The Monitoring Association (TMA) and Security Sales & Integration (SSI) announced the finalists for the TMA/SSI 2023 Monitoring Technology “Marvel” Award. They are:
This award honors innovations in monitoring center technology. It is co-sponsored by TMA and Security Sales & Integration (SSI) and coordinated by the TMA Technology Committee.
The purpose of the Marvel Award is to provide recognition for monitoring centers creating and/or using cutting-edge technology to raise awareness of these new technologies. “The monitoring industry is experiencing exponential shifts as new technology emerges,” said TMA Technology Committee Co-Chair Sascha Kylau, OneTel Security. “Our goal with this award is to bring those monitoring centers and their partners who are demonstrating how new technologies are allowing security monitoring providers to reach new levels of efficiency and service. It’s exciting to see the evolution first hand.”
The Marvel will be presented to one overall winner for the “best adoption of new technology to advance your business.” Submission categories included:
The TMA/SSI 2023 Marvel Technology Award will be presented on April 17th in a virtual awards ceremony. The winner will be featured in the August 2023 Monitoring Issue of SSI. Runners-up will also receive coverage in the issue.
TMA welcomes its 121st and 122nd ECCs to its ASAP-to-PSAP service – the Snohomish County WA 911 (Sno911) in Washington and the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority (NRV 911 Authority) in Virginia.
Snohomish County WA #121
The Snohomish County WA 911 (Sno911) is the 121st ECC in the United States and the 5th agency in the state of Washington to implement the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP). The Snohomish County ECC went live January 31st, 2023, with: Vector Security, Rapid Response Monitoring, Security Central, Guardian Protection, Securitas, United Central Control, National Monitoring Center, Johnson Controls (Tyco), Affiliated Monitoring, Protection One, Brinks, Stanley Security, Vivint and ADT.
Andie Burton, Director of Operations, Snohomish County said, “The installation of the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol program into our system will streamline and increase efficiency of processing various alarm calls for service. Use of the program will also free up call takers to answer other incoming 9-1-1 calls. In a large Emergency Communications Center environment, preserving these precious resources will help provide better service to our community.”
New River Valley (Montgomery County) VA #122
The New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority (NRV 911 Authority) is the 122nd ECC in the United States and the 22nd agency in the state of Virginia to implement the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP). The NRV 911 Authority went live February 27, 2023 with: Rapid Response Monitoring, Vector Security, Stanley Security, Securitas, Protection One, United Central Controls, National Monitoring Center, Guardian Protection, Affiliated Monitoring, Brinks Home Security, Vivint, Security Central, CPI Security, Johnson Controls (Tyco) and ADT.
Learn more about ASAP-to-PSAP service HERE.
Please join TMA in a meeting with the industry automation vendors to discuss TMA-AVS-01 implementation on March 28th, 3:30-5:00pm in Las Vegas, NV (see complete details below). For those unable to join us in-person, TMA is exploring a virtual alternative.
The meeting goals are:
There will also be time reserved for Q&A.
DATE/TIME: March 28th, 3:30-5:00pm
LOCATION:
Keep Memory Alive Event Center
888 W Bonneville Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
Please RSVP at http://tma.us/events/automation-vendor-meeting/
The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of James Marcella to the chairmanship of its Government Relations Committee. In this important role, Marcella will lead TMA’s state and local advocacy efforts and often partner with the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) on legislative initiatives. A longtime TMA member and volunteer contributor, Marcella is currently the director, Industry Associations, for Massachusetts-based Axis Communications.
“James has been a valued member and volunteer within the TMA community for more than a decade. He possesses quite a broad spectrum of knowledge relative to security industry technology, best practices, and business trends, which make him ideally suited for this important role within TMA,” stated Morgan Hertel, president, TMA. “His unique insights into key legislative issues impacting security industry businesses, as well as the state and local legislative process, are especially valuable to the TMA community at this time.”
Learn more about TMA’s Government Relations Committee at http://tma.us/about/our-committees/#toggle-id-11.
