For public safety agencies, reliable radio coverage is essential throughout a broad array of public safety jurisdictions, including coverage on the street, in buildings, and in tunnels. The general public often experiences similar needs from the commercial wireless systems they are using. Increasingly, in-building and in-tunnel communications are of key concerns for both public safety agencies and wireless providers since providing reliable coverage in those environments is particularly challenging. However, providing reliable coverage in those environments is particularly challenging and requires knowledge and expertise of the specialized systems designed to meet those needs.

Over the past several years, some jurisdictions have enacted ordinances requiring minimum levels of coverage for public safety communications within new buildings. In addition, the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are currently pursuing the adoption of national-level model codes and standards to help ensure that improved in-building coverage is addressed on a nationwide basis.