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2019 US Code
Title 47 - Telecommunications
Chapter 5 - Wire or Radio Communication
Subchapter II - Common Carriers
Part III - Special Provisions Concerning Bell Operating Companies
Sec. 275 - Alarm monitoring services

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Citation 47 U.S.C. § 275 (2019)
Section Name §275. Alarm monitoring services
Section Text (a) Delayed entry into alarm monitoring (1) Prohibition

No Bell operating company or affiliate thereof shall engage in the provision of alarm monitoring services before the date which is 5 years after February 8, 1996.

(2) Existing activities

Paragraph (1) does not prohibit or limit the provision, directly or through an affiliate, of alarm monitoring services by a Bell operating company that was engaged in providing alarm monitoring services as of November 30, 1995, directly or through an affiliate. Such Bell operating company or affiliate may not acquire any equity interest in, or obtain financial control of, any unaffiliated alarm monitoring service entity after November 30, 1995, and until 5 years after February 8, 1996, except that this sentence shall not prohibit an exchange of customers for the customers of an unaffiliated alarm monitoring service entity.

(b) Nondiscrimination

An incumbent local exchange carrier (as defined in section 251(h) of this title) engaged in the provision of alarm monitoring services shall—

(1) provide nonaffiliated entities, upon reasonable request, with the network services it provides to its own alarm monitoring operations, on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions; and

(2) not subsidize its alarm monitoring services either directly or indirectly from telephone exchange service operations.

(c) Expedited consideration of complaints

The Commission shall establish procedures for the receipt and review of complaints concerning violations of subsection (b) or the regulations thereunder that result in material financial harm to a provider of alarm monitoring service. Such procedures shall ensure that the Commission will make a final determination with respect to any such complaint within 120 days after receipt of the complaint. If the complaint contains an appropriate showing that the alleged violation occurred, as determined by the Commission in accordance with such regulations, the Commission shall, within 60 days after receipt of the complaint, order the incumbent local exchange carrier (as defined in section 251(h) of this title) and its affiliates to cease engaging in such violation pending such final determination.

(d) Use of data

A local exchange carrier may not record or use in any fashion the occurrence or contents of calls received by providers of alarm monitoring services for the purposes of marketing such services on behalf of such local exchange carrier, or any other entity. Any regulations necessary to enforce this subsection shall be issued initially within 6 months after February 8, 1996.

(e) "Alarm monitoring service" defined

The term "alarm monitoring service" means a service that uses a device located at a residence, place of business, or other fixed premises—

(1) to receive signals from other devices located at or about such premises regarding a possible threat at such premises to life, safety, or property, from burglary, fire, vandalism, bodily injury, or other emergency, and

(2) to transmit a signal regarding such threat by means of transmission facilities of a local exchange carrier or one of its affiliates to a remote monitoring center to alert a person at such center of the need to inform the customer or another person or police, fire, rescue, security, or public safety personnel of such threat,


but does not include a service that uses a medical monitoring device attached to an individual for the automatic surveillance of an ongoing medical condition.

Source Credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, §275, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, §151(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 105.)

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 1, Title 47 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 47 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CHAPTER 5 - WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
SUBCHAPTER II - COMMON CARRIERS
Part III - Special Provisions Concerning Bell Operating Companies
Sec. 275 - Alarm monitoring services
Contains section 275
Date 2019
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 24, 2020
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 110 Stat. 105
Public Law References Public Law 104-104
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