Paramount Alarm Systems, Inc. (“Paramount”) designs, sells, and installs high-quality electronic security, surveillance, and fire alarm equipment for homes and businesses. Paramount enhances it’s offering through an array of services offerings including alarm monitoring, system inspections, IT solutions, and maintenance.

The Paramount name is recognized in the alarm industry for performance, quality and leadership. Paramount Alarm Systems is respected for its high ethical standards and has an honorable history of community involvement and service.

Paramounts goal is to continue positive growth of its customer base by persistently earning customer loyalty through competent services and reliable technology. Always eager to research and develop new methods to improve quality and to keep the company’s customers on the leading edge. Our philosophy is to be the experts in our business for our customers so that they will always have a reason to be our customer.

Paramount is a respected member of the Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, the North Texas Alarm Association, National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, Lions Club, and Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce.

Paramount holds professional licenses to operate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety – Private Security Bureau, and The Texas State Board of Insurance – State Fire Marshal’s office. Paramount Alarm Systems, Inc. is a privately held Texas Corporation.

The position reaffirms FARA’s commitment to the involvement of all stakeholders in the development of local solutions to the false alarm problem. It also highlights many considerations and alternatives that should be examined as a jurisdiction evaluates the verified response option.

“The position was adopted because over the past few months the numbers of inquiries about our position have increased”, said Norma Beaubien. “I have also been surprised by the number of people who assumed that we had endorsed verified response over other alternatives. I felt and the Board agreed that it was important to clarify our stance. To quote from the Position Paper: “FARA believes that communities have a right to enact whatever false alarm solution best meets its needs. FARA also believes that communities benefit from a full exploration, conducted in the open with all stakeholders as participants, of the advantages and disadvantages of verified response before such a policy is implemented.””

Verified response requires an independent eyewitness verification that a criminal act either is occurring or has occurred prior to requesting law enforcement dispatch. This usually applies only to burglar alarms and exempts human activated alarms such as robbery, duress and panic from the verification process.

To find out more about the False Alarm Reduction Association or the Position on Verified Response contact Norma Beaubien, FARA President, at (301) 279-1917, email Norma.Beaubien@co.mo.md.us or visit the web-site at www.faraonline.org.

The False Alarm Reduction Association is an association primarily of persons employed by government and law enforcement agencies in charge of, or working in, False Alarm Reduction Units. Our goal is to assist these individuals in reducing false alarms for their jurisdiction. We do this by facilitating the exchange of information, influencing legislation
and establishing relationships and partnerships with other groups interested in false alarm reduction. Established in 1997, FARA currently serves more than 250 members in the US and Canada through newsletters, conferences and educational programs.

In the consumer notification, the FCC groups alarm owners with others who “rely on cellular radio equipment,” like those who may have an older version of the OnStar in-vehicle service, in alerting those who might be affected to the fact that cellular telephone companies will no longer be required to provide analog service. Later, in a paragraph directed at alarm owners, the FCC estimates that roughly one million of the 26 million alarm system owners in the United States will be affected.

“In many cases,” the warning says, “if you have an analog alarm radio that has not been replaced and the analog wireless network stops operating, the radio will emit a ‘beep’ or warning tone.”

When the analog towers do get shut off, any systems that have not been changed will go into a trouble mode.

Both AT&T and Verizon have stated in public documents that they intend to turn off the analog network essentially as soon as they are able, which means midnight of Feb. 19, 2008, to most observers.

This sunset date is significant for any alarm dealer that utilizes cellular communicators for relaying alarm signals, because after that date, cellular carriers may terminate AMPS service. What this means to the alarm industry is that whatever cellular backup or primary units (both direct analog and control channel versions) an alarm company may had previously installed will no longer work once the cellular carrier shuts down its AMPS system. Some dealers are under the misconception that they are not affected by this sunset issue because their installed cellular units are “digital.” Unless dealers have specifically installed Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) cellular radios, the “digital” units which use the control channel of the AMPS service will stop functioning.

