Latest News on NextNav Petition to the FCC Focus of SIA Webinar, May 11th

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The lower 900 MHz band (902-928 MHz) is used by millions of Part 15 low-power, radio frequency security and life safety devices such as consumer electronics and appliances, wireless alarm systems, smart home equipment, electronic access control devices and others essential for protecting homes, small businesses and critical infrastructure. A monopolistic proposal from a single company before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeks to reallocate portions of this band of spectrum for an exclusive license and remove an FCC rule that has protected Part 15 devices from harmful interference and preserved this ecosystem for decades. The Security Industry Association (SIA) and numerous other public safety organizations are opposing this proposal and are fighting it on Capitol Hill.

Join this webinar presented by SIA to learn about the proposal, get an update on where our advocacy efforts stand and discuss the impacts on the security industry devices that communicate in the spectrum.

Panelists will share:

  • An overview of the petition and where it stands today
  • A look at our technical analysis of how this will impact devices in the band
  • A snapshot of SIA’s advocacy on the issue
  • What you can do to help protect this band for security products and services

Speakers:

Jake Parker, senior director of government relations, SIA

Lauren Bresette, senior manager of government relations, SIA

Date: May 11, 2026, 1:00 PM/ET

REGISTER 

 

Security Industry Unites on Capitol Hill for Fourth Annual Hill Walk

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More than 70 professionals from across the electronic security and monitoring industry convened in Washington, D.C., on March 5 for the fourth annual Hill Walk, a coordinated advocacy effort designed to amplify the industry’s voice with federal policymakers.

This year’s Hill Walk was jointly organized by the Security Industry Association (SIA), the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and The Monitoring Association (TMA), marking the second consecutive year the three leading industry organizations formally co-sponsored the event.

Participants conducted a full day of meetings across Capitol Hill, visiting a total of 55 legislative offices spanning both chambers of Congress and both political parties. The delegation included representatives from monitoring centers, security integrators, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders, underscoring the breadth of the security ecosystem and its shared policy priorities.

Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.

Unified Voice on Critical Industry Issues

A central topic of discussion during the meetings was a petition before the Federal Communications Commission submitted by NextNav. Hill Walk participants encouraged lawmakers to urge the FCC to dismiss the petition, citing concerns about its potential impact on spectrum resources and the reliability of services that support alarm monitoring and emergency communications.

In addition to the spectrum issue, representatives from The Monitoring Association highlighted several policy priorities of the industry’s public safety partners, reinforcing the close relationship between professional monitoring services and first responders. These conversations emphasized the importance of protecting communications infrastructure and maintaining reliable pathways for emergency signaling that communities depend on every day.

Broad Engagement Across Capitol Hill

The Hill Walk’s meetings included offices in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, providing an opportunity for industry leaders to educate lawmakers and staff about the role of the security sector in protecting homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.

Advocates also shared insights about the industry’s economic impact, technological innovation and longstanding partnerships with law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

Strength in Collaboration

Leaders from the three sponsoring associations emphasized that the event’s success reflects the growing collaboration across the security industry.

“The security industry is strongest when we speak with one voice,†said Alan Gillmore, IV, president of TMA. “By bringing together SIA, ESA and TMA, we demonstrated the power of collaboration and ensured that policymakers heard directly from the professionals who design, install and operate the technologies that help keep people safe every day.â€

Building Momentum for Future Advocacy

The Hill Walk continues to grow in both participation and impact. The event highlighted the security industry’s shared commitment to proactive advocacy and constructive dialogue with policymakers and to advancing technology and communications policies that support public safety and innovation.

Security Hill Day – Policy Priorities Papers

FTC Delays Enforcement of its Negative Option Rule

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In March of 2023 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requested comments from industry on their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to change how the agency enforces the 1973 Negative Option Rule. This rule has allowed the agency to combat unfair or deceptive practices related to subscriptions, memberships and other recurring-payment programs. As online retail has become ubiquitous in recent decades, the agency is reviewing all automatic renewal programs continuity offers in which customers are continually billed for products or services unless they expressly signal their wish to exit their agreement for said products or services.

The new rule would require companies to provide specific express disclosures, obtain the consumer’s unambiguous affirmative consent to the negative option rule separately from the rest of the transaction as well as offering one-click cancellation mechanisms. All the proposed changes would be applicable to all forms of negative option marketing in all media (i.e. telephone, internet, traditional print media, and in-person transactions).

The Federal Trade Commission’s decision to expand their role in monitoring renewal continuity agreements by new rulemaking will require companies offering subscription services to revisit their legal agreements. The new rulemaking will broaden to apply to: automatic renewals, continuity plans, free-to-pay conversions and pre-notification negative option plans. The FTC will be increasing disclosure requirements, imposing specific consent requirements, mandating acceptable cancellation options and limiting the ability of a company to attempt to “save” a deal.

Significant Rulemaking Ramifications:

Clear Disclosures: The FTC will not be altering what companies need to disclose rather how companies disclose information. If an advertisement is made both visibly and audibly a disclosure for a continual subscription and negative options must be detailed visibly and audibly. A hidden hyperlink to the disclosure will not be acceptable.

