Background Location Policy

01 Purpose

Some optional administrative features within the Before the Call (“B4C”) mobile application require access to background location services.

This policy explains why background location may be requested, how it is used, and the safeguards Big Bull Technologies, LLC (“Big Bull Technologies,” “BBT,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) has implemented to protect user privacy.

Background location is used solely to support Customer-enabled administrative workflows and is never required to use the core functionality of the B4C platform.

02 Why Background Location Is Used

Certain administrative workflows require the application to recognize when an Authorized User enters or exits a Department-approved location even when the application is not actively open. Examples include:

• Station Presence Verification
• Automatic duty hour recording
• Attendance verification
• Volunteer service hour documentation
• ISO administrative reporting
• Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) documentation
• Other Department-enabled administrative workflows

Background location allows these features to function automatically without requiring members to manually check in or check out.

03 Administrative Purpose

Background location exists to reduce administrative work. It is not intended to monitor personnel or observe off-duty activities.

04 How Background Location Works

When enabled:

1. A Department configures one or more approved locations.
2. An Authorized User grants background location permission.
3. The mobile operating system determines when the application should evaluate entry into or exit from approved locations.
4. When an approved location event occurs, B4C records an administrative event.
5. Those administrative events become part of the Department’s records.

The application does not continuously transmit or stream a user’s location.

05 Approved Locations

Background location operates only in relation to Department-approved locations. Examples include:

• Fire stations
• EMS stations
• Administrative offices
• Training facilities
• Department-owned buildings
• Other approved organizational locations

Departments are responsible for configuring and maintaining approved locations.

06 What Is Recorded

When Station Presence Verification is enabled, B4C may record:

• Arrival event
• Departure event
• Date
• Time
• Approved location
• User account
• Administrative event source

These records support administrative documentation only.

07 What Is Not Recorded

Before the Call is intentionally designed not to create continuous location histories. B4C does not intentionally:

The application is designed to recognize administrative location events — not personal movement.

08 User Control

Users maintain control over device-level location permissions. Users may:

• Allow background location
• Deny background location
• Modify permissions at any time
• Disable background location through device settings

Disabling background location may prevent certain automated administrative workflows from functioning.

09 Department Responsibilities

Departments determine whether Station Presence Verification or other location-based administrative workflows are enabled. Departments are responsible for:

• Configuring approved locations
• Informing members of Department policies
• Reviewing administrative records
• Managing user permissions
• Complying with applicable employment, volunteer, labor, and privacy laws

10 Privacy

Background location information is processed solely to support Customer-selected administrative features.

Big Bull Technologies does not use background location for:

• Advertising
• Marketing
• Analytics unrelated to platform operations
• Personal profiling
• Sale to third parties

Additional information is available in:

• LEG-002 — Privacy Policy
• LOC-003 — Location Privacy Policy

11 Battery Usage

Mobile operating systems manage background location activity to balance functionality with battery performance. Actual battery usage may vary depending on:

• Device model
• Operating system
• User settings
• Network availability
• GPS conditions
• Department-enabled features

Big Bull Technologies continually evaluates opportunities to improve efficiency while maintaining reliable administrative functionality.

12 Security

Location-related administrative events are protected using the same administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards applied throughout the Before the Call platform. Access to location-related records is controlled by Department-assigned user permissions.

Additional information is available in:

• TRU-001 — Security Overview
• TRU-003 — Data Security

13 Changes to This Policy

Big Bull Technologies may update this Background Location Policy periodically.

Material changes will become effective on the published Effective Date after reasonable notice has been provided through the Services, our website, email, or another appropriate communication method.

14 Contact

Questions regarding background location may be directed to Big Bull Technologies.

Big Bull Technologies, LLC
Email: ashlea@bigbulltech.io

15 Related Documents

• APP-001 — Mobile Application Permissions
• LOC-001 — Location Services Overview
• LOC-002 — Station Presence Verification
• LOC-003 — Location Privacy Policy
• LOC-004 — Location Data Retention Policy
• LEG-002 — Privacy Policy
• TRU-003 — Data Security

16 Revision History