Companies can now point customers to the FCC sitehttp://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/analogcellphone.html

NESA research into the issue revealed that the new regulations which are aimed at painting, window, door and remodeling contractors offer an exclusion that will exempt most activities done during the alarm installation process.  Page 2 of the EPA Guide “The Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program” details the activities that are excluded and not subject to the rule:

• �
  • Housing built in 1978 or later.
  • Minor repair and maintenance activities that disturb 6 square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less on the exterior of a home or building.

For a government guide on the new rules visithttp://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/sbcomplianceguide.pdf

• Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (MDBFAA) and local False Alarm Reduction Association Chapter in Baltimore;
• Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (OKBFAA) in Oklahoma City; and the
• Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA) in Dallas.

So by popular demand, we have decided to meet at a state show instead of at ISC west.

The TBFAA has graciously agreed to host NESA in Galveston, Texas from October 20th to the 23rd, 2010.

“I am extremely excited that we will be co-locating with the TBFAA” said Rex Adams, NESA President. “It gives us the opportunity to put our support behind what is already one of the most successful security shows and will also allow the leaders from our member states, as well as from states considering joining our alliance, to see a top notch state association in action.” 

Stay tuned to the NESA Monitor for details about the TBFAA show and the NESA Board Meeting.

Visit www.tbfaa.org for more information on the host hotel and tentative schedule.

Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association urges homeowners to remain alert

DALLAS, June 16 /PRNewswire/ — Across the state of Texas, homeowners
are being approached by illegally operating and unlicensed alarm companies
to buy an alarm system. Through the use of door-to-door sales staff,
out-of-state alarm companies have allowed over-zealous representatives to
misrepresent vital contractual elements in order to pressure and mislead
homeowners into signing a long-term monitoring contact with hidden fees. In
exchange, the homeowner receives nothing more than a poorly installed
security system.

“Unfortunately, we have seen a tremendous rise this summer across the
state of homeowners who have been mislead into buying one of these rogue
alarm systems,” said Chris Russell, Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm
Association President. “If approached by a door-to-door salesperson,
consumers should first check for references on the company and ask to see
the salesperson’s ‘pocket card’ issued by the Texas Department of Public
Safety, Private Security Bureau. If the salesperson does not have a card,
which will include their picture, they are not licensed to sell alarm
systems in the state of Texas.”

As part of their blatant misrepresentation and deceitful tactics, the
door-to-door salesperson may also wear a reputable manufacturer’s company
shirt with logo. In order to operate in the state of Texas, all alarm
companies must register with the Texas Department of Public Safety Private
Security Bureau. If approached by an unlicensed company, residents are
urged to contact their local police department or the Department of Public
Safety, Private Security Bureau, at 512-424-7710. If residents have already
fallen victim to an unlicensed alarm salesperson, they should file a report
with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Hotline, at
1-800-621-0508.

Russell advises, “By capitalizing on large numbers of college students
seeking summer employment, out-of-state alarm companies are sending teams
of salespeople to cities across Texas. Most teams work on commission,
incentives and contests. As they speak to homeowners they keep the pressure
on in order make the sale. While licensed alarm representatives will
complete the process ethically and responsibly, these representatives will
not.”

ABOUT THE TEXAS BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM ASSOCIATION

The Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA) is a non-profit
organization comprised of a large number of professional security and fire
alarm companies that operate in the great State of Texas. By drawing on the
diverse talents of the professional members, the TBFAA has established
itself as an effective voice for alarm users. Working with city and county
officials, the TBFAA lends a hand in creating safety and security standards
for the alarm process as a whole. The TBFAA, in conjunction with the NESA
and our local affiliate alarm associations, is proactive in false alarm
reduction, training and consumer education.

SOURCE Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association

TBFAA members make the best business partners. TBFAA membership is voluntary, no company is required to join our association. The most reputable companies in the industry belong to TBFAA.

We believe that the willingness of our members to seek out educational opportunities in order to better train their employees, submission to our Code of Ethics, and their commitment to cooperate with the association in resolving questions or complaints from consumers, demonstrates their desire to do business professionally and ethically.

