President at Advanced RF Technologies (ADRF), responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company globally.
School shootings have sadly become an all-too-familiar occurrence in America, leaving an indelible mark on students, staff, communities and the education system as a whole. Since Columbine in 1999, more than 350,000 students have been affected by gun violence while at school. These devastating acts not only shatter lives and families but also inflict long-lasting negative effects on the survivors, witnesses and the nation. Industrial Managed Switch
The specter of school shootings casts a dark shadow over our educational institutions, eroding feelings of safety while triggering profound emotional and academic consequences that can persist for years. As we grapple with the aftermath of these events, it becomes crucial to understand the impact they have and create systems that result in change.
In response to growing attack frequency, schools across the country have begun to implement new AI-based technologies to try and thwart mass shootings before they occur. However, in the event a shooting occurs, there still needs to be better cellular connectivity during these events so first responders such as EMTs and police officers can communicate and save lives. It may shock people to realize that formal systems to improve public safety communications in schools isn’t mandatory, especially given that the buildings often naturally reject radio frequency (RF) from entering indoors from the macro networks.
Most K-12 schools in the United States consist of multiple buildings that host hundreds, sometimes thousands of students. These institutions are typically made up of concrete, metal and other natural and man-made materials that are difficult for RF to penetrate. This is because many are built to double as natural disaster shelters.
For example, in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, it was reported that there were issues with police radios partially due to the structure of the school. Since then, Florida school systems have led the charge in requesting and deploying two-way radio communication systems because they understood the consequences of poor cellular signals. The Orange County School District has since deployed a significant number of public safety communication systems across different elementary, middle and high schools during the Covid–19 pandemic.
This connectivity issue isn’t unique to Florida schools. According to the Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC), more than 50% of K-12 schools don’t have optimal wireless connectivity. Installing Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) are vital in helping first responders communicate effectively during emergencies because it brings the RF signal from the macro network inside via a donor antenna and propagates it across all areas of the facility. An ERCES is typically a distributed antenna system (DAS) or bi-directional amplifier (BDA) that has undergone the necessary rigorous testing in accordance with the International Fire Code (IFC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes.
Deploying an ERCES not only ensures effective first responder communication but also helps faculty and students who often make the “true” first call during emergencies. It isn’t just about providing connectivity to the most frequented areas but also providing cellular signals where it usually can never reach such as stairwells, elevator shafts and basements.
Due to the technical nature of installing a public safety system, and all the stakeholders involved in the process, many schools aren’t sure where to start. The first step is engaging with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) to learn about their requirements for using these systems and to get a recommendation of an installer. An AHJ representative is often the fire or police chief but in some cases can be a master electrician or other important local figure. Next, school administrators should connect with a neutral host operators (NHO) or a system integrator (SI), who are highly trained and often provide around-the-clock support.
The role of an SI encompasses a wide range of responsibilities throughout the entire life cycle of a project, including testing, design and installation. They typically have their own original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that they work with to recommend the right equipment for the job so a school administrator doesn’t have to. Post-installation, the SI continues to perform annual maintenance and health checks to ensure the system’s ongoing reliability and performance. With their expertise and comprehensive approach, SIs provides end-to-end support, guaranteeing successful implementation and continued effectiveness of the deployed system.
While we all want innovative technologies to help prevent school shootings, it’s important that schools have all the assets they need to quickly and efficiently react to a crisis in a building. The increasing interest in ERCES school deployments will help first responders improve communication and hopefully lead to quicker response times to ultimately save lives.
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
I am a temporary reporter for the wealth team covering billionaires. Prior to joining Forbes, I reported for Nikkei Asia and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. I hold a Master of Science in Journalism and a Master of International Affairs, both from Columbia University. Tips: mhunterhart@forbes.com.
I am a temporary reporter for the wealth team covering billionaires. Prior to joining Forbes, I reported for Nikkei Asia and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. I hold a Master of Science in Journalism and a Master of International Affairs, both from Columbia University. Tips: mhunterhart@forbes.com.
Holland Barry, Senior Vice President and Field CTO, Cyxtera. Read Holland Barry's full executive profile here.
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of CloudBees, the enterprise software delivery company. Read Sacha Labourey's full executive profile here.
Modem Optic Fiber Group Head of Data and AI at Team Internet Group PLC. Read Pawel Rzeszucinski's full executive profile here.