Issue: June 2004
By: Frank Bisbee

Bisbee's Buzz'

Memorial Day opens the door to June 2004. This is a good opportunity to reflect on our values and to re-dedicate our efforts to support our men and women in uniform. Homeland security is everyone's job and safety is no accident.

But that’s just my opinion,

Frank Bisbee

Superior Modular Products - Marketing Restructure

Swannanoa, NC - Superior Modular Products is pleased to announce Brad Everette into the position of Director of Marketing. Brad has been with SMP since 1993 gaining vast experience in the areas of Production, Materials, and Sales and Marketing. For the past five years, he has held the position of Product Manager operating SMP's Copper Connectivity line as a business unit. Brad is a 1994 graduate of Montreat College in Montreat, NC holding a B.S. degree in Business Administration.

In this position, Brad will have responsibility for Product Management, Customer Service, and Sales and Marketing Coordination functions. These functions will provide strategic vision and support for Copper and Fiber connecting hardware and Rack Technologies, a line of metal products complimenting the primary lines. SMP markets these products into the commercial and residential cabling industries encompassing several market and network cabling segments.

Bill Reynolds, General Manager of SMP stated, "Brad brings knowledge of several functional areas. With this broad range of SMP experience and understanding of market factors, Brad will provide leadership in the marketing of SMP's individual businesses, capitalizing on opportunities existing between subunits, and assuring these efforts coincide with our company strategies."

For detailed information on all SMP products please call, 1-800-880-7674, email: sales@smpdata.com or visit us online at www.smpdata.com.

Superior Modular Products, headquartered in Swannanoa, North Carolina, is internationally recognized for its role in establishing the world's data/communications standards, through its innovative-patented technologies. It is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-speed cross-connect products for communication networks worldwide. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Preformed Line Products (PLPC) of Cleveland, Ohio.

ELLIOTT TO LEAD NAED AS CHAIRMAN IN 2005-2006

(ST. LOUIS, MO)… The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) has named Bill Elliott, president of Elliott Electric Supply, in Nacogdoches, Texas, as the incoming Chair-Elect of the NAED Board of Directors.

"I look forward to serving as chairman," said Elliott. "It's a rewarding learning experience to interact with peers in NAED because the work you accomplish together benefits the entire industry and makes us all more profitable."

Elliott will serve as Chair-Elect in 2004-2005, preparing to lead the NAED Board of Directors in 2005-2006. Raised in the industry, he worked for his father's distributorship for 12 years before forming Elliott Electric Supply in 1972. Elliott has served as the chairman of the NAED Education & Research Foundation for the past year, raising over two million dollars for the Foundation's Channel Advantage Partnership endowment initiative. He has also served NAED as chair of the Automated and Technology Controls Group and participated with the Advocacy Committee. Furthermore, he is a 2003 Gold Level graduate of the NAED Foundation's flagship program, Electrical Products Education Course (EPEC), a designation that usually takes about two years to complete.

In his 42 years in electrical distribution, Elliott has established a fine reputation throughout the industry, winning the Ganzenmuller Electrical Marketing (GEM) Award in 1998, which Electrical Wholesaling magazine awards to industry leaders who exhibit integrity, fairness and industry knowledge. He was also named Small Business Man of the Year by the Dallas District of the Small Business Administration in 1977.

NAED is currently led by Tom Cloud, chairman & CEO of United Electric Supply Co., Inc. in Wilmington, Del. At NAED's Annual Meeting on May 15-19, Peter de Steiger, CEO of Raymond de Steiger, Inc., in Sterling Heights, Mich., will become NAED Chairman of the Board for the 2004-2005 year.

NAED ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICERS FOR 2004-2005

(ST. LOUIS, MO)... The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) announces its new Board of Directors officers for 2004 - 2005. Led by the NAED Chairman, the Board of Directors is a dedicated group of industry leaders who volunteer their time and effort to improve the association and the electrical distribution industry.

The 2004 - 2005 NAED Chairman of the Board is Peter de Steiger, chief executive officer of Raymond De Steiger, Inc., in Sterling Heights, Mich. A former NAED South Central Region Vice President, de Steiger has dedicated more than 30 years to the electrical distribution industry, serving on the TED Advisory, Your Emerging Talent (YET), and the Project Development Team committees. Through his message, "People Make the Difference," de Steiger will focus the industry's attention on the importance of relationships with customers, employees and suppliers.

"I'm honored and excited to be working with this year's Board of Directors. The common thread running through successful endeavors is people, and we have a very talented and dedicated group of people on our Board. They are committed to bringing positive change and making improvements in the electrical distribution industry," de Steiger said.

Newly appointed Chair-Elect Bill Elliott will work closely with de Steiger in assessing and meeting the needs of the industry. Elliott is the president of Elliott Electric Supply, in Nacogdoches, Texas. With 42 years in electrical distribution, he most recently served as the 2003-2004 NAED Education & Research Foundation Chairman. As Foundation Chair, Elliott initiated an endowment fund that raised more than two million dollars. Elliott will assume the chairmanship at the end of the 2005 Annual Meeting, held May 14-18 in Boston, Mass.

The 2004 - 2005 NAED Board of Directors are:
* Peter de Steiger, Chairman, Raymond De Steiger, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich.
* Bill Elliott, Chair-Elect, Elliott Electric Supply, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Tom Cloud, Past Chair, United Electric Supply Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del.
* John Spoor, Eastern Region Vice President, State Electric Supply Co., Huntington, W. Va.
* Barry McEachern, Western Region Vice President, Star Electric Supply, Inc., Wichita, Kan.
* Sam McCamy, III, South Central Region Vice President, Roden Electrical Supply, Knoxville, Tenn.
* Bruce Leff, Eastern Region Vice President-Elect, The H. Leff Electric Co., Cleveland, Ohio
* Tammy Miller, Western Region Vice President-Elect, Border States Electric Supply, Phoenix, Ariz.
* Mike Ales, South Central Region Vice President-Elect, Werner Electric Supply Co., Neenah, Wis.
* Sandra Rosecrans, Member-at-Large, City Electric Co., Inc., Syracuse, N.Y.
* Thomas Isenberg, Member-at-Large, Western Extralite Co., Kansas City, Mo.
* Richard Waterman, Member-at-Large, Rexel, Inc., Addison, Texas
* Lawrence Stern, Finance Committee Chair, Standard Electric Supply Co., Milwaukee, Wis.
* David Beattie, IDEA Chair, McNaughton-McKay Electric Co., Madison Heights, Mich.
* Denise Kelly, NAED Education & Research Foundation Chair, The Hite Co., Altoona, Pa.
* Robert Reynolds, NAED Foundation Chair-Elect, Graybar Electric Co., Inc., St. Louis, Mo.
* Myers Lockard, III, Strategic Focus Chair, Hunzicker Brothers, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla.
* Cora Williams, TED Advisory Chair, Ideal Electrical Supply Corp., Washington, D.C.
* T. Scott Lawhead, Your Emerging Talent (YET) Chair, The Hite Co., Altoona, Pa.

