|
BISBEE’S
BUZZ
THE INFORMATION and ENERGY
SUPERHIGHWAY BEGINS IN WIREVILLE...
ON FIBER OPTIC
CABLING
BRACE YOURSELF…
Embrace the Energy
Superhighway (before Google Fiber and Verizon do)
Navigant Research suggests that electric utilities must take a bold and
long-term view of the communications networks they operate across their service
territories. Ubiquitous, high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity will be
essential as power utilities transition from the one-way,
generation-transmission-distribution power supply model of the past to a
bi-directional, Energy Cloud and energy services-based operational paradigm.
Navigant calls this network the Energy Superhighway. And, much as with the
Interstate Highway System, the economic growth potential for utilities that
embrace the Energy Superhighway is expected to be great. Energy Superhighway
Embrace the Energy Superhighway (before Google Fiber and Verizon
do)
May 3, 2016
By Richelle Elberg,
Principal Research Analyst, Navigant Research
In the 1950s, the Eisenhower
Administration unveiled an ambitious plan to build an Interstate Highway System
across America. The subsequent construction of 50,000 miles of interstate
highways cost more than $400 billion over the next 30 years, and now supports
more than one-quarter of all vehicle miles travelled each year. Importantly,
the Interstate Highway System has become one of the most critical underpinnings
to the healthy economic growth that the United States has enjoyed in the
decades since.
In its new white paper, Communications
in the Energy Cloud: The Energy Superhighway and the Future of Grid
Connectivity, Navigant Research suggests that electric utilities
must take a similarly bold and long-term view of the communications networks
they operate across their service territories. Ubiquitous, high-bandwidth,
low-latency connectivity will be essential as power utilities transition from
the one-way, generation-transmission-distribution power supply model of the
past to a bi-directional, Energy Cloud and energy services-based operational
paradigm. We call this network the Energy Superhighway. And, much as with the
Interstate Highway System, the economic growth potential for utilities which
embrace the Energy Superhighway is expected to be great.
DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 5 | 11AM ET / 8AM PT
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Smart Grid Communications
v1.0
Today, utilities tend to develop their grid communications networks with an
application- and silo-based approach. Transmission and distribution grid teams
(separately) plan, budget, and procure networking solutions for their critical
operational needs, while the retail/meter group creates and manages the smart
meter network for meter-reads and billing purposes. Vast portions of the
distribution grid may not have any communications (and thus automation or
control) at all.
Electric utilities
must take a bold and long-term view of the communications networks they operate
across their service territories.
The advent of smart grid
technology has led to accelerated efforts to connect greater portions of the
grid, allowing operations center personnel greater visibility and control of
grid functionality. These efforts are leading to improved reliability and
resiliency -- but broadly speaking, efforts to date remain the tip of the
iceberg. In an industry where capital and infrastructure planning is done in
decades-long cycles, we believe utilities need to take a far more holistic,
long-term view of their communications network planning.
Utilities and IoT
The broader Internet of Things
(IoT) phenomenon will happen -- although, today, the hype outweighs the reality
-- and utilities need to secure their position in that new operational
environment, before third-party competitors grab much of the opportunity.
The broader Internet
of Things (IoT) phenomenon will happen and utilities need to secure their
position in that new operational environment, before third-party competitors
grab much of the opportunity.
Indeed, we believe the
opportunity goes well beyond the smart grid applications referenced
above. Forward-thinking utilities which have built fiber-to-the-premises
(FTTP) networks today can not only leverage that infrastructure for all manner
of smart grid applications, but they can also offer Triple Play voice, video,
and broadband services to residential and business customers. In the case of
Chattanooga's Electric Power Board (EPB), revenue growth since the FTTP network
rollout in 2010 can largely be attributed to these Triple Play services, as
demand for power has been flat over that same period.
Beyond such Triple Play
offerings, utilities with robust communications infrastructure will be positioned
to collaborate on smart cities projects -- where smart lighting, smart
transportation, and smart buildings efforts may all leverage the Energy
Superhighway. They'll be equipped to create and manage territory-wide electric
vehicle (EV) charging networks and to streamline integration of distributed
generation (DG) resources like microgrids, solar and wind installations into
the grid. They can participate in transactive energy markets, offer
wide-ranging energy services and create virtual power plants. Simply put, most
utility networks of today are not capable of supporting this wide range of
needs.
What Is the Energy
Superhighway?
As defined by Navigant Research,
the Energy Superhighway is a high-capacity, high-speed, ubiquitous network.
There are multiple technologies which a utility may consider in order to meet
this definition. In our white paper we focus on private spectrum options, 4G
LTE technology, FTTP and, eventually, 5G.
Many other communications
protocols meet the smart grid application needs of utilities today -- but many
of these leverage unlicensed spectrum. As the vaunted IoT becomes reality,
particularly in densely populated markets, those unlicensed bands risk
overcrowding. Interference could dramatically impact the ability of these
networks to deliver on basic teleprotection or reliability applications -- much
less support broader, energy services-based offerings.
The
Energy Superhighway
Challenges Remain
Utilities considering the Energy
Superhighway's upside potential face considerable challenges. There are sunk
network investments with measurable remaining useful lives. There are rate case
considerations for regulated utilities, and regulators may not take the very
long view when considering new proposed investments. The business model of
utilities itself is not always conducive or supportive of all of the energy
services described above and which will ultimately help justify the economic
investment in an Energy Superhighway. In many places, litigation from the cable
TV industry has blocked power utilities from offering Triple Play services.
Private spectrum with the appropriate characteristics needed for an Energy
Superhighway can be difficult to obtain and very costly when it is
available. And so on.
Nonetheless, these challenges
need to be faced. The Utilities Telecom Council
(UTC) has made
numerous attempts over the years to encourage the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to set aside dedicated spectrum for utility applications.
These efforts have not yet been successful but greater support from a large number
of utilities might help.
Utilities have, in some cases,
collaborated with local telcos which may own spectrum; network sharing can make
large new investments more palatable to regulators and investors.
The Google Fiber's
and Verizon's of the world are moving full-speed ahead toward the IoT future.
Power industry leaders need to embrace the vision and drive industry evolution,
before others do it for them.