We strongly suggest that all Texas consumers include TBFAA members in their comparative shopping. We believe this will lead consumers to the right system at a fair price, combined with the best possible service.

We sincerely believe that you will receive a better mix of price and quality by doing business with a TBFAA member company. If not, we are here to help resolve any issue that might occur when doing business with a member.

The Electronic Systems Industry includes businesses that sell, install, maintain, service and monitor various types of electronic systems in homes, businesses and government installations including:

Burglar Alarm Systems – A system that alerts homeowners or business owners to an intruder via annunciators and sensors. A burglar alarm system is activated and deactivated by the user via a control panel or keypad. Visit our guide to Burglar alarm systems for more information.
Fire Alarm Systems – A system that alerts homeowners or business owners to fire via manual pull stations, smoke or detectors or monitoring of sprinkler systems. Visit our guide to Fire alarm systems for more information.
Robbery Alarms are also known as hold-up, duress, ambush or emergency alarms and have communications capabilities to alert someone off site when the alarm is activated. Visit our guide to robbery alarm systems for more information.
Access Control Systems – Allow people or vehicles into a restricted area via identification through coded keys, magnetic cards, or biometric readers such as hand, face, voice, finger of retina readers. These systems are used in many businesses, hotels and apartment complexes. Visit our guide to Access Control Systems for more information.
Closed Circuit Television Systems (CCTV) – A camera system that displays activity on a premise via video monitors. Used primarily in businesses but becoming more popular in homes as well to view visitors at the door or monitor activity in a baby’s room. Visit our guide to Closed Circuit Television systems for more information.
Audio & Video Systems – An entertainment system can provide you own Home Theater that can be connected via a home automation package to a security, CCTV, or access control system. Visit our guide to Audio & Video systems for more information.
Home Control and Automation Systems – Home automation connects all aspects of a system together through one central control panel, keypad or remote. Used in what is called a “smart home” where virtually all home functions can be linked together and controlled via one central remote or keypad. Visit our guide to Home Control & Automation systems for more information.
Telephone and Intercom Systems – Simple communications form room to room can also include capability for music in each room or the addition of video. Visit our guide to Communications systems for more information.
Computer Cabling and/or networks – Structured cabling can provide for your current and future needs for electronic systems.
Central Vacuum Systems- eliminate the need to haul heavy and awkward canisters up and down stairs and through the house. Visit our guide to Central Vacuum systems for more information.

In order to be an informed consumer you need to understand the different components of a system. The best systems professional will help you determine what components you need to serve your home or business.

Your systems professional should discuss what options fit your home and/or business and lifestyle, for instance, do you have small children, pets, are you away from your home for long periods of time, do you have expensive items such as jewelry you want to protect. All of these things may factor in to determine which system is best for you.

You may decide to install a system for a specific purpose but keep in mind in you can link other devices into your system such as security, fire, entertainment, controlled heating and lighting, and carbon monoxide detection. There can also be cost savings to combine these features versus installing them at a later date. It all depends on what you want and what suits you best.

The best systems professional will customize your system for your needs!

The Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA) recommends that consumers take the following steps BEFORE selecting a systems contractor:

• Check to see if the contractor is a member of the TBFAA . Associations members agree to maintain a high level of conduct under a Code of Ethics and render services at the highest level of quality.
• Call several companies. Ask them if their employees are trained and/or certified by the TBFAA.
• Ask the companies if they have appropriate state and/or local licenses, if required. Some sort of license will be required for any company that provides these services in Texas (see use licensed contractors section below for more information)

Ask the companies if they conduct any pre-employment screening. Contact your local police department’s Crime Prevention Department, state licensing agencies, Consumer Protection Agencies, and the Better Business Bureau. Ask your insurance agent, friends, family or neighbors for referrals. After you’ve narrowed the field to three or four alarm companies, ask for the name of the person who will call on you. It is best to plan the appointment time when all those involved in the decision are present. When he/she visits, ask to see some company identification. Ask each alarm company representative for an inspection, recommendation and a quote in writing. Use a checklist to compare different packages and price quotes.