The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Scott R. Elkins, CEO, Zeus Fire and Security, to its Board of Directors. An accomplished and highly respected security industry executive, Elkins was appointed by TMA President Morgan Hertel to fill in a vacancy in the Board of Directors.
TMA President Morgan Hertel shared, “Scott brings more than three decades of security industry knowledge and experience to his new role within TMA. He is a passionate leader and is deeply committed to excellence in all aspects of his work. His unique insights to business and technology will assuredly be an asset to our Board and to our membership community as we evolve to meet the changing landscape of our industry.”
“It is an honor to be appointed to the TMA Board of Directors. I have dedicated my entire professional career to this industry and TMA has been an invaluable resource to me and companies along the way. Every industry needs a strong governing association, and we are so fortunate to have TMA serve that role for the Monitoring Industry,” stated Elkins. “The opportunity to give back is appreciated and one I do not take lightly. It is a privilege to serve with so many dedicated industry professionals, many of whom who have been long-term friends and colleagues. I believe that TMA’s best days are ahead of it as we continue to support this amazing industry in these new, challenging, and exciting times.”
The Monitoring Association (TMA) welcomed Dynamark Monitoring, Inc. to its growing list of ASAP-to-PSAP connected monitoring centers – bringing the total number to 29. Launched in 2011 as a public-private partnership, TMA’s ASAP service is designed to increase the accuracy and efficiency of calls for service from alarm monitoring centers to Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs)/PSAPs.
“Dynamark Monitoring, Inc. is thrilled to go live with TMA’s ASAP-to-PSAP service. The journey, while long, has proven well worth the effort. All our processing times have been reduced, which allows our team to provide quicker and more accurate emergency response to our customers. We look forward to adding more locations with our goal to be online with every city across the nation where ASAP-to-PSAP is available. Many thanks to the TMA staff, Bill Hobgood, and our own Donia Cook for their hard work,” said J. Keith Godsey, COO, Dynamark Monitoring, Inc.
Pam Petrow, chair, TMA ASAP-to-PSAP Committee, remarked, “With the addition of new companies like Dynamark Monitoring, Inc. that demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the protection of life and property, our list of ASAP-to-PSAP connected monitoring centers continues to grow. In tandem, TMA’s ability to offer this leading-edge service across the U.S. expands as well.”
Based in Hagerstown, MD, Dynamark Monitoring, Inc. is a UL, FM, TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center serving over 1,000 dealers throughout the U.S. Its technologically advanced platform, which includes its award-winning Instant Connect Response Platform, enables the company to exceed established industry standards in alarm delivery speed and reliability when seconds count.
Learn more about TMA’s ASAP-to-PSAP service at www.tma.us/asap/.
The Monitoring Association (TMA) Standards Committee has received confirmation that its TMA-AVS-01 Alarm Validation Standard has received official ANSI accreditation. Initiated in 2020, the standard provides a method of creating an alarm scoring or classification metric for unauthorized human activity detected by alarm systems. The alarm scoring will assist law enforcement with resource allocation and Call-for-Service prioritization. The standard is available for download at http://tma.us/standards/tma-avs-01-alarm-validation-standard/.
“I am extremely proud of the Committee’s work to bring this game-changing standard to completion. My sincere thanks to those in the security industry and the public safety community who participated in this collaboration,” TMA-AVS-01 Committee Chair Mark McCall commented. “Now begins the equally important work of implementing this standard into both communities, bringing significant benefits to both and to our mutual customers.”
The TMA-AVS-01 Standard Committee was composed of more than 60 participants, representing diverse stakeholders, such as professionals from the security industry, law enforcement, and public safety.
TMA’s President Morgan Hertel observed the significant impact of the new standard on the security industry. “It’s been almost four years since its inception, which includes two years of actual work on this standard. We have finally reached the point where it’s ready to launch. This is the biggest change in the intrusion industry since the release of the digital dialer.”
TMA-AVS-01 establishes standardized methods for calculating an alarm score, or classification level, that results in a repeatable metric that estimates the validity or potential threat level of an intrusion alarm activation using historical and real-time data.
Once completed and implemented, Call-for-Service to Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs)/Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) will include a standardized scoring metric that will assist public safety departments with their alarm response policies.
