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Ken
    Thanks for continuing to put out this newsletter.  I have used many of your contracts for years, both commercial and residential.  This is in reply to the June 22, 2013 article about Verizon causing problems for alarm companies.  As veterans of the industry, we are aware of the changes taking place and as business owners we have to constantly position ourselves to be in a pro-active state.  I agree with Ken, I don't think they are out to get the alarm industry.  i think it is just poor salesmanship.
    I think it is a good thing for the alarm industry as a whole for Comcast and Verizon to enter/re-enter our industry.  After all, who is the consumer going to trust more with the safety and security of their homes and businesses.  Yes, I said businesses.  If you think they are limiting themselves to residential, wake up and smell the coffee.
    Personally, I have pro-actively not using phone lines for communications for the last 3 years.  Every new system uses Internet and or cellular communications.With regards to the new programs they are rolling out, did you even look at what they are rolling out?  The consumer is locked into whatever provider they they are using whether it be Verizon or Comcast.  Neither one are using open standard type devices.  I use an open standard so the if the consumer wants something the see at Lowes or Home Depot, they are free to use it, I STILL get the RMR to be able to control it.  I say let them enter the industry, and as history shows, they will shoot themselves in the foot once again and we come out smelling like a rose!
 Thanks,
Craig Wohl, ET
C.W. Security Service
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Ken:
    It should also be noted that FIOS is not accepted by ALL AHJ’s for fire alarm transmission.  FIOS definitely has documented problems with some DACTs.  Typically it is the property owners responsibility to maintain APPROVED communication paths when used in fire alarm applications.
Jeffrey Siegel
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Hi Ken,
    The recognition of Managed Facility Voice Networks (MFVN) as “Functionally Equivalent” to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) paved the way for traditional telephone providers, i.e Verizon and non traditional telephone providers, i.e Comcast to carry alarm traffic from Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitters (DACTS).   (Source NFPA-72 TIA 10-3, NJDCA Bulletin 11-2  April 2011)
    (http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/codes/publications/pdf_bulletins/b11_2.pdf )
    However there are a number of quality checks that must be performed by the alarm service provider, subscriber and telecommunications provider.   These are contained in 2010 NFPA-72-  26.6.3, 26.6.3.2. From NFPA-72 Annex A;
    “A.3.3.141 For example, the Code intends to permit an MFVN to provide facilities-based telephone (voice) service that interfaceswith the premises fire alarm or emergency signal control unit through a digital alarm communicator transmitter (DACT)using a loop start telephone circuit and signaling protocols fully compatible with and equivalent to those used in public switched telephone networks. The loop start telephone circuit and associated signaling can be provided through traditional copper wire telephone service (POTS—“plain old telephone service”) or by means of equipment that emulates the loop start telephone circuit and associated signaling and then transmits the signals over a pathway using packet switched (IP) networks or other communications methods that are part of an MFVN.”
    New Jersey REQUIRES the retesting of DACT’s when a change in transmission means is made. (Source UCC F-391) ( http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/forms/pdf_ucc_stdforms/ucc_f391_dact_mfvn_ver.pdf)
    Bottom line is that MFVN providers are permitted to carry alarm traffic by way of a DACT, however the means of transmission MUST be compatible with the DACT.
    Last but not least and I discuss this at each technical seminar, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) is going away, those who hold on are holding on to, as ATT put it;  “AT&T strongly supports a Commission Notice of Inquiry regarding the transition from the circuit-switched legacy network to broadband and IP-based communications. That transition is underway already: with each passing day, more and more communications services migrate to broadband and IP-based services, leaving the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) and plain-old telephone service (“POTS”) as relics of a by-gone era.“  (Source ATT FCC Petition NBP Public Notice 25)
    Some in the alarm business may remember Advanced Mobile Phone Service and the eventual phase out. Unfortunately many customers were left stranded when their alarm service providers failed to migrate them to another means of transmission before the shutdown.  Let’s not let that happen again,  POTS is going away, make the switch as many have to another reliable means of alarm transmission.
Hope that helps,
John Drucker, CET
Fire Protection Subcode Official
Fire / Building / Electrical Inspector
New Jersey
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Ken
    I hope this message finds you and the fellow alarm dealers well.  Yes, Verizon’s FIOS has become problematic.
     Back in 2004-6 when Verizon’s over Fiber Optic cable Telephone, Internet, TV service, marketed as FIOS came out (in my area: PA & NJ),  I was somewhat excited and I too signed up for FIOS for one of my houses;  no more DSL related problems, no more wet copper phonelines after a storm, no more low quality copper connections, etc. .
    It’s all about bandwidth. Several times a year,  I test the Verizon & Comcast phonelines’ bandwidth for alarm communications for various formats including but not limited to Contact ID, 40 through 10 PPS(pulses per second) at 40 through 10 KHz(kiloHertz).  We all remember that DialUp Internet connection over CopperTelLines was limited with 53.3Kbps(KiloBitsPerSecond) with compression; 28.8-33.6 Kbps limit was more for Raw data; this was the Reference Limit for the BandWidth.   When FIOS came out, this limit was maintained loosely by Verizon for the Telephone Line output of FIOS.
But obviously most everyone with FIOS did not use this phoneline for dialup.  Most Voice/Speech in telephony happens in about 300-3500Hz, rounded up to about 4000Hz or 4KHz. In digital transmissions where it is broken down to bits, Nyquest principle suggests the Sampling must be at 8Khz.  Anything beyond Voice requires a higher Sampling rate, therefore more BandWidth is needed. Like the old adage Time is Money, BandWidth is Money.  
    In the last couple years, Verizon, too became like Comcast and started to charge more and give less
while making the consumers think they are getting more.  Customers could not tell the difference, listening on the phone with their ears.  Verizon, for their FIOS customers, started selling this thing called Digital Voice where they allocated much less BandWidth for Voice Telephone lines, but charged the same or more.  Essentially the Fiber Voice Phone Lines became Worse than old Copper Voice Phone Lines.  And of course, the Alarm Communicator, Other Computer/Control Communications over a Modem, Fax Machines, etc. stopped Communicating properly.  Unless the alarm transmissions were slowed down to a turtle ( ie.: from 40pps, 40KHz to 10pps, 10KHz) the signal would not reach the central station receiver.
    I won’t go into Comcast VOIP Phoneline caused problems, others have discussed that here;
however their VOIP bandwidth has improved, once the customer asked for higher bandwidth.
Although their installation practices are still very poor.
    I think both companies and others like them should be sued by their respective Consumer Classes
and these companies should be asked to provide at least copper phoneline Bandwidth on these so called Telephone Lines.
Regards
Brent Ozdogan
ROBOTEK
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Hi Ken,
    I would like to comment on the Verizon FIOS issue as regards to alarms.  I am a former Verizon employee and still have many friends working for them.
    From what I have been told, Verizon was given the OK from the government to do away with their copper lines (POTS).  If a customer calls in a telephone trouble they will be moved over to FIOS instead of fixing the POTS line.  I also heard that they will start sending out a 4G cellular box so the customer can just plug their home phone into the box and have instant home phone service.  This service will work through the Verizon Wireless 4G cellphone services.  
    As an alarm installer we have to prepare for the end of POTS lines.  For all of my new customers I have been installing an ethernet connection or a cellular transmitter for their alarm monitoring communications.  I am staying away from POTS lines because I know they are being phased out.  This is a reality that we all must face.  It brings the opportunity to make a service call to existing customers to upgrade their communication service and still provides us with RMR.
Best Regards,
Christopher Stellwag
Innovative Home Technologies
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Ken
    Regarding Verizon fios and alarm communication. I have many many customers on Verizon fios network and have no problems with alarm communications. There is no difference in communication on Verizon Fios vs Copper land line.
Donnnie Darr
All Safe & Sound