NAED is the trade association for the electrical distribution industry. Through networking, education, research, and advocacy, NAED helps electrical distributors prosper and improve the channel. NAED's membership includes distributors of all sizes, representing approximately 4,100 locations internationally. http://www.naed.org

ACUTA 8TH ANNUAL FORUM FOR STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

High-Level Administrators from Colleges and Universities Across North America Will Gather in Chicago

Lexington, KY: The Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education (ACUTA) is pleased to announce the 8th Annual Forum for Strategic Leadership in Communications Technology, a two-day event held in Chicago, Illinois, August 2-3, in conjunction with ACUTA's 33rd Annual Conference. This year senior higher education leaders from campuses large and small, public and private, will consider The Mobile Campus.

Increasingly, mobility is in demand for all forms of communications technology on higher education campuses. This year's Forum will focus on mobile voice and data strategies, technologies, and applications; security; business plans; and financial issues.

Speakers for this event will include Marti Harris, Research Director at Gartner, who will discuss Wireless and Mobile Management for Higher Education. Phillip Beidelman, President of WTC, will address Strategic Tradeoffs in Campus Wireless Mobility: The Cost of Being Mobile. In addition, two panels of representatives from six different campuses will cover policy and security issues related to wireless local area networks and the business and technology issues of wireless voice.

Forum attendees are also invited to Conference general sessions to hear futurist Daniel Burrus, researcher Dan Drath, attorney Jeff Linder, and an entertaining session with the Chicago Comedy Company.

Participants in the past have praised the Forum as an excellent opportunity for meaningful interaction with other campus leaders, citing the roundtable discussions and informal one-on-one dialog with knowledgeable presenters as particularly valuable.

Addressing voice, data, and video communications needs for higher education, ACUTA is a nonprofit organization serving more than 800 institutions of higher education and 2,000 communications technology professionals from across the United States and Canada as well as Australia and New Zealand. ACUTA holds a number of audio and Web conferences plus three national seminars and one conference and exhibition annually to provide educational sessions and promote networking among campus communications technology professionals. http://www.acuta.org.

REGISTER FOR 33rd ANNUAL ACUTA CONFERENCE TODAY!

Unbeatable Networking Opportunities
Top-Quality Educational Sessions
Interesting Keynote and General Session Speakers
Exciting Location

Lots of good reasons to join us for the 33rd Annual Conference!

August 1-5
Chicago, IL
Sheraton Chicago
http://www.acuta.org/home.cfm

BICSI names Donna Dunn executive director

BICSI announced the appointment of Donna French Dunn as the organization's new executive director. Dunn will officially begin her role on June 1.

Dunn succeeds Mel Lesperance, who has served as BICSI's interim executive director since August 2003.

She has been the executive director of the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) since August 1998. The AAEA is an international organization for economics professionals. As that group's executive director, she has been responsible for all association functions, including providing management and administrative support for the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists; the American Council on Consumer Interests; and the Council on Food, Agriculture, and Resource Economics.

Prior to working for the AAEA, Dunn was director of membership and communications with the U.S. Grains Council, and also worked for the National Milk Producers Federation.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in plant science, a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics, and a Master of Science degree in not-for-profit management.

"I'm very excited to be the new executive director at BICSI," Dunn says. "This association is well-positioned to lead and support the industry."

"BICSI is undergoing a great many changes to better serve our membership and enhance BICSI's role as a world leader in the telecommunications industry," says Russ Oliver, RCDD/LAN Specialist, BICSI president. "To guide us in this direction, it was important to find an individual with exceptional leadership skills. I believe we've found this and much more, and we are very pleased to have her join our organization." http://www.bicsi.org

BRADY UNIVERSAL CODE READER IS FAST AND COMPACT

MILWAUKEE --(May 12, 2004) - Imagine a truly universal bar code reader with a full complement of capabilities. Brady Corporation makes that dream a reality with the introduction of the Code Reader 2.0 (CR2).

The durable CR2 is smaller and more lightweight than other systems, while offering a superior working range. The CR2 reads both linear (Code 39) and high-density 2D (Datamatrix) bar codes. The CR2 includes a dual path optical system, a 1.3 million-pixel CMOS sensor and a 400 MHz processor in a lightweight, compact and durable housing. The CR2 is available as a cabled (USB or RS-232), batch (store and forward) and cordless device. The cordless version includes a Bluetooth radio with 300 foot operating range. It performs more than 4000 reads and transmits off a single battery charge.

Versatility is the hallmark of the CR2. Its portability and high-speed data transfer rate make it ideal for a wide range of applications, including warehouse, production, parcel tracking and point-of-sale. The handheld CR2 features a clip-on pistol grip handle for ease of operation, and a Lithium-Ion battery for long life.

Brady (NYSE:BRC) Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete identification solutions and specialty materials, with products including high-performance labels and signs, printing systems and software, label-application and data-collection systems, safety devices and precision die-cut materials for electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, laboratory and a variety of other markets. Founded in 1914, Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs more than 3,400 people in operations in the United States, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and Canada. Brady's fiscal 2003 sales were approximately $555 million. http://www.bradycorp.com

"Unexpected Dangers In The Plenum"

Cabling decisions are becoming more complicated by code, standards, safety, and environmental issues. Ignore one of these issues at your own peril.

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) is meeting on May 23 -26th to vote on final drafts for the National Electrical Code 2005. Insiders do not see any major changes for cabling. The definitions and clarifications on the removal of abandoned cable will be reinforced. Apparently the commercial efforts to approve "limited combustible cable" as a replacement to CMP (Plenum Rated) have been shelved until the next code cycle (NEC 2008). The Standards Committee recommended the delay and the Fire Test Committee has indicated that the test for "limited combustible" is not appropriate for wire and cable. In any event, the price for Plenum (CMP) or "limited combustible" cable may skyrocket as one of only two major manufacturers of FEP has ceased production in a major facility due to technical difficulties. The law of supply and demand will kick in quickly.

The various standards associations are struggling with performance criteria under CAT 6 for applications in 1,000 BaseT and 10,000 Base T. We expect several cabling manufacturers to introduce new products this month that will address the higher performance issues. Several industry insiders have already commented on the possibility that CAT 6 will quickly become obsolete and replaced by the next generation technology. One expert compared the future of CAT 6 cable to CAT 2 and CAT 4. Don't blink or you might miss it.

Safety issues continue to haunt the facility managers. Currently, none of the cables tested for Plenum applications are tested for toxicity. The NFPA 262 and NFPA 255 testing methods only monitor flame spread and smoke generation. Many of the thermoplastics used in cable constructions can emit toxic gases under heat decomposition (even without burning). A recent review of the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for DuPont Teflon® FEP (available on www.wireville.com) reveals shocking information about the generation of HF (Hydrogen Fluoride) and PFIB (Perfluoroisobutylene) from heat decomposition. HF, a clear gas, becomes Hydrofluoric Acid upon contact with even minute amounts of moisture (such as humidity). The United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense has classified PFIB, also a clear gas, as a pulmonary agent. Today's facility manager who is concerned about protecting life and property should look beyond the bold statements of "fire and smoke" safety, because that is not the whole story on safety.

The data communications department should not ignore indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Most of the cables installed over the past two decades contain high levels of lead in the jacketing material. As those jackets decompose, lead dust may be released. Some industry insiders compare the lead dust issue to the horrors of asbestos in the past. Abandoned cable removal and the purchase of lead-free cables are critical for the planning phase to address all communication cabling requirements. Numerous waste disposal experts are forecasting significant price increases for the removal and disposal of cables, which may soon be classified as HAZMAT. Toxic lead represents a major problem in the future. The future associated liability for the institution is frightening.