The standard identified four alarm Levels:
David Holl, director of Public Safety, Lower Allen Township Department of Public Safety (PA), and one of the TMA-AVS-01 Committee co-chairs, remarked “ECCs/PSAPs are the leading-edge in processing citizen calls for service and communicating active alarm event data to law enforcement responders. TMA-AVS-01 will shift the paradigm and provide enhanced strategic information to greatly improve officer response logistics, officer safety, and impact more efficient and effective alarm call management. The development and evolution of this scoring standard has been an impressive collaborative effort of the alarm industry community and public safety professionals. It will change the way we all manage and respond to alarm events.”
“AVS-01 changes everything. The security industry now has a unified method for security alarm reporting, as well as a new level of partnership with public safety. This standard was only possible with the exchange of ideas, experiences, sometimes robust dialogue, and commitment of public safety and the security alarm industry. I am so very proud of this standard and cannot wait to see the results for our communities and customers. Specifically, a priority response can now be requested based on corroborating information. AVS-01 provides better information to public safety helping them prioritize their resources and save lives,” stated TMA-AVS-01 Committee Co-Chair Larry Folsom.
TMA is in the process of developing targeted online training for monitoring center personnel, law enforcement, and ECC/PSAP staff. Additionally, discussions with monitoring center software and automation providers have been initiated to provide for necessary updates in line with the standard’s validation and scoring classification.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Bryan Ginn at bginn@tma.us.
At year end, New York Governor Hochul signed the Fair Repair Act into law, making it easier for consumers to repair their own electronic devices. Fortunately, in response to concerns raised by AICC and members of the alarm industry, the Governor simultaneously enacted amendments to the Act to help prevent the compromise of alarm systems in a way that would endanger customers and the public.
The original version of the Act (S. 4104-A) would have required manufacturers of “digital electronic equipment”, including alarm systems, to make product manuals, repair tools, lockout codes, passwords, system design schematics and other information available to customers and third-party contractors, so that they can attempt repairs on their own. Both houses of the New York legislature passed the bill in June 2022. Before the bill was forwarded to the Governor for signing, AICC and members of the alarm industry weighed in with a request asking for chapter amendments to the Act, so as to exempt central station alarm operations from the disclosure requirements in the bill. AICC pointed out that if access codes, passwords, or alarm system schematics are provided to customers or their contractors, and then either hacked or innocently made public (e.g., as part of a You Tube self-help video), it could allow bad actors to disable alarm systems, endangering tens or hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.
The Governor’s amendment to the Fair Repair Act was responsive to alarm industry concerns in multiple ways:
Provided courtesy of AICC.
The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) President Morgan Hertel announced the establishment of the Louis T. Fiore Electronic Communications Scholarship on Mon., Oct. 31st during the TMA General Business Meeting at the 2022 Annual Meeting on Marco Island, FL. The scholarship honors Mr. Fiore’s enduring contribution to the alarm industry and the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) and is intended to promote careers in electronic communications.
“How do you recognize someone who’s given his heart and soul for more than 30 years to an organization?” asked President Hertel when introducing the new scholarship. “Lou has served the alarm industry in many capacities. We wanted to honor his immeasurable contributions in an everlasting manner to make certain he and his work is never forgotten.” The room rose with a standing ovation as Fiore approached the stage to accept a small token of recognition from President Hertel.
“I am honored. As chair of the AICC for 30 years, I worked hard to make certain the Committee and its members thrived. The work was very close to my heart. Thank you very much. This is incredible,” stated Fiore in his acceptance comments.
The scholarship is open to anyone studying electrical engineering, specifically electronic communications, or software development related to electronic communications, regardless of financial need. Students at any nationally accredited educational institution, including vocational schools, two-year colleges, or other institutions of higher learning are eligible.
For more information on this scholarship, including donating, go to http://tma.us/louis-t-fiore-electronic-communications-scholarship/
Pictured (l to r): Bill Signer, Carmen Group; Ret. U.S. Rep. Peter T. King [R-NY]; and Louis T. Fiore
