Comcast and Verizon Monitoring Offerings Taking Heat

The home alarm industry has its fair share of great companies and its fair share of poor ones; with new companies attempting to step in to the alarm sector every year. Two of those companies are Verizon and Comcast.  The two telecom giants have been mulling security system offerings for years and recently began installing alarm systems – or in Verizon’s case an “alarm like” system.  However, these alarm systems are not on par with many top alarm companies.

Verizon’s offerings are called ”Home Monitoring & Control” and are described by the company as a “lifestyle service” instead of actual alarm monitoring service – mainly due to the fact that the system is not actually monitored.  In fairness, the name Home Monitoring & Control does not include the word “security” or “alarm” although it seems this is simply Verizon’s way of getting around state licensing requirements and gives the impression of being a security offering (ie. Home Monitoring).  Comcast on the other hand does have their security offerings professionally monitored and offers a DIY set-up to customers with monitoring of the system through a customer’s internet connection.

Recently the Massachusetts Systems Contractors Association (MSCA) pleaded with a judge to have both Verizon and Comcast banned from offering “security like” services in the state because of its false pretense and because the companies are not licensed to install alarm systems in the state.

Verizon and Comcast fired back saying certain rules don’t apply to them.  Verizon claims they don’t require a license because they don’t actually offer monitoring, although the name of the service implies it. Comcast claims it does not require a license because the security offerings are self-install and don’t require any electrical wiring installation.

Regardless of the outcome in Massachusetts companies like these are going to be stepping in to the alarm industry more and more.  They’ll offer phone line service, internet, cable and home security all together.

Although it seems like a solid approach it’s tough to claim superiority in an area they haven’t touched on until now. Comcast and Verizon are known for telecommunications and home internet service, not home security. Leaving that up to the experts like the companies on Alarm System Report’s Best Home Alarm Systems list is recommended.

You can read more about Verizon and Comcast’s battle with the MSCA by reading this article from Security System News.