Public carrier options may also
be considered. Where in the past large public telecoms operators did not always
provide attractive pricing or quality of service (QoS) guarantees, these things
are changing. 4G and (eventually) 5G options may be most cost-effective when
procured via a public provider.
Fiber assets may be leased, or
shared across a group of utilities. Or, infrastructure sharing arrangements
such as the recently announced deal between Google Fiber and Huntsville
(Alabama) Utilities may jump-start Energy Superhighway efforts. These and other
examples are explored more fully in Navigant Research's white paper.
Embrace the (Bleeding)
Edge
We do not make these
recommendations lightly, nor do we underestimate the challenges to utilities
which hope to embrace the Energy Superhighway vision. No small amount of
evangelizing will be needed on the part of industry stakeholders in order to
bring about the regulatory and business model changes necessary to support
these large investments. But as the industry navel-gazes, the Google Fiber's
and Verizon's of the world are moving full-speed ahead toward the IoT future.
Power industry leaders need to embrace the vision and drive industry evolution,
before others do it for them.
About the Author
Richelle Elberg is a
principal research analyst contributing to Navigant Research's Utility
Transformations program and heading up the Grid IT and Communications research
service. Her primary focus is on utility IT solutions, analytics, and
communications networks for AMI and distribution automation applications.
Elberg has more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry,
including an extensive background analyzing and writing on the wired and
wireless communications industries from operational, financial, strategic,
technical, and regulatory perspectives.
Prior to joining Navigant
Research, Elberg served as director and senior analyst with JSI Capital
Advisors, a boutique investment bank focused on the communications, digital
media, and information technology industries. She has also held senior
positions in analysis and management with Kagan World Media and KPMG. Elberg
speaks French, Spanish, and Russian, and she is the author of two novels. She
holds a BA in international business and marketing from the University of
Colorado.
WISE WORDS from Ms. Elberg.
But that’s just my opinion,
Frank Bisbee, Editor
HOTS – Heard On The Street
monthly column
“The Cabling
Infrastructure Should Last As Long As The Building” TiniFiber’s Micro Armor
Fiber cable is the toughest longest-lasting facility asset that you can use
By
now you are getting tired of the product migration strategy offered by the
copper communications crowd (CAT 1xxx, etc.) The information highway should be
an asset, not a burdensome costly recurring EXPENSE.
STOP
THE INSANITY – Design for the Network that will fail about the same time the roof
and walls collapse.
As you develop plans for your next adventure in Integrated
Systems technology, remember that the cabling infrastructure is like the
nervous system of the human body.
The cabling design specifications should be able to
integrate POWER – CONTROLS – COMMUNICATIONS – SECURITY –LIFE & PROPERTY
SAFETY Systems. Research has proven that the TiniFiber Micro Armor patented
cable product delivers on all areas.
Micro
Armor Fiber™ Provides Increased Flexibility While Significantly Decreasing Time
and Costs for Cabling Projects
Proven results and impressive savings are the
outcome you can expect. TiniFiber Products have been super successful in
hospitals, universities, business, and specialized facilities such as airports
and stadiums.
Smart Choice Communications
Works with TiniFiber® to Provide Superior Voice and Data Services to Clients
Smart Choice Communications is an
end-to-end telecommunications consulting and management company that provides a
full range of innovative infrastructure design, voice and data
solutions, and cabling and wiring services to its growing client roster. The
company is currently undergoing rapid expansion into the healthcare and retail industries,
and Chief Technology Officer Basil Stepanov is always on the lookout for new
products and services to better serve the demanding technology needs of this
customer segment.
Stepanov first
encountered TiniFiber® while working on an extensive wiring job for a large
television producer. “For this project, speed was of the essence,” remarked
Stepanov. “When the client is constantly pushing large files under tight
deadlines, it’s our job to make sure everything runs smoothly and with no
hiccups. TiniFiber® helps us do just that.”
Micro Armor Fiber™ is tougher than other fiber without a doubt. Basil
Stepanov
Since that first
installation over a year ago, Smart Choice has continually scoped out
TiniFiber® for a wide variety of projects and is working towards making Micro
Armor Fiber™ the new standard for all cabling jobs going forward.
“Micro Armor Fiber™
is tougher than other fiber without a doubt,” says Stepanov. “It provides
maximum flexibility and gives us much more versatility, allowing us to work in
large buildings and get around bends without worrying about cracking or
breaking.”
During some
fiber-optic installations there is a need to provide extra protection for the
cable due to the installation environment. That environment may be underground
or in buildings with congested pathways. Installing an armored fiber-optic
cable in these scenarios provides extra protection for the optical fiber and
added reliability for the network, lessening the risk of downtime and cable
damage due to rodents, construction work, weight of other cables and other
factors.
“We’ve done a lot of
installs in large stadiums and schools, and inevitably the client always
requests changes a year or more later,” says Stepanov. “When you’re using
standard fiber and moving it at an angle, it could potentially break and cost
the client tens of thousands of dollars. Bottom line: when fiber breaks in a
100-story building, it’s a huge expensive disaster.”
Working with
TiniFiber® has helped Smart Choice save their clients significant time and
financial resources. Measuring 65% lighter in weight and 75% smaller in size
than popular Aluminum Interlocking Armor (AIA) fiber optic cables, Micro Armor
Fiber™ translates into more versatility, lower shipping and installation costs,
and decreased manpower hours to complete projects.
“When scoping out new
technology, the most important thing we look for is how it can help our
clients,” Stepanov added. “With TiniFiber®, it was a no-brainer.”
“TiniFiber is
the tuff one. The product exceeds anything else they have ever used.” said
Frank Bisbee, Editor of the Heard On The Street column (www.wireville.com).
NOT ALL CABLING SOLUTIONS ARE
ALIKE:
TiniFiber
is The Micro Armor Fiber® Specialist – Check them out. AMAZING!!
In 2010, Christian A. Peterson III, Barry Skolnick
and Roman Krawczyk founded CertiCable, Inc. to support the
marketplace with finished cable solutions. Projects for “special” fiber optic
cable applications and solutions were expanding and becoming a point of
differentiation between CertiCable, Inc. and other cable companies. As armored
fiber optics applications grew, it became apparent that a solution that
featured a smaller Outer Diameter was long overdue. The team went to work on
developing an alternative product to the existing Aluminum Interlocking Armor
(AIA).
