For: www.wireville.com
"Heard On The Street" Column
Issue: March 2007
By: Frank Bisbee

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
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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

Harger Lightning & Grounding is a leading manufacturer of lightning protection and grounding equipment, as well as exothermic welding materials for the communications and electrical industries. Harger also provides design and engineering services and specializes in offering total systems solutions for their customers. Let Harger apply its systemic approach to total system protection to provide you the most cost effective solution to protect your personnel and equipment against the effects of electrical transients.

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.”