Experienced Call Blocking? Tell us!

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The FCC is seeking comment on any call blocking issues experienced by consumers, including central station alarm companies, in connection with the implementation and effectiveness of carrier opt-in and opt-out call blocking services.  Previously, we informed you that the FCC clarified in 2019 that carriers may block calls to consumers based on analytics, without the customer’s up-front consent, as long as customers can opt-out of such blocking.  We are aware that a number of carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, are providing opt-out and/or opt-in call blocking to their customers and in some cases, calls from a central station have been blocked or mislabeled as fraud. 

We seek to provide information to the FCC concerning any issues alarm companies have experienced in connection with call blocking with the goal of ensuring that calls from central stations responding to an alarm are not blocked or mislabeled.  Accordingly, if calls made by your central station in response to an alarm to either the customer or the PSAP have been blocked or mislabeled, we ask that you send such information to us no later than February 12, 2020 to allow us to present this information to the FCC.

Contact:

Celia T. Besore
Executive Director, TMA
ceo@tma.us

See the TMA Members Exhibiting at ISC West This Year

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ISC West 2020 is just weeks away (March 18-20). As you make your plans to meet with potential service and product partners there, be sure to take a look at the TMA members who will be exhibiting on the show floor or attending and open to meetings. 

Members of TMA’s staff, including Executive Director Celia T. Besore, will be attending the exhibits, as well. 

Be sure to check back often, as the list is growing each day.

See the current list.

TMA Opens Annual Awards Competitions – Apply by April 17th

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TMA is pleased to announce the opening of it two prestigious annual awards competitions for security monitoring centers and the professional staffs – TMA Excellence Awards and TMA/SSI Marvel Monitoring Technology Award (Marvel Award).

TMA’s Excellence Awards recognizes the achievements, performance, and dedication of both listed monitoring centers and key individuals (from any listed or non-listed monitoring centers) who work for monitoring centers. SDM magazine sponsors this award and offers editorial coverage for winners. Learn more about these awards.

The Marvel Award was established in 2018 to identify a monitoring center (listed or non-listed) for introducing new innovations in terms of internal processes, customer service, or new services. Our industry is rife with innovation! Enter the competition and show us what you proud of your team! Learn more about the Marvel Award.

The deadline for both award competition submissions is April 17, 2020. Awards will be presented at ESX 2020 in Nashville this June.

Questions? Call or email Leigh A. McGuire (703-660-4916). 

Speak at ESX 2020

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Apply online now through January 21st to speak at ESX 2020 in Nashville. Preview the session topics or submit a one of your own. Speaking to your peers is one of the valuable ways you can give back to the industry. Additionally, by sharing your experience and expertise with industry professionals, you’ll raise your professional and company brand. It’s a winning proposition!

Submit your application online

Tech Systems Inc. Earns Five Diamond Designation

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Join TMA in congratulating Buford, GA-based Tech Systems, Inc. for attaining TMA’s Five Diamond designation! 

TMA’s Five Diamond designation provides a competitive edge for monitoring centers who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their operations and customer service.

The designation is granted annually to monitoring centers that satisfy all of the requirements of the five points of excellence:

  1. Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL and UL.
  2. Commitment to the highest levels of customer service.
  3. Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its monitoring center operators certified using the TMA online training series.
  4. Commitment to raising the industry standards through TMA membership and participation in its activities.
  5. Commitment to reducing false dispatches.

In 2019, TMA launched a special designation for dealers who are serviced by Five Diamond designated monitoring centers. 

Learn more about the Five Diamond designation.

TMA Marks Its 70th Anniversary in 2020

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What began as a collective effort on the part of eight, forward-thinking security industry leaders on a cold night in 1949 has grown and evolved over seven decades to become The Monitoring Association (TMA), the preeminent, internationally-recognized non-profit trade association that represents professional monitoring companies, security systems integrators, and providers of products and services to the alarm industry. The Board of Directors and staff of TMA are proud to mark the organization’s 70th anniversary in 2020.

