APCO International is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited Standards Developer (ASD). As such, APCO ensures that public safety communications has a role in the development of standards that affect our industry. APCO’s standards development activities include developing standards as well representing public safety communications in other standards development areas. Learn more about the standards development process.
Contribute to Producing Public Safety Communications Standards
Take your professional game to the next level and contribute to producing standards for public safety communications.
It may seem intimidating but it is not. You will meet people from across the country who share common interests and goals in public safety communications. Not only will you be contributing your knowledge and experience to the standard but you will learn a lot from your peers during the process.
You do not need to be an expert to participate. You just need to be willing to contribute and use your skills to accomplish a common goal.
Join a Working Group
When APCO creates a new standard or revises an existing one, the working groups are the creative minds behind the standard. Groups include about 15 volunteers with training, operations or technical backgrounds who research and write a standard together. Working groups will generally meet twice a month for a 60-minute conference call and conduct some work offline. Before you join a working group, be sure you have time in your busy schedule to join the monthly meetings and to conduct some additional work offline. You do not need to be an APCO member to participate in APCO Standards Development activities. All parties with a direct and material interest are encouraged to participate.
The following working group are currently seeking members.
Best Practices for ECCs When Processing Vehicle Telematics Calls from Telematics Service Providers
This revision seeks to identify best practices and operational requirements for ECCs to receive and process vehicle-initiated telematics calls. We are looking for individuals with training, technical and operational knowledge to participate in the revision
- Advanced automatic crash notifications with real-time severity assessment.
- In-vehicle eCalls that transform vehicles into mobile emergency beacons.
- Stolen vehicle recovery that keeps communities safer.
The Working Group will meet the Second and Fourth Tuesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. ET for 50 minutes each meeting.
Core Competencies and Minimum Training Standards for Peer Critical Incident (or Crisis) Support Team
Stress, both everyday cumulative stress and that caused by singular critical incidents, is a known issue within public safety. This initiative aims to create a framework that ensures consistent, high-quality training for those who provide essential peer support to emergency communications professionals.
The working group will focus on developing standards in four key areas:
- Recognition of stress indicators: Establishing minimum training requirements for identifying signs and symptoms that indicate a colleague is being negatively affected by workplace stress.
- Scope of responsibility: Defining appropriate functions and boundaries for peer support team members.
- Resource knowledge: Creating requirements for training on available local and professional resources.
- De-escalation techniques: Developing training standards for effective first-line de-escalation methods to assist colleagues experiencing acute stress reactions or emotional distress.
The Working Group will meet the first and third Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. ET for 50 minutes each meeting.
Alarm Monitoring Company to Emergency Communications Center (ECC) Computer – Aided Dispatch (CAD) Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP)
The revolutionary standard establishes three critical communication pathways:
- Streamlined alarm dispatch: Enables precision-targeted alarm data transmission from monitoring centers directly to ECCs.
- Integrated response tracking: Creates a continuous information loop between ECC computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems and alarm monitoring companies.
- Enhanced situational intelligence: Facilitates continuous, two-way information sharing throughout incidents
The revision will place special emphasis on address verification and synchronization between alarm companies and emergency communications centers (ECCs)—a critical factor in ensuring rapid and accurate emergency response. We invite industry experts, technology professionals, emergency communications specialists and alarm monitoring professionals to participate in a critical revision of the standard that connects alarm systems to emergency service.
The Working Group will meet on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. ET for 50 minutes each meeting.
Core Competencies and Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Communications Instructor
The revision of this standard identifies core competencies and minimum training standards for the individual generally tasked with delivery of training in the Emergency Communications Center (ECC).
The purpose of this standard is to provide a consistent foundation for the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to fulfill this critical position of Public Safety Communications Instructor. This standard recognizes the need to supplement the training and core competencies identified within this standard with Agency specific information.
The Working Group will meet on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. ET for 50 minutes each meeting.
Check back often to join this important work and contribute to the future of public safety communications.
Join a Standards Development Committee
APCO has five committees that are involved in governing and managing the standards development process, the Standards Development Main Committee (SDC) and four subcommittees for Operational, Technical and Training Standards, plus the Occupational Analysis Subcommittee.
- SDC Operational Subcommittee
- SDC Technical Subcommittee
- SDC Training Subcommittee
Recruitment for the standards development committee is continuous. At different times, we might need:
- Users of public safety equipment and processes
- Producers of public safety equipment and processes
- Those with a general interest in public safety standards, such as academia, consultants, and other governmental agencies.
If you are interested in joining one of the committees, complete the survey now to be considered for current needs or as they arise. You do not need to be an APCO member to participate in APCO standards development activities. All parties with a direct and material interest are encouraged to participate.
APCO's Standards Development Process
As an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer (ASD), APCO International must adhere to ANSI’s essential requirements for due process. APCO has developed policies for the development and coordination of American National Standards (ANS). These procedures provide a method for:
- Announcing standards development activities
- Ensuring that qualified organizations develop them
- Harmonizing duplicate or conflicting standards
- Coordinating the approval of standards
ANSI further ensures that persons directly or materially affected by the activity under development has access to the standards process – including an appeals mechanism. It also requires periodic reviews to ensure the standard is a “living” document.
Adherence to these guidelines ensures that APCO’s standards development process provides due process, balance and lack of dominance. It provides opportunities to address all interests and work together toward a common solution.
Questions?
Email [email protected] or call the Standards Program Manager at (386) 944-2459 .
