§275 Alarm Monitoring Services

Summary

Bell operating companies and their affiliates cannot start offering alarm monitoring services until 5 years after February 8, 1996. A Bell company that was already offering those services on November 30, 1995 may keep doing so, but it cannot buy or gain control of an independent alarm monitoring business after November 30, 1995 and until 5 years after February 8, 1996. Swapping customers with an independent alarm company is allowed. The existing local phone company (incumbent local exchange carrier) that does offer alarm monitoring must treat other alarm providers fairly by giving them the same network services it gives its own alarm business and must not pay for alarm services using money from regular phone service. The FCC must set up fast complaint rules so it finishes decisions within 120 days and can order a carrier to stop a harmful practice within 60 days if the complaint looks valid. Phone companies may not use or record alarm-monitoring calls for marketing. Alarm monitoring means devices at a fixed place that report threats (like burglary, fire, vandalism, bodily injury, or other emergencies) over a phone carrier’s network to a remote center; it does not include personal medical monitoring devices.