SBC Key Initiatives and Focus Areas

9-1-1 inside: We believe fundamentally that your ability to dial 9-1-1 from a mobile device should not depend on where you’re standing at that moment, especially when inside buildings.

First Responder Communications must work inside buildings: Once critical help arrives in response to a 9-1-1 call, public safety's ability to communicate is essential for protecting themselves and the communities they serve. But these systems must be designed and deployed competently and legally to avoid harm to public safety communication networks. SBC has been leading in developing best practices, codes, standards, and workforce development since 2012.

Improving School Safety through deployment of in-building communications and security technologies, supporting initiatives such as Alyssa’s Law. [click to learn more at MakeOurSchoolsSafe.org]

NG9-1-1, Location Accuracy, and Indoor Mapping evolution: Dispatch centers must be capable of utilizing the best available information to expedite emergency response:Time = Life

Wireless Workforce Development and Credentialling: Workforce must scale and be competent.

Opening spectrum and developing new technologies for in-building use: Indoor wireless coverage is fundamental.

Download SBC Fact Sheet

Facilitating Dialogue between Public Safety and Industry

The Safer Buildings Coalition conducts seminars across the US and Canada where public safety staff (radio shop, fire protection, operations) and industry (service providers, manufacturers, distributors, system integrators) can learn together and dialog about the challenges and best practices in deploying in-building coverage.

Seminar List for Current Year

SBC Events Calendar

Tech and Policy Summit

Workforce Competency and Credentialling

Fire and Building Codes mandate in-building coverage, typically enabled by Signal Boosters. It is essential that these solutions enable communications but do no harm. Keys to this:

Properly deployed technology, facilitated by education, best practices, and defined processes.
Increasing awareness of the common causes for RF interference and ways to mitigate them.
Driving innovation in wireless technologies used to solve for in-building wireless dead zones.
Advocating for improvements in policy and FCC rules focused on proper RF operation.
Published Complete ERCES Handbook – Over 4,000 in circulation, the basis for the top training programs and a DOL Apprenticeship Standard: SAFER BUILDING TECHNICIAN In-Building Wireless Installation Technician (IBWIT) O*NET-SOC CODE: 49-2022.00 RAPIDS CODE: 3036HY

Get Your Copy: ERCES HANDBOOK

Enabling Public Safety Broadband Communications Inside Buildings

Broadband communications for public safety must be available inside the built environment where first responders do so much of their work. Keys to this:

Raising awareness among fire and building code officials that broadband (cellular) services used by first responders are covered by the codes and standards that mandate in-building coverage.
Driving collaboration and innovation in the wireless industry to make in-building broadband coverage more reliable and resilient.

The Safer Buildings Coalition is the only advocacy group and resource for everything related to solving for In-Building Wireless "Dead Zones".

Our Scope includes all In-Building Technologies:
Commercial Cellular (LTE / 5G) • LMR (Land Mobile Radio)
• Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES)
• Private LTE • Location Services • Wireless Panic Alerts • School Safety Tech

The Safer Buildings Coalition is a 501(c)4 non-profit Association

Read more about the SBC Mission HERE