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BISBEE’S BUZZ
Building Owners Beware – The Cost Of Cabling Could Be A Big Pain
Building
Owners Beware – The cost of cabling could become a big pain, because of a relatively
new section of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Unfortunately, these new code provisions have
caught many building owners unprepared to deal with the issue because most
tenant leases did not address the responsibility for cabling installed during
occupancy. The bill for this clean up
may run into the millions of dollars and it appears that building owners may
get caught “holding the bag” on this potentially costly problem.
Literally
miles of cabling left in ceilings and walls from previous network and power
installations by previous tenants have accumulated in most of our
buildings. These abandoned cables are a
potential source for fueling fire, smoke and lethal toxic fumes that can
incapacitate or kill.
Due
to changes in the 2002 and 2005 editions of the National Electrical Code (NEC),
some abandoned cables could render your property out of code jeopardizing the
underwriting of your fire insurance and even representing a potentially
significant legal liability. The new
rules make it a violation to have abandoned cables in the accessible portions
of your building's concealed spaces including most risers and plenums. Additionally, the code revisions mandate
cable tagging requirements for new installs where cables are installed or
pre-wired today for intended future.
When
the tenant moves out, ask them to remove their cabling and/or have your own
contractor remove all of the abandoned cabling from accessible areas. Upgrade the lease language for the new tenant
to address this area of concern and pay more attention to the infrastructure
materials including WHERE the tenants are installing them.
The
new NEC rules can be quite complex and often are as confusing as IRS rules and
regulations causing building owners to wonder which way to turn. Many electrical and communications
contractors have the knowledge and practical expertise to guide you through
this rather murky area of danger and liability related to abandoned
wiring. Furthermore, most contractors have
a highly skilled technical staff capable of economically performing the
identification and removal tasks according to code.
RULE
#1 = TAG IT. The
fastest way to establish a tracking method for the cabling infrastructure is to
label to facilities at both ends.
Abandoned
cable can easily be found in hospitals, schools and office buildings that were
built many years ago, and then expanded in recent years. Particularly vulnerable and in need of urgent
corrective action is the healthcare industry where abandoned cables
abound. Cabling may generate significant
risks in fire, toxic gasses, & smoke hazards. Safety concerns are a high priority.
These
code changes developed over the past 8 years while many building owners were
unaware of any proposals that may affect their tenants, their insurability or
their liability. More changes are
proposed for 2008 and 2009 as the term “cables” may be expanded to the term
“materials.” Building owners are a
significant group of users of building codes and should mobilize to have their
voices heard in the debate over removal of cables, or materials, from concealed
spaces in their occupancies.
Remember:
Safety is too important to ignore.
But
that’s just my opinion,
Frank Bisbee
"Heard On The Street" Monthly Column
www.wireville.com
4949 Sunbeam Rd, Suite 16
Jacksonville, FL 32257
(904) 645-9077 office
(904) 645-9058 fax
frank@wireville.com
Michael Martin Promoted to Associate Publisher & Editor of TED Magazine
Michael Martin has been promoted to associate publisher and editor of TED:
The Electrical Distributor magazine by the National Association of
Electrical Distributors (NAED).
An NAED staff member since 1998, Martin has been TED editor since
2000. He currently manages both editorial and publishing operations of the magazine, which is circulated
monthly to over 27,000 readers in the electrical distribution industry. The award-winning magazine covers marketing
reports, product trends, sales training techniques, operational improvements
and news updates for the electrical distribution industry.
During Martin’s tenure at TED, the magazine has added more editorial,
been redesigned, increased advertising revenue, and advanced its online
presence with multiple sites and newsletters. During this time, the magazine has also been recognized both nationally
and regionally for editorial and design excellence. In 2004, Martin also
oversaw the magazine’s successful 40th anniversary that included contests, a
commemorative edition of TED and an anniversary gala.
Martin is a member of the American Society of Business Publication Editors
(ASBPE) and the Missouri Association of Publications (MAP). He received an
ASBPE award for Editorial Excellence for the feature Deep in the Heart of Profit
(May 2005), a feature article about Elliott Electrical Supply and its founder
Bill Elliott. He also led the magazine to receive five additional ASBPE awards
between 2004 - 2006.
“Martin has been TED Magazine’s point person for some time now,” explained NAED
President and TED Magazine Publisher Tom Naber. “His promotion comes as a
result of successfully juggling multiple responsibilities ranging from
editorial to advertising to web strategy. He not only puts a great deal of
energy into the magazine, but also into our association and the electrical
industry at large.”
A graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., Martin is married and has two children.
www.naed.org
RHINO 101 Makes Labeling Fast, Easy and Affordable
When two worlds collide, great things happen. RHINO, a brand
of Sanford, L.P., a Newell Rubbermaid Company (NYSE: NWL) and a world leader in
industrial identification, is proud to bring together tough and durable RHINO
labels and the ever-popular Sharpie® permanent marker to create the new RHINO
101 reusable label dispenser.
Since the introduction of the award winning RHINO 5000 label printer in 2004,
the RHINO brand has been building superior electronic label printers for
datacomm installers, electrical contractors, facility managers and other
professionals all over the world. While electronic label printing is a
fast-growing segment of the market, traditional “pen and tape” labeling remains
the method of choice for some, as well as a viable means of temporary labeling
in the “rough-in” phase of installations. For this reason, RHINO developed the
RHINO 101 reusable label dispenser – a product that combines the durability of
RHINO industrial labels with the proven power of the Sharpie Retractable®
permanent marker into one convenient tool.