Cabling Standards UPDATE - A "Must Have" Subscription For Cabling Professionals
April 30, 2004 Issue of the Cabling Standards UPDATE!

Some highlights of CSU:

1. LAN Cabling Standards
   Our full report covering the latest issues resolved at the 2/3/04 meeting of the industrial cabling committee (TR 42.9) who are developing the first generic standard for industrial facility cabling, to be referred to as TIA 1005. This standard is a long time in coming and continues to address requirements that have to be figured out for the factory floor-particularly so that the cabling will handle Ethernet communications.
   


2. For the Designer/Installer+
   NECA/IBEW's National Training Institute, July 29 - August 7, 2004. Consider this high profile training event coming up in Knoxville, TN.
   


3. IEEE
   Your update on 802.3an (gigabit Ethernet over Copper) and 802.3ah (Ethernet in the First Mile) projects.
   


4. International News
   Check out today's international standards work in ISO/IEC.
   


5. Keeping Informed
   
   • Our recurring up-to-the-minute industry hot links as of this issue, provided by Joe Salimando (see page 9)
     
   • In the News - Congratulations Go to Donna Ballast and Bob Jensen http://www.cablingstandards.com
     

Fluke Networks New DTX CableAnalyzer^TM reduces total time to certify by 33%

DTX improves every aspect of certification testing for Cat 5e, Cat 6, Class F and fiber optic cabling, with record-fast autotest times and the confidence of Level IV Accuracy.

EVERETT, Washington, May 4, 2004 - Fluke Networks announces the new DTX CableAnalyzer Series, a family of products which significantly reduce total time to certify by improving the speed, accuracy and diagnostic capability of the testing process. DTX CableAnalyzers feature record-fast 12-second Cat 6 Autotest time, 900MHz of testing bandwidth, 12-hour battery life and unmatched troubleshooting diagnostics. All this testing power is in full compliance with today's standards for Cat 5e and Cat 6, as well emerging new cabling technologies such as Class F/Cat 7 or 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Superior Level IV Accuracy assures that the faster testing gives results users can trust.

The 12-second Autotest time is three times faster than any other tester on the market and the powerful on-board diagnostics lets users troubleshoot faults twice as fast. When a link fails, DTX pinpoints the location of the failure and suggests corrective action so the technician can solve the problem quickly without needing to consult a project manager. This high-speed diagnostic process comes with the added security of Level IV Accuracy, making the DTX CableAnalyzer Series the fastest, most reliable cable testers on the market.

"DTX CableAnalyzers will increase the user's productivity from day one, with time savings of 33% per year and greater" said Hugo Draye, Fluke Networks Copper Products Marketing Manager. All aspects of the tester are designed to get the job done faster: from setup, to record-fast testing and troubleshooting to reporting to the customer. "In typical installations, DTX will save the user as much as four hours per shift. All you have to do is multiply that kind of hourly savings times your labor rate to see that the payback on a new DTX tester is measured in months. After that, everything else goes to the bottom line," said Draye.

Optional multimode and singlemode fiber test modules are available for the DTX Series. These fiber test modules can be left on the unit during copper tests, which allows immediate testing of fiber or copper cabling without swapping adapters, saving setup time during certification of jobs containing both copper and fiber. The fiber Autotest is another example of DTX efficiency; it provides standards-compliant certification by testing two fibers, each at two wavelengths, measuring length and determining pass-fail status, all in about 12 seconds. This is five times faster than alternative methods. DTX fiber modules also feature an integrated visual fault locator (VFL) for troubleshooting simple link problems.

DTX CableAnalyzers are the only cable test products available that are designed, built and tested to Level IV Accuracy. Until now, testers have been designed to meet only accuracy Level III. The more demanding accuracy Level IV specification has been proposed in ISO/IEC (international standards) to test Class F links to 600 MHz. DTX testers exceed this new specification, assuring higher confidence in results over the full frequency range.

The top-of-the-line DTX-1800 CableAnalyzer operates at 900MHz, making it a test instrument suitable for today's cable installations, and for developing network technologies.

Models
The primary DTX CableAnalyzer models are the DTX-1800 and the DTX-1200. Both offer large color displays, 12-hour battery life, Level IV Accuracy and advanced diagnostic functions. The DTX-1800 has 900MHz maximum bandwidth and 12 second Autotest. The DTX-1200 supports test capabilities up to 350 MHz with 12-second Cat 6 Autotest. Optional multimode and singlemode fiber modules are available or you can purchase all-in-one DTX Copper/Fiber Certification Kits complete with multimode and singlemode fiber modules.

Price and availability
DTX CableAnalyzers have a suggested U.S. list price starting at $6,995. They are available for immediate delivery through Fluke Networks distributors and representatives around the world.

About Fluke Networks
Fluke Networks provides innovative solutions for the testing, monitoring and analysis of enterprise and telecommunications networks and the installation and certification of the fiber and copper forming the foundation for those networks. The company's comprehensive line of Network SuperVision solutions(tm) provide network installers, owners, and maintainers with superior vision, combining speed, accuracy and ease of use to optimize network performance. Headquartered in Everett, Washington, the company has approximately 500 employees worldwide and distributes its products in more than 50 countries.

http://www.flukenetworks.com

Members of Congress Receive IEC Lawmaker of the Year Awards
May 7, 2004

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - IEC was proud to present the 2004 IEC Lawmaker Awards in the U.S. Capitol during its Legislative Conference Awards Breakfast last week. For significant strides in Congress on behalf of the merit shop industry, the Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. (IEC) recognized Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) and Congressmen Todd Akin (R-MO), Cass Ballenger (R-NC), John Carter (R-TX), Trent Franks (R-AZ), J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), Sam Johnson (R-TX), John Sullivan (R-OK), and John Shimkus (R-IL).

"We are honored to recognize these lawmakers for their efforts in Washington on behalf of independent electrical contractors," said J.B. Wise IEC National President. "It is fantastic to have Members of Congress who understand the needs and concerns of small business; these are truly outstanding leaders, and we look forward to their continued support of small business interests."

Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) was honored for his outstanding efforts driving the enactment of Association Health Plans. Without Talent's tireless support, AHPs would never have surfaced to the top of the healthcare debate in the Senate.

Also recognized was Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) for understanding the devastation salting causes to thousands of merit shop contractors each year. As Chairman of the Workforce Empowerment and Government Programs Subcommittee of the House Small Business Committee, Congressman Akin held the first salting hearing this past winter. He was also gracious enough to make the opening remarks for the breakfast.

Congressman Cass Ballenger (R-NC) was recognized for his long and distinguished career in the House where he actively sought to reign in the abusive power of the National Labor Relations Board, eliminate project labor agreements and prevent salting abuse.

Congressman John Carter (R-TX) accepted the award for his efforts to end salting abuse. Carter noted, "It is time to take the sting out of salting abuse. We must end this destructive practice and finally level the playing field for Independent Electrical Contractors."