In 2012, plans went underway
to bring to market Micro Armor Fiber®, a fiber optic cable with the world’s
smallest armored casing. By developing and designing a stainless steel coiled
solution, the company achieved their goals and created a revolutionary fiber
optic cable design that included ruggedness, strength and a tighter bend radius
than previous armored cables – helping organizations protect the investment of
their cabling installations from end to end.
In 2013, TiniFiber™ was
established as the “Martini” of fiber optic cables and offered the best results
for cabling based on space savings, lighter weights, reduced manpower and lower
installation costs. Additionally, Micro Armor Fiber® became an excellent source
for patch cords and indoor/outdoor usage.
Micro Armor Fiber® by
TiniFiber™ was launched in 2015 as a patent-pending solution that promises to
be “The Only Fiber Optic Cable You Will Ever Need.” The solution is designed
for ALL project usages, including data IT, premises, aerial, indoor/outdoor,
tight spaces, burial, DAS, Security, Pro A/V and much more.
102 Marine Street |
Farmingdale, NY 11735 | (631) WE-CABLE
631-932-2253
http://tinifiber.com/
2016 Hurricane Season Forecast Calls For Near-Average
Activity in the Atlantic
4-14-2016
The 2016 Atlantic hurricane
season forecast released Thursday from Colorado State University calls for the
number of named storms and hurricanes to be near historical averages.
A total of 12 named storms,
five hurricanes and two major hurricane are expected this season, according to
the forecast prepared by CSU, which is headed by Dr. Phil Klotzbach in
consultation with long-time hurricane expert Dr. William Gray.
This is close to the 30-year
average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. A major
hurricane is one that is Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale.
PROPER PREPARATION PREVENT POOR
RESPONSE… Ensure your Integrated Systems Contractor is on board with your
emergency plans. You will be thankful for the support when you need it most.
IBEW and NECA strongly support Emergency Plans for your infrastructure. Post –
Hurricane Sandy & Katrina reviews confirm the value of these important steps.
Numbers
of Atlantic Basin named storms, those that attain at least tropical storm
strength, hurricanes, and hurricanes of Category 3 intensity forecast by The
Weather Company (right column), Colorado State University (middle column)
compared to the 30-year average (left column).
Those seasonal forecast numbers do not
include Hurricane Alex, a rare January hurricane that struck the Azores a few
months back. Though the official hurricane season spans the months from June
through November, occasionally we can see storms form outside those months.
Microsoft to
trim 1,850 jobs as their withdrawal from smartphone business continues –
However, Their Cloud Services are really growing
Microsoft announced it will cut up to 1,350
jobs in Finland and up to 500 jobs globally as part of its further withdrawal
from the smartphone business. The company said it would record an impairment
and restructuring charge of around $950 million related to the move, of which
it said $200 million would relate to severance payments.
"We are focusing our phone efforts where
we have differentiation -- with enterprises that value security, manageability
and our Continuum capability, and consumers who value the same," Satya
Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, said in a short release from the company announcing
the news. "We will continue to innovate across devices and on our cloud
services across all mobile platforms."
Recode reported that Microsoft's Windows and
Devices chief, Terry Myerson, wrote in a memo to employees that "we're
scaling back, but we're not out!"
"When I look back on our journey in
mobility, we've done hard work and had great ideas, but have not always had the
alignment needed across the company to make an impact," Myerson wrote,
adding that Microsoft will continue to focus on making universal apps that run
across a variety of devices, and that it will continue to support its existing
Lumia phones.
"We remain steadfast in our pursuit of
innovation across our Windows devices and our services to create new and
delightful experiences. Our best work for customers comes from our device,
platform, and service combination," Myerson wrote.
Microsoft's announcement comes days after the
company said it will sell its feature-phone business to a Foxconn subsidiary in
a $350 million deal that will also see Nokia return to the mobile-devices
business it once dominated. Microsoft is selling "substantially all of its
feature phone assets" to FIH Mobile Ltd., which is owned by the
Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn, and to a HMD Global Oy, a newly founded
Finnish corporation. Roughly 4,500 Microsoft employees will have the
opportunity to transfer to FIH, and the agreement includes Microsoft's
manufacturing plant in Vietnam.
Microsoft's announcement today appears to put
the final nail in the coffin on the company's failed acquisition of Nokia's
smartphone business -- and it also appears to signal Microsoft's retreat from a
space that it initially entered in 2002 with the Orange SPV Windows-powered
smartphone in Europe built by HTC. Microsoft's adventures in the smartphone
business over the years have spanned hundreds of devices from a wide range of
companies including HTC, Samsung and Microsoft itself (Lumia, Kin and others),
as well as a handful of distinct operating systems including Windows CE,
Windows Mobile, Windows Phone and, most recently, Windows 10.
Microsoft's announcement today also isn't
much of a surprise: Microsoft's mobile business suffered through a brutal first
quarter as the company sold only 2.3 million Lumia handsets, down from 8.6
million during the prior year. That marks a 73 percent plunge in Lumia sales
year-over-year and follows the 57 percent drop Microsoft endured during the
final quarter of 2015.
ARTICLE BY
JOHN CHAPIN -- Why you should consider laying off 20% of your salespeople every
year
Before you bite my finger off
based upon the title, just look to where it’s pointing. The biggest issue I see
in the workplace by far is
a lack of accountability. Similarly, the biggest issue I see in sales forces is
letting salespeople stay on the payroll while doing close to zero, or in some
cases, while even losing the company business. I’m not talking about
non-production over a period of days, weeks, or even months, I’m talking years
in many cases. This absolutely needs to be addressed if you are going to be a
highly successful sales organization. In one case an insurance agent was on the
payroll for seven years with almost no production the entire time because he
was a friend of the agency owner. In another case I saw a salesperson do
virtually no business for over three years yet stay employed because the owner
needed to “save this person and his family.” Non-productive salespeople are killing your business, not
only in salaries and related items, but also by dragging down everyone around
them. You are also hurting, not helping them, by keeping them around. So if you
are one of those who keeps people around much longer than you should, or you’re
wondering why motivation and morale are lacking in your office, read on.
1)
The bottom 20% are causing 80% of your headaches and problems.