Doug Waldal, Global Business Director for RHINO explains, “Pen and tape
labeling has been around for decades and still, for many, is the most
cost-effective and efficient means for labeling their projects. We
recognize this and for this reason decided to develop an innovative product
that we feel represents the best “pen-and-tape” labeling solution on the market
today. The Sharpie brand is very well known and for many is the
identification tool of choice. Now, with the RHINO 101, installers and
contractors can use what we believe is the best of both worlds: the best
labeling materials – RHINO labels – and the best marker – Sharpie.”
The RHINO 101 is a reusable and refillable hand-held labeling tool that
provides tape, pen, writing surface and cutter into one. But it’s no ordinary
pen and tape. The tape is an easy to load drop-in cartridge that consists of
easy-to-peel split-back RHINO labels with industrial-strength adhesives that
stick. The pen included with the tool is a black Sharpie Retractable® permanent
marker – a world-renowned brand in the market. Together, they provide a truly
powerful and dependable solution for fast, easy labels. The writing surface
integrated into the RHINO 101 makes it easy to write labels anywhere and the
built-in cutter, belt clip and lanyard hook provide further on-the-go
convenience. Additionally, the RHINO 101 includes a thumb advance for easy tape
dispensing (without smearing) and a viewing window to align the label prior to
cutting (for self-laminating labels).
“Prior to designing the RHINO 101 and even during the design and testing
phases, we interviewed many installers to learn what features were most
important to them,” said Rafael Martinez, Product Manager for RHINO. “They were
very specific about the labeling functionality they wanted, what was currently
missing in the marketplace, and what their “ideal” pen-and-tape labeler would
include. We are proud to say that the RHINO 101 was truly user-inspired.”
The RHINO 101 is available in two packages: one for wire and cable
marking (contains self-laminating die cut vinyl labels) and one for general
purpose marking (contains continuous flexible nylon labels). Each lists for
$19.99. Label cartridge refills are available in both self-laminating and nylon
styles and retail for $9.99. All are available at major distributors in the
security, datacomm, professional audio/video, electrical, MRO and construction
markets in May.
About RHINO
RHINO is a brand within DYMO, a business unit within Sanford L.P., a Newell
Rubbermaid company. DYMO designs and manufactures RHINO professional label
printers and tools for commercial, residential and industrial use. RHINO
labeling tools are designed with easy-to-use features that greatly reduce
labeling time. Learn more at www.rhinolabeling.com
BICSI Reinvents Outside Plant Education With New Manual
BICSI®, an
organization of information transport systems (ITS) industry professionals,
announces the release of the Outside
Plant Design Reference Manual (OSPDRM), fourth edition.
Written for the individual
who designs, inspects or maintains the outside plant (OSP) infrastructures in a
campus environment, the OSPDRM
provides a
comprehensive, vendor-neutral
overview of the components of OSP design. The manual is the basis for BICSI’s
RCDD®/OSP Specialty Program.
Among new topics covered in
this fourth edition is a chapter on ‘Legal Considerations for the OSP
Designer’. This chapter introduces the most current information regarding
potential issues/problems that OSP designers and installers may encounter given
the complexity of OSP projects.
“This is a truly unique
outside plant manual in the fact that the information contained within this new
edition reflects a broader applicability,” said John Adams, RCDD/OSP
Specialist, owner of Adams Telecomm in Valrico,
Florida, and BICSI’s Technical
Information and Methods (TI&M) Committee OSPDRM subject matter expert team leader (SMETL).
First published in 1999 as
the Customer-owned Outside Plant Design
Manual, the fourth edition of the OSPDRM
is the product of the continuing evolution toward a global document. “It is an
invaluable reference for anyone that is involved in the designing, inspecting
or the construction of OSP information transport systems,” Adams
said.
Previous editions of the
manual relied almost exclusively on U.S. standards. Now addressing
global best practices, the newest edition can be applied almost anywhere,
making it a relevant reference material for ITS professionals around the world.
BICSI’s TI&M Committee
works to develop and produce the technical information in BICSI manuals like
the OSPDRM. “The knowledge gained by
using this new manual will be an important asset to designers, consultants,
engineers, end users, students taking BICSI outside plant courses, and
candidates for the RCDD/OSP Specialty exam,” said David Labuskes, RCDD/NTS/OSP
Specialist, vice president of RTKL Associates' special systems design group and
TI&M Committee Chair.
OSP cabling systems can
support a wide variety of communication services. These include telephone and
data transfer, live video, security, building automation control systems and
any other low-voltage circuitry.
For more information about
the OSPDRM and BICSI’s RCDD/OSP
Specialty Program, please visit www.bicsi.org.
General Cable Closes Purchase Of Chinese Cable Products Maker
Wire and cable
products maker General Cable Corp. said Friday it closed the acquisition of
Jiangyin Huaming Specialty Cable Co. a Chinese maker of specialty automotive
and industrial cable products.
The company did not give financial terms.
Jiangyin has about $12 million in revenue and employs about 200 people, General
Cable said.
General Cable added that that it plans to
invest additional capital over the next three years and expand the new
company's portfolio, profitability, and revenue base.