Elected in 2002, Congressman Trent Franks received the award for distinguishing himself in just two years. He serves on the small business committee as well as the Budget committee and Congressman Franks has worked tirelessly to lift the regulatory burdens facing small business.

A long-time friend to IEC, Congressman J.D. Hayworth received the award for his efforts to curtail project labor agreements. Congressman Hayworth has been a true friend of the industry and a dedicated champion of small business issues.

Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), a champion for small business, accepted the award for his committed leadership as Chairman of the Employer-Employee Relations Subcommittee of the House Education and Workforce Committee. "As one of the driving forces behind the nation's economic recovery, IEC should have the opportunity to compete on projects funded with tax payer dollars," said Johnson.

In only two years Congressman John Sullivan (R-OK) has distinguished himself as a lawmaker who can be depended upon. He has sought to address many industry issues, such as PLAs, and is a champion for small business.

A champion for small business interests since his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives started in 1997, Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) was honored for his strong commitment to IEC and its interests.

Established in 1957, IEC is a trade association made up of more than 3,200 members with 74 chapters nationwide. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., IEC is the nation's premier trade association representing America's independent electrical and systems contractors. IEC National aggressively works with the industry to establish a competitive environment for the merit shop - a philosophy that promotes the concept of free enterprise, open competition and economic opportunity for all. www.ieci.org

RiT TECHNOLOGIES AND KRONE TO FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

Companies to Market RiT's PatchView^TM in conjunction with Krone's PremisNET®Solution

Tel-Aviv, Israel and Denver, Colorado - May 18th, 2004 - Krone, a global leader in structured cabling, and RiT Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: RITT), the pioneer of Intelligent Physical Layer Management Solutions (IPLMS), announced today that the two companies have established a strategic alliance in order to jointly bring to market an IPLMS solution based on Krone's structured cabling system and RiT's PatchView IPLMS.

"Increasingly, end-user organizations are looking to reduce the long-term cost of network ownership, due to poor manual records and the ongoing cost of moves and changes with consequential unplanned and accidental downtime," observed Ron Lowy, CEO of Krone. "By combining the quality and reliability of Krone's structured cabling products with the field proven intelligent physical layer management system based on RiT technology as well as our World First CopperTen UTP 10 Gigabit system, we will give Krone customers an unrivalled total physical layer solution."

"We are proud that Krone has joined the growing number of industry leaders who have recognized the value of the PatchView solution and our experience in this field," said Liam Galin, President and CEO of RiT. "Krone, and RiT are natural partners; both have identified the importance of the physical layer as the foundation of today's sophisticated networks for both carrier and enterprise customers. Intelligent Physical Layer Management Solutions are becoming more and more mainstream in the IT world. Krone is a global leader in structured cabling and network connectivity and we look forward to working with them closely to service their customers."

The two companies will jointly bring to market a complete solution that offers medium to large enterprises the ability to reduce the total cost of network ownership and extract maximum benefits within tight operating budgets. By accurately monitoring the connectivity of the entire network in real-time, the solution enables efficient planning, implementation and documentation of daily network operations, which translates into improved control, efficiency, utilization of network resources and security.

About Krone
With an installed base of over 10 billion fault-free connections throughout the world, Krone is a global leader in infrastructure cabling and connectivity solutions for datacoms and telecoms networks.

From its beginnings in Berlin 76 years ago (1928), Krone has expanded to become a truly global company with 11 manufacturing sites, 23 subsidiaries, 36 international business units and 80 distributors - which specify and deliver Krone solutions throughout 175 countries to virtually every major PTT, to the Pentagon, the UK Houses of Parliament, airports such as Heathrow and Hong Kong, and thousands of other landmark sites.

On March 25th 2004 ADC Telecommunications reached an agreement with Gentek Inc. to acquire the Krone Group. The acquisition of Krone is a major step in transforming the company into the global leader in providing network infrastructure solutions. http://www.kroneamericas.com

About RiT Technologies
RiT Technologies pioneered the development of intelligent physical layer solutions, designed to provide superior control, utilization and maintenance of networks. RiT's innovative solutions help Enterprise and Carrier customers capitalize on network investments and reduce cost of ownership.

With a global sales network spanning 60 countries, and over 2.5 million managed ports installed, RiT's key customers include many FORTUNE 500 companies such as major financial institutions, corporations and global telecommunications companies like: Deutsche Telekom, TELMEX, TELENOR, The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), ING Barings, INVESCO, DIAGEO, Daewoo, and Reuters. www.rittech.com

Superior Essex and Leviton Voice & Data Establish National Marketing Alliance and Joint Product Development Agreement

Atlanta, GA, May 2, 2004 - Superior Essex and Leviton Voice & Data Division announced jointly today the formation of a national marketing and engineering alliance built around the NextLAN ® cabling system. Under the new agreement, the companies will dedicate respective resources to promote products that comprise the NextLAN offering and will co-develop new technologies and product enhancements for the LAN marketplace.

Leviton Voice & Data and Superior Essex established NextLAN to address the market demand for a cabling system that offers both guaranteed performance above industry specifications and quarterly published performance test reports from independent laboratories. Since its inception in 2001, NextLAN has become the preferred cabling solution of thousands of users in North America.

In expanding their partnership, Superior Essex and Leviton Voice & Data have taken steps to utilize common sales representation, where practical, throughout North America. "This national sales alignment is a major benefit to end-users who have business locations in multiple regions and to our national distribution customers who are looking to simplify their supply chain," said Brad R. Johnson, Vice President of Sales for Superior Essex Communications LLC. www.nextlansystems.com

Valerie Rybinski Re-joins Siemon as Global Sales Engineer

Watertown, CT-- Siemon, a global leader in network cabling systems and components, is proud to announce that Valerie Rybinski has re-joined the company as Global Sales Engineer. In her new role, Valerie will provide technical-oriented support for Siemon's marketing and sales force, act as a key presenter at Siemon's educational seminars and other speaking engagements worldwide, and be responsible for the composition of various white papers and other technical documentation.

Rybinski originally worked for Siemon as an Electrical Engineer and Sr. Electrical Engineer from 1990 to 2001. After a short term away, during which she had the opportunity to develop additional skills and increase her expertise in cable engineering, Valerie rejoined Siemon in March 2004.

Valerie has an impressive background of credentials including a B.S.E.E.. Degree from the University of Connecticut, and actively participates in working groups responsible for the development and publication of telecommunications standards such TIA/EIA-568-B and TIA/EIA-568-B.1 (category 6). She is the vice-chair of the TIA TR-42.7 copper cabling sub-committee, chair of the TIA TR-42.7.1 connecting hardware working group, and TIA TR-42 appointed liaison to IEEE 802.3. In addition, Valerie is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, has authored over 40 technical articles and engineering papers, and holds several U.S. Patents.