Consent: The new rulemaking would be expanding the expressed informed consent to “unambiguous affirmative consent”. The negative option offer must be separately and clearly defined in the transaction. A check box or simple click may be used to signal a consumer’s unambiguous affirmative consent.

Simple Cancellation: Companies must provide an easy cancellation method of the negative option method and the FTC offers a “click-to-cancel” option.

Annual Reminders for Non-Physical Goods: Companies offering non-physical goods must offer at least annual reminders of the service and terms along with a means to cancel. The definition of “annual” is under review at FTC and has not been fully determined.

Penalties:

A key change to the FTC’s enforcement are new financial penalties for companies in violation of the new rulemaking.

Any violation of the FTC’s negative option rule will come at a penalty of $50,120.

 Additional Information & Dates:

In October of 2024 the FTC published its final Negative Option Rule, which applies to any negative option program, including those using online, telephone, print, or in-person mediums. The ruling will apply to all business to business and business to customer transactions. The final Rule requires businesses to obtain a consumer’s “express informed consent” to the negative option feature before charging the consumer.

Companies must be in compliance with obtaining informed consent and providing a simple cancellation mechanism by May 14th.

 The FTC provided an extended compliance deadline for the remaining provisions of the ruling for July 14th.

Alarm monitoring companies should use this additional time to ensure full compliance with the rule’s requirements, which include clear disclosures, obtaining express consent, and providing straightforward cancellation methods for all negative option features, including auto-renewing subscriptions and sales.  The rule is currently facing legal challenges before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and a decision there could impact the rule’s future enforcement.

TMA members visit Capitol Hill

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Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.On March 4-5, several TMA leaders, members and staff members took part in the industry’s annual Security Hill Walk, which was organized by The Security Industry Association (SIA). ESA leaders, members and staff members also took part in the event, which brought more than than 60 security industry executives to Washington, D.C., to promote important policy priorities that affect our industries every day.

Topics and priorities covered ranged from artificial intelligence and data privacy to workforce development and various critical homeland security grant programs.

On March 4, this year’s Security Hill Day kicked off with the Policy Leadership Dinner, featuring special guest speakers Tom Wheeler, general Counsel for the U.S. Department of Education, and  Brendan Buck, a political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News.

Wheeler spoke to attendees about the current state of school security and what can be done to make schools safer for students and faculty. Buck helped demystify some of the inner workings of Washington, D.C., and put in context the importance of industry engagement with policymakers at this critical time.

On the following morning, the events began with an informative policy breakfast featuring remarks from Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) from the House Committee on Ways and Means, Rep. David Joyce (R-Pa.) from the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Robert Boland, chief of staff to House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.).

Experts discussed the latest policy developments on a range of issues, including important details of the tax reform package under development, tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, new efforts on crafting a national data privacy law, Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission policies, school security and the outlook and challenges facing the new 119th Congress following the 2024 elections.

Once the Policy Breakfast concluded, Security Hill Day attendees spent the rest of the day meeting with lawmakers and their staff from both the Senate and House.

Why Security Hill Day is So Crucial for the Industry

Security industry leaders relayed policy priorities important to the industry and highlight its support for more than 2 million jobs (according to SIA’s recent study), as well as the crucial role our industry plays in providing solutions that safeguard the American people and our nation’s vital assets and infrastructure.

In just one day, participants were able to meet with 73 congressional offices, as company executives provided a unique outlook on how policies under consideration directly affect their businesses, customers and employees. At the end of the day, participants joined members of Congress and staff for the Security Hill Day reception in the historic Speaker’s Dining Room within the U.S. Capitol building.

Security Hill Day continues to serves as a powerful platform for the security industry to make its voice heard and provide valuable insight to lawmakers, relaying the needs of the industry, spurring action and fostering important relationships.

This is an excerpt from an article written by George Sewell, the manager of government relations for the Security Industry Association. The original version of this post appeared on SIA’s website and is used with permission.

COURT OVERTURNS FTC’S BAN ON NON-COMPETE CLAUSES. SEPT. 4 DEADLINE FOR NOTIFYING EMPLOYEES IS CANCELLED

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On August 20, the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas overturned the FTC’s recently-adopted ban on the use of non-compete restrictions in employee contracts.  The rule was scheduled to go into effect on September 4, which would have required employers to proactively notify their employees as of that date that most existing non-compete clauses would not be enforced, and no new non-compete arrangements could be imposed. The Court set aside the Non-Compete Rule in all respects, finding it to be arbitrary and capricious, and beyond the authority of the FTC (especially since the ban applied to all non-compete clauses with no attempt to identify only those restrictions that were harmful to competition and did not serve a legitimate need). Consequently, the Court made it clear that “the Rule shall not be enforced or otherwise take effect on its effective date of September 4, 2024 or thereafter.”  The FTC may appeal this decision to the US Court of Appeals, so employers will need to stay abreast of any further rulings in this matter.  But it is clear that employers do not have to send their employees a non-compete notice on September 4 (unless a higher court issues a stay of the District Court’s decision, which is unlikely since postponing the Sept. 4 deadline simply maintains the status quo).