Telecommunications Equipment Maker CommScope Hits 6-Year Best On Profit And Sales
Shares of
telecommunications equipment maker CommScope Inc. jumped to a six-year high
Friday after the company raised its guidance and reported a better
fourth-quarter profit than Wall Street expected.
Growing demand for CommScope's
communications network cables and products pushed sales to $393.7 million and
earnings to 38 cents per share, beyond the $383.7 million and 36 per share
analysts anticipated.
The Hickory, N.C.-based company now
expects between $1.72 billion and $1.76 billion in sales for 2007.
Robert W. Baird & Co. analyst Kenneth
Muth raised his price target to $40 from $34, and kept his rating on the stock
at "Neutral."
"Early 2007 trends appear very
positive in each major category and, importantly, Enterprise pricing has remained stable in the
face of declining copper costs," he said. "We believe CommScope is
executing well and would be buyers of the stock on weakness."
Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Alan Bezoza,
who also has a "Neutral" rating on the shares, said, "As the
supplier of last-mile solutions, CommScope is well-positioned to benefit from
increased network traffic as well as from the competitive battle between cable,
telecom, and satellite operators."
"We look for continued strength
driven by solid fundamentals, lower raw material costs and stable customer
pricing," Bezoza said, adding that he missed an opportunity to upgrade the
stock before its price increased. Shares are up about 22 percent since the
beginning of the year. www.commscope.com
Leading ABC Sports And ESPN Commentator To Kick-Off Event
Framingham, MA – December 29, 2006 – Dick Vitale, College Basketball
Analyst for ABC Sports and ESPN, will officially open the 8th annual Electronic
House Expo (EHX)
Spring 2007 on March 8, 2007 at the Orange
County Convention
Center in Orlando,
FL.
In his Opening Keynote
presentation, Mr. Vitale will lead the official kick-off to the 2007 EHX Spring
event. EHX is the #1 place for the custom electronics community to gather,
network, learn, share knowledge and ideas, and stay up to date on the latest
industry trends and innovations.
Mr. Vitale will inspire EHX
attendees about “Winning In The Game of Life." Vitale will share his
secrets for tackling the problems of business head-on, with the boundless
optimism and lessons learned from the hard knocks of sports. Perhaps no one
understands the game of life – and particularly how to play it with enthusiasm,
energy and verve – than the one and only Dick Vitale. Dick uses a combination
of humor and inspiration drawn from his career as a sixth grade teacher, a
college and professional basketball coach, and years as one of the best known –
and perhaps most beloved – network basketball analysts in history.
Seating is limited for the
opening keynote event. Attendees registering by December 29th will have a
chance to meet Dick Vitale, during a special VIP reception, prior to the
opening keynote. To register for EHX and get your chance to meet Dick Vitale,
visit www.ehxweb.com/register.html and
complete your registration by December 29th. Expo-Plus passes valued at $75 are
free for registrants who sign up now.
More than 11,000 industry
professionals are expected at EHX Spring 2007, with more than 350 companies
showcasing the hottest products in the custom electronics industry – including
home theater, multi-room audio, media centers, home networking, home
automation, lighting control, structured wiring, security and advanced
electrical products.
For complete
information on EHX Spring 2007 or to register, visit www.EHXweb.com.
About EH Events
EH Events develops and produces world-class expositions and conferences for the
technology and construction industries. The EH Events portfolio includes:
Electronic House Expos (EHX) Spring & Fall, the TecHome Builder Conference
and Expo (TBX), and Worship Facilities Conference & Expo (WFX). EHX Fall
was named the fastest growing show in America by Tradeshow Week magazine
in 2003, and both EHX Spring and Fall were named among the fastest 50 growing
tradeshows by Tradeshow Week magazine in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
About CEA
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association
promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy,
events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic
relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the
design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio,
video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information
technology, digital imaging, home networking, multimedia and accessory
products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels.
Combined, CEA's members account for more than $125 billion in annual sales.
CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information
about the consumer electronics industry.
CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Defining Tomorrow’s
Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services,
including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering
standards development, market research, and legislative advocacy.
Preformed Line Products Announces Improved Financial Results For The Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2006
Preformed Line
Products Company (Nasdaq: PLPC - News) reported financial
results for the fourth quarter and the full year ended December 31, 2006.
Net income for the quarter ended December
31, 2006 increased to $2,032,000, or $.38 per diluted share, compared to
$883,000, or $.15 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2005. Net
sales in the fourth quarter 2006 were $51,765,000, an 11% increase from last
year's $46,726,000.
Net income for the full year ended
December 31, 2006 increased to $12,060,000, or $2.13 per diluted share,
compared to the prior year's $11,986,000, or $2.07 per diluted share. Net sales
increased 5% to $216,937,000 for the full year 2006 compared to $205,804,000 in
2005.
Rob Ruhlman, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, said, "Our international operations had a record year for both
sales and income. International sales of $105 million were 17% higher than the
previous year. Currency had a $2.8 million favorable impact on sales. Our 2006
domestic sales were 3% lower than 2005 as a result of a weak telecommunications
market. However, domestic sales recovered in the fourth quarter and were 9%
stronger than the fourth quarter of 2005 in our core energy and
telecommunication markets. This trend is continuing into 2007 as we
anticipated. I am particularly pleased with our fourth quarter net income more
than doubling that of 2005. One of our biggest challenges for 2007 will be
improving operating efficiencies in our domestic operations to make up for
continuing increases in raw material costs."