Siemon is very pleased to welcome back Val. She will be a powerful addition to Siemon's global sales and marketing team. http://www.siemon.com

TED - The Electrical Distributor Magazine - A real gem

A top-notch trade publication that is free to electrical distributors and their qualified employees. All other industry professionals contact Tammy Derosier at subscriptions@naed.org. We have reviewed this publication over the past 2 years and found many worthwhile reports, articles and news items that were not picked up by the other industry trade journals. Tom Naber (tnaber@naed.org), Publisher of TED Magazine and President of NAED along with Michael Martin, Editor of TED Magazine pulled together a first-class team to give us a #1 information resource magazine. http://www.tedmag.com/home.asp?pagenumber=1

Don't miss the Electrical Contractor Magazine - May issue SAFETY

The National Electrical Contractors Association, Inc (www.necanet.org) publishes Electrical Contractor Magazine monthly. This issue is particularly important as we focus on safety for the contractors, customers and the installers on the job. http://www.ecmag.com

Mike Holt - NEC expert offers a great newsletter and worthwhile seminars

Mike Holt -The Man Behind The Name...

Mike Holt worked his way up through the electrical trade from an apprentice electrician to a master electrician and electrical inspector. In 1973, Mike was certified as an electrical instructor and in 1975 became an electrical contractor. From their inception, Mike's electrical classes were so successful, that by 1980 he stopped electrical contracting to completely devote his time to electrical training.

Mike did not complete high school due to circumstances and dropped out after completing 11th grade. Realizing that success depends on one's education, he immediately attained his GED, and ten years later he attended the University of Miami's Graduate School for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Mike continues today to stay current in all aspects of his education. Because of his education experiences, he understands the needs of his students, and strongly encourages and motivates them to continue their own education.

EDUCATOR
Mike is nationally recognized as one of America's most knowledgeable electrical trainers. He has touched the lives of many thousands of electricians, inspectors, contractors and engineers. His dynamic and animated teaching style is relaxed, direct and fun. Perhaps Mike's best quality is his ability to motivate his students to become successful.

He is devoted to providing quality training aids such as seminars, videos, books and software that enhances job performance, personal confidence and career growth. The quality that sets Mike apart from the others is his ability to motivate his students to become successful. Mike's experiences as an electrician, inspector and contractor help him develop training programs that the electrician understands and enjoys. His ability to take the intimidation out of learning is reflected in the success rate of his students.

CODE EXPERT
Mike has devoted his career to studying and understanding the National Electrical Code,â the foundation of the electrical industry. Researching the NEC all these years and understanding its background has not only made Mike an expert, but it has earned him the respect of his peers.

Companies and organizations across the United States and Mexico have used his expertise in English and Spanish to help them pinpoint the exact meaning of the NEC. In addition, his insight has been helpful in litigation problems, where the exact meaning of the Code is necessary.

AUTHOR
Mike is a well-respected author and developer of software, books and video training programs. He has mastered the art of explaining the complicated in a simple but direct style. His ability to simplify technical concepts makes him one of America's most sought after speaker in the electrical trade. His extensive use of illustration in all of his training programs makes learning fun. His articles have been seen in numerous magazines, such as Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M), CEE News, Electrical Design and Installation (EDI), Electrical Contractor (EC), International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI News), The Electrical Distributor (TED) and Power Quality (PQ) Magazine.

Since 1973, Mike has written or taught on practically every subject in the electrical trade, from grounding and bonding, to estimating, to power quality and low voltage systems.

TRAINER AND INDUSTRY EXPERT
Companies across the United States have utilized the services of Mike for in-house training and expert advice. His unsurpassed speaking ability has encouraged companies such as ATT, IBM, Boeing; associations such as NECA, IAEI, IBEW, ICBO; and government agency such as Mexico, U.S. Navy, Grand Coulee Dam, etc. Mike's appeal lies in his ability to teach a variety of subjects to individuals that have different degrees of expertise. He even has taught the NEC to the Navajo and Ute Indians, and in Spanish in Mexico!

THE MAN
Mike resides in Central, Florida, is the father of seven children, and has many outside interest and activities. In 1988 he became the National Barefoot Waterskiing Champion. He has set five national records and in 1999 he again captured the National Barefoot Waterskiing Championship. Mike enjoys motocross racing (YZ125), white water rafting, racquetball, playing his guitar, and spending time with his family. His commitment to God has helped him develop a lifestyle that places God first, then family, self and career.

Mike Holt
6901 Maryland Avenue
Groveland, Fl 34736
1.352.429.5577
1.352.429.4555
Mike@MikeHolt.com
http://www.mikeholt.com/about.php?id=aboutmike

Catch a Mike Holt Seminar I

http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarchive/All-HTML/HTML/Catch-a-Mike-Holt-Seminar-I~20040517.php

Mike Holt Needs Help Answering NEC Questions

If you consider yourself to be very knowledgeable on the NEC and would like to help me answer NEC questions, please let me know.

What's involved?

No. 1. You need to have a very good understanding of the NEC and how it interrelates.
No. 2. You must have a desire to help others with this important safety document.
No. 3. You need to have the time to answer at least one or two questions per day.
No. 4. You need to have the ability to quickly respond to the questions.
No. 5. You must know how to use Microsoft Words' spell check.

But you will not be working alone. I expect to have five members on my Permanent NEC Code team and one chairman.

Let me know if you feel that this is something you would like to participate in.

Mike Holt
Mike@MikeHolt.com

P.S. Please do not apply if you really don't have a strong use of the NEC and it's practical application.

BOMA Southern Regional Conference was a valuable experience

The BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) Southern Region Conference was held in Jacksonville, Florida April 22 - 25, 2004. This conference was hailed as a huge success and many attendees commented that the host, BOMA of Jacksonville "raised the bar" for the Southern Region. There were 185 full registrants and a record setting TOBY awards dinner with 267 attendees. A new record was set with 58 buildings entered into the Regional TOBY awards competition. The Regional Conference Committee was chaired by Jackson Taunton, (Liberty Property Trust), and veteran Ed Cavin, lifetime member. This is the first time Jacksonville has hosted the Southern Region Conference in almost 30 years. Based on the favorable feedback, Jacksonville is certain to be selected more often. http://www.bomajacksonville.org

BOMA Jacksonville - A Look Inside The Building Inspection Division of Public Works

On May 18th the members of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Jacksonville were treated to an enlightening program about the inner workings of the Building Inspection Division Department of Public Works for the City of Jacksonville, FL. www.coj.net. Thomas H. Goldsbury, P.E., CBO, Chief of The Building Inspection Division reviewed the growth statistics for Duval County and the surge in building permits. The significant growth and additional work load on this department has been met by some very creative and effective service solutions developed by the City of Jacksonville. The computerization of the building permit process has made the system very user-friendly and reduced the waiting time for permits and inspections. This "partnership" between the building owners, contractors, and The Building Inspection Division has facilitated faster more efficient issuance and inspections with a workload that is more than four times greater than before. Hats off to Mr. Goldsbury and the professional team at the City of Jacksonville. Safety is too important to ignore. The City of Jacksonville has adopted the latest building code and the NEC2002. Yes, they do enforce the removal of abandoned cable.

BOMA - Two Premier Events - One Exciting Venue!

For the first time ever, BOMA Canada's highly respected annual conference and exposition, BOMEX®, is incorporated into BOMA International's renowned annual conference. The North American Commercial Real Estate Congress and The Office Building Show is a unique, powerful forum that offers you an unprecedented opportunity to increase your professional knowledge and expertise.

You'll benefit from an expanded program with more in-depth programs and education sessions exploring today's U.S., Canadian and global commercial real estate markets. With the economy recovering, the employment rate rising and the real estate industry on the verge of booming again, there has never been a better time than now to learn effective strategies for keeping your tenants satisfied, improving your management practices and increasing your profit margins.

