WHIRC appointed to prominent industry committee

by Jessica Barnes | Aug 17, 2024 | WHIRC News

The Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC), part of The Monitoring Association (TMA), recently welcomed WHIRC as its newest member. The AICC includes representatives from national industry associations and alarm companies from across the country. It coordinates with the Federal Communications Commission, regulatory bodies, and Congress to address telecommunications issues affecting the alarm industry. The AICC maintains a presence in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the industry’s interests. They also manage a Political Action Committee (AICC-PAC) to engage in the legislative processes.

As a member of the AICC, WHIRC is actively involved in furthering our industry through technology and legislation.

Highlights from the June meeting

At the most recent meeting, held in June, Ashley Raisanen and Shane Clary from Bay Alarm were invited to discuss the topic of POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) replacements. The discussion centered on the industry’s efforts regarding National Fire Protection Association code compliance, and the potential requirement for supervision of POTS replacement devices. Additionally, they addressed other issues such as communications, network stability, and standby power.

Other AICC updates

• 3G network decommissioning: AT&T and Verizon Wireless continue to phase out 3G towers. AT&T still operates about 30% of its towers with 3G technology, which will be transitioned to 5G or extended LTE.
• Telephone carriers: These carriers will continue to shut down circuits, focusing on fiber and network buildouts.
• Dial tone: The “dial tone” customers hear is now a recording played by the provider when the phone is off the hook, rather than a true dial tone.
• Signal transmission checks: Using a butt set is not a reliable method for investigating signal transmissions unless specifically listening for receiver tones.
• Network buildouts and outages: With ongoing network expansions, more outages and communication issues may occur, as these companies are not regulated by the FCC and can schedule outages without notice.

WHIRC joined AICC to provide our dealers with the latest industry information, connect with other committee members, and advocate for our industry. We will continue to communicate updates to you throughout the year.