Mark Haley, president of Smart City – Corporate, spoke Tuesday morning at a Tech Huddle session as part of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ (IAEE) EXPO! EXPO! 2017 in San Antonio. Prior to leaving for San Antonio, Haley talked some about just exactly what he would be talking about. Later this week, IAVM President and CEO Brad Mayne, CFE, will be a panelist at an EXPO! EXPO! session entitled “Protect Our $280+ Billion Exhibitions, Meetings and Events Industry” with a special nod to the Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI).
What will be some of the highlights in your presentation?
Key highlights will be the benefits to all mobile device users at high density events including show managers, exhibitors, and attendees.
Who will most benefit by attending the session and why?
I think event planners will benefit most in understanding that this is not an attempt to restrict them or their exhibitors, but rather how well educated attendees and exhibitors of an event can contribute to an excellent wireless experience in a high density situation. While the rules are guidelines on how to ensure better connectivity in a high density environment, by including them as part of the venue and exhibitor license agreement, it provides an avenue to correct any situations in which a rogue device is disrupting other exhibitors or attendees.
Where do things stand right now with regards to Common Sense Rules?
The FCC has accepted the recommendation from IAVM’s WiFi Coalition to employ the Wireless common sense rules. This was after the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau had created confusion a few years back with its enforcement activity in hotels and convention centers. Venues can employ and enforce the Common Sense Rules without fear of being cited by the FCC.
What are just some of the industries/associations this impacts?
These rules were crafted mainly to assist the convention and meetings industry and the venues that those events are held in.
What was the genesis behind this situation?
In 2014 the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau had decided to interpret part of the 1929 Communications Act regarding radio station jamming as applying to wireless network security protocols built into all manufacturers wireless equipment. While the Enforcement Bureau was very clear that convention centers and hotels could NOT utilize these automatic security protocols, they did provide any guidance on how we in the industry could manage wireless traffic in events in our venues. No one wanted to take any action for fear of getting cited and/or fined by the FCC.
Later this week, IAVM President and CEO Brad Mayne, CFE, will be a panelist at an EXPO! EXPO! session entitled “Protect Our $280+ Billion Exhibitions, Meetings and Events Industry” with a special nod to the Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI).
The Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI) is supported by more than 60 industry organizations. As noted in the session description, a top priority of meetings and conventions industry is the safety and security of attendees, members, exhibitors, and employees. U.S. convention centers are aligning with the only nationally recognized security guidelines and best practices through the U.S. Federal Government and the Department of Homeland Security and Safety Act Office.
Mayne will speak in part to how the EMSSI program developed as an industry initiated effort to enhance safety and security at U. S. convention centers; guidelines that would need to be supported and implemented in order to become a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Office accredited center; and why EMSSI is important to all exhibitions industry stakeholders including general service contractors, center management, show organizers, and more.