Join thousands of commercial real estate professionals from all across North America and around the world for this exclusive event! http://www.bomaconvention.org

NAED Annual Conference 2004 was an unqualified success!

• Distributor attendance at the 2004 Annual Meeting (May 15 - 19, San Francisco, Calif.) increased more than 30% over the previous year's attendance.
• A total of 1320 distributors and manufacturer attendees
• 80 exhibitors participated in the Champion's Expo, including Pass & Seymour/Legrand, Fluke Corp., Lutron Electronics, Greenlee Textron
• The conference featured 12 education sessions. Sessions included: ways to improve relationships and profitability with electrical contractors (by industry columnist Joe Salimando); research on procurement chain management in the construction industry (by Dr. Perry Daneshgari); and a panel discussion of distributor leaders on the pros/cons of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP).
• Keynote speakers included: Dr. Martin Regalia, chief economist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Steve Bridges, famous impersonator of President George W. Bush; and Chuck Steiner, former CEO of Branch Group, Inc. Chairman Tom Cloud, chairman and CEO of United Electric Supply in Wilmington, Dela., served as the MC of the event.
• Event sponsors included Omni Cable, Tyco Electronics, Capitol Marketing, IDEAL Industries, FedEx, Fluke Corp., Routeview Technologies, General Electric, Reel-O-Matic.
• NAED also hosted peer networking groups for distributors, manufacturers and Women in the Industry.

www.naed.org

NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition®
May 23-26, 2004
Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake City, UT

This year´s conference will feature the latest fire, electrical, building and life safety techniques and technologies.

Latest news

• Highlights from Sunday´s general session, including remarks from Chair Corinne Broderick and President James Shannon.
• NFPA presented various awards to those demonstrating significant fire and life safety accomplishments.
• Choose from ten pre-conference seminars and more than 100 education sessions.
• Information about this year´s Exposition.
• NEC® Users Symposium and Expo, Salt Lake City, May 23-26
• Leading industry associations and publications endorse NFPA conference.
• Download the conference brochure

http://www.nfpa.org/ProfessionalDev/EventsCalendar/WFCSExpo/WFCSExpo.asp

CSE news and links to stories revolving around NFPA world safety conference

http://www.csemag.com/sections/fire.asp

http://www.csemag.com/sections/changing.asp

http://www.csemag.com/news.asp?topicId=25502&docId=l:78975821

http://www.csemag.com/news.asp?topicId=25502&docId=l:78975823

http://www.csemag.com/news.asp?topicId=25502&docId=l:80684221

http://www.csemag.com/sections/schools.asp

http://www.csemag.com/news.asp?topicId=25502&docId=l:80682518

CSC Changes Hands

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

DISTRIBUTOR NEWS

Communications Supply Corporation (CSC), based in Carol Stream, Ill., has been sold by parent UBS Capital LLC. The former owner is a unit of UBS, a giant international bank. CSC is said to be the third largest U.S. distributor of network infrastructure equipment (behind Anixter and Graybar). The new owner: New-York-City-based Harvest Partners, described in a Reuters report (5/4) as "a $1B buyout fund group. www.gocsc.com

Columnist Joe Salimando, a valuable voice in our trade publications.

In today's hustle and bustle world, we don't have the luxury of spare time to research the constant changes in the VDV industry. What we must do to stay current is follow the trade publications for information and trends as they develop. We have found that you can hardly find an industry journal about the electrical and communications sector that doesn't contain the writings of veteran journalist, Joe Salimando. A quick search on Google will reveal his vast experience and wide spread publications.

Joe Salimando is a market researcher, consultant, and writer specializing in the electrical, voice-data, and construction industries. He was Publisher of Electrical Contractor magazine (June 1990 to April 1998). His current assignments include work as a writer and columnist for The Electrical Distributor magazine and its Web site, in addition to other industry sites. Email Joe Salimando at jsali@cris.com 703-255-1428 voice or 888-309-4796 fax.

Joe Salimando of EFJ Enterprises is a consultant and web content provider based in Vienna, Va. For previous columns, see the TEDMAG archive.

Category 5e RJ21X Connecting Hardware Products - White Paper

Written by Brad Everette and Sterling Vaden, both of Superior Modular Products and based in Swannanoa, NC. Ph. 828-298-2260, www.smpdata.com

Introduction:

One of the concerns about RJ21X connecting hardware is its ability to transmit six Gigabit Ethernet signals simultaneously. This paper addresses that concern from the technical design and component level testing perspective of Superior Modular Products. Products and solutions in this category may be found at www.smpdata.com under the Gigabit Data Center link.

Background:

Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) has been the hot topic since cabling systems reached 100MHz. It is the unintentional communication between pairs of a cabling system resulting from the wire pairs being placed close to each other. The testing process consists of measurement of each pair's NEXT in relation to each of the other three pairs in the component, Permanent Link, or Channel. This may also be referred to as Pair-to-Pair NEXT.

When Gigabit Ethernet (1000BaseT as specified by IEEE 802.3ab) was developed utilizing all four pairs simultaneously and bi-directionally over existing 100MHz cabling systems, PowerSum NEXT (PSNEXT) became an important parameter. The testing process for PSNEXT consists of measuring all pair-to-pair Crosstalk combinations and then summing all of the values for each pair. This specification was developed to directly address the effect of transmissions on multiple adjacent pairs on the pair being tested and is relevant to all connecting hardware and associated communications cables.

Connecting Hardware:

The RJ21X (a.k.a. Telco, Amphenol, 25pr) connector is gaining wide acceptance in the industry as an alternative to the termination of six or twelve ports using Insulation Displacement Connectors (IDCs). As these systems are specified, it is critical to the user that PSNEXT specifications are met for all 24 pairs being used in the connector, therefore providing assurance of Crosstalk performance between ports within the ganged module.

This is especially critical within RJ21X/RJ45 modular patch panels. Not all manufacturers of 25 pair modular patch panels and components test and qualify all pair combinations relative to the 25 pair connector. Thus they are providing a product that is no better (and probably much worse) than a typical four pair product. All pair combinations in the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) mounted RJ21X connector must be tested and power summed to assure compliance.

In the illustration below, the critical nature of PSNEXT within the RJ21X connector becomes immediately apparent. Lack of compliance with this specification in the case of the RJ21X connectors can have the same result as Alien Crosstalk (ANEXT) in a four-pair system.

Communications Cables:

25 pair cable is typically constructed of four pair groupings. However, all pair to pair Crosstalk couplings within the cable are measured and the power sum Crosstalk must pass the same TIA requirements as established for four pair cabling. Since all 25 pairs are "summed" together, the pair to pair and PowerSum Crosstalk requirements provide an electrically better "standards based" cabling solution.

When 4 pair cabling is installed, there is no assurance of port-to-port isolation between connectors and cables. In fact, since the cables are usually from the same manufacturer, the individual cables will have identical twist rates, virtually guaranteeing poor cable-to-cable Crosstalk performance (ANEXT and AFEXT). In the 25 pair system, all port-to-port Crosstalk couplings are known and controlled by the manufacturer, assuring performance. There is also much less likelihood of like-twist pairs in close proximity in a bundled configuration of 25 pair cables.