They are also the biggest
drain on your time, money, and resources while bringing in only about 2% of
your business. In insurance agencies I see the bottom 20% continually go back
and argue and fight with office staff over taking a second look at
less-than-desirable business and bad risks because they have no other business
prospects. I see this same 20% call underwriters at insurance companies and
waste hours of their time trying to push through miniscule, risky business
opportunities, so they can get a measly little sale. These people sap energy,
dampen enthusiasm, and kill morale within the office, not to mention your
bottom line. These people are your business dragnet and they are hurting all
involved including customers, prospects, other employees, vendors, you, and even
themselves and their families.
2)
By keeping the 20% you are actually hurting, not helping them.
It baffles me when someone
keeps a person in a job that they obviously are not cut out for, that they
perform horribly at, and one in which they do not like, but I see it all the
time for a myriad of reasons. I once had a business owner tell me, “I can’t get
rid of this person, he is married and has three kids.” The employee he was
referring to had recently missed two mandatory sales meetings because he was
traveling with his family two States away to check out, and subsequently
purchase, a $600 puppy. The next time the owner uses that excuse, he’ll have to
add the “new puppy” in after the three kids. Here is a struggling salesperson,
who has no qualms about taking on another mouth to feed, and yet the owner
feels more responsible for the salesperson’s family than he does.
While the owner is under the
delusion that he is somehow “saving” this person, in reality he is squashing
his future possibilities for success along with his confidence and self-esteem.
It’s impossible to be in a job that you don’t do well, and that you aren’t cut
out for, and feel good about yourself. The owner is also robbing him of the
opportunity to take full responsibility for himself and his family while
finding something he is good at and does enjoy.
Let’s go back to the example
in which a company kept an underperformer around for seven years. This man, who
came in confident and assured, was a shell of a man after seven years. He had
no self-esteem, no self-worth, and was also experiencing significant marital
and other family issues. People in a bad job situation similar to this look for
distractions and these distractions are rarely good. Also, how you feel about
yourself affects every part of your life, not just work. Keeping this person in
this job was far more damaging than a brief blow to the ego by letting him know
early on that this wasn’t the right job for him. They finally let him go but
even years later, the significant negative effects are still evident.
When you keep people around
that you shouldn’t, you do everyone a disservice. You hurt the employee by not
allowing them to see and deal with reality, you kill morale and attitude within
the organization, and you set a bad example. Also, what you put up with you
condone, promote, and create more of. This approach also builds resentment and
disdain. You look weak as a leader. People start talking behind your, and one
another’s backs, and rumors start flying. It creates the worst possible
scenario.
3)
Getting rid of 20% of your salespeople will give you a bump in motivation and
production.
A real estate manager had
been putting up with very bad behavior out of her top producer for 5 and a half
years. When I first suggested letting her go, the office manager told me I was
“loony toons” because she comprised 41% of total office sales. When she finally
had no other choice but to let her go, she said the next day it was like a
weight had been lifted. That day, two of the bottom producers quit, and the
other people started working because they realized she meant business. The
result was a 53% increase in sales the following year and in the cases where
they competed head-to-head with the former agent, they won the business 11 out
of 13 times.
The point of this story is:
first, your 20% aren’t always your lowest performers, and second, in addition to low performers, you
also have to deal with your attitude issues. Underperformers
and negative people infect everyone. It is literally like letting someone with
a contagious, deadly disease openly walk the floor of your business.
No one likes to fire people
and yet, that isn’t a sufficient reason for not doing it. The goal of laying
off your non-producers and attitude problems is to eventually end up with a
sales team that is hitting on all eight cylinders and in which you don’t have
to fire anyone. You want a professional, accountable sales force that shows up
every day, does what needs to be done, and brings in lots of good, clean business.
Once you have these people in place, you no longer need to lay people off. You
will however continue to improve the work environment and invest in personal
and professional development. How
do you attract better employees? Become a better company, one in which people
are held accountable and negative attitudes are jettisoned.
Note: Your number may be something other than 20%. It may
be 40%, or only 10%. This is really a question of who is hurting your
organization and who is helping?
Getting rid of your chronic
underperformers and attitude issues will make you a more credible leader. It
will motivate all others to either leave or get to work. Resentment will
disappear. You’ll stop wasting the time of all your support people. Morale will
increase. And you will see a positive impact, and most likely a substantial
one, to the bottom line.
John Chapin is a sales and
motivational speaker and trainer. For his free newsletter, or if you would like
him to speak at your next event, go to: www.completeselling.com John has over 28
years of sales experience as a number one sales rep and is the author of the
2010 sales book of the year: Sales Encyclopedia. For permission to reprint,
e-mail: johnchapin@completeselling.com.
John Chapin Consulting, Inc.
Attend a
FREE BICSI Webinar on June 29
On Wednesday, June 29, at 2
p.m. Eastern, BICSI will be hosting a free
webinar titled “2016 BICSI Board Strategic Plan.” The webinar will be presented
by BICSI President Brian Ensign, RCDD, NTS, OSP, RTPM, CSI.
This webinar will provide an in-depth look at BICSI's roadmap as outlined in
the new BICSI Board Strategic Plan, which focuses on three main goals.
When: Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at 2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Pacific; find
your local time)
BICSI members and
stakeholders will not want to miss this important webinar. There is no cost to
attend. Register
today!
www.bicsi.org
BOMA Attends
White House Conference on Resiliency
BOMA
International attended a conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the White
House National Security Council and the National Economic Council to discuss
the critical role that modern building codes play in helping communities become
more resilient to natural and manmade disasters. The conference focused on how
the changing climate will impact future planning and how the U.S. federal
government can better support resiliency. You can watch video of the
conference online on the White House website.
Panelists at
the conference highlighted Preparing to Thrive: The
Building Industry Statement on Resiliency — Helping Communities Construct a More
Certain Future,
a report that demonstrates the work being done by the Resilience Building
Coalition, which includes BOMA International, the American Institute of
Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences and other leaders in
the industry.