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  Webinars:  


July 11, 2013  12 noon EST    Valuing the non RMR security integration side of your business

    This webinar will focus on how you arrive at valuation of the non RMR side of your business - the revenue you receive from sales and non contractual recurring revenue. EBITDA and Enterprise valuation explained so that you can determine if it applies to your business evaluation

Panelists:  Barry Epstein; Mitch Reitman; Ray Lynn; Dennis Stern

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2021989040021715968

 

July 18, 2013  12 noon  EST    Selecting an E&O insurance carrier

    This webinar will have a panel of insurance brokers will discuss Insurance Company  underwriting considerations for determining if the carrier will offer to insure you and how it prices the policy.  This webinar will enable you to better select an insurance company to insure your business.

Panelists:  Bart Didden; Kelly Izzo; Alice Giacalone; Rick Gumbar;

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3478271300291063552

 

July 25, 2013  12 noon EST    Defending claims

    This webinar will focus on what you need to do when you become aware that your subscriber has suffered a loss and when you know of a claim against you.  Other topics will include what to do when you get a reservation of rights letter, or denial of coverage letter, from your carrier.  

Panelists:  Ken Kirschenbaum; Bart Didden; Rick Gumbar; Dennis Stern

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3574596215465671424

 

August 1, 2013  12 noon EST    Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is here

This webinar will focus on what you need to do to keep competitive.  New technology and products

Panelists:  Mark Fischer; Keith Jentoft; John Hoffe; David Roos; Jorge Hevia

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3760033249536659456

 

August 8, 2013 12 noon EST    Marketing your security and fire alarm company

This webinar will focus on marketing ideas to promote your alarm business.

Panelists:  Bob Maunsell; David Morgan; Bob Harris

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2508338217360211200