On Thursday, February 15, 2007 the Board
of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to 200,000 common shares,
$2 par value per share, or approximately 3.7% of the Company's outstanding
common shares. Under the repurchase program, which does not have a stated
expiration date, the Company has authority to repurchase common shares through
the open market, block purchases, or in negotiated private transactions on an
ongoing basis. The repurchases will be subject to availability of common
shares, general market conditions, the trading price of the common shares,
alternative uses for capital, and the Company's financial condition and
performance.
The Board of Directors also declared a
regular quarterly dividend in the amount of $.20 per share on the Company's
common shares, payable April 20, 2007 to shareholders of record at the close of
business on April 2, 2007.
Founded in 1947, Preformed Line Products
is an international designer and manufacturer of products and systems employed
in the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground networks for
energy, communications and broadband network companies.
Preformed's world headquarters are in
Cleveland, Ohio, and the Company operates three domestic manufacturing centers
located in Rogers, Arkansas, Albemarle, North Carolina, and Asheville, North
Carolina. The Company serves its worldwide market through international operations
in Australia, Brazil, Canada,
China, England, Mexico,
New Zealand, South Africa, Spain
and Thailand.
This news release contains
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
regarding the Company, including those statements regarding the Company's and
management's beliefs and expectations concerning the Company's future
performance or anticipated financial results, among others. Except for
historical information, the matters discussed in this release are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which may cause
results to differ materially from those set forth in those statements. Among
other things, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in such forward-looking statements include the strength of the
economy and demand for the Company's products, increases in raw material
prices, the Company's ability to identify, complete and integrate acquisitions
for profitable growth, and other factors described under the heading
"Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with
the SEC on March 15, 2006. The Form 10-K and the Company's other filings with
the SEC can be found on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no
obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become
untrue because of subsequent events.
Graybar Joins APC Gold Certified Partner Program
Graybar, a leading
distributor of electrical and communications products and related supply chain
management and logistics services, today announced that it recently joined the
APC Gold Certified Partner Program.
Graybar technical sales professionals throughout the United States
completed a rigorous training and proficiency-testing program and are now
certified by APC to configure and implement APC physical infrastructure
solutions. Using APC’s online
configuration tools, they can plan APC InfraStruXureâ solutions up to 80kW for customers with a wide range
of IT architecture needs.
The
InfraStruXure design, which integrates power, cooling, rack, management,
environmental and security monitoring, and services, allows the selection of
standardized components to create a data center solution through modular and
mobile configurations. This
standardization enables an easily scalable architecture designed to meet
changing needs and future expansion.
This award-winning, patent-pending approach provides increased
availability, improved adaptability and speed of deployment as well as lower
total cost of ownership for IT environments – from wiring closets to server
rooms to data centers.
“We
are proud to achieve APC Gold Certified Partner status, which, we believe, will
benefit our customers immensely,” said Michael Dumas, vice president, comm/data
business at Graybar. “Now we have
Graybar Network Systems Specialists and Account Managers throughout the company
who have achieved the highest level of certification on APC’s innovative
InfraStruXure solutions. This scalable,
“pay as you grow” approach to building a state-of-the-art data center works to
our customers’ advantage. We look
forward to our enhanced collaboration with APC to configure, implement and
service APC InfraStruXure solutions.”
About Graybar
Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high
quality electrical, telecommunications and networking products, and specializes
in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 250 North
American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands
of manufacturers, serving as the vital link to hundreds of thousands of
customers. For more information, visit http://graybar.com/
or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.
APC,
which combined with MGE UPS SYSTEMS to form the Critical Power & Cooling
Services business unit of Schneider Electric, is a leading provider of global,
end-to-end solutions for real-time infrastructure. Founded in 1981, APC’s comprehensive products
and services for home and corporate environments improve the availability,
manageability and performance of sensitive electronic, network, communication
and industrial equipment of all sizes. APC offers a wide variety of products for physical infrastructure
including InfraStruXure®, its revolutionary architecture for on-demand data
centers, as well as physical threat management products through the company’s
NetBotz division. These products and services help companies increase the availability and reliability of their IT
systems. All trademarks are the property of their owners.
Alchemy Communications, Inc. Chooses MRV Product Line As Basis For Los Angeles Fiber Network E-Business Services Provider Upgrades Core Network With Fiber Driver DWDM System
MRV Communications, INC.
(Nasdaq: MRVC), a leading provider of products and services for out-of-band
networking, WDM and Optical Transport, Metro Ethernet, Fiber Optic components,
High-Bandwidth wireless, 10GE and other Service Aware Networking Products,
announced that Alchemy Communications, Inc., a leading provider of co-location
and managed data center services, has chosen the MRV Fiber Driver® to increase
the bandwidth of its Los Angeles fiber backbone network.
Incorporated in 1995, Alchemy Communications is a major California provider of Internet and data
center solutions. Utilizing an onsite “24x7” network operations center staff in
each of its data centers, Alchemy offers co-location space, multi-carrier
Internet connectivity and a wide range of managed services including
monitoring, network security, storage, load balancing, video and audio
streaming applications management and disaster recovery services.
