What private alarm signaling system transmits alarms to a commercial company before notifying the fire department?

The correct choice is associated with a system specifically designed to transmit alarms to a monitoring company before alerting the fire department. This type of system is known as a central station system.

In the context of fire protection and alarm systems, a central station system involves the use of a central monitoring facility that receives signals from alarm systems located at various commercial sites. When an alarm is triggered, the central station not only acknowledges the signal but also takes action by first notifying the business owner or responsible party. Following this, if necessary, the system will relay the information to the local fire department to respond to the incident.

This approach allows for an efficient process in managing alarms, helping to ensure that property owners are informed first of any potential issues before emergency services are summoned. This system distinguishes itself from other types of alarm systems, such as local alarm systems or protected premises fire alarm systems, which have different protocols for alerting the fire department directly without involving a monitoring company.

In summary, a central station system's priority of notifying a monitoring service first, followed by the fire department, is what makes it the right answer to the question.