Will Your Radio Backup Work Next Year?
AMPS Sunset Date Still On Track Next Year

Despite the best efforts of the industry, the scheduled date for cellular carriers to discontinue service to analog-based systems is expected to occur on Feb. 18, 2008 as scheduled. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has informally indicated that the Alarm Industry Communications Committee’s (AICC) request for a two-year extension will not be granted. In the absence of an affirmative extension from the FCC, the AMPS Sunset will occur as scheduled.

The largest cellular carriers (providing service to most of the country) have publicly reported to the FCC the AMPS service will be shut down shortly after the scheduled 2008 “Sunset” date. Therefore, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) urges members to take action immediately to prepare for this transition.

“Now with the certainty of this deadline looming, we can only hope that the majority of alarm dealers/integrators have heeded prior warnings and have already begun to take action. For many this transition is a daunting task and for more than two years, NBFAA has been stressing the importance of acting as quickly as possible. The repercussions of falling short of a complete and successful transition of all customers could be devastating,” said NBFAA President George Gunning.

NBFAA has been actively working behind the scenes, both in individual lobbying efforts undertaken by the association and its members, and as a member of the AICC on this issue for nearly two years. AICC has taken the lead in meetings with the FCC, and NBFAA participated in a lobbying day in Congress on AICC telecommunications (telecom) issues.

Today, most existing cellular alarm communicators are AMPS-based systems. Advanced Mobile Phone System or AMPS is the analog mobile phone system standard, introduced in the Americas during the early 1980s. Digital technology in cellular networks is being driven by advantages over analog. Because of the cost and benefits of digital, the major telecom companies plan to go to all-digital service and phase out AMPS. In 2002, the FCC established the sunset date of Feb. 18, 2008 for the requirement that cellular carriers provide AMPS service.

This sunset date is significant for any alarm dealer that utilizes cellular communicators for relaying alarm signals, because after that date, cellular carriers may terminate AMPS service. What this means to the alarm industry is that whatever cellular backup or primary units (both direct analog and control channel versions) an alarm company may had previously installed will no longer work once the cellular carrier shuts down its AMPS system. Some dealers are under the misconception that they are not affected by this sunset issue because their installed cellular units are "digital." Unless dealers have specifically installed Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) cellular radios, the “digital” units which use the control channel of the AMPS service will stop functioning.

Although under the current laws, AMPS service is expected to be maintained by the cellular carriers until February 2008, in actuality, the closer the deadline is, the more likely there will be service degradation. In fact, there have been several reports of AMPS network deterioration, so immediate action is required.