Alchemy’s metropolitan Los Angeles
fiber-optic network consists of multiple fiber runs via diverse paths to each
of its state-of-the-art facilities. Incorporating MRV Fiber Driver will enhance
Alchemy’s backbone network by using dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) to
increase bandwidth, redundancy and efficiency resulting in a greater return on
investment.
“We are confident that this solution will provide an infrastructure that can
grow at the same rapid pace as the needs of our business,” said Zane Alsabery,
CEO of Alchemy Communications. “We chose MRV’s product because it provided us
with a solution we could implement immediately to maximize data throughput of
our existing fiber-optic cabling and in turn allow us to increase our ability
to provide top quality services to our customers.”
“Fiber Driver’s carrier-class design offers the features and uptime necessary
for mission critical networks that are looking for a cost-effective backbone
product,” said Noam Lotan, CEO of MRV Communications. “Now that this
system is in place, Alchemy will be able to scale and upgrade its network
quickly.”
MRV’s Fiber Driver optical multi-service product line provides a full range of
solutions like services demarcation, media conversion, signal repeating, and
fiber-optimization, including coarse and dense WDM capabilities. Both
managed and unmanaged solutions are available, including rack-mount, modular
systems and desktop systems. The Fiber Driver line includes several families
of products with the flexibility of hundreds of combinations and system options
for any type of optical or copper technology, covering virtually every protocol
in use in networking today.
About MRV Communications, Inc.
MRV Communications, Inc. (“MRV”) is a leading provider of network equipment and
services, and optical components. MRV’s networking business provides
equipment used by commercial customers, governments and telecommunications
service providers, and includes switches, routers, physical layer products and
out-of-band management products as well as specialized networking products for
aerospace, defense and other applications including voice and cellular
communication. MRV’s optical components business provides optical
communications components for metropolitan, access and Fiber-to-the-Premises
applications, through its wholly owned subsidiary LuminentOIC, Inc. MRV
markets and sells its products worldwide through a variety of channels,
including a dedicated direct sales force, manufacturers' representatives,
value-added-resellers, distributors and systems integrators. MRV also has
operations in Europe that provide network system design, integration and
distribution services that include products manufactured by third-party
vendors, as well as internally developed and manufactured products.
Publicly traded since 1992, MRV is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market
under the symbol MRVC. For more information about MRV and its products,
please call (818) 773-0900 or visit our websites at www.mrv.com <http://www.mrv.com>
and www.luminentoic.com <http://www.LuminentOIC.com> .
About Alchemy Communications, Inc.
Alchemy Communications, Inc. offers co-location space, multi-carrier Internet
connectivity, and a wide range of managed services including monitoring,
network security, storage, load balancing, video and audio streaming,
applications management and disaster recovery services enabling any size entity
to cost effectively have their mission critical services available 24 hours a
day, seven days a week ("24x7"). As a leading provider of co-location
and data center managed services, Alchemy allows its clients to cost effectively
grow their co-location infrastructure without the issues associated with
managing a data center technical staff. Alchemy provides these clients
with "no finger pointing" site maintenance and services that allow
them to focus their attention and resources on managing their business rather
than on data center technology. For more information about Alchemy
Communications, Inc. please call (213) 596-3000 or visit our website at
www.alchemy.net.
CABA Releases Micro & Small Business Needs Assessment Study
The Continental Automated
Buildings Association (CABA), through its Internet Home Alliance Research
Council, has completed a needs assessment study on managed services for micro
and small business.
The study assesses the
current state of the managed services market and identifies areas for further
development.
The report finds that the
most popular managed services for micro and small businesses consist of Web
hosting, email and messaging services, servers, routers and LAN installation
and maintenance, data backup, storage, security and other related services.
The report also determines
that target customers prefer to work with local specialty service providers, or
alternately, with manufacturers directly and that small businesses have a
distinct interest in annual contracts provided there are clear, substantial
cost-savings compared to a pay-as-you go arrangement.
"In general, micro and
small businesses do not have dedicated information technology or telecom
support personnel," states Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO.
"Instead, this report shows that they have staff with other primary
responsibilities that manage these products or services. This needs assessment
helps service providers obtain a more complete sketch of the needs of micro and
small businesses in order to improve their marketing and product development
efforts."
The report was completed with
the guidance and financial support of AT&T, Cisco Systems, Costco
Wholesale, Hewlett-Packard, Level Platforms and SupportSoft through CABA's
collaborative research model.
"We are extremely
pleased to have led industry participation in this research project," says
Jeff Dean, Senior Manager, Service Provider Internet Business Solutions Group
at Cisco Systems, Inc. "This research report will allow Cisco and other
participating companies to make more informed decisions in terms of existing
and prospective customers."
The report
"Microbusiness & Small Business Managed Services Needs Assessment
Study" is currently available to Internet Home Alliance Research Council
members. It will be available for sale through CABA's eStore at www.caba.org/estore.
About CABA
CABA is the only industry association to offer industry intelligence to
stakeholders in all areas of home & building automation. CABA's resources
cover areas such as HVAC, lighting, security, A/V, communications technologies,
energy management and controls. A number of resources are available through the
association including iHomes & Buildings magazine, research, CABA's forums,
CABA's monthly eBulletin, Information Series reports, Event Reports and the
CABA web site. Please visit www.caba.org for further information.
