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Question
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Ken,
    I am a representative from a cctv company. We have recently been inquiring about getting a low voltage licenses and have taken some courses to get credits towards the license. At this point I am a bit lost on where to go from here. I was given your name by an associate of mine, he told me you could be of assistance.
 Thank You,
 Nathan
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Answer
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    Licensing is a serious issue in the alarm industry.  Not so much in the past where licensing didn't exist or wasn't enforced.  You are well advised to obtain all necessary licensing.
    I get calls asking for licensing assistance regularly.  We've set up a licensing department in our office, headed by Jennifer Kirschenbaum,Esq., reachable at 516 747 6700 ext 302.  Whether you're having an issue getting licensed in your one state, require licensing all over the country or need assistance getting your employees registered or documented or whatever its called in your state, give us a call.  
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Question
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Ken
    I wonder if you have any comment to make on the suit in Massachusetts involving Comcast,Verizon and the Mass Security Association, particularly as it will relate to New York
Arnold
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Answer
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    First, the Mass Contractors Assoc should be commended for its efforts to ensure that all companies adhere to licensing requirements.  I haven't seen the case but I did note that Verizon and Comcast have taken the position that their systems do not use electricity and therefore is not governed by the Mass licensing law as it pertains to security and fire alarm systems.  The Mass statute is deeply rooted in its licensing law for electricians.  The license is required for installing, testing, repairing of conductors,cables devices used  for fire warning, security or signaling where wiring is permanently connected to a source of electricity or controlled through the use of electrical signals, including optical fiber cables.  
    A mouth full, but Verizon contends that VoIP is not electrical.  I'm not technical enough to answer that one.  I know my VoIP doesn't work when the electric is out.  A judge may have my very limited level of comprehension.  The way the statute is written Verizon may not require a license because as I understand its product and service Verizon merely sells a self installed system and provides no monitoring.  I am not aware of any state alarm license that would require a license for that activity.  If the alarm company is not installing, servicing or monitoring, I don't know of any state license that would be required.
    Not all license statutes read like this one in Mass.   In New York for example, alarm companies need to be licensed if they sell, install or service alarm systems.  Even though the work sell is included I doubt that selling alarm equipment to a subscriber who is to self install would require a license in New York.  Even if that company had a system that was pre programmed to provide monitoring no license would be required in New York because New York does not license alarm monitoring.
    Here are a few excerpts from the Mass law

Electrical/Security Business shall mean a corporation, partnership, firm, unincorporated association, sole proprietorship or other legal entity engaging or proposing to engage in activity regulated by M.G.L. c. 141.

Electrical Work shall mean the installation, testing, repair, or maintenance of conductors, cables, raceways, apparatus, devices, fixtures, or other appliances used for heat, light, or power functions, or for fire warning, security, or signaling, or comparable power limited functions where such wiring is permanently connected to a source of electricity or that is permanently controlled through the use of electrical signals, including optical fiber cables.

Fire Warning System means an inherently power-limited system of wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures or other appliances installed and interconnected electrically or electronically for the detection of heat, smoke, or products of combustion, or for the transmission of signals or audible alarms.

Security System means an inherently power-limited system of wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures, or other appliances installed and interconnected electrically or electronically to permit access control, proprietary signaling, surveillance and the detection of burglary, intrusion, holdup, or other conditions requiring response or the transmission of signals or audible alarms

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