The looming 3G shutdown comes with life-threatening risks

On the morning of Februaru 23, millions who depend on a 3G wireless connected device for medical emergencies, fires, burglaries or carbon monoxide detection will find their lives needlessly at risk. These devices will not work when AT&T shuts down its 3G network on February 22, threatening tens of millions of people relying on them in their homes and businesses. Known as the 3G sunset, those affected include hundreds of thousands of people who have personal emergency response systems (PERS). Over 85 percent are seniors, live alone and are 100 percent dependent on these to summon health emergency services, critically important if they fall. In addition, well over a million burglar and fire alarm systems will fail, causing needless havoc for residential and commercial consumers. Millions of older cars will lose connectivity for collision avoidance, summoning 911 and other emergency services, ankle bracelet monitoring systems won’t work and school bus monitoring systems protecting students won’t work either. Because the lives and health of millions of Americans, including seniors, are at risk, we strongly urge the Biden administration to intervene as they successfully did in the recent aviation spectrum dispute. With their help, we can get the added time we need to complete these lifesaving upgrades. We’re calling, texting and sending out mailers in a race to finish, but have nearly 2 million left to go with time running out.

[Louis Fiore is chairman of the Alarm Industry Communications Committee. John Brady is a member of the AICC and COO/CFO of Connect America. Daniel Oppenheim is a member of the AICC and CEO of Affiliated Monitoring.]