IP PBXs In Major Growth Mode, New Report finds
Traditional
TDM PBX phone systems continue their steady decline in popularity, evidenced by
a 22% drop in worldwide TDM PBX manufacturer revenue between 2005 and 2006,
while IP PBX phone system sales continue to surge, growing 18% in the same
period, says Infonetics Research in its latest Enterprise Telephony report.
The strength of IP PBX equipment sales buoyed the overall enterprise telephony
market to a 9% gain in 2006, reaching US$8.9 billion worldwide, the research
firm said.
"The PBX market had another good year, with lines posting double-digit
growth for the third year in a row," said Matthias Machowinski, directing
analyst at Infonetics Research.
"On the market share front, the big story continues to be Cisco, the only
company with significant market share gains in 2006, contributing almost half
of the overall market growth for the year.
Though Cisco is still fifth in the worldwide market, they moved from second to
first place in the North American IP PBX market this year, not surprising given
they came out on top as the preferred VoIP equipment supplier in our User Plans
for VoIP study."
FOA Creates Email Newsletter - All Are Invited To Sign-Up
The Fiber Optic Association, the professional society of fiber optics, has
created an email list for distribution of its monthly FOA Newsletter, covering
news of the fiber optic industry, technology tutorials, industry events, and
FOA society news. The email list is an opt-in list that anyone, not just the 20,000+
FOA members, may join. Go to the FOA website, www.thefoa.org, to
sign up.
Any manufacturer or organization having information or press releases
appropriate for the FOA audience can send them to info@thefoa.org to
considered for inclusion in the FOA Newsletter.
The Fiber Optic Association, Inc. is
an nonprofit educational organization chartered to promote fiber optics through
education, certification and standards. Over 160 FOA-Approved schools have
certified more than 20,000 fiber optic technicians. The FOA offers free online
introductory fiber optic programs for everyone and training for instructors at
FOA-Approved schools. The FOA is also an active participant in industry
standards activities such as TIA and NECA.
For more information on the FOA, see the organization's website www.thefoa.org, email info@thefoa.org or call
760-451-3655.
VDV Works Offers New Fiber Optic And Cabling Curriculum For Schools And Instructors
VDV Works,
LLC has released several new VDV (Voice-Data-Video) subject modules as
part of its VDV Academy Curriculum for use in training engineers, technicians,
designers and installers of fiber optic, structured cabling and wireless
networks. New modules include Fiber Optic Network Design, Ribbon Fusion
Splicing, Fiber To The Home (FTTx), OTDR Testing of PONs in FTTx networks and
Wireless Applications For Corporate Networks. A complete listing of the all VDV Academy
programs is at http://www.vdvacademy.com.
The VDV Academy
Curriculum is used by over 200 instructors at schools and companies around the
world to offer state-of-the-art training as part of school telecom and IT
programs or in-house employee training. Instructors using the program realize
that their time is more productive when spent actually teaching and training,
not researching, developing and updating curriculum.
What do
instructors say about VDV
Academy programs? "I
have used VDV Academy course materials for the past 4
years. They provide our company with a concise and comprehensive approach
to all voice, data and video subjects resulting in easy-to-understand study
materials for our students." Bob Ballard, BDI Datalink.
Jim and Karen Hayes
of VDV Works have been developing training programs for over 20 years,
including the famous "Fiber U" and "Cable U" conferences.
They reflect Jim's experience as a course developer, instructor and writer for
magazines and books on cabling, as well as Karen's experience in organizing
training programs and equipping laboratories for cabling training. All programs
are aligned toward industry certifications like the FOA CFOT, SCA CCT and BICSI
CECs.
The VDV Academy
programs are turn-key curriculum, with classroom programs provided as annotated
PowerPoint presentations and student manuals provided for lab sessions. The
complete VDV Academy Curriculum sells for $595, including 10 PowerPoint
presentations containing over 1000 slides, instructor's guides, student
manuals, hands-on videos, an OTDR simulator and copies of the textbooks.
Unique to the fiber optic programs is an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
(OTDR) Simulator, which allows instructors to project OTDR training in the
classroom and students to have a copy for projects outside the classroom.
VDV Academy also offers two free online tutorials on
cabling, "Lennie Lightwave's Guide To Fiber Optics," the most popular
fiber optic website of all times, at http://www.lennielightwave.com and
"Uncle Ted's Guide To Communications Cabling" at http://www.vdvworks.com/UncleTed/.
For more information on the VDV
Academy curriculum,
contact VDV Works at 760-451-3655, info@vdvworks.com or www.vdvacademy.com.
Harger’s Mechanical Grounding Connectors
Harger Lightning &
Grounding proudly introduces its complete line of mechanical grounding
connectors which provide a wide range of uses for pipe, ground rods and wire
connections. They will accommodate the most common Class I and Class II
lightning and grounding conductors 6AWG through 4/0. For more information on
the mechanical connectors please check out the Grounding & Lightning
Protection sections of our website at www.harger.com
Berk-Tek Increases Support For Their Strategic Accounts
Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company, a
leading copper and fiber optic cabling technology manufacturer, announces two
new additions to their sales organization. Dan Trotta has joined as the
Strategic Account Manager, focusing on Anixter and Accu-Tech, and Kimberly
Rheppard has been promoted to Strategic Account Manager for CSC. Responsibilities for these positions will
include developing and driving distribution sales and marketing
initiatives. Both report to Phil Radics,
Director of New Business Development.
