New Year…Exciting New Beginnings

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As some of you may recall, Mallory Todd left TMA about a year ago to pursue new career opportunities. She served in an administrative capacity, supporting all of us at TMA in many ways. With the onset of COVID-19 about the time of her departure and the uncertainty that ensued, we opted to delay a search for her replacement. In true team fashion, the remaining six staff members picked up and carried on, but we sorely missed having someone in that pivotal role.

But, with the turn of the calendar, TMA added a new staff member! We are so excited to welcome Ms. Tara R. Compher to our headquarters’ team. In her new role as TMA’s Programs and Administrative Coordinator, Tara 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.   

Please join us in welcoming Tara to our community! She can be reached at tcompher@tma.us.

sunset, sea, horizon

Just Announced – Verizon to Delay 3G Sunset until Jan. 1, 2023

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AICC Chair Lou Fiore shared recently released news from Verizon of their delayed 3G Sunset target date today. In an article written by Mike Dano, Editorial Director for Light Reading, Verizon spokesperson Kevin King stated, “that’s the “absolute last possible date” for the shutdown.” Dano wrote, “Verizon continues to work to move customers off its […]

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UL’s 2021 Monitoring Station Audit – Information Update

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Steve Schmit, UL, prepared this update on 2021 Monitoring Center Audits and asked TMA to share it. You may download a PDF of the update from the TMA website.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 brought the concepts of remote inspection, virtual audits, and working from home into full-fledged practical use, at a speed few would have predicted. The experience was a dramatic demonstration of the value of collaborative problem solving and clear communications. In that spirit, UL would like to share plans for 2021.

Standards and Confirmation of Compliance

Developing requirements that aligned with COVID-19 public health risk mitigations brought focus and visibility to the Standards making process.  While the experience was new to many, TMA’s UL Standards committee has been productively engaged in driving change for many years and continues to work an active agenda intended to keep the Standards current and relevant.

As Standards change, UL’s Certification Programs do also, incorporating new technical requirements into the annual audit process for monitoring stations. The 2021 audit cycle will include focus on the last 2 sets of revisions to UL827, Standard for Central Stations Services

Work From Home

On October 27, 2020, UL827 was revised to adapt Sec 51, Operation During a Regional/National Disruption. These requirements were developed by a Task Group of monitoring industry subject matter experts and built on early UL Guidelines for operating during the pandemic (published on March 16). They achieved ANSI consensus through UL’s Collaborative Standards Development Process to become part of the American National Standard.

For purposes of application within UL’s Certificate Program, Sec 51 was considered effective upon publication. During the 2021 audit cycle, UL staff will assess compliance for stations using remotely located operators under current COVID-19 mitigation conditions, and those stations that plan to do so in the event of future national or regional disruptions.

In early April, UL will publish details intended to clarify the evidence of compliance that UL auditors will look for during the 2021 audit.

As the nation’s vaccination campaign progresses, governmental emergency declarations and associated health safety guidance will change. Early indications suggest that there will not be a universal “all clear†lifting of scientifically based health guidelines, but rather a gradual reduction in social distancing metrics, with dependency on vaccination status, COVID variant emergence, and other variables. UL envisions working with monitoring stations to determine applicability of Sec 51 requirements, based on conditions in their location, with the goal of distilling universal guidelines for handling the dynamically evolving situation.

At the same time, TMA’s UL Standards Committee is making a UL827 revision proposal for requirements that would enable a monitoring-from-home option under any conditions. The Committee has addressed concerns brought forward during the emergency conditions discussions, but the proposal is in the very early stages of the consensus process.

If adapted, stations will continue to have a continued monitor-from-home option. However, stations should start planning for returning operators to in-station duty in the event that there is a gap between lifting of emergency conditions and adoption of non-emergency condition home based monitoring requirements.

Cybersecurity and Power Supply Requirements

On April 11, 2019, UL827 was revised to include new requirements for secondary power supplies and cybersecurity measures. These requirements were developed by TMA’s UL Standards Committee and went through 2 public comment periods as part of the consensus process.

UL’s pre-pandemic 2020 audit plan included focus on compliance with these requirements. Those plans had to be deferred when priorities shifted to operating safely within health and safety mandates.

