As used in this chapter, the following words
and phrases shall be defined as set forth below:
DIGITAL DIALER CONNECTIONS
Monitoring systems which respond to normal telephone line
communications generated by digital telephone dialers. The digital
telephone dialer is a device which automatically dials a predetermined
telephone number upon activation of an alarm system. This telephone
number accesses, via the telephone company system, a receiving device
located in the Department of Emergency Services, which receiving device
communicates a two-way electronically coded tone transmission to acknowledge
receipt of the ring signal, receives a tone-coded alarm number, and
finally emits a tone-coded signal (sometimes referred to as a "handshake"
signal) to acknowledge successful reception of the alarm code number.
DIRECT ALARM CONNECTIONS
Monitoring systems which respond to a change in current flow
over supervised leased lines. "Supervision" is defined as, at a minimum,
a four-milliamp direct current signal transmitted from the alarm generating
device to the appropriate equipment in the Department of Emergency
Services. "Leased line" is defined as a pair of conductors provided
by the telephone company. The response to a direct alarm connection
is an audible and visual indication of either:
A.
An alarm transmission, indicated by a polarity
reversal of the supervisory signal; or
B.
A trouble signal, indicated by a loss of the
supervisory signal.
PERSON
Includes natural persons as well as all other organizations,
corporations, and associations, both public and private.
VOICE DIALER CONNECTIONS
Monitoring systems which, upon activation of an alarm system,
automatically dial a predetermined telephone number and communicate
tape-recorded voice messages to the recipients of the telephone calls.
On and after the effective date of this chapter,
it shall be unlawful for any person to communicate with the Department
of Emergency Services by means of a voice dialer connection. Such
communication with the Department of Emergency Services shall only
be by means of a direct alarm connection or a digital dialer connection.
All direct alarm connections and digital dialer
connections shall employ such communications technology as, in the
judgment of the Director of the Department of Emergency Services or
his designee, is necessary to insure sufficient and adequate alarm
monitoring by the Department of Emergency Services and/or its designated
contractor.
The fee for such alarm monitoring service, payable to the County of Delaware, shall be the prevailing fee set forth from time to time by resolution of County Council and, as to the County's designated contractor, shall be that contained in his contract with the County. Upon nonpayment of such fees for any particular calendar period, the Director of the Department of Emergency Services shall terminate the alarm monitoring service for such person. No fees shall be refunded in the event that alarm monitoring service is terminated by the Director of the Department of Emergency Services for violations of §
11-3 of this chapter.
Alarm monitoring services shall not be terminated
for any person, save for nonpayment of fees, except after a hearing
before the Director of the Department of Emergency Services held in
accordance with the provisions of the Local Agencies Law, 2 Pa.C.S.A.
§§ 551 through 555 and 751 through 754. Unless such
person demands the presence, at his own expense, of a court reporter,
pursuant to the provisions of the Local Agencies Law, the record shall
be maintained by tape recording in lieu of transcription and all persons
testifying shall be advised that their testimony is given pursuant
to the provisions of 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4904 (unsworn falsifications
to authorities).
To determine fees charged, separate connections
shall be required for police, fire, medical alert, and other particular
types of public safety emergencies. The Director of the Department
of Emergency Services may require more than one connection for a particular
type of emergency if the facility is of such size as to require more
precise identification of the specific emergency site.