25 Pair RJ21X vs. 4 Pair RJ45:

In today's higher density installations, such as Data Centers, ANEXT is one of the leading contributors to BER failures. PSNEXT compliance within the RJ21X connector in a RJ21X cabling system represents the only specification for UTP cabling that provides a degree of "port-to-port" Crosstalk isolation. In four pair systems, there are no formal requirements for ANEXT or PSANEXT. Typically, the port-to-port Crosstalk couplings are not measured due to the many variables of cable placement and bundling and the difficulty in making field measurements. This is where 25 pair cabling systems actually provide greater performance margins when compared to four pair systems.

Conclusions:

• By definition of standards requirements, the RJ21X connectivity solution offers a channel solution fully capable of transmitting Gigabit Ethernet on all ports simultaneously.
• PowerSum NEXT specifications for RJ21X connecting hardware and high-pair-count cables offer a degree of Alien Crosstalk reduction that far exceeds that of four-pair UTP cables in similar network designs.
• For high-density applications such as Data Centers the 25 pair cabling solution is not only neater and easier to install and manage, but it yields better performance as well.

Data references: TIA 568B, IEEE 802.3

Editor's Note:
Recently, the marketplace has been besieged by news of acquisitions and mergers in the cable manufacturer arena. As profits shrink, the number of cable manufacturers has reduced and the connector/cable alliances have likewise diminished. What once looked like a winning marketing strategy now looks more like an expanding liability.

We recently spoke to several East Coast communications contractors about their choices in connector technology. All but one of the people we interviewed named Superior Modular Products http://www.smpdata.com/smp/ as their top rated choice for connector hardware. They told us that the product was highly dependable and delivered the performance required at a very competitive price. We asked them why they didn't go for one of the advertised cable and connector alliances, like NetClear™ or NetLAN™. They said they tried those types of packages and did not see any advantage over the SMP offerings. The cable manufacturers warranties are still good with qualified connectors.

The marketing spin-doctors for these new combined manufacturers are trying to enhance their offerings by creating internal and external "one branded end-to-end solutions." I guess they figure that the distributors, contractors and consumers are unable to configure solutions.

Prior to recent events the majority of past changes had taken place in the connector technology. We have seen several major shifts and corporate changes in the companies that manufacture the jacks, patch panels, and other connector technology. Many of those "connector companies" have struck marketing deals with various cable manufacturers. During the past fifteen years, those relationships have changed partners often. The net result is a very confused marketplace. The ultimate solutions and partnerships between cable and connector manufacturers have changed frequently. One large end user said, "We no longer place any significant value on these ultimate solutions and product partnerships. Instead, we turn to the distributor".

We have watched the connector hardware competitors scurry about in their quest to promote various alliances with the cable manufacturers. This competition has spent "beaucoup bucks" in a host of different programs that have taken on more variations than a kaleidoscope. What they have managed to accomplish is to confuse the marketplace. The alliances have broken and changed so often that even the industry insiders cannot figure out "who's on first?" Adding to the confusion is the manufacturer warranty game. We have never been able to identify any significant buyer that has ever derived a single dime's worth of recovery from a warranty program coordinated between connector and cable manufacturers. Like Superior Modular Products, the manufacturers of cabling connection and support hardware should stand on their own merits.

Reuters
Moody's cuts Cable Design Technologies ratings
Wednesday May 5, 5:49 pm ET

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

1. Senior implied rating confirmed at Ba2;


2. $110 million Convertible Subordinated Debentures downgraded to B1 from Ba3;


3. Senior unsecured issuer rating downgraded to Ba3 from Ba2.

The rating outlook is stable.

The confirmation of the company's existing senior implied rating reflects Moody's view that the operating performance, pro forma for the contemplated all-stock merger with Belden Inc. (Belden), has bottomed with the expectation of moderate improvement during the next twelve months. This rating also assumes that the combined entities will experience a smooth integration process, clean sale of certain assets from Belden's North American communications business and timely near-term repayment of scheduled maturities for existing Belden senior notes. Further, the rating accounts for the combined company's cyclical business model as well as the associated increased commoditization.

The downgrade of the company's convertible subordinated debentures reflects Moody's opinion that the underlying noteholders have been impaired by the pro forma legal structure which effectively increases the structural subordination while providing no direct benefit in the form of either increased cash flow or enhanced asset coverage (albeit, indirect benefit does result from the increased enterprise value of the combined companies). The company's issuer rating was also downgraded one notch, reflecting the greater structural subordination at the CDT "corporation" level for unsecured, non-guaranteed indebtedness.

The convertible debentures were issued in July 2003 by Cable Design Technologies Corporation (CDT), a holding company. Under the proposed legal structure for this combination, an acquisition subsidiary of CDT will merge with and into Belden, with Belden effectively becoming a first tier wholly-owned subsidiary of CDT. With Belden maintaining its existing indebtedness, as borrower to a $75 million secured credit facility and issuer to various senior notes totaling $200 million, these obligations will compound the effective structural subordination that the existing CDT convertibles (as well as for that of the unsecured CDT creditors) face in terms of impairment on the residual claims to the underlying operating cash flow generation and asset protection. Specifically, the subordinated notes will only have a residual claim to existing CDT generated operating cash flow, with restrictions associated with the existing Belden debt prohibiting the upstream of underlying cash flows until this indebtedness has been completely repaid. At the same time, the lack of covenant protection associated with the convertible debentures allows for the potential downstreaming of CDT-generated cash flows to support the Belden debt. As compared to unsecured creditors at the CDT holding company level (the issuer rating), the subordinated debenture holders will also be subordinated to other CDT creditors based on their junior unsecured claim position. In aggregate, this translates into the one notch downgrade for each of the unsecured senior issuer and convertible debenture ratings.

The rating outlook is stable. Moody believes that the combined companies' core end markets (networking and specialty electronic cable & connectivity) have bottomed, with the expectation of modest to moderate demand acceleration over the next twelve months. At the same time, it is anticipated that the operations will generate margin expansion as a result of tangible restructuring activities executed in the recent past by each company on a stand-alone basis, as well as from the inherent economies of scale to be generated by this $1.1 billion cable & wire enterprise. Moody's expects the company to experience little difficulty in servicing its operational needs, to include capital investment requirements, over the next twelve months. Further, it is anticipated that the combined companies' existing cash balances, free cash flow generation and expected cash proceeds from the telecom asset sale will provide a healthy residual for meeting Belden's scheduled senior note maturities.

Pro forma for this merger, the combined companies will report total indebtedness of $312 million (excluding potential borrowings under the legacy Belden $75 million borrowing base facility). Based on each of the company's reported trailing twelve months (TTM) operating performance (for CDT, the period ending January 2004; for Belden, the period ending March 2004), the pro forma total leverage to Adjusted EBITDA (excludes restructuring and certain other one-time charges) is estimated at 3.7x. Moody's expects that this will be materially reduced to the 2.5x - 2.6x area in the near term as a result of the September 2004 $64 million Belden Series A senior note repayment and the anticipated operating performance strengthening. This financial deleveraging, coupled with the expectation that the combined enterprise will experience improved sales generation, widened margins and moderately increased cash flow within an increasingly optimistic economic spend environment further underlies the confirmation of the senior implied credit rating.