As shared in the Summer 2019 TMA Dispatch newsletter, revisions were made in Section 11, Power Supply, and Section 17, Central Station Automation Systems. Material that could have potentially significant impact includes secondary power requirements in paragraph 11.5.1 and Table 11.1, and cybersecurity requirements in paragraph 17.15, along with its references.

For purposes of application within UL’s Certificate Program, these requirements will be effective 12/31/2022. This means UL Certification beyond that date is contingent on demonstration of compliance.

UL’s formal notice to Certification holders will be sent in early April and will include a plain language explanation of the requirements. In addition, UL will offer Town Hall style webinars (date/time to be announced shortly) to review the requirements and audit expectations.

During the 2021 audit cycle, UL staff will assess compliance status with the new requirements. Corrective action on any items of noncompliance will be assessed during the 2022 audit cycle.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your UL auditor or any of the following:

Steve Schmit – steven.a.schmit@ul.com

Nancy Murphy – Nancy.Murphy@ul.com

Javier Olarte – Javier.Olarte@ul.com

Vector Security’s Petrow Joins Philadelphia Contributionship Board

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Vector Security President and CEO Pamela Petrow has been appointed to the board of directors of the Philadelphia Contributionship (TPC) Mutual Holding Co., the oldest property insurance company in the United States. Vector Security, based here, is a sister company of TPC. “We are pleased to welcome Ms. Petrow to The Philadelphia Contributionship Board of […]

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Wayne Alarm Systems Acquires North Shore Protection

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Wayne Alarm Systems, Inc., a local family owned and run life safety and security provider with UL central station monitoring, announced that it has acquired North Shore Protection, Inc.

The purchase further increases Wayne Alarm’s share in the greater Boston area as the company continues to grow and expand.

The combination of North Shore Protection with our company increases our market share, adds to our geographic presence and provides our new clients with even greater access to new security technologies including video, access control, fire and intrusion,” said Ralph Wayne Sevinor, President of Wayne Alarm Systems.

North Shore Protection, Inc., founded by Jim Wiswall and Richard Colangelo, has had a focus on premier security services for over 35 years, serving more than 700 customers in the Boston area.  Wayne Alarm has provided North Shore Protection with monitoring services from the beginning.

Because of the customer service and employee care provided by Wayne Alarm, Richard Colangelo, President of North Shore Protection stated that they would not entrust their customers to any other security company.

“It takes a great team to navigate the technological and customer demands of today and we are fortunate to have a great team at Wayne Alarm Systems,” added Sevinor. “Our goal is to be the best provider of life safety systems solutions by exceeding expectations in our Massachusetts service area.”

Due diligence for the acquisition was provided by TRG Associates, Inc., Dennis Raimo PC CPA, financing supported by Eastern Bank, and legal services by Finneran & Nicholson, P.C.

Longtime TMA Member Celebrates 90th Birthday

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Mac Hammond, a long time TMA member and, together, with his wife Bonnie, a long time association supporter, celebrated his 90th birthday in early May of this year. Both Mac and Bonnie, and indeed the larger family, are familiar faces to  TMA members who saw the family across the years at our association functions. TMA’s […]

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The Monitoring Association Welcomes its 50th FirstNet® Certificant

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The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce the addition its 50th FirstNet certificate, systems integrator Convergint Technologies, LLC. (Renton, WA). FirstNet is the nationwide public-safety wireless broadband network platform, built and deployed through a first‐of‐its‐kind public‐private partnership between the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and AT&T. The FirstNet Authority is an independent authority of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In April 2019, under an agreement with AT&T, TMA began issuing a Certificate of Verification to qualified alarm companies for the use of FirstNet services for alarm transport communications.

For companies to obtain a who meet accepted alarm industry standards that result in the transmission of public safety related alarms from systems designed primarily to protect life and/or property (e.g. robbery, burglary, unlawful intrusion, fire, emergency medical) to a Central Station Monitoring Facility that confirms and verifies the authenticity of the alarm and notifies a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for relay to a public safety agency for the purpose of initiating an emergency response.

Public‐safety related alarms are critical to alerting first responders of emergencies requiring their urgent response.

