The Spring Issue of the TMA Dispatch is Now Available!

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Don’t miss the spring issue of the TMA Dispatch, which is available for download here: http://tma.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/21SpringDispatch_FINAL.pdf

This issue’s cover story explores TMA education and how members approach and value education for their employees.

Our legal column confronts employer issues relevant to employees returning to the workplace. Read up to be certain that you continue to protect employees’ health, as well as your business.

We tackle FirstNet in our Technology column and the Research column takes an up close and personal look at the future of home health care.

Be sure to check out the preview of our upcoming Mid-Year Meeting, too!

These and more!

Read it now!

TMA’s ASAP-to-PSAP Program Marks its 79th and 80th ECCs

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The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce the addition its 79th and 80th municipalities to go live with its expanding ASAP-to-PSAP program. Launched in 2011 as a public-private partnership, TMA’s ASAP-to-PSAP service is designed to increase the accuracy and efficiency of calls for service from alarm companies to PSAPs.

“TMA’s ASAP-to-PSAP program experienced nice momentum in 2020 with a new annual adoption record of 18 ECCs across the country,” stated TMA President Don Young. “As the network of ASAP compatible ECCs continues to grow, those not yet using the service are learning firsthand from their colleagues about the time and accuracy improvements that come with ASAP and therefore the enhanced capability for saving lives in the alarm response process. TMA remains proud to deliver this unique service to its members and accomplish their mission for providing professional monitoring capabilities to help better protect life and property in both residential and commercial settings.”

TMA welcomed its 79th ECC, the Cayuga County NY 9-1-1 Center and the 6th ECC in the state of New York to implement ASAP. Cayuga County first went live with Vector Security and Rapid Response Monitoring. A second wave of companies including ADT, Amherst Alarm, Affiliated Monitoring, AT&T Digital Life, Guardian Protection, Brinks Home Security, National Monitoring Center, Protection One, Security Central, Tyco (Johnson Controls), Vivint, and Doyle went live with Cayuga County just days later.

“This is a seamless procedure allowing alarm companies to transfer alarm activations and the data associated directly to our computer aided dispatch system”, said Denise Spingler, Cayuga County 9-1-1 Administrator. “This allows for a more expedited dispatch of emergency services.”

The Paradise Valley AZ Police Communications Center is the 80th Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in the United States and 4th ECC in the state of Arizona to implement ASAP. Paradise Valley went live with Affiliated Monitoring, AT&T Digital Life, ADT, Alert 360, Guardian Protection, Brinks Home Security, National Monitoring Center, Protection One, Rapid Response Monitoring (plus A3 Smart Home), Security Central, Tyco (Johnson Controls), Vivint, and Securitas over a two day period in mid-December.

TMA Welcomes New Team Member

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The Monitoring Association [TMA] is pleased to announce the addition of Ms. Tara R. Compher to its headquarters’ staff. In her new role as TMA’s Programs and Administrative Coordinator, Ms. Compher will oversee TMA’s Five Diamond, IQ, and FirstNet programs, in addition to assisting with CRM data management and other projects and serving as the staff liaison to TMA’s NextGen group.

“Tara brings a broad range of valuable business and administrative experience to TMA,” stated TMA Executive Director Celia T. Besore. “In her previous roles, Tara demonstrated an outstanding commitment to quality and to customer service, which make her ideally suited to this pivotal, customer-focused position within our organization.”
“I am excited for this new chapter in my life, but more importantly, I am looking forward to helping The Monitoring Association achieve their mission of creating a safer world for everyone,” said Ms. Compher.

Prior to accepting her new position within TMA, Ms. Compher worked for the U.S. Courts as a probation clerk and as a front office coordinator in a dental practice.

Ms. Compher can be reaching by email at tcompher@tma.us.

Eastern Bank Welcomes Alarm Detection Systems, Inc. As A Commercial Customer

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Eastern Bank is pleased to announce Alarm Detection Systems, Inc. as a new commercial banking customer. Family owned and operated since it was founded in 1968, Illinois-based Alarm Detection Systems (ADS) is one of the largest security companies in the United States according to rankings by SDM Magazine and offers both business and home security systems. Eastern is providing a full banking solution to ADS, which includes a revolving line of credit for working capital and expansion plans as well as comprehensive cash management services and solutions.

