TMA issuing Certificates of Verification to qualifying alarm companies

McLEAN, Va.—Announced in April, The Monitoring Association (TMA) reached an agreement with AT&T to provide qualified alarm companies with a TMA Certificate of Verification that will enable them to apply for eligibility to use FirstNet services for alarm transport communications. TMA has started issuing these certificates.

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.

For companies to receive a certificate, they must 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 — 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.

For an alarm 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. TMA Certificates of Verification must be renewed every 12 months from when the initial certificate is issued.

“FirstNet services will enhance our ability to support public safety and first responders,” Louis T. Fiore, chairman of AICC and past president of TMA, said in the announcement. “I am very pleased the alarm industry will be able to use FirstNet services for alarm transport communications.”

Bob Sloan, chief operating officer, FirstNet Program at AT&T, echoes TMA's dedication to helping first responders. “Delivering emergency alarms via the FirstNet communications platform supports public safety, helping first responders get the information they need to respond to an alarm-initiated incident. By working with TMA as part of the rigorous eligibility process, we can help make sure that alarms transmitted using FirstNet services are relevant to and align with the public safety mission and truly serve on the frontlines of notification, should a public safety incident occur.

“We're [also] pleased to see the thorough examinations TMA has conducted over the past six months before issuing its first Certificates of Verification.”

For more information, please contact TMA Executive Director Celia Besore at 703-660-4913 or cbesore@tma.us.