“This year, as the TMA community joins together to celebrate this historic milestone, I am honored to be its president and to have the great and humbling opportunity to recognize the amazing men and women whose joint innovation, dedication, leadership, and tenacity have positioned this organization and our industry to advance and thrive for seven decades,” stated TMA President Don Young. “If our past is indicative of our future, I am certain TMA’s relentless commitment to excellence and its tireless defense of security monitoring will continue to propel its members to great success in all aspects of their business.”

Personal remembrances will be shared throughout 2020 across all of TMA’s communications. A special celebration will take place at TMA’s 2020 Annual Meeting, Oct. 24-28 in Marco Island, Fla.

If anyone would care to share a remembrance, text or photo, please contact communications@tma.us.

TMA Members Exhibit at ISC East

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If you plan to attend ISC East in New York City, please take a moment to visit with TMA members who are exhibiting.

Alarm Tech Central Services, Inc., Booth 1443

All American Monitoring, Booth 51

Altronix Corporation, Booth 434

Alula, Booth 131

Anixter, 1B101

Axis Communications, Booth 329

The Bold Group, Booth 650
We are focused on central stations and proprietary companies that monitor events and alarms. We are showcasing the financial management division of our company, which has developed holistic, RMR generating accounting tools tailored to the unique challenges faced by central stations and integrators.
Onsite contact: Julie Longoria (juliel@boldgroup.com)
www.boldgroup.com

Bosch Security Systems, Inc., 1B05

Brivo Systems, Booth 350

COPS Monitoring, Booth 229

DMP, Booth 235

Ganz Security by CBC, Booth 726

Johnson Controls, Booth 1146

NAPCO Security Systems, Inc., Booth 203

Rapid Response Services, Inc., Booth 211

Security Communications Solutions International, Booth 739

Statewide Central Station, Booth 363

Telguard, A Division of Telular Corporation, Booth 113
Telguard, a brand of Telular Corporation, is a leader in cellular communications devices for security systems. Telguard combines devices, communications, video, interactive services and alarm processing into turnkey systems for monitoring intrusion, fire systems and home automation without a traditional landline. Telular Corporation is a business unit of AMETEK Inc. AMETEK Inc. (NYSE: AME) is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annualized sales of approximately $5 billion.
Onsite contact: Ryan Wallace (Ryan.L.Wallace@ametek.com 678-909-4607)
www.Telguard.com

 

ISC East, November 20-21
Javits Center NYC | ISCEast.com

Wage and Salary Survey Open

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The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) 2019 Wage and Salary Survey is now open. Companies from across the security industry are invited to participate in this year’s survey—from security dealers and system integrators to monitoring centers. The data collected will be compiled and analyzed by TRG Associates with final results being published and available for sale in aggregate form.

TMA membership is not a requirement for participation. All interested companies are highly encouraged to take part in the survey. TMA members will receive preferred pricing on the purchase of the final survey report, but all participating companies will receive a discount on the final report.

The survey seeks compensation and benefits information for these areas of responsibility:

  • Executive and Operational Management
  • Monitoring Center
  • Office Support
  • Sales & Marketing
  • Dealer & Customer Support
  • IT & Telecom Services

The survey link is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6LCBQJ3.

The deadline for survey completion is Friday, December. 13, 2019.

TMA Honors Members for Their Military Service

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It is with deep and abiding gratitude that TMA honors its members who have faithfully served God and country through service in the Armed Forces. On this Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11, 2019, it gives us great pride to recognize some of our members who have served in the United States or Canada.

TMA President Don Young, himself a veteran, shares a message, as we recognize those who shared their service with us.

READ MORE

TMA Members Make SSN’s 2019 Top 40 Under 40

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Security industry news publication, Security Systems News, has traditionally released an annual list of it’s top “20 under 40” and included two classes, comprising 20 end users and 20 integrators. This year’s “40 under 40” class is made up of a diverse and talented mix of young professionals representing the next generation of leaders in security. Consultants were included for the first time, which added new depth and perspective to this year’s class, bringing all winners — consultants, integrators, monitoring professionals and end users — together into one “40 under 40” class.

The final list identifies 14 end users, 11 integrators, 10 consultants and six monitoring professionals.

Congratulations to the following TMA members who were named in Security Systems News  “40 under 40” for 2019:

Read the full feature online.