WASHINGTON—ADT Security Services Inc. is expected to ask the Federal Communications Commission later today to extend the end of cellular analog service requirements until 2010. The company said that equipment and security technicians are not available to make the current Feb. 18, 2008, deadline.
Today, only Telular offers digital wireless equipment to the security industry, using GSM technology, ADT claims in its filing. However, at least one company, a division of Numerex Corp., also offers digital wireless security services. ADT also said no equipment exists for use on CDMA networks today, and none is expected to be available in the near future.
“ADT has taken steps toward implementing its comprehensive analog cellular alarm radio replacement plan when a steady supply of digital cellular alarm radios becomes available. But with less than 16 months until the sunset, this is a gargantuan task for ADT and the alarm industry, since new units must physically be installed in more than one million residential, commercial and government locations industrywide,” said Phillip McVey, ADT business vice president. “In addition, the only cellular alarm radios available to the market within the next quarter operate on GSM cellular networks. The lack of alternative signaling formats (i.e. CDMA) will leave many customers without adequate coverage. Due to the combination of these factors, there is a high probability that the alarm industry will not be able to complete upgrades to digital cellular alarm radios by Feb. 18, 2008.”
Cellular carriers have been pushing the FCC to remove the requirement that they use a portion of their spectrum for analog service. When the FCC announced the Feb. 18, 2008, date, the alarm industry was unaware of the significant impact the change would have, said John Prendergast, ADT outside counsel. “The significance to the alarm industry was not apparent,” said Prendergast at a press briefing this morning.
The alarm industry first made its request in February, and ADT is stepping up the pressure hoping the FCC will soon make a decision.
The largest cellular carrier said the alarm industry has been on notice for years about the impending deadline.
“Parties have been on notice for years that analog service is going to sunset in February 2008,” said Brian Fontes, vice president of federal regulatory affairs for Cingular Wireless L.L.C., noting that he has yet to see ADT’s commission filing. “The analog sunset will allow spectrum to be put to better use, for more advanced wireless services that benefit consumers and the economy. Delaying this transition is the same as promoting the inefficient use of spectrum.”