Please consult with employment counsel if you have any questions.

APCO webinar to address OMB SOC revision, July 17

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On June 12th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced the beginning of a multi-year process to revise the Standard Occupational Classification. Through this process, OMB will consider whether to change the classification of public safety telecommunicators from the administrative/clerical category to the category for Protective Service Occupations.

APCO’s Government Relations Committee will present a webinar July 17th to explain APCO’s strategy for providing input to OMB, how this effort relates to the 9-1-1 SAVES Act and what you can do to help ensure that OMB finally corrects this outdated classification.

Register now to attend at https://www.apcointl.org/courses/reclassification-update-omb-requests-input-for-soc-revision-webinar/

Reclassification Update: OMB Requests Input for SOC Revision – Webinar
Wednesday, July 17 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Free for everyone

ESA Calls for Support of School Security Legislation [HR 7357]

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During this 118th Congress, ESA has been monitoring over a dozen bills on the issue of school security. Unfortunately, after they are introduced, they are assigned to a committee and rarely heard about again.

ESA is calling for security industry businesses to call upon Congress to take action on this important legislation. Ask your representatives to support HR 7357, the Securing Our Schools Act of 2024. Instead of being assigned to the House Education and the Workforce Committee, this bill was assigned to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

This legislation would authorize funding already allocated to schools, to be used for the purchase and installation of security and life safety systems. Congress does not need to increase spending at all, just let schools spend the funds on systems that we know would make the environment safer for students.

Our industry has the talents and equipment to make these vulnerable locations safer.

Learn more and contact your representative at https://www.votervoice.net/ESA/Campaigns/115872/Respond

 

Important Tax Relief Legislation Needs Your Support NOW!

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Did you know that the U.S. House passed tax relief that would improve the Research and Development tax credit, so the full deduction of the investment cost can take place in the year that it occurred? According to ESA, it also would, temporarily, provide bonus depreciation for 100% of purchases made for equipment and short-lived capital assets.

Some TMA members would also benefit from an increase in the portion of interest on borrowed capital eligible to be deducted from businesses’ income taxes. It raises the cap to 30% of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) rather than 30% of EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes).

However, the U.S. Senate has not moved on the bill (even with the overwhelmingly bi-partisan support in the House).

Send a message to your Senators now to request passage of this legislation now!

Send a letter to your Senator through ESA at https://www.votervoice.net/ESA/campaigns/112783/respond

FCC Makes AI-generated Voices in Robocalls Illegal

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Published by SIW.com, 2/8/24

Today the Federal Communications Commission announced the unanimous adoption of a Declaratory Ruling that recognizes calls made with AI-generated voices are “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

The ruling, which takes effect immediately, makes voice cloning technology used in common robocall scams targeting consumers illegal.  This would give State Attorneys General across the country new tools to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls.

“Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters.  We’re putting the fraudsters behind these robocalls on notice,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “State Attorneys General will now have new tools to crack down on these scams and ensure the public is protected from fraud and misinformation.”

The rise of these types of calls has escalated during the last few years as this technology now has the potential to confuse consumers with misinformation by imitating the voices of celebrities, political candidates, and close family members.

While currently State Attorneys Generals can target the outcome of an unwanted AI-voice generated robocall—such as the scam or fraud they are seeking to perpetrate—this action now makes the act of using AI to generate the voice in these robocalls itself illegal, expanding the legal avenues through which state law enforcement agencies can hold these perpetrators accountable under the law.

In November of 2023, the FCC launched a Notice of Inquiry to build a record on how the agency can combat illegal robocalls and how AI might be involved. The agency asked questions on how AI might be used for scams that arise out of junk calls, by mimicking the voices of those we know, and whether this technology should be subject to oversight under the TCPA.

Similarly, the FCC also asked about how AI can help us with pattern recognition so that we turn this technology into a force for good that can recognize illegal robocalls before they ever reach consumers on the phone.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act is the primary law the FCC uses to help limit junk calls.  It restricts the making of telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems and artificial or prerecorded voice messages. Under FCC rules, it also requires telemarketers to obtain prior express written consent from consumers before robocalling them. This Declaratory Ruling ensures AI-generated voices in calls are also held to those same standards.

The TCPA gives the FCC civil enforcement authority to fine robocallers. The Commission can also take steps to block calls from telephone carriers facilitating illegal robocalls. In addition, the TCPA allows individual consumers or an organization to bring a lawsuit against robocallers in court.  Lastly, State Attorneys General have their own enforcement tools which may be tied to robocall definitions under the TCPA.

A coalition of 26 State Attorneys General—more than half of the nation’s AGs—recently wrote to the FCC supporting this approach.  By taking this step, the FCC is building on its work to establish partnerships with law enforcement agencies in states across the country to identify and eliminate illegal robocalls.

These partnerships can provide critical resources for building cases and coordinating efforts to protect consumers and businesses nationwide. The FCC offers partner states not only the expertise of its enforcement staff but also important resources and remedies to support state investigations.

The FCC currently has a Memorandum of Understanding with 48 State Attorneys General to work together to combat robocalls.