FCC to Alarm Industry: AMPS Extension Will Not Be Granted

WASHINGTON

The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) alerted its members that the FCC has informally indicated a request for a two-year extension of the advanced mobile phone service (AMPS) “Sunset” date will not be granted.

The formal request was pursued by the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC), which sought to extend the scheduled Feb. 18, 2008 Sunset date.

In an E-mail correspondence to association members, CSAA reports the largest cellular carriers, which provide service to most of the country, have publicly reported to the FCC their intent to shut down AMPS service shortly after the Sunset date. CSAA is also saying there have been several reports of AMPS network deterioration, which is cause for alarm companies to take immediate action.

According to CSAA, whichever cellular backup or primary units (both direct analog and control channel versions) an alarm company may have previously installed will no longer work once cellular carriers pull the plug on their AMPS systems.

CSAA’s alert admonishes: “Please be aware that some dealers are under the misconception that their installed cellular units are ‘digital’ and they are not affected by this Sunset issue. Unless you have specifically installed GSM cellular radios, your ‘digital’ units, which use the control channel of the analog (AMPS) service, will stop functioning.”

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