Frequently Asked Questions about APCO/CSAA 2.101.1-2008:

• Are PSAPs required to adhere to the proposed Alarm Data Exchange standard and how much control will the PSAP have in how alarms are received at the PSAP-level should the PSAP decide to utilize the standard from an operational standpoint? (Updated - 11/12/08)

• What is the purpose of the proposed Alarm Data Exchange standard?

• What are the goals of the proposed Alarm Data Exchange standard and what is the benefit for my agency?

• How are response times reduced through the use of this proposed standard?

• How can the proposed standard mentod possibly be better than the traditional method of the alarm company operator speaking with the PSAP calltaker via telephone?  Calltakers hae been trained to ask the right questions when an alarm company calls the PSAP.

• If one goal of the proposed standard is to reduce the number of telephone calls to the PSAP, will this result in reduction of calltaker positions?

• What is the Central Station Alarm Association's (CSAA) view on this proposed standard?

• Will the verification procedures used by the alarm monitoring companies before notifying the PSAP change?

• How will the alarm monitoring company operator know that the PSAP's CAD system received the new event and generated the appropriate call-for-service?

• What about updates from the alarm company such as information about the key-holder arriving in 30 minutes or someone on the premise who does not know the pass code?  Wouldn't these updates and supplemental information still need to be provided via telephone from the alarm monitoring company operator?

• My PSAP is located in an area where hurricanes and tropical storms are common three or four times a year.  The PSAP's policy is to reject all incoming calls from alarm monitoring companies during the height of the storm.  If the calls originate electronically via the proposed standard, how do we control this flow?  If we can't control the flow, this will place an extra burden on the radio operator to cancel each alarm call. (Updated - 11/12/2008)

• My PSAP does not have a CAD system.  Can we participate?

• What resources does the PSAP need to provide in order to implement and support an automated alarm exchange?

• I'm sold on the automated exchange.  How soon can my agency com on board and actively participate?

• Will my CAD provider charge my agency to come on board with the automated exchange?

• My PSAP currently tracks high life hazard locations and other information that is important for First Responders to know before they arrive.  Does the automated alarm exchange shift this responsibility to the alarm monitoring company?

• What happens when the CAD system is unable to validate the street address perhaps because of multiple matches and is unable to lock onto an exact address?

• What happens if our CAD system is down and the alarm monitoring company does not receive an acknowledgement?

• I see Nlets referenced in the IEPD materials … is the Nlets network path proposed as part of the standard? (Updated 11/19/08)

To download the entire list (PDF) of FAQs, click here (Updated 11/19/08)