During the
conference, the White House announced a number of new federal actions,
including further exploration of incentivizing the adoption and enforcement of
resilient building codes. A wide range of organizations also made
commitments to support the effort. BOMA International pledged to
create education on existing building codes to provide guidance and best
practices on how to increase the resiliency of commercial buildings.
www.boma.org
BOMA
International Education Approved for Certified Construction Manager
Certification Credits
(WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 18, 2016) The Building
Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is pleased to announce
that its educational programs, including webinars and conference education
sessions, are now approved for renewal points for the Certified Construction
Manager (CCM) credential. This new credential further broadens the benefits of
BOMA International’s extensive educational offerings and will apply to
education sessions at the upcoming 2016 BOMA
International Conference & Expo, being held June 25-38 in
Washington, D.C.
BOMA International’s
cutting-edge industry education already qualifies for a wide variety of
certification programs, including CPM, RPA, FMA, SMA, SMT and ARM renewal and
continuing professional development credits. Several programs are approved for
LEED credential maintenance and renewal of the Building Operator Certification
(BOC). The addition of the CCM certification reflects the growing number of
construction professionals participating in BOMA’s webinars and conferences.
The CCM was created to
improve delivery in the built environment, and it is the only certification for
the construction management profession accredited by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) under the International Organization for
Standardization’s ISO-17024 standard. A CCM demonstrates that an individual is
committed to excellence in construction project management, career advancement
and the pursuit of knowledge.
“BOMA International is
pleased to further enhance the value of its education by offering credits for
the CCM credential,” said BOMA International Chair Kent C. Gibson, BOMA Fellow,
president of Capstone Property Management, L.C. “Ensuring that our programs
help our participants and attendees qualify for the certifications they need is
just another way that BOMA helps those in the industry stay up-to-date.”
Read more information about
BOMA
International’s webinars and annual
conference education sessions.
***
About
BOMA International
The
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is a federation
of 91 BOMA U.S. associations and 18 international affiliates. Founded in 1907,
BOMA represents the owners and managers of all commercial property types
including 10.5 billion square feet of U.S. office space that supports 1.7
million jobs and contributes $234.9 billion to the U.S. GDP. Its mission is to
advance a vibrant commercial real estate industry through advocacy, influence
and knowledge. Learn more at www.boma.org.
Datagroup
builds 100-Gbps fiber-optic network from Ukraine to Frankfurt
Ukrainian service provider Datagroup has
opened a new fiber-optic
network that connects its home company to Frankfurt, Germany,
via Poland. The new route leverages DWDM equipment from Ekinops, according to
the systems house.
The new fiber cable network offers an alternative route between the two end
points versus Datagroup's existing infrastructure. At 1,783 km (1,100 miles)
the new route, which begins in Lviv in the Ukraine, is shorter than the first
one. It also offers redundancy.
"This forms part of a larger network between China and Western
Europe," said Alexandr Vereschak, technical director of Datagroup.
"For us, this new network means we can now offer the shortest connection
between China and Germany."
Datagroup has used the Ekinops 360 platform on the route to support 100-Gbps
wavelengths. Datagroup also has used Ekinops gear elsewhere in its network …
FIBER
CONTINUES TO REPLACE ALL OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORT.
FiberLight
expands fiber-optic network near Mexican border
Fiber-optic
network services provider FiberLight, LLC says it has extended
its footprint in southern Texas. The company says its new fiber cable
infrastructure connects areas in the Texas valley near the Mexican border to
such cities as Houston, San Antonio and Dallas with a dedicated fiber-optic
ring.
FiberLight says this is the first such fiber network deployment in the area in
decades. Overall, the company now operates a fiber network of more than 10,000
miles in the state, bringing 100-Gbps capabilities to the region in 2013
(see "FiberLight
turns up first 100G link in Texas").
The expansion adds a footprint that includes a 12,000-mile, 100-Gbps long-haul
network that connects more than 120 data centers. FiberLight's service areas
run from Washington, DC, down to the south coast of Florida, across to Texas,
and back to Washington, DC, via Atlanta. In total, FiberLight owns and manages
more than 1.6 million fiber miles in more than 44 metro areas across the United
States.
"This new route offers enhanced national and international connectivity
options while providing another avenue of survivability and continuity for
service providers and content providers throughout Texas and beyond,"
comments Ron Kormos, FiberLight's chief strategy officer. "In addition to
serving North American providers, international carriers are now able to access
FiberLight's array of services offered across its network to gain access to
other regional hubs throughout the country."
Think
you don't know FiberLight? Well, think again!
We are a 20-year telecommunications veteran
and are led by some of the industry's most well-respected experts. Although you
may not be familiar with our name, you certainly know our work.
Our
story begins in the 1990s. We were one of the first fiber-optic network
construction companies to build within state and local rights-of-way. Over the
next couple of decades we continued to invest over $1 billion to expand our
high-density networks. That's "billion" with a "b". Fast
forward to today, and we now own over 1,500,000 fiber miles of network in 30
metropolitan markets. As a matter of fact, we've been doing this so long and
have such an expansive and reliable network that many carriers active in our
metro markets rely heavily on FiberLight's infrastructure to serve their
customers. In a nutshell, FiberLight is one of the best kept secrets in the
industry. We are the service provider most everyone relies on, even if they
don't know it!
That
being said, with nearly 20 years of experience under our belt, FiberLight has
become an industry-leading expert in anticipating the various complexities
associated with planning, engineering and installing fiber optic networks -
often in record time! As ACSI, we built multi-duct, high-fiber count systems in
30 metropolitan areas, and did so in just over 30 months. More
recently, we placed 400 miles of network to connect 300 Dallas locations in 73
days as part of one of the largest fiber construction projects in the US.
Pretty impressive, right? At FiberLight, we aren't scared of a challenge - not
even one that everyone else thinks is impossible.
By
expanding our product offerings to include Ethernet, Internet Protocol, Managed
Wavelengths and SONET services in the 2000s, FiberLight established itself as a
well-rounded provider of custom network solutions for carrier and enterprise
customers alike. Some of the country's most demanding government agencies
and industries rely on FiberLight for best in class customer service,
reliability and security. And with over 17,000 backbone access points, 1,000
on-net locations, presence in nearly 100 data centers and active expansion
activities, we have more connectivity options than you can fathom.
http://www.fiberlight.com/About_Us.aspx
SECURITY
LINES AT THE AIRPORT – TSA Rivals DMV for Incompetence…
In an effort to ameliorate delays, Peter V. Neffenger, the T.S.A.
administrator, told members of the House Homeland Security Committee that the
agency was promoting screeners from part time to full time, reassigning
hundreds of behavioral detection officers to help on security lines and
shifting bomb-detection dog teams to larger airports. Mr. Neffenger’s testimony
comes just days before millions of Americans are expected to travel over the
Memorial Day weekend. The agency has come under fire recently, with some
passengers reporting hours long waits to get through checkpoints.
