New Research Shows Flawed Spectrum Proposal Would Cause Public Safety Risks, Communications Disruption

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A new research report, filed by the Security Industry Association (SIA) with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), details the risks of a proposal under consideration by the FCC that would restructure portions of the Lower 900 MHz band, which is used by billions of unlicensed, low-power devices.

NextNav has petitioned the FCC to reconfigure the frequencies between 902-928 MHz (the Lower 900 MHz Band) and grant the company a nationwide license for 15 megahertz of spectrum so it can establish a 5G terrestrial-based position, navigation and timing network—radically altering the spectrum. The new research conducted by engineering consulting firm Pericle Communications Company, commissioned by SIA and with additional support from the Alarm Industry Communications Committee, the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and The Monitoring Association (TMA), shows that the proposal would severely limit the range and compromise the effectiveness of devices operating in this spectrum, including:

  • Panic buttons, motion sensors, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms
  • Personal medical alert devices and emergency call buttons
  • Wireless microphones, headsets and license-free two-way radios
  • Wireless security cameras and doorbell cameras
  • Outdoor public safety and security devices, including traffic control and tolling devices, vehicle status and alerting devices and gunshot detection devices

Lower 900 MHz band is heavily used by “Part 15” security and life safety systems, smart home technology, consumer and business electronics and more devices that would face harmful interference from NextNav’s high-power usage in the band.

In addition to these public safety and security uses, other critical systems that could be disrupted include equipment that first responders use during emergencies, municipal infrastructure, railroad operations and safety, highway infrastructure, retail and supply chain operations and agriculture solutions.

“Our research modeling and simulations show that NextNav’s proposed system would render an enormous number of public safety and mission-critical devices—along with countless other devices that rely upon the Lower 900 MHz Band—inoperable,” said Michael McGinley, senior systems engineer at Pericle. “This amount of interference would simply be unacceptable due to the severe disruption it would have on the user experience and radio performance. The interference would be a direct result of the incompatibilities between NextNav’s high-power cellular network and the low-power, radio frequency devices currently operating in the band.”

“NextNav’s proposal would be detrimental to the operation of devices that are critical for our life safety and security, first responders and the public,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “This proposal would have devastating effects in many U.S. households, and make everyday life less safe, less convenient and more costly.”

“Since the proposal to the FCC was filed more than 16 months ago, the Commission has been flooded with concerns from affected companies and trade groups about the potential consequences,” said TMA President Steve Butkovich.

“The Pericle study confirms the negative impact to consumers and to public safety that would result if the petition were to be granted,” said ESA Executive Director and CEO Merlin Guilbeau.

As other concerned parties have noted, there are a variety of GPS alternatives that do not require severely disrupting existing spectrum users. While a backup GPS system is needed, these other solutions would cause much less disruption, and implementing NextNav’s proposal would present tradeoffs that are not worth the harmful impact on our nation’s safety and security and major inconveniences the proposal would cause.

The full research report can be found here. More information and resources related to the Lower 900 MHz band can be found here.

American Alarm Acquires Instant Signal & Alarm

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American Alarm and Communications announced it has completed the acquisition of Instant Signal & Alarm of Salem, a fire security and life-safety systems provider across the North Shore and greater Essex County in Massachusetts.

Founded in 1954, Instant Signal & Alarm (often called Instant Alarm) has grown to become the security systems and 24-7 alarm monitoring provider for more than 3,000 customers, including homeowners, municipalities and businesses large and small. The company also provides alarm monitoring as a service for several regional security system dealers.

“This deal was special,” said Wells Sampson, president and co-owner, American Alarm. “Two family-owned companies, who have known each other and worked together to improve our whole industry for so long, it was so natural and seamless to come together to better serve our customers into the future.”

Instant Alarm’s employees and the third generation of family ownership, David, Barry and Shawn Wescott, are staying on with the merged company.

“When our grandfather James Wescott installed his first alarm system in 1954, his goal was to take care of customers by protecting their homes, families and businesses. That family goal has never changed and never will, which is why we have decided to join American Alarm,” David Wescott said in a letter to Instant Alarm customers announcing the change.

The Instant Alarm team will continue to operate from their existing building in Salem.

“This is a great fit and another example of how we organize our company,” said Louis Sampson, chief operating officer and co-owner, American Alarm. “As we grow, we are careful to stay close to our customers. We are essentially a group of local companies with deep roots in their communities, who by coming together have more resources to serve customers.”

Elite Interactive Solutions to Seek Crime Prevention Partnerships at GSX

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Elite Interactive Solutions, a remote video guarding pioneer using proprietary intelligence and integration to achieve proven, real-time crime prevention, announces it will have an exhibit hall presence for the first time at the Global Security Exposition (GSX). This year’s GSX takes place Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Organized by ASIS International, the tradeshow is one of industry’s largest annual North American events, typically drawing more than 20,000 professionals from across the commercial security channel.

