Alarm Detection Systems: New System Improves Alarm Dispatch, Avoids Costly Government Monopoly
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 10:42:01 AM
Alarm Detection Systems: New System Improves Alarm Dispatch, Avoids Costly Government Monopoly
Illinois Alarm Executives Helped Create New System
AURORA, Ill., Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A revolutionary new system that will streamline emergency notifications is coming to Illinois. The new system, Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP), offers an innovative and cost-effective way of sending alarm signals directly to police and fire dispatchers in seconds without the need for a telephone call from an alarm monitoring station.
The new system, which was developed by the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO), is already in place in Houston, Texas, York County and Richmond, Virginia with outstanding results and will be available in Illinois by the end of the year.
Ed Bonifas, vice president at Aurora, Illinois-based Alarm Detection Systems, Inc., helped spearhead the creation of the ASAP system as President of CSAA.
"This new protocol ends the single most discussed 'justification' for the takeover of alarm monitoring by fire departments or fire districts," said Bonifas. "This program demonstrates the true innovations that occur through public and private partnerships such as the one between CSAA and APCO."
"Businesses will continue to receive a full range of services from their alarm companies under this program," said Bonifas. "In the few cities that have mandated municipal monitoring programs businesses are forced to use one vendor and often pay two to three times the cost of identical equipment charged on the open market."
"Private enterprise, working with public safety officials, will continue to be the impetus for new innovations in public safety," said Bonifas. "Government monopolies rarely innovate and the lack of competition increases costs."
"Alarm companies offer the same radio systems as government agencies and even greater savings for businesses that upgrade from telephone lines," said Bonifas.
"While dispatches through alarm central stations remain the standard for the country and have proven highly effective, the industry supported the creation of the ASAP system and will be able to implement it more quickly and with less disruption than establishing municipal systems that require the replacement of hundreds of radios from a single vendor," said Kevin Lehan, Executive Director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association.
One argument for municipal alarm monitoring is that it allows the government to make money by charging businesses for monitoring their alarms. "Government should never be in competition with taxpaying businesses," said Bonifas. "Government should never be in the position of providing one company with an advantage in the marketplace that curtails competition that provides the best service and price to businesses."
"We share the goals of fire officials to improve public safety," said Bonifas. "Our industry is investing millions of dollars to innovate and be able to offer our customers state-of-the-art equipment at the best price."
SOURCE Alarm Detection Systems
Alarm Detection Systems
CONTACT: David Margulies, +1-214-368-0909
Illinois Alarm Executives Helped Create New System
AURORA, Ill., Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A revolutionary new system that will streamline emergency notifications is coming to Illinois. The new system, Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP), offers an innovative and cost-effective way of sending alarm signals directly to police and fire dispatchers in seconds without the need for a telephone call from an alarm monitoring station.
The new system, which was developed by the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO), is already in place in Houston, Texas, York County and Richmond, Virginia with outstanding results and will be available in Illinois by the end of the year.
Ed Bonifas, vice president at Aurora, Illinois-based Alarm Detection Systems, Inc., helped spearhead the creation of the ASAP system as President of CSAA.
"This new protocol ends the single most discussed 'justification' for the takeover of alarm monitoring by fire departments or fire districts," said Bonifas. "This program demonstrates the true innovations that occur through public and private partnerships such as the one between CSAA and APCO."
"Businesses will continue to receive a full range of services from their alarm companies under this program," said Bonifas. "In the few cities that have mandated municipal monitoring programs businesses are forced to use one vendor and often pay two to three times the cost of identical equipment charged on the open market."
"Private enterprise, working with public safety officials, will continue to be the impetus for new innovations in public safety," said Bonifas. "Government monopolies rarely innovate and the lack of competition increases costs."
"Alarm companies offer the same radio systems as government agencies and even greater savings for businesses that upgrade from telephone lines," said Bonifas.
"While dispatches through alarm central stations remain the standard for the country and have proven highly effective, the industry supported the creation of the ASAP system and will be able to implement it more quickly and with less disruption than establishing municipal systems that require the replacement of hundreds of radios from a single vendor," said Kevin Lehan, Executive Director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association.
One argument for municipal alarm monitoring is that it allows the government to make money by charging businesses for monitoring their alarms. "Government should never be in competition with taxpaying businesses," said Bonifas. "Government should never be in the position of providing one company with an advantage in the marketplace that curtails competition that provides the best service and price to businesses."
"We share the goals of fire officials to improve public safety," said Bonifas. "Our industry is investing millions of dollars to innovate and be able to offer our customers state-of-the-art equipment at the best price."
SOURCE Alarm Detection Systems
Alarm Detection Systems
CONTACT: David Margulies, +1-214-368-0909