SBC No-Noise Task Force Forges Ahead with a BHAG: Become the One Source of ERCES Truth

Posted on May 27, 2021

BHAG stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goal, an idea conceptualized in the book, “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” by James Collins and Jerry Porras. According to Collins and Porras, a BHAG is a long-term goal that changes the very nature of an organization's existence.

The Safer Buildings Coalition No Noise Task Force (NNTF), launched in December of 2020 with a Manifesto, seeks to address current and future challenges in the effective deployment of Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES) – and by extension, to advance the mission of helping to assure the safety of First Responders and the public.

The chief current problem is harmful noise and interference caused by improperly deployed in-building Signal Boosters. But the task Force seeks to go further in setting the table for a future that is likely to include broadband wireless technologies in public safety’s toolbox.

In a discussion with FCC License Holder volunteers to the Task Force, the number one goal was to “Ensure First Responders Radios work inside (and outside) buildings and structures.”

The number one obstacle identified was “Getting all stakeholders on the same page.”

Charlie Fleetham, Founder and President of Project Innovations, and NNTF Program Coach, boiled this down to a need to move from a “disordered system to an ordered system.”

SBC members, comprising License Holders, AHJs, OEMs, End Users, and Industry Vendors, all agree that the inconsistency of processes, code enforcement, and interpretation from region to region makes  the deployment of ERCES extremely complicated and at times more expensive than necessary.

The BHAG

What is needed is a single, trusted place where all stakeholders can turn to for reliable information about ERCES. This is the gist of our BHAG – “Become the One Source of ERCES Truth.”

According to author Jim Collins, “A true BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals) is clear and compelling, serves as a unifying focal point of effort, and acts as a catalyst for team spirit. It has a clear finish line, so the organization can know when it has achieved the goal; people like to shoot for finish lines. A BHAG engages people—it reaches out and grabs them. It is tangible, energizing, highly focused. People get it right away; it takes little or no explanation.”

Task Force Status Update

The Task Force is excited to announce that Michelle Geddes, Chief Information Officer at City and County of San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, has accepted the role of Chair for the Task Force.

The Task Force is divided into four Work Groups: 

• Seek First to Understand – Define the Baseline
• Start With the End in Mind – Establish Goals
• Disorder to Order – How to get from Baseline to Goals
• Bet You Didn’t Know – How to Communicate NNTF to Stakeholders and the Public

SBC gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the Steering Team members, and the more than 70 volunteers from all stakeholder sectors who will populate the Work Groups.

The volunteers are making their Work Group selections this week, with Work Group Launch set for June.

Stay tuned – and join us as we strive to achieve our BHAG together.

To learn more about the No Noise Task Force, click here.