“Elite has one of the industry’s most compelling stories to tell and solutions to offer — market-leading client retention based on unmatched success preventing crimes in real-time,” says Marketing Director Scott Goldfine. “Our leadership and reps are eager to meet with technology leaders, commercial end users, integrators, guard companies and media alike at GSX to discuss Elite’s substantial differentiation, how the solution optimizes security effectiveness and efficiency, and mutually beneficial partnerships.”

Scheduled visitors to Elite’s GSX show-floor suite (No. 1177) will learn about remote guarding services that are having a profound impact on preventing crimes. During 2024, Elite’s 24/7/365 Security Operations Command Center (SOCC) directly prevented more than 78,000 incidents and actively assisted with police in 1,900 other live crime situations that concluded with suspects being detained or arrested 57% of the time. Those incident and police engagement totals were record highs, as were the 19.4 million events cleared along with the 1,074 arrests & detainments.

Elite’s added value includes serving as a force multiplier and live eyewitness partner to police as they respond to active crimes in progress. Elite is the only company with its own Law Enforcement Advisory Board comprised of former police chiefs who are integral to the company’s standardized dispatch protocols and jurisdictional relationships. Despite increases in clients, cameras and alerts during the past several years, Elite has maintained its promise of zero false alarms and its pledge to never miss an event.

Through the years, Elite has continued to innovate and perfect its crime prevention solution, which is predicated on the scientific blend of four pillars: technologies, practices, people and partnerships. These elements coalesce within its nerve center, a state-of-the-art, subterranean UL Security Operations Command Center located within one of the nation’s most fortified buildings in Downtown Los Angeles that is manned 24/7 by former military and law enforcement operators.

“During the past couple of years, Elite has significantly ramped up its exposure and growth. Hosting a suite on the show floor at GSX continues that progression as the company ramps up to scale its services nationwide,” adds Goldfine. “We are excited to engage in meaningful conversations and explain why — whether it’s partnering with technology providers, guard companies and integrators or protecting commercial end users — Elite is the ideal, long-term choice. We look forward to seeing everyone there!”

Paladin Appoints President of Airport Security Services Division

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Paladin Security recently announced the promotion of Tyson Black to president of Paladin Airport Security Services (PASS).

The company created PASS after it successfully bid to supply security screening services to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in 2024.

PASS, which employs more than 5,500 security professionals administrators and managers, provides screening services to 33 airports across Western and Northern Canada.

Black began his tenure with Paladin Security in 2009 as a client service manager. After being promoted to operations manager in 2010, he  served as director of operations from 2011 to 2016. He was promoted to vice-president in 2016 and served as executive vice-president of Central Canada from 2021 to 2025 until his most recent promotion.

“I am excited to continue evolving and refining PASS’s partnership with CATSA in pursuit of our shared mission to protect the travelling public through the provision of the highest level of aviation security,” said Black in a statement. “We have an incredible team of dedicated security professionals, and I look forward to continuing to build upon Paladin’s award-winning culture and service delivery methodology in the aviation security space.”

Allied Universal Acquires Mulligan Security to Boost Northeast U.S. Presence

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Allied Universal has finalized its acquisition of New York–based Mulligan Security from Protos Security, strengthening its service presence in the Greater New York City region. The agreement was announced on August 13, 2025.

“With the divestiture of Mulligan, Protos will be laser-focused on driving a superior customer experience across its national footprint through our supplier managed model,” said Mark Hjelle, CEO at Protos, in the company’s official announcement.

Mulligan Security has delivered security, fire safety, and facility protection services across commercial, healthcare, and museums throughout New York City for over 30 years.

Steve Jones, Global Chairman and CEO of Allied Universal, commented that the acquisition is intended to extend the company’s regional footprint in the Northeastern U.S. and boost its local service capabilities.

ASAP Service Reduces Call Handling Time by 33+ Hours a Month at Riverside, California 911 Center

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The Monitoring Association (TMA) announced that the City of Riverside, California’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) has saved an estimated 24,462 minutes—over 33 hours a month—in 2024 alone by using TMA’s ASAP Service to process alarm and sensor notifications.

The estimate is based on an average savings of two minutes per call for 12,231 alarm notifications processed via ASAP Service in 2024, bypassing the traditional multiple voice calls required to gather dispatch and response details.

“The streamlined call-handling enabled our telecommunicators to focus more on priority 911 emergencies, which was especially beneficial during periods of high call volume,” Brandt said. “ASAP Service has been a valuable tool for our center, and I’m surprised that more agencies haven’t adopted it.”

Riverside’s ECC handles emergency calls and dispatches police, fire/rescue, and emergency medical response. In 2024, the center handled more than 756,000 calls for service. Given the large call volume, ECC officials sought a way to mitigate the impact of alarm/sensor notifications, which can require as many as five voice calls between an ECC’s telecommunicator and alarm monitoring center personnel to gather the necessary information for dispatching the appropriate response.

