see below for new webinar announcement
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Comments on 2G Radio Sunset from March 13, 2014 article
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Ken
re: 2G Radio Sunset
For some years, the radio manufacturing companies have been warning us about the “Sunset” of the G2 radio network in the United States. This should have given us ample time to swap everything out.
There are two frequencies in use in the United States for the 2G Band. One is 1900MHZ, and the other is 900MHZ. The sunset date is set at 2016, but ATT is shutting down the 1900MHZ portion of the service in the northeast at the end of this month. This leaves only the 900MHZ portion to handle all the traffic. Who knows how well the soon-to-be overloaded 900MHZ data band will function. As I understand it, when ATT did the shutdown of the 1900MHZ band in New England, they also knocked out the 900MHZ band for 60 days.
What is a Dealer to do? One option is to run out and change the radios at your cost. The second option is to inform your client of the necessary equipment upgrade and to make the changes. The third option is to wait and do nothing!
Doing the change at your expense can cost thousands or hundreds of thousand of dollars. Notifying the client and doing the change over in a timely fashion is good; but as Steven Pagliaro mentioned, you may lose the account. (The only caveat of the previous) is who will put in a $250+ radio (with labor) for free? The third option (“do nothing”) is an interesting choice. In this situation, the client will call you to tell you their system is displaying a communication failure. At this time, you can make the repair. Some of the 2G radios are used as backups and may never display any problem at the clients, but the central station should notify you of the problem.
One disturbing fact is as of last year, Honeywell, as well as other manufacturers, were still selling 2G radios. One of the models was the UL Listed Fire Radio, IPGSM-DP, with a replacement cost of over $600.00+ (with labor).
One other item which should be of extreme concern for central station and radio manufactures is that now the dealer is faced with replacing multiple radio communicators at the same time. This gives the dealer the opportunity to shop for a less expensive radio and service provider. With the radios ranging from around $100.00 and the monitoring ranging from around $4.00 you need to take a hard look at which manufacturer you will select and who will provide the service. Switching from a $160.00 radio to a $100.00 radio can save thousands.
What are we to do? That is a business decision we will all have to make.
Mike Zemering, President
FM Systems
Plainview, NY
President, Metropolitan Burglar and Fire Alarm Association of NY
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Ken,
I n response to Steven Pagliaro’s email about the 2G shutdown, I wanted to remind dealers that there are "sunset-free" alternatives to cellular, namely radio networks such as the ones sold nationwide by CRN Wireless and AES. By way of example, the NearNet UHF radio network has been operating for 29 consecutive years without a sunset.
Richard Moreau
CRN Wireless
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DIY comment
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Ken
this has got to be the best line i have read in years
"Is DIY REALLY that different than the majority of 3 zone lick and stick lynx systems installed by trained and licensed monkeys accross the whole country?"
written by armando perez from hoosier security
claud
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communication tax in AZ - other states?
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Ken -
Subject: No News, nothing but crickets chirping! Could you help Alarm Dealers by getting word out on this?
It seems that national trade magazines do not want any news released about communications tax in Arizona being challenged. The charging of communications tax, on alarm monitoring, only applies to those who locate their monitoring station in the State they are monitoring the subscriber's account from. This provides out of State alarm monitoring companies as much as a 5% advantage, provided by Government. The majority of the Alarm Dealers, our association represents, are independent dealers and attempt to use a monitoring station located within Arizona.
HB2546, in Arizona, has now been named an emergency bill in an effort to protect Arizona's economy. Communications tax encourages dealers to relocate their monitoring business out of Arizona. This means that if HB2546 receives a 2/3 vote in the Senate, if signed into law by the Governor, HB2546 will take effect immediately. HB2546 passed the House by a vote of 44-13. The bill is sponsored by the House Majority Leader, David Gowan, and Senator David Farnsworth.
HB2546, brought forth by the Arizona Alarm Dealers Association, clarifies that no City in Arizona shall charge a tax on alarm monitoring. I would think this is big news for the entire country, since it was brought forth due to alarm monitoring, being taxed as communications, was being done illegally. The Arizona Supreme Court has previously ruled that alarm monitoring is not the selling of communications. The Arizona Constitution states that something cannot be taxed for something it is not. I would think this may apply in other States also.
How many other States does this apply to? I assume that since the Arizona Supreme Court used previous court rulings from New York and other States as precedence to rule, that this may lead to the end of communications tax in other States as well.
Thank You,
Roger D. Score, President
Arizona Alarm Dealers Association
(520) 419-4677
http://arizonaalarmdealers.org/HB2546_Alarm_Legislation.html
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Question - do ATT and Comcast need alarm license in New Jersey
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Ken,
Question In New Jersey, were we are licensed, do companies such as AT&T,Comcast and such also have to be licensed installers? If you ha already commented on this I might have missed it. Thanks
Jim J.III
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Answer
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You can search state alarm licenses here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-law-issues
Here is the NJ law that exempts the utility companies from the NJ alarm license
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45:5A-29 Exemptions from licensing requirement.
9. a. Telephone utilities and cable television companies regulated by the Board of Regulatory Commissioners pursuant to Title 48 of the Revised Statutes and persons in their employ while performing the duties of their employment are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a license to engage in the alarm business pursuant to this act.
b. Electrical contractors regulated by the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors pursuant to P.L.1962, c.162 (C.45:5A-1 et seq.) and persons in their employ while performing the duties of their employment are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a license to engage in the alarm business pursuant to this act.
c. Any person who is certified to engage in the fire protection equipment business or who holds a fire protection contractor business permit pursuant to P.L.2001, c.289 (C.52:27D- 25n et al.) and persons in their employ are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a license to engage in the fire alarm business pursuant to this act.
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TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REPLY TO THIS EMAIL OR EMAIL Ken@Kirschenbaumesq.com. Most comments and questions get circulated.
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Webinars
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Topic: Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants. The webinar will focus on trade secrets and restrictive covenants as follows:
1. will courts enforce the covenants?
2. what standard must be met in order to obtain relief?
3. legal strategies for enforcing covenants
4. definition of trade secrets
5. required security efforts
6. non-compete agreements
When: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT.
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2621949660828025601
Presenter: Judge Ruth B. Kraft, Chair, Employment Law Group, Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum, P.C.
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Speaking Engagements
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Sonitrol Verified Electronic Security. Annual convention March 22, 2014 at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.
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SentryNet's 19th Annual Dealer Conference. April 22 - 24, 2014 at Harrah's in Tunica, MS. register at http://www.sentrycon.us or call Peggy at 800-932-3304 for more information. www.sentrynet.com
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Northeast Security & Systems Contractors Expo Thursday, May 22, 2014 10 am to 5 PM at Royal Plaza Trade Center, Marlborough, MA. registration https://www.expotracshows.com/neacc/2014/ Presentation on Alarm Law issues and Q&A will be at 2 PM. For more info contact Gary Spaulding, NEACC President
207-384-2420 gary@spauldingsecurity.com
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Alabama Alarm Association. AAA's Fall Meeting and Trade Show - October 21, 2014 from 3 to 5 PM at DoubleTree Hotel 808 South 20th Street Birmingham, AL 35205 for more info contact AAA Executive Director: director@alabamaalarm.org (205) 933-9000
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Electronic Security Summit for 2014. October 22-24, 2014 at the landmark Broadmoor Hotel. Colorado Springs, CO. For more information contact Alexander J. Quirin, CEO & Managing Partner, Advisory Summit Providers, LLC., (786) 999-9738 alex.quirin@aspsummits.com www.aspsummits.com
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