(Courtesy APCO International) – Alexandria, VA – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has filed a Project Initiation with ANSI and has issued a call for work group members to participate in the creation of an ANSI standard addressing public safety grade site hardening requirements.

This standard will address the requirements for "public safety grade" site hardening of wireless communications sites and facilities.  The establishment of a standard is intended to assist public safety communications wireless network builders in constructing hardened public safety wireless networks and systems.

This effort documents public safety requirements regarding various characteristics to make mission critical communications wireless networks sufficiently robust to meet the service availability requirements of public safety.  The effort will standardize what is required to make wireless network sites "public safety grade" or to the extent to which they are hardened and specifically addresses hardening for wireless communications sites with both transmission and/or reception capabilities.

APCO is looking for a well-balanced group that will include contributions from technical and operational subject matter experts.  The time and day that the group will meet is yet to be established.

All Interested persons should complete the online application and indicate their preference for this work group at SDC Application.

The application deadline is March 25, 2016, and selections will be made within two weeks of the deadline.  All applicants will be notified of their status.