Consequently, the ECC implemented ASAP Service in 2023, for law enforcement-related alarm notifications, and the results have been eye-opening, according to Michelle Brandt, the city’s police/fire communications manager. In 2024, 12,231 alarm notifications were delivered directly to the center’s CAD system via the ASAP Service, dramatically reducing the number of manual phone calls between telecommunicators and alarm-monitoring center personnel.

ASAP Service was developed by TMA to lessen the impact of alarm/sensor notifications that typically enter an ECC over nonemergency administrative telephone lines. With ASAP Service in place, those notifications are automatically delivered to the ECC’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, providing all the information needed by ECC’s telecommunicators to dispatch the appropriate emergency response. This saves approximately two minutes per call on average, a significant amount of time during emergencies when lives are at stake and every second counts.

ASAP Service leverages the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP). The protocol was developed jointly by TMA and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). ASAP Service also leverages the Alarm Verification Scoring standard (ANSI/TMA AVS-01), which identifies five scoring levels to help telecommunicators prioritize the severity of an alarm/sensor notification.

Learn more about how TMA’s ASAP Service is saving lives every day nationwide at www.ASAP911.org.

Vector Security®, Inc. Earns Prestigious UL Alarm Validation Scoring (AVS-01) Standard Certification

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Vector Security®, Inc., announced its achievement of UL Alarm Validation Scoring (AVS-01) standard certification, a significant milestone that further solidifies its commitment to improving alarm verification and emergency dispatch communication between alarm monitoring centers and first responders.

With this achievement, Vector Security becomes one of less than 10 alarm monitoring companies nationwide to earn this certification.

Developed by The Monitoring Association (TMA) and UL Solutions, AVS-01 establishes best practices for burglar alarm monitoring to ensure first responders receive accurate, prioritized information. By implementing a scoring system ranging from Level 0 (no call for service) to Level 4 (threat to life), the standard provides emergency responders with actionable, prioritized alarm information, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently and effectively.

“AVS-01 enables improved collaboration with law enforcement to better prioritize the safety and security of our customers by assigning the appropriate level of response to burglar alarms,” said Josh Studeny, Director of Central Station Services for Vector Security. “Achieving this certification underscores Vector Security’s dedication to protecting our communities through faster, more accurate emergency response, as well as our pioneering efforts to reduce false alarms. By adopting this standard, we’re not only enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of alarm responses but also strengthening our role as a trusted partner to law enforcement and the customers we serve.”

For Vector Security customers, this means increased peace of mind knowing their safety is supported by a standardized prioritization system for burglar alarms. For first responders, it ensures resources are allocated efficiently and appropriately for the emergency at hand. As a whole, communities benefit from improved public safety and resource management.

Vector Security was awarded the certification after evaluation by UL for utilizing enhanced call verification; designating and detailing the appropriate threat level to emergency centers; and internal auditing for ongoing operator coaching and training.

TSi Stands Apart With ISO 42001 AI Certification

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As part of its unwavering commitment to innovation and ethical technology adoption, Tech Systems Inc. (TSi) is proud to announce it has earned the ISO/IEC 42001 Certification, the world’s first international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS). The certification was conducted by Schellman Compliance, LLC, an ANAB and UKAS accredited Certification Body.

Published in December 2023 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO/IEC 42001 sets a global framework for responsible AI management across an organization’s lifecycle. It promotes transparency, fairness, accountability, and safeguards against unintended bias and misuse.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the security industry, manufacturers and system integrators alike are being challenged to implement and manage increasingly complex technologies. TSi’s achievement of ISO 42001 ensures the company remains a leader in the ethical and responsible integration of AI systems.

“This new certification will allow TSi to establish, maintain, and continuously improve AI management for our clients,” said TSi President, Wayne Smith. “AI is being rapidly integrated into the core of security solutions. Our ability to manage data quality, privacy, and algorithmic transparency will be essential as this technology becomes pervasive in our clients’ critical infrastructure.”

TSi’s history with ISO standards is long and distinguished. The company is already certified in ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 27001 for information security. With the addition of ISO 42001, TSi becomes one of the few security integrators in the industry to hold all three certifications, demonstrating comprehensive compliance across physical, digital, and now AI-based systems.

“Achieving ISO 42001 was no small feat,” added Smith. “But we believe it’s necessary to maintain our commitment to fanatical customer service. In the near future, clients won’t just prefer certified AI standards…they’ll require them. We want our clients to know we’re already there.”

TSi is a leading security systems integrator that brings subsystems together through planning, design, implementation, and service. Its signature F.O.C.U.S.™ services provide 24/7 unconditional support, with guaranteed on-site response and 100% functionality upon completion of every service call.