As we mentioned above, for an alarm services company to apply to use FirstNet services for alarm transport communications as an extended primary user in support of public safety, it must first verify compliance through receipt of a TMA Certificate of Verification.

The alarm services company can then seek approval for eligibility to use FirstNet services by presenting the TMA Certificate of Verification to AT&T along with their contract(s) and/or service order(s), or to another alarm services company who will be providing FirstNet services from AT&T.

The TMA Certificate of Verification must be renewed every 12 months from when the initial TMA Certificate is issued.

For more information, please contact Tara Compher at 703‐660‐4913 or tcompher@tma.us.

ADT Announces Executive Leadership Changes

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ADT today announced several changes to its leadership.

Jim Boyce, President, Chief Business Development Officer, has announced his decision to retire effective May 31, 2021. The company is grateful for Jim’s leadership, wisdom, and dedication, and for his many contributions as CEO of Defenders and its successful integration into ADT. Boyce will continue to advise the company’s President and CEO Jim DeVries on a consultative basis.

With Boyce’s retirement, Jeff Likosar has been named Chief Financial Officer and President, Corporate Development, and will assume responsibility for corporate strategy, business development, partnerships, and communications, in addition to his current responsibilities as CFO. Supporting Likosar will be company veteran Ken Porpora, who has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Finance.

Keith Holmes will join ADT later this month as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, reporting directly to DeVries. Holmes comes to ADT from Cox Communications, Inc., where he served most recently as Executive Vice President, Head of Cox Business. At ADT, Holmes will lead go-to-market activities and teams, including marketing, sales execution, offer development, and pricing – all key drivers of the company’s long-term revenue growth.

Don Young, who was serving as the company’s Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, Field Operations, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he will now also oversee all aspects of service delivery to customers.

Jill Greer joined ADT in April 2021 as Senior Vice President – Finance, Investor Relations and Communications, reporting to Jeff Likosar. Greer comes to ADT after a long career with Delta Air Lines, where she served as Vice President – Investor Relations.

“I want to congratulate Jim Boyce on a well-deserved retirement and thank him for being a trusted friend and partner for many years,” said ADT’s President and CEO Jim DeVries. “With Jim’s upcoming departure and our renewed focus on growth, we’ve realigned and enhanced our team, ensuring we’re building a strong leadership group that will serve ADT well into the future.”

Continental Access Introduces E-Access Readers

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Continental Access, a division of NAPCO Security Technologies is pleased to introduce their all-new E-Access Readers for Continental’s E-Access Embedded Access Control line.  E-Access readers feature ultra-fast transaction times, under a second, Wiegand & OSDP support, easy automated credential issuance and no-touch Bluetooth mobile credentials. Several models are available for standard and mullion applications, and also with digital keypad.

E-Access is Continental’s self-contained embedded solution, requiring no software to load, it’s quick & easy to deploy, ready out of the box, scalable from a couple doors to 256 doors, combining 1-Door, 2-Door and 4-Door controller models (expandable to 8 doors), and these new Readers. It offers hybrid access control in a cloud-based system, with the advantages of an on-premise access. Also featured are secure cloud-based remote management via any popular browser, i.e., Chrome, Safari and IE; as well as mobile App management on choice of smart devices.

For more information on Continental Access E-Access Readers download the new spec sheet at  https://cicaccess.com/media/pdfs/A793-E-Access-Reader-Spec.pdf,

TMA Members Named on SSN’s 40 Under 40

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Congratulations to TMA members named by SSN as a Top 40 Under 40.

System Integrators, Security Dealers, and Monitoring Pros:

  • Leif Boren, senior manager, dealer services, AvantGuard Monitoring
  • Daniel Clark, senior account manager, Rapid Response Monitoring
  • Jack Doyle, director of business development, Doyle Security
  • Tiffany Galarza, director of telecommunications, ADT
  • Jennifer Hall, director, service dispatch, Securitas Electronic Security
  • Jessica Lambert, director, monitoring operations, General Monitoring Services
  • Zack Morris, director – Commercial Careers Programs, ADT Commercial
  • Kathryn Schultz, marketing & sales coordinator, United Central Control
  • Eric Scrivana, operations project manager, COPS Monitoring

Security Consultants

  • Ryan Williams, Office Manager, The CMOOR Group

Read the full article online.