More Bad News Passengers would probably continue to experience longer than normal wait times because of an
expected increase in summer travel.
Federal Government Efficiency sinks to incredible new lows…
FSR Rolls
Out New Infrastructure Mounting Solutions at InfoComm 2016
Company’s Drywall Mounting Frames to
Make Show Debut,
Along with Round Covers and Square
Mud Rings
Woodland
Park, NJ (May 20, 2016) — Adding to an unprecedented number of new product
introductions at this year’s InfoComm 2016 show, FSR will be expanding its Infrastructure
Mounting Solutions line of products by rolling out a number of new installation
accessories for AV and ICT professionals working within the education,
hospitality, government, corporate and religious markets. The company’s new CB-SR12/SR22 Drywall Mounting Frames (the
“FRAME”), a mount for FSR’s popular ceiling boxes in a drywall ceiling, are
making their tradeshow debut, along with FSR’s MUD-2G square-corner mud ring and FL-500P-SF8-C Series
round cover bracket kits, all of which will be on display at the company’s Booth
C7730.
“FSR
looks forward each year to the InfoComm show and the opportunity to introduce
our newest solutions to the pro A/V market,” said company
president Jan Sandri. “This
year, we are excited to roll out an extraordinary amount of new products, including
our Infrastructure Mounting Solutions featuring several new FRAMES. For
instance, we are showing our CB-SR12/SR22 Drywall Mounting Frames for the first
time at any trade show at this year’s InfoComm and offering attendees a look at
some of its real-world applications. Plus, we’re continuously extending our
mounting solutions lines, this year with our new MUD-2G and FL-500P-SF8-C
Series bracket kits. All products will be demonstrated at our booth during the
show.”
NEW:
CB-SR12/SR22
Drywall Mounting Frames.
On display
offering attendees real-life applications is FSR’s new CB-SR12/SR22 Drywall Mounting Frames,
intended for industry professionals looking to mount the company’s popular
ceiling boxes in a drywall ceiling. The CB-SR12 and CB-SR22 drywall mounting
frames are expressly designed to easily mount FSR's 2'x2' (CB-22) and 1'x2'
(CB-12) Ceiling Enclosures. FSR’s Ceiling Enclosures are plenum and safety
rated for use in many applications.
The FRAME
can be installed in the ceiling opening using threaded rod, stranded wire
cable or screws through specific holes in the sides of the unit. The ceiling
box can then be hung vertically, via the included cables, while the equipment
is mounted and wired allowing convenient access to the components and cables. The
ceiling box is lifted into the frame and locked into place, and its interior
can be accessed in the same way for future re-cabling and service. Ceiling
boxes and frames are ordered separately to accommodate individual needs.
NEW: MUD-2G.
A formed
extra wide 4” mud ring with square corners for mounting large active electronic
devices, the MUD-2G
was designed to make the installation of the FSR Flex touch screen control
panel and HDBaseT wall plate transmitters easier. The mud ring will fit both
formed and stamped 4” square electrical boxes manufactured by the leading
electrical part suppliers. Available in 1/2" and 5/8" models, both
feature a unique open frame design that increases the usable area over the
standard stamped 2-gang cover. This ring gives a true rectangular opening of
3.88” wide by 2.88” high. In addition, there are no round corners to interfere
with the device that would result in last minute delays. The MUD-2G Mud Rings
are the perfect installation accessories when using all AV interfaces, control
devices and input plates.
NEW:
FL-500P-SF8-C
Series.
The FL-500P-SF8-C Series
are bracket kits that are designed so that a SmartFit SF-8 cover can be affixed
to FSR’s standard FL-500P, FL-540P, FL-600P, FL-640P floor boxes.
SmartFit SF-8 covers are available in Aluminum, Black and Brass finishes
providing a solution where clients may want round covers to match their
décor but also still want the bracket mounting solutions available in FSR’s
floor boxes for pour in place and raised access floor applications.
About
FSR
FSR, established in 1981,
manufactures a wide variety of signal management and infrastructure solutions
for the AV/IT, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT),
corporate, education, hospitality, government, and religious markets, including
floor, wall, table, and ceiling connectivity boxes and wireways, as well as a
full line of interfaces, distribution amplifiers, matrix switchers, seamless
scaling switchers and HDBaseT signal delivery solutions.
FSR is an HDBaseT
Alliance Adopter Member as well as an Energy Star Partner and complies with the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to demonstrate its deep
commitment to preserving the planet. FSR offers live 24/7 technical and sales
support throughout the country from expertly trained technicians and sales
representatives. For more information: www.fsrinc.com.
GENERAL
CABLE SELLS NORTH AMERICAN IGNITION WIRE BUSINESS
May 24, 2016
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — General
Cable Corporation announced it has reached a definitive
agreement to sell its North American automotive ignition wire business to
Standard Motor Products, Inc. for cash consideration of approximately $71
million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The Company expects to
close the sale in the near future. Proceeds will be used to reduce outstanding
borrowings.
"We are executing our
new strategic roadmap, and a key component of the roadmap is focusing and optimizing
our portfolio of businesses," said Mike McDonnell, President and Chief
Executive Officer. "While the automotive ignition wire business has been a
strong performing business for us over the years, we determined through our
strategic review that it is not aligned with our strategic and financial
criteria going forward. As previously communicated, we are focused on growing
our businesses in the electric utility, communications and industrial markets
where we have leading positions, scale and sustainable profitability." www.generalcable.com
IDEAL
Networks Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary of IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
SYCAMORE, IL, MAY 17, 2016 - IDEAL Networks (www.idealnetworks.net) celebrates the 100th
birthday of its parent company IDEAL INDUSTRIES INC., an industry leader that
has been designing tools that make a true difference for millions of professional
tradesmen since 1916.
"Innovation
and quality have been central to everything IDEAL INDUSTRIES has done over the
past century. At this important milestone, IDEAL Networks celebrates our
shared commitment to offer a range of unique, effective products backed by
outstanding customer service," said Tim Widdershoven, Global Marketing
Manager for IDEAL Networks.
