AICC to file request for limited AMPS extension
By Martha Entwistle
Updated Thu May 24, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C.--While the Federal Communications Commission has yet to issue a decision on the request for a two-year extension of the February 2008 AMPS sunset, it now appears that the best the alarm industry can hope for is a shorter extension.
John Prendergast, attorney for the Alarm Industry Communications Committee, was preparing on May 23 to make an "ex parte filing" to the FCC that would basically "shrink the time and scope of the original extension request," he said.
Prendergast's filing follows a May 17 meeting here between officials from ADT, Honeywell, AICC and FCC chairman Kevin Martin. The FCC has not voted on the extension, but in the last month Martin circulated his opinion that the extension request be denied.
In addition, some members of Congress recently voiced their opposition to the AMPS sunset extension. Twenty-four members of the House Commerce Committee signed a May 4 letter to the FCC saying that the extension request should be denied.
Prendergast said the AICC wants dealers to give the replacement of AMPS equipment top priority. "In light of the USA Today article indicating that the FCC is poised to deny the requested two-year extension, and the letter from several members of the Commerce Committee urging the FCC to proceed with the AMPS sunset on schedule, AICC continues to urge all alarm dealers to proceed accordingly by doing everything possible to replace AMPS units by the scheduled February 2008 sunset date."
Comments