At least we know we are not having to scramble in the
meantime,” he said.
See the August issue of SSI
for a special supplement on alternative communication methods, such as
GSM cellular radios, in the wake of AMPS’ obsolescence.