Latest News
News and updates from the Safer Buildings Coalition and our member community.
No matching news. Try a different search or re-check a category.
-
2026 Results Are In — SBC Members Elect New Board Members
Voting in the 2026 election for the Safer Buildings Coalition Board of Directors closed at 23:30 PT on Thursday, August 20th. All ballots have been counted and certified. Three seats were on this year’s ballot — Vice President, Treasurer, and At-Large [Odd…
-
Time to Vote – 2026 Safer Buildings Coalition Board of Directors
Time to Vote! 2026 SBC Board of Directors Election The 2026 election for the Safer Buildings Coalition Board of Directors starts today. As always, we strongly encourage our members to vote in this election and help the Coalition continue to make a…
-
2026 SBC Board of Directors Election
Call for Nominations: 2026 SBC Board of Directors Election The 2026 election for the Safer Buildings Coalition Board of Directors is around the corner. We strongly encourage our members to vote in this election — and to consider putting your name on…
-
The Mission Hasn’t Changed. The Stakes Have
9-1-1 Inside: From Principle to Policy Agenda In 2020, “9-1-1 Inside” was not a phrase in use. SBC coined it in 2024. Today it is the organizing principle behind two of the most consequential federal filings the Coalition has ever made. Your…
-
PotterERCES and FirstNet
Potter Global Technologies has prioritized First Responder safety through fire suppression, mass notification, Fire Safety and Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) for over 150 years. In the last 25 years there has been an increased effort to ensure that First Responders…
-
Weather and Wavelengths
As the weather cools, the leaves fall and the air thins, many installers and integrators don’t consider how these changes may affect radio frequencies. This is most relevant when conducting site surveys and Emergency Responder Coverage Enhancement System (ERCES) commissioning. Atmosphere, foliage…
-
Tools of the Trade
Getting into the Emergency Responder Coverage Enhancement System (ERCES) market can be a bit daunting at first. Between FCC Licensee coordination, understanding the AHJ’s requirements, getting the required certifications and licenses, installing the various active and passive components, commissioning the system…
-
Code Confusion in the ERCES Market
For many in the Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System market, code development has been a welcomed boost to business and a beneficial tool to opening the conversation between integrators and building owners. However, code development has also been a point of contention…
-
AHJs and Licensees: Two Sides of the Same Coin
To receive a Certificate of Occupancy for a building, it is now required that the building has adequate radio signal strength for first responders to be able to reliably connect to their team inside and outside the building. Critical areas like elevator…
-
Indiana 2026: When Politicians Replaced Fire Safety Experts (2)
Safer Buildings Coalition | April 2026 In March of 2026, the Indiana General Assembly passed two bills that will make Indiana’s buildings less safe for the people who live and work in them — and for the firefighters who respond when something…
-
FCC Petition for Rulemaking – Part 90 Signal Boosters
FCC RM-12009 | SBC Petition Filed July 2025 SBC filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC requesting clear, enforceable rules governing Part 90 signal boosters used in Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES). The public comment period drew an extraordinary response.…
-
SBC’s Unambiguous Support of FirstNet Reauthorization
The Safer Buildings Coalition strongly and unambiguously supports the permanent reauthorization of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). We stand with the voice of public safety—IAFC, IACP, APCO, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the International Association of Fire Fighters—in urging Congress…
-
Wireless Location Accuracy
FCC PS Docket No. 07-114 | SBC Comments Filed July 2025 “9-1-1 Inside”: Your ability to call for help and be accurately located should not depend on where you’re standing—especially inside buildings. The Challenge Network-based location approaches face fundamental limitations in complex…
-
4.9 GHz Spectrum
FCC WP Docket No. 07-100 | SBC Comments Filed January 2022 The 4.9 GHz band offers high bandwidth and low latency characteristics ideally suited for next-generation public safety applications—data, video, telemetry, and Smart Fire Fighting technologies that require robust wireless connectivity inside…
-
The Data Imperative – FCC Section 706 NOI
FCC GN Docket No. 25-223 | SBC Comments Filed September 2025 Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act requires the FCC to annually assess whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed “to all Americans” in a reasonable and timely fashion. SBC has filed…
-
SBC Proposal: School Mode
Teachers Say Cell Phones Are a Problem. Parents Say Phones Are Essential. They Are Both Right. SBC issues White Paper that examines multiple facets of this hotly debated issue. IWCE session and Survey dive even deeper. By John Foley, Managing Director, Safer…
-
ERCE Training and Credentials
Cutting Through Training and Credential Confusion in ERCES (ERRCS) A framework for understanding credentials, training, and what genuine competency looks like The ERCES industry has a terminology problem. The word “certification” is being applied to everything from rigorous professional credentials to simple…
-
NICET IB-PSC Exam prep and ERCES Installer class, Irving TX, February 24-25
Public safety BDA installation is complex—and the stakes are high. One mistake can compromise emergency communications or take down a donor site. This 2-day training equips installers with the critical skills to install, test, and commission systems that are code-compliant and interference-free.…
-
Safety Under Assault: NFPA’s Jim Pauley on Protecting America’s Safety
An interview with Jim Pauley, President & CEO of the National Fire Protection Association By John Foley, Managing Director, Safer Buildings Coalition For more than 125 years, the National Fire Protection Association has been the quiet guardian of American safety, developing the…
-
SBC 2026 Seminars: An Overview of the Planning Process
Planning for the 2026 Safer Buildings Coalition Seminar season is already underway! We encourage our members to get involved by sponsoring and attending events as we take our mission on the road once again. Whether you are a returning sponsor or a…