One hundred years
ago, founder J. Walter Becker launched the IDEAL Commutator Dresser Company
from his mother's kitchen with the belief that every product should be worth
more than its price. Service, he said, is part of every IDEAL
product. Since then, IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. has grown into one of the
world's leading authorities on electrical installation and testing.
Over the past
three decades of business IDEAL INDUSTRIES has acquired several network
companies starting in 1993 with Shattuck Industries, creating its internal
Datacomm division known as IDEAL Networks. In June 2001 IDEAL acquired the LAN
tester division of Wavetek, and in March 2004, IDEAL acquired Trend
Communications, a supplier of telephone test and measurement tools for the
global communications market,
positioning IDEAL INDUSTRIES as a worldwide presence in the network testing
marketplace. Today IDEAL Networks supplies state-of-the-art data cable
testers, network testers and telecom/enterprise testers that are recognized for
their innovation, value and quality.
Over the years
IDEAL Networks has achieved many industry firsts, such as the launch the first
hand-held Cat 5 cable certifier (LANTech 100) in 1993. Since then IDEAL has
released the first tester for Class F/FA, the first dedicated tester for Cat 6A
cabling, the first tester to include a tone generator and colour screen, and
the first tester to have an autotest button on the remote to save time.
For more
information, please visit www.idealnetworks.net.
The History of IDEAL
Industries – an American Icon
Eight years after he began what was then
known as the IDEAL Commutator Dresser Company of Chicago, Becker moved his
business operations to a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in nearby
Sycamore, Illinois. Just two years after that, IDEAL Industries forever changed
the electrical industry with the introduction screw-on Wire-Nut® Wire
Connectors, which to this day have saved electricians countless work hours by
eliminating the time-consuming solder and tape splicing method.
Over 100 years after the development of the
Wire-Nut®, innovation is still a hallmark of IDEAL Industries. Though the
company was originally founded to serve the electrical industry, as technology
has rapidly advanced, so has IDEAL, to the point that they're now a leading
developer and manufacturer of network cable testers, installation tools and
project consumables, including fish tape, wire pulling lubricant, heat guns,
super tough wire strippers, and some of the best installer tool kits available,
anywhere at any price.
Did you know?
ü IDEAL Industries got
its name from the type of products and business relationships that J. Walter
Becker wanted to build: ideal.
ü After nearly a
century in business, IDEAL Industries is still a privately-held company, and
among its shareholders are fifth-generation descendants of J. Walter Becker.
ü Even though they
started in the American Midwest, IDEAL Industries now does business in 88
different countries around the globe.
Ideal Industries is an
outstanding example of quality products – MADE
IN AMERICA quality products. Over the years, Ideal tools have become
the benchmark for durability and pinnacle for precision.
Infrastructure Convergence
The Internet of everything:
The idea here is that we are building on pervasive computing where cameras,
sensors, microphones, image recognition -- everything -- is now part of the
environment. Remote sensing of everything from electricity to air conditioning
use is now part of the network. In addition, increasingly intelligent devices
create issues such as privacy concerns. Eventually IT will need some central
unified network and management of all these devices.
Interestingly, many experts
are now predicting that the heir apparent to build the new infrastructure
physical "highway systems" is the ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. The EC has
the opportunity and the capability to grasp the future convergence of many new
technologies as well as the established energy distribution networks.
Integration of power, control, communications, security, and life safety
systems are the biggest revenue opportunity for contractors in the next 2-3
decades. Ideal Industries continues to provide the contractors with
the best tools and components to tackle the toughest challenges.
In 2011, as the economy recovers, Ideal Industries is
getting a head start on the competition. Many
of the best examples of companies that have already grasped the challenges of
the future are family-owned small to medium sized corporations. For example, Ideal
Industries has done an excellent job of maximizing the
productivity of their employees and building a reciprocal respect between the
company and the employees. Add training, the results will make everyone happy
including the staff, owners, and customers. We live in challenging times.
Attitudes are as important as the technologies that we integrate into our lives
and work.
Ideal
Industries – MADE IN
AMERICA www.idealindustries.com
Check them out.
REPEATABILITY:
“You get tough top quality tools from Ideal” said Kevin Moy, Lead Tech –
Cabling Installation Team, Communication Planning Corp. “When it positively has
to be done right the first time, I recommend the tools made by Ideal without
any reservations.”
U.S. LABOR Secretary
Thomas Perez Announces Agreement In Principle On A New Contract For Verizon
Workers 5-27-2016
WASHINGTON
– U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas
Perez issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing labor dispute
at Verizon:
“Today, I am
pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement in principle on
a four-year contract, resolving the open issues in the ongoing labor dispute
between Verizon’s workers, unions, and management. The parties are now working
to reduce the agreement to writing, after which the proposal will be submitted
to CWA and IBEW union members for ratification.
Throughout the
past 13 days of negotiations at the Department of Labor, I have observed
firsthand the parties’ good faith commitment to narrowing differences and
forging an agreement that helps workers and the company. The parties have a
shared interest in the success of Verizon and its dedicated workforce. Indeed,
these two interests are inextricably intertwined.
This tentative
resolution is a testament to the power of collective bargaining. I commend the
leadership of Verizon, CWA, and IBEW for their commitment to resolving these
difficult issues in the spirit of constructive engagement.
I expect that workers will be back on
the job next week.”
Verizon
and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have come to a tentative agreement on a four-year
labor contract, putting an end to a month long strike of the telco's nearly
40,000 wireline workers.
U.S.
Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez announced the agreement in a statement issued
on the agency's website this morning.
"Today,
I am pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement in
principle on a four-year contract, resolving the open issues in the ongoing
labor dispute between Verizon's workers, unions, and management," Perez
said in a statement. "The parties are now working to reduce the agreement
to writing, after which the proposal will be submitted to CWA and IBEW union
members for ratification."
NAED Opposes
New Overtime Regulations - New rules will hurt employees and businesses
Today’s revision to overtime
regulations for white collar workers by the Department of Labor was a
disappointment to the National Association of Electrical Distributors.
“NAED represents companies in
wide spectrum of sizes—from local players to regional, national, and
international firms,” stated Ed Orlet, NAED vice president, Government Affairs.