Eastern provides a range of commercial financing offerings to help companies across many industries to improve cash flow, increase efficiencies and build for the future. Commercial lending solutions include working capital/lines of credit, equipment/term loans, real estate loans, acquisition financing and asset based lending.

12/17 Virtual Town Hall – AT&T 3G Sunset: Appeal for Extension

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As many of you know, AT&T and Verizon have announced sunsets for their 3G networks. AT&T is calling for a sunset date of February 22, 2022 and Verizon is calling for a sunset of December of 2022 – 10 months later.

Join us for this special TMA Virtual Town Hall to learn what you can do to prevent 6,000,000 alarm industry radios becoming dysfunctional.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the industry is seeking a longer transition period before AT&T sunsets its 3G network. For that reason, we are asking elected officials to reach out to AT&T and urge them to push back their sunset to December 2022 which would make AT&T’s sunset the same time as Verizon’s proposed sunset, citing the pandemic as the reason.

Because of the Coronavirus many of our members’ customers have been reluctant to have alarm technicians enter their homes and businesses to upgrade their equipment to it compatible with newer networks.

Register to attend this special Virtual Town Hall to learn more about this issue, its potential impact on your business and its customers, and how you can best support this appeal.

Our Speakers
  • Bill Springer, The Carmen Group (AICC Lobbyist)
  • Lou Fiore, Chair, AICC

REGISTER

Honoring Our Veterans, November 2020

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TMA is proud to honor those within our community who have served in the U.S. and Canadian military today, Veterans’ Day, November, 11, 2020.

We invited members to share details of their service and photos to mark this special day.

You may view a presentation of our 2020 honorees HERE.

The TMA Board of Directors and staff extend heartfelt gratitude to all of those who have served and sacrificed.

TMA President Appoints New Committee Chairs

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The Associate Members’ Liaison Committee and the Proprietary Council both welcomed new chairs in October.

Jennifer Holloway, CIBC Bank USA, is joining DMP Vice President of Marketing Mark Hillenburg, as co-chair of the Associate Members’ Liaison Committee, which represents suppliers and Associate Members to the TMA Board of Directors. “As a long-time member of the Associate Members’ Liaison Committee I look forward to partnering with Mark Hillenburg to represent my fellow associate members’ needs and concerns on the TMA Board and with general membership,” Holloway stated. “Every member plays a role in reaching TMA’s goals, and I am grateful to have this new opportunity as co-chair.”

With the resignation of TMA’s longtime Proprietary Council Chair Dan Jackman, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Don Young appointed Michele Levcik, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., to the position of Council chairman. “I am very excited and honored for the opportunity to serve on the TMA board. My goals are to increase proprietary participation and retention and continue to build relationships and knowledge in the industry,” commented Levcik.

Richard Flores, Puget Sound Energy, will support Levcik on the Proprietary Council as her new vice-chair. Flores has served as the Council’s Secretary since 2017.

DMP to Introduce its FirstNet Ready™ alarm panels in Nov. 4th VPR

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Register now to attend TMA’s next Virtual Product Review (VPR) where DMP will introduce its groundbreaking FirstNet Ready™ alarm panels.

FirstNet is built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority and is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built specifically for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. It’s the solution to decades-long interoperability and communications challenges first responders have long been experiencing.

“The FirstNet network is an important step forward in our nationwide first responder infrastructure, and DMP is pleased to support public safety nationwide,” says Mark Hillenburg, vice president of Marketing at DMP. “Also, we are very excited to work with The Monitoring Association (TMA) and AT&T to deliver alarm panel communications using the highly secure and reliable FirstNet service.”

The transmission of public safety related alarms via FirstNet Ready™ alarm panels qualifies for FirstNet extended primary service. Alarm service companies qualify to use the FirstNet network by first obtaining a TMA Certificate of Verification that verifies they are in compliance with accepted Alarm Industry Standards. The Certificate of Verification ensures the company transmits public safety related alarms (e.g. burglary, fire, emergency medical) to a central monitoring station that confirms and verifies the authenticity of the alarm before notifying a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for relay to a public safety agency for the purpose of initiating an emergency response. In addition to the TMA certification, alarm service providers must enter into a FirstNet Agreement with AT&T before they can offer FirstNet Ready alarm panels with FirstNet service.

