We appreciate your business and remain committed to serving you in every capacity related to your security system and security monitoring. It is with that commitment in mind that we notify you that as of February 18, 2008, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) will no longer require cellular companies to offer analog service. Therefore, if your backup link to our monitoring center (SecureCell®) or primary link (PrimeCell™) is currently using analog technology, it will soon stop working.
When this will happen and why this might be important to you!
Under normal conditions, your security system is set up to detect an intrusion, fire or other alarm event. After your system detects an event, your system sends a signal to a Protection One monitoring center where we contact authorities if needed.
However, if you subscribe to one of our wireless alarm signaling services (SecureCell or PrimeCell) and have not upgraded to digital before February 18, 2008, the following will occur:
- SecureCell subscribers will lose redundant (backup) signaling capability that you currently enjoy with your security service monitoring, and your billing will be adjusted accordingly.
- PrimeCell subscribers will lose their ability to receive monitoring, and your Protection One security service will be terminated.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are SecureCell and PrimeCell?
How do I upgrade to digital?
How can I tell if I have one of these wireless/cellular services and which one I have?
How do I know if my system is affected?
Must I upgrade? Do I have an alternative?
What is AMPS? Why the switch to digital?
Why is this necessary?
How do I know if my current SecureCell or PrimeCell is digital or analog?
What if I don’t know when my system or service was installed?
What happens to my system if I do not upgrade?
What number do I call if I have any questions about this change?
What are SecureCell and PrimeCell?
- SecureCell is a backup alarm signaling service, enabling your security system to communicate with our monitoring center on a wireless network only if your main method (usually a landline phone) becomes disabled.
- PrimeCell customers use a wireless network as their only method of linking their security systems to a Protection One monitoring center. PrimeCell customers commonly do not have a landline.
How do I upgrade to digital?
Simply call 866-979-AMPS (2677), confirm that your system requires an upgrade, and then ask to set an appointment with a local Protection One technician. It takes just a few minutes.
How can I tell if I have one of these wireless/cellular services and which one I have?
PrimeCell customers usually do not have a landline phone, but the best way to find out if you have one of these services is to look at your last billing statement, or call 866-979-AMPS (2677), and a customer representative can assist you.
How do I know if my system is affected?
- You are not affected if your PrimeCell- or SecureCell-enabled system was installed after June 2006.
- You are affected if your PrimeCell- or SecureCell-enabled system was installed before January 2006.
- You MAY or MAY NOT be affected if your PrimeCell- or SecureCell-enabled system was installed between December 2005 and July 2006.
- Please call Protection One at 866-979-AMPS (2677) for assistance.
Must I upgrade? Do I have an alternative?
If you have SecureCell (Backup) service, then you may opt to discontinue the service, and we will reduce your monthly service charges accordingly. This will require a few basic programming steps in front of your keypad. Please call us at your convenience to initiate this.
If you have PrimeCell (primary signaling) service, then we must upgrade your wireless transmitter in order for your system to continue to communicate with our center. Call us at 866-979-AMPS (2677), and we will schedule your upgrade at your convenience.
What is AMPS? Why the switch to digital?
AMPS stands for Advanced Mobile Phone Service. It is an analog cellular service that was introduced to the United States over 20 years ago. Since then, digital cellular technology has become the standard, and capabilities and features expanded beyond the capacity for analog. The FCC, with its ruling, has determined that analog cellular technology is obsolete, and now all analog systems will be shut down.
Why is this necessary?
The FCC’s “AMPS Sunset Clause” identifies February 18, 2008, as the date when cellular companies can drop analog service. Many wireless alarm signal transmitters in use today utilize this technology.
How do I know if my current SecureCell or PrimeCell is digital or analog?
- Systems installed after June 2006 have a digital communicator and are not affected.
- Systems installed before January 2006 have an analog system, and are affected.
- Systems installed between December 2005 and July 2006 may or may not be digital. You should call to determine if you are affected.
What if I don’t know when my system or service was installed?
Protection One launched a campaign to contact all of its customers who might be affected by the FCC ruling to go digital. If you have received a letter or notice about this upgrade, you almost certainly have an analog system that needs to be upgraded. And even if you have not received or don’t remember receiving correspondence from Protection One, you should check your status by calling 866-979-AMPS (2677) for immediate assistance.
What happens to my system if I do not upgrade?
If you do NOT upgrade your SecureCell (backup alarm signaling) service to digital, your security system will be unable to transmit signals to Protection One monitoring centers if your standard telephone line service becomes disabled. You will lose monitoring capabilities in the event your landline is cut or disabled.
Also, as analog service is taken offline by the cellular companies on or after February 18, 2008, your keypad will begin to beep, indicating a loss of service. To stop the beeping, please call
866-979-AMPS (2677), and we’ll talk you through an easy reprogramming at your keypad.
If you do NOT upgrade your PrimeCell (primary alarm signaling) service to digital, your security system will lose its capacity to send any alarm signal to the Protection One monitoring centers, and we will terminate your security system service with Protection One on February 18, 2008.
What number do I call if I have any questions about this change?
If you have questions, please call Protection One at
866-979-AMPS (2677).