In addition to achieving ISO 42001 Certification, TSi has recently announced plans to bring its unique, customer-first approach to international markets, a natural next step in its mission to deliver extraordinary service and secure infrastructure around the globe.

To learn more about TSi and its innovative approach to integrated security solutions, visit www.techsystemsinc.com.

Elite Interactive Receives Strategic Investment From CIVC Partners

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Elite Interactive Solutions, the industry pioneer in remote video guarding and real-time crime prevention, is excited to announce an investment from Chicago-based private equity firm CIVC Partners. The transaction, coordinated by security-sector investment bank Barnes Associates, marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of both Elite and the broader remote guarding industry.

“This is a defining moment not just for Elite, but for the entire category of proactive security,” said Aria Kozak, founder of Elite and a 2024 inductee into the Security Industry Hall of Fame. “After an exhaustive process, CIVC emerged as the ideal partner to help us scale our vision. This strategic investment enables us to fully capitalize on our unmatched ability to prevent crime, drive apprehensions, and deliver industry-leading customer retention.”

Founded in 2007, Elite is widely recognized as the category leader in remote guarding, delivering a proven solution that consistently outperforms traditional guard services at a fraction of the cost. With a nationwide footprint across retail, multifamily, automotive, industrial, and campus markets — and an enterprise-focused client base — Elite is the first security firm to eliminate false alarms at scale and maintains a Law Enforcement Advisory Board made up of former police chiefs.

CIVC Partners, which has deployed more than $2.9 billion of capital across 88 platform investments since 1989, will provide both capital and strategic guidance to further accelerate Elite’s growth trajectory. Houlihan Lokey advised CIVC on the transaction.

“This is a milestone deal for the industry and a transformational opportunity for Elite,” said Michael Zatulov, who has been promoted to CEO as part of the growth initiative. “Private businesses and public agencies are increasingly overwhelmed by crime and ineffective security measures. Elite has already proven it can deliver exceptional results at scale. With CIVC’s backing, we are poised to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and build a truly next-generation security platform.”

Zatulov, who joined Elite in 2017 and most recently served as president and COO, succeeds Kozak as CEO. Kozak will remain actively involved as chairman of the board.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to learn from and work alongside Aria,” added Zatulov. “His legacy as a pioneer in this space is unmatched, and I’m humbled to continue the mission he started — to reimagine security as a proactive, intelligence-driven service.”

About CIVC Partners

CIVC Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm investing in high growth business services companies. Since 1989, the firm has invested more than $2.9 billion in 88 platforms and manages capital from CIVC Partners Fund VII. Learn more at civc.com.

About Elite Interactive Solutions

Elite Interactive Solutions is the leading provider of remote guarding and crime prevention services. In 2024 alone, Elite directly prevented nearly 80,000 crimes and assisted in more than 1,000 arrests and detainments. Its four-pillar model — technology, people, practices, and partnerships — delivers unmatched results and value. Elite was honored with The Monitoring Association’s 2024 Monitoring Technology Marvel Award and ranks No. 25 on the SDM 100. Visit eliteisi.com to learn more.

JamAlert Awarded Best in Show at ESX 2025 Innovation Awards

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Digital Monitoring Products (DMP) is honored to announce that JamAlert™, the revolutionary new cellular jamming detection device, has been awarded Best in Show at ESX’s 2025 Innovation Awards. According to ESX.com, the Innovation Awards “identify the next-gen products and services that will offer significant growth opportunities for dealers, integrators and monitoring centers.”

Security industry manufacturers and service providers could enter new products that had been released since January 1, 2024. Judges selected the top ten overall to compete in the TechVision Challenge, held live at ESX to determine the Best in Show award winner.

JamAlert instantly notifies the control panel when cellular communication is being compromised, empowering security professionals to stay ahead of the threat of cellular jammers, a growing industry-wide problem. Production and distribution of cellular jammers is on the rise in the U.S. These illegal devices are being used to defeat alarm system communications, allowing thieves to enter compromised facilities undetected. When jammed, cellular alarm signals never make it to the monitoring center and no authorities are dispatched. By detecting cellular jamming on multiple frequencies, JamAlert offers a way to mitigate potential losses.

“Competing in the TechVision Challenge was thrilling,” said Aaron McGhee, product manager of control panels at DMP. “We developed this device based on requests and feedback from our customers. This type of innovation is what makes DMP products exceptional.”

“JamAlert is positioned to make a huge impact in the industry,” added Jon Adams, vice president of sales at DMP. “The fact that it works with DMP and non-DMP panels offers a wide variety of applications. It’s a security system for your security system.”

JamAlert can be added to intrusion systems in retail stores, financial institutions, businesses and homes for an extra layer of protection against the growing threat of jamming devices that interrupt cellular alarm transmission.

Learn more at DMP.com/JamAlert.