With DMP’s FirstNet Ready communicator, the XR Series control panels are among the first available for use on the FirstNet network. This gives alarm companies the advantage of using Band 14 – nationwide, high-quality spectrum set aside by the federal government specifically for FirstNet.

How to use the FirstNet Network for Alarm Panel Communication
Wed., Nov. 4, 2020 | 2:30PM/EST

Speakers:
Mark Hillenburg, Vice President of Marketing, DMP
Aaron McGhee – Product Manager, Control Panels, DMP

REGISTER

Spector, Schmit Honored For TMA and Industry Contributions

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On October 21, 2020, in the course of TMA’s General Membership Meeting, TMA President Don Young had the honor of presenting TMA’s two highest awards – Stanley C. Lott Award for Exemplary Service and the Mel Mahler Award for Outstanding Service to the Monitoring Industry.

Stanley C. Lott Award for Exemplary Service Presented to Ivan Spector, President, Sentinelle Alarms
In presenting the award, President Young stated, “This year the award is given to a man who has not only served TMA through many leadership positions on committees and the TMA Board, but who was a founding member and longtime board member of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC).

In addition, he has been a leader in advancing alarm management in both Canada and the United States. For CANASA, he served on the Board of Directors, was national president, and chair of the Response Committee. In that role he proved instrumental in driving many false dispatch reduction initiatives. He is also a Superior Court of Canada-acknowledged and accepted expert witness.
This year’s winner is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal and is the owner of Sentinel Alarm. I am pleased to award the 2020 Stanley C. Lott Memorial Award to Ivan Spector.”

Mel Mahler Award for Outstanding Service to the Monitoring Industry Presented to Steve A. Schmit, Senior Staff Engineer, UL
In presenting the award, President Young commented, “When deciding on a recipient for this year’s Award, one name came immediately to mind. He is an individual who has served our industry for more than 39 years, but with the onset of Covid 19 earlier this year, he worked tirelessly on behalf of the TMA membership to develop work at home standards that would allow our industry to continue to operate under safe conditions. This year’s winner is an experienced Engineering Manager with a history of working in the public safety industry.

He holds a BS in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serves as Senior Staff Engineer for Underwriters Laboratories. I am very grateful for all of the help and guidance this year’s recipient provided on the establishment of the new standard and I am honored to present this year’s Mel Mahler Award to Steve Schmit.”

Please join TMA in congratulating Ivan and Steve on these esteemed honors.

DMP to introduce new FirstNet Ready™ alarm panels in TMA VPR, Nov. 4th

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FirstNet™ is built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority and is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built specifically for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. It’s the solution to decades-long interoperability and communications challenges first responders have long been experiencing.

“The FirstNet network is an important step forward in our nationwide first responder infrastructure, and DMP is pleased to support public safety nationwide,” says Mark Hillenburg, vice president of Marketing at DMP. “Also, we are very excited to work with The Monitoring Association (TMA) and AT&T to deliver alarm panel communications using the highly secure and reliable FirstNet service.”

The transmission of public safety related alarms via FirstNet Ready™ alarm panels qualifies for FirstNet extended primary service. Alarm service companies qualify to use the FirstNet network by first obtaining a TMA Certificate of Verification that verifies they are in compliance with accepted Alarm Industry Standards. The Certificate of Verification ensures the company transmits public safety related alarms (e.g. burglary, fire, emergency medical) to a central monitoring station that confirms and verifies the authenticity of the alarm before notifying a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for relay to a public safety agency for the purpose of initiating an emergency response. In addition to the TMA certification, alarm service providers must enter into a FirstNet Agreement with AT&T before they can offer FirstNet Ready alarm panels with FirstNet service.

Benefits for the Alarm Industry

With DMP’s FirstNet Ready communicator, the XR Series control panels are among the first available for use on the FirstNet network. This gives alarm companies the advantage of using Band 14 – nationwide, high-quality spectrum set aside by the federal government specifically for FirstNet.

Register now to attend:

How to use the FirstNet™ Network for Alarm Panel Communication
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020 | 2:00PM/EST

Speakers:

  • Mark Hillenburg, Vice President of Marketing, DMP
  • Aaron McGhee, Product Manager, Control Panels, DMP

REGISTER