The rating also recognizes the combined companies' position amongst the global leaders in manufacturing and supplying high bandwidth cable as well as electronic connectivity products. The combined Belden CDT business model will possess significant product breadth and end market diversity. The increased presence serving the more GDP-like OEM electronic end markets will provide more mature, predictable demand as compared to the networking segment. Further, the operational scale will offer the company increased leverage with supplier as well as channel (i.e., distributor) relationships. Finally, the rating reflects the stand-alone companies' historical ability to efficiently manage their respective balance sheets, realize moderate cash flow generation through effective working capital reductions and guide the business through the recent challenging demand downcycle.

Going forward, Cable Design's ratings may be negatively impacted by one or a combination of the following: (i) sub-optimal operating performance that includes flat-to-weakened net sales generation, lack of margin expansion (expected from economies of scale as well as completed restructuring) and modest cash flow generation; (ii) greater than expected integration challenges; (iii) unexpected lack of stability with the perceived lower risk Belden business model; and (iv) operational shortcomings resulting from heightened competitive pressures within either the North American or European marketplaces. Conversely, the ratings would be positively impacted by some combination of (i) materially enhanced profitability (pro forma ROIC (EBITA-based) currently sub-par versus comparably rated companies); (ii) improved quality of earnings / more effective conversion into cash flow levels commensurate for a $1+ billion sales generating "Ba"-rated enterprise and (iii) sustained ability to operate with financial leverage below 2.0x.

On a stand-alone basis, each of Cable Design Technologies Corporation and Belden Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced connectivity products for the global network communication and specialty electronic marketplaces. For CDT's TTM period ending January 2004, the company generated sales of $503 million and Adj. EBITDA of $35 million (7.0% margin) while Belden generated sales of $800 million and Adj. EBITDA of $49 million (6.1% margin; TTM period ending March 2004).

The combined Belden CDT Inc. will be headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
http://www.cdtc.com/index.html

The 50th NECA Show Gearing Up for October 16-19, 2004 in LA
Join Us In Celebrating The NECA Show's Golden Anniversary

This year, the NECA Show celebrates its 50th year in providing a place for construction professionals to network and learn more about today and tomorrow's trade industries. Since it's beginning as a small show in New York in 1954, the NECA Show has now grown to be one of the largest in the industry. Attendees gain valuable insight on a wide array of electrical contracting management issues, tips on how to stay ahead of today's tech trends, and the experience of the largest Electrical Industry Trade Show.

The 2004 NECA Show highlights include a New Product Preview, which allows exhibitors to unveil their latest innovations and showcase their featured products to attendees. Also featured are free technical workshops that offer free opportunities to educate attendees on the latest industry advances and technologies.

These three days bring together more than $9 billion in purchasing power and the biggest and best companies in the industry. Decision-makers from electrical contractors, large and small, come face to face with manufacturers, utilities, consultants, engineers, and distributors across the nation and around the world to take advantage of the many opportunities the Show has to offer.

Trade Show Hours*
Sunday, October 17 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday, October 18 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday, October 19 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Note: Children are not permitted onto the Show Floor except
on Monday, October 18, from 10:30am - 1:00pm
*Hours subject to change

• Celebrate the NECA Show's 50th Year!
• Over 250 Exhibitors
• Technical Workshops right on the Show floor
• The New & Featured Products Room
• Lunches available on the Show Floor for fully registered attendees

NECA Convention

Lights, Camera, Action...
Prepare yourself for NECA 2004 Los Angeles!

We invite you to come to the "New" LA and experience all that this intriguing city has to offer. You will be pleasantly surprised by the electrifying changes in the "City of Angels". Join us to experience the world-class hotels, a state-of-the-art convention center, a variety of restaurants certain to please every palette along with never ending entertainment options.

There is more than one reason why LA has been dubbed the city of the "Stars" and we hope that you will be there to add your footprint in NECA's own walk of fame.

Join your friends and colleagues for a stellar performance October 16-19, 2004.

One of the world's most exciting cities, Los Angeles is always on the cutting edge. LA is a trendsetter in fashion, culture, food, and, of course, show business. Los Angeles revels in its many worlds within a city and you will want to take advantage of them all…the list is endless... so many things to do and so many places to explore. Find more information on LA here.

Through its many faces, Los Angeles will offer NECA an intriguingly varied convention experience complete with fun for the entire group.

Los Angeles looks forward to welcoming you and making you a "Star" to be remembered in October 2004.

Feel free to browse this site to gain a better feel of the exciting events and programs we have in store for you this year. Below are a few important links about what NECA has to offer in Los Angeles. With all NECA has planned, it will be a guaranteed event to remember. We'll see you in October!

• Download the Convention Brochure (PDF)
• Convention Hours
• Daily Show Prize Drawings
• A spectacular Opening Reception
• Two General Sessions
• Educational Opportunities
• The NECA Show, America's Leading Power Distribution and Cabling Exposition, celebrates its 50th year!
• Closing Celebration
• Tours around the city of Los Angeles
• Special Hotel Rates
• Get Special Airfares by calling ETA at 1-800-498-2270
• Discount Rental Car Rates

NECA: Bills to Reduce Burdensome Regulatory Red Tape For Employers Pass the House

Bethesda, MD - Four bills, supported by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), making common sense improvements to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) passed the House floor on May 18.

NECA was involved in the OSHA Fairness Coalition to advocate for these bills, stressing that these changes will not have a negative impact on current workplace safety and health protections. The reforms will only serve to help business with the regulatory burdens of dealing with OSHA. There is no word as to when the Senate will take up the bills.

What's the Skinny On These Bills?

* H.R. 2728 gives the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) additional flexibility to make exceptions to the arbitrary 15-day deadline for employers to file responses to OSHA citations when a small business misses the deadline by mistake or for good reason, ensuring appropriate disputes will be resolved based on merit rather than legal technicalities.

* H.R. 2729 ensures important workplace safety and health cases are reviewed in a more timely fashion by increasing the membership of OSHRC from three to five members to address the common situation in which the commission does not have a quorum and as a result adjudication of cases is delayed.

* H.R. 2730 restores the original system of checks and balances intended by Congress when it enacted the OSHA law and ensures the Commission, and not OSHA, would be the party who interprets the law and provides an independent review of OSHA citations. Courts and judges also would have to defer to the Review Commission's decisions when interpreting OSHA law.

* H.R. 2731 will make it easier for small employers to recover attorneys' fees when they successfully defend against an OSHA citation.

For more information on these and other legislative issues affecting the electrical construction industry please visit www.necanet.org or contact NECA Government Affairs Representative Beth Greco at 301-215-4542

The National Electrical Contractors Association, founded in 1901, is the leading representative of a segment of the construction market comprised of over 70,000 electrical contracting firms. The industry employs over 650,000 electrical workers and produces an annual volume of over $95 billion. NECA includes 120 U.S. chapters in addition to others in countries around the world. The association sponsors the NECA Show, renowned as the industry's premiere event, which features cutting-edge technologies, highlights new trends, and provides courses to help contractors broaden their knowledge and skill. NECA is dedicated to enhancing the industry through continuing education, labor relations, current information and promotional activities. To learn more about the industry or NECA's services, please visit www