Dan Trotta has held various
management positions with major comm data cable and connectivity
manufacturers. Most recently, he was
with Superior Modular Products as Director of Sales. Prior to that, he the Vice President of Sales
for CommScope. Before that he was the
National Accounts Manager and Sales Director for CommScope, respectively.
Trotta has also held senior sales management positions with Belden and Draka
Comteq, formerly Helix/HiTemp.
Kimberly Rheppard has been
with Berk-Tek for almost ten years and has held several positions within the
Inside Sales Department, most recently as the Inside Sales Manager for the past
four years. Prior to that, she was
Eastern Sales Service Manager and Anixter Account Manager. Rheppard recently
passed the State of Pennsylvania bar exam and
holds her juris doctorate from Widener University School of Law, as well as an
undergraduate degree in Business and French from Penn State University.
“The combination of
Kimberly’s extensive Berk-Tek background and company knowledge with Dan’s
strong customer relations and industry track record will enhance our level of
expertise, while providing our distribution partners with a very thorough bank
of resources,” states Paul Trunk, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
About Berk-Tek, A Nexans Company
For more than 45 years, Berk-Tek has
been a leading manufacturer of more than 100 different network copper and fiber
optic cable products. The company has led in the development of
high-performance and enhanced fiber optic and UTP cables designed to transport
high-speed data and voice transmissions. Berk-Tek has major manufacturing
facilities at New Holland, PA, Fuquay-Varina, NC and Elm City,
NC. www.berktek.com .
About Nexans
Nexans is the worldwide leader in the cable industry. The Group brings an extensive
range of advanced copper and optical fiber cable solutions to the
infrastructure, industry and building markets. Nexans cables and cabling
systems are used in every area of people's lives, from telecommunications and
energy networks, to aeronautics, automobile, railways, building, petrochemical
and medical applications. With an industrial presence in 29 countries and
commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs 20,000 people and had sales in
2005 of $6.5 billion. Nexans is listed on the Paris stock exchange as NEX. www.nexans.com .
Editorial Contact:
Carol Everett Oliver
Berk-Tek
Direct Tel: 717-682-7336
“MEDPAC Repeating Same Mistakes In Evaluating Imaging Growth” Say Imaging Companies Of Recent MEDPAC Reports
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
is repeating the same mistakes it made in the past in its analysis of growth in
medical imaging-and it is overlooking the real questions Congress wants
answered, according to the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance, a
division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).
“It is pretty obvious that MedPAC still
doesn’t get it,” said Andrew Whitman, vice president of MITA. “MedPAC
continues to focus only on imaging growth without giving a second thought to
what patients are getting for that-from faster recoveries, to less disability,
to less-invasive treatment.”
“Yet while MedPAC continues to repeat
itself about imaging growth, it is still not addressing what Congress has
repeatedly asked: how much of imaging growth is actually from
inappropriate utilization and how much is simply because imaging provides the
best care possible for diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical
conditions?” said Whitman.
Whitman cited a 2005 House Ways and Means
Health Subcommittee hearing when then panel Chair Nancy Johnson (R-CT) told
MedPAC that examining imaging growth alone, without examining how much of the
growth is because imaging simply provides better care for patients,
provides little help to Congress in trying to deal with the issue of over
utilization. Similarly, in a July 2006 House Energy and Commerce Health
Subcommittee hearing, MedPAC was repeatedly asked whether it had examined how
much of the increase in growth is, in fact, for sound, patient-centered
reasons-such as mammograms and scans for stroke prevention.
“Until MedPAC takes a full and honest look
at what medical imaging provides in terms of cost-savings and quality-improvements,
its recommendations on imaging growth resonate with the narrow, cost-cutting
sounds of a typical payer,” said Whitman. “Medical imaging has radically
changed the way medicine is practiced, from enabling modern cardiovascular care
to virtually eliminating exploratory surgery. It is these
patient-centered changes that are driving much of the utilization growth-but
that prospect apparently has never entered into MedPAC’s consideration.”
Whitman specifically criticized MedPAC’s
analysis in two areas:
He said that
MedPAC continues to overstate the size of the growth in medical imaging,
particularly overlooking the impact of the migration of imaging services from
hospital outpatient departments to physician offices and imaging centers. MedPAC
admits that this “site of service shift” accounts for as much as 20 percent of
the growth in imaging utilization, but its growth figures do not accurately
account for this shift. The problem, according to Whitman, is that when
minimally invasive procedures-such as image-guided breast biopsies-migrate from
the hospital outpatient setting to the physician’s office, they are counted by
MedPAC as increases in utilization under the SGR budgeting mechanism. Yet
the offsetting savings that come from replacing the open surgery that was
previously done in the hospital are totally overlooked.
Whitman said that
when this “site-of-service” shift is taken into account in calculating growth
in SGR-related services from 1999-2004, imaging grew only about 2.3 percent faster
than other services included in the SGR. He added that a study by the
Lewin Group also found that when growth in imaging costs are compared to growth
in all Medicare Part B services from 1999-2003, imaging grew only about 0.9
percentage points faster.
Whitman also
criticized MedPAC for failing to even take into account the many possible
factors in imaging growth that would lead to perfectly appropriate
utilization. “How can MedPAC say imaging is significantly overutilized
when it hasn’t even analyzed how much growth is due to the increased incidence
of disease, the longer life spans of Medicare beneficiaries, changes in
clinical practice guidelines, and even the increase in screening benefits
enacted by Congress?” asked Whitman.
The Medical Imaging & Technology
Alliance is the collective voice of medical imaging equipment manufacturers,
innovators, and product developers. It represents companies whose sales
comprise more than 90 percent of the global market for medical imaging
technology. These technologies include:
·
Medical
X-ray equipment
·
Computed
tomography (CT) scanners
·
Ultrasound
·
Nuclear
imaging
·
Radiation
therapy equipment
·
Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI)
·
Imaging
information systems
For more information on medical imaging,
go to www.medicalimaging.org. MITA, a division of the
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is located at 1300 North 17th Street.
Suite 1752,
Rosslyn, Virginia
22207
Leviton’s Fiber Raceway Meets UL2024
Leviton Voice & Data is
pleased to announce that its Fiber Raceway System is compliant and now listed
to the UL2024 Standard for Optical Fiber Cable Raceway.
The system has been
evaluated, tested, and approved for installation in riser applications in
accordance with the National Electric Code and general purpose applications.
Leviton’s Fiber Raceway
System is a cable management system for routing, protecting, and storing fiber
(or copper) cables in mission critical network locations such as in data
centers, central offices, entrance facilities, and equipment rooms.
Available in five sizes,
Leviton’s Fiber Raceway System is easy to design, install, and reconfigure.
Ducting material is halogen-free, UV light resistant, and rated UL 94V0 to meet
local fire and smoke guidelines.
For more information on this
system or other Leviton Fiber products, log onto www.leviton.com.
Accu-Tech Corporation Is Set To Lead The Midwest Distribution Revolution
Accu-Tech Corporation is
set to lead the Midwest Distribution Revolution with the announcement of their
May 2007 expansion into the Chicago Metro Area. Accu-Tech's contractor
oriented business model is set to redefine Chicago's concept of what a Network Cabling
Distributor should be. Chicago is the 28th
Accu-Tech branch, which has expanded from the Atlantic
to the Pacific since its founding in 1984."
www.accu-tech.com
BOMA International Launches The G.R.E.E.N. Web Site
The Building Owners and
Managers Association (BOMA) International today launched The Green Resource
Energy and Environment Network (G.R.E.E.N.) viewable at www.boma.org/green.
The G.R.E.E.N. offers
commercial real estate professionals one-stop shopping for valuable information
on sustainability issues, ranging from BOMA’s advocacy policy positions to
state and local legislative initiatives to case studies to education offerings
such as the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP). The G.R.E.E.N. is a
constantly evolving site that highlights industry best practices; reports on
the latest trends, solutions and educational practices; and keeps industry
professionals updated on advocacy and code development. The G.R.E.E.N. also
provides information on other industry programs and resources.
“The G.R.E.E.N. Web site is
an organized clearinghouse of valuable information that can make going green an
achievable goal,” said BOMA International Chairman, Kurt R. Padavano, RPA, CPM,
FMA, SMA, chief operating officer of Advance Realty Group of Bedminster, New Jersey.
“Reducing energy consumption not only helps the environment, but also keeps
properties competitive by driving ROI and creates a healthier and more
productive work environment for tenants. The G.R.E.E.N. is a valuable tool for
companies that are just getting started on an energy efficiency program, as
well as for organizations looking to enhance an already existing program.
”
The commercial office
building industry spends approximately $24 billion annually on energy and
contributes 18 percent of U.S.
carbon dioxide emissions. Energy represents the single largest operating
expense for office buildings, typically a third of variable expenses. The
G.R.E.E.N. is the latest initiative in BOMA International’s long and
accomplished history of working on energy and environment issues. From the
World Wars to the energy embargoes of the ‘70s to the nationally recognized
educational programs available today, BOMA continues to stand out as a leader
on sustainability and energy efficiency.
Visit The G.R.E.E.N. at www.boma.org/green.
The Building Owners and
Managers Association (BOMA) International is an international federation of
more than 90 local associations and affiliated organizations. BOMA's
16,500-plus members own or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial
properties in North America and throughout the
world. The mission of BOMA International is to enhance the human, intellectual
and physical assets of the commercial real estate industry through advocacy,
education, research, standards and information. Founded in 1907, BOMA
International celebrates 100 years of commercial real estate in 2007. Learn
more at www.boma.org.
Graybar launches 2007 Technology Showcase Tour
Graybar, a leading
distributor of electrical and communications products and related supply chain
management and logistics services, is launching a series of Technology Showcase
events. From March through October in major cities throughout the country,
these complimentary events will provide contractors, resellers, network
administrators and building owners with updates on new industry standards and
advancements in enterprise networking.
This year’s showcases will
feature hands-on demonstrations and displays of new products and services from
industry-leading providers. These events will also include a variety of
technical seminars, and some will qualify for continuing educational units from
Building Industry Consulting Services International (BICSI).
“This is a great opportunity
for network administrators, installers and other members of the comm/data
industry to obtain crucial information that will help them better succeed in
their work,” said Michael Dumas, vice president, comm/data business,
Graybar. “It will also help them raise the bar for performance and value
for their internal and external clients.”
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Graybar Technology Showcase Schedule
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