“We strongly oppose the new Department of Labor rules. The Department’s
proposal ignores the rapidly changing workplace and will not serve to improve
workplace conditions for employees or employers. While an increase to the salary
threshold should be debated, the magnitude proposed by DOL merits further and
detailed examination.”
The new rule changes the Fair
Labor Standards Act by:
- Raising the threshold under which most salaried
employees are guaranteed overtime $47,476 ($913 per week)
- Automatically update the salary threshold every
three years, the increase will be based on the 40th percentile of
full-time salaried workers in the region in which the salary level is
lowest
- The rule will go into effect December 1, 2016
The salary increase would more
than double the current overtime salary requirement and require businesses to
reclassify workers as “non-exempt” resulting in less autonomy and reducing
opportunities for advancement. Employees below the new salary requirement would
be required to track hours, increasing compliance time, and reducing employees
self-imposed time management.
NAED supports the Protecting
Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act introduced by Senator Tim Scott and
Congressman Tim Walberg; the bill would require the Secretary of Labor to
nullify the rule and do an in-depth economic analysis before a similar rule can
be promulgated. The legislation requires DOL to conduct an economic analysis on
the:
- Economic impact on small businesses, nonprofits,
institutions of higher education, and other affected parties
- Management and human resources costs, such as
costs associated with reclassifying employees and extra hours spent
scheduling employees
- Impact on employment, workplace flexibility,
employee benefits structures for exempt and nonexempt employees, career
advancement opportunities, new business formation, and business
termination
In addition to the economic
analysis, the Secretary must also seek stakeholder input through a 120-day
comment period, increase the effective date of any rule to one year after the
rule’s publication, and make any increase in the salary requirement fit within
economic realities of employees and employers. www.naed.org
Klein® Tools
12:1 Dual-Laser Infrared Thermometer provides better visualization and more
accurate performance
May 24, 2016 (Lincolnshire, IL) – Klein Tools (http://www.kleintools.com), for
professionals since 1857, introduces a multi-function 12:1
Dual-Laser Infrared Thermometer (Cat. No. IR5) at an opening price point
for professional-grade IR thermometers.
The IR5 features dual-lasers that use a tight 12:1
distance-to-spot ratio for accurate measuring of temperatures between -22°F and
752°F. It also offers several calculation modes for a wide range of temperature
measurement applications.
“Dual-laser targeting technology makes it easier to
visualize the area being measured by an IR thermometer, resulting in more
accurate measurement performance versus a single laser,” said Sean O’Flaherty,
director of product management, “As an added value, Klein Tools is able to
offer this dual-laser functionality at a price point that is in line with an IR
thermometer that uses a single laser.”
The IR5 is compact with a soft-touch, overmolded housing for comfort, and can
withstand drops of more than six feet onto concrete or steel.
For more information, watch
the video, visit our
website at www.kleintools.com or
contact your local distributor.
National
Electrical Safety Month - May 2016
The
Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) commemorates National
Electrical Safety Month by spearheading an annual campaign to educate key
audiences about the steps that can be taken in order to reduce the number of
electrically-related fires, fatalities, injuries, and property loss.
Here
at Mike Holt Enterprises, we're equally dedicated to electrical
safety, and it's our pleasure to provide free resources wherever possible. Our recent
newsletter introduced you to Mike's library of free videos. This week Mike
wants to make sure that you spend the time to watch the videos that are essential to knowing how
to work safely.
Following
is the first series of videos that you need to watch - and you need to watch
them MULTIPLE TIMES! You can access them from this newsletter by clicking on
the links below, or you can go directly to the web page and watch them there by
clicking here.
Electrical
Safety Fundamentals [1hr:13min]
Related
Safety links:
Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFi).
A non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety
in the home, school, and workplace
National
Safety Council
Spring-Electrical Safety
(ESFi PDF)
Assuming
Responsibility – by Mike Holt
Note
from Mike Holt: The recent death of a good friend (our
newsletter on March 17) shook me to the core and I will miss him very much.
What I did not expect was in how many ways his passing would affect me. It made
me so aware of my own mortality and also of my legacy. Apart from the work I
need to do on myself and with my family, I want my business to continue and
flourish beyond my lifetime. It’s my responsibility to make sure that those
around me, and those that work with and for me, understand my vision, my goals,
and my philosophy so that they can learn, grow, and make good decisions
themselves. Each month we discuss an important aspect of business and
leadership, and I want to share those thoughts with you. Here’s the first, and
it’s about assuming responsibility. We welcome your feedback.
Assuming
Responsibility
(Extracted
from Mike Holt's new Leadership
Skills book).
If you want
to be successful you have to have the ability to assume responsibility and be
open to taking ownership of new projects that come your way.
If a person
gives you a task, it clearly means they’re confident in your ability to see it
through to completion. They’re trusting in you to figure it out and do it the
best way you can. When a new task comes your way, you might not be that willing
to take it on; it might even feel like an intrusion—you’re already busy.
However, part of growth and being good at your job is embracing new tasks and
responsibilities and you need to realize that doing so shows a willingness to
grow. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable and stressful, but if you work out how
to get it done you’ll feel a huge sense of accomplishment afterwards.
If something
is assigned to you, it’s yours 100 percent until completion. You already have
40 hours, and you feel like you have too much work.So what do you do? What you
need to do is to review all of your current projects along with their priority
and present options to the person who assigned you the task so you can both agree
as to how to move forward. Share your thoughts about various ways you can
manage the time for the new project, such as:
1. Working
overtime.
2. Not doing
your other tasks.
3. Doing
this new task and shifting your calendar out.
4. Assigning
this task to someone else.
5. Putting
this task further out on the calendar to do at a later time.
Once you’re
clear about the unfinished projects, and have discussed the options with the
person who assigned you the task, then the decision can be made as to how to
get it accomplished.
Once you’ve
accepted responsibility for the task, and you’re excited because you know
you’re valued, your focus will be on how to get it done. It’s important that
people working with you on other projects or people waiting on projects from
you are aware of the consequences to them of this new project of yours.
1. Notify
anyone who’s waiting on you for something what the new completion date will be.
2. Find a
way to streamline some of your tasks so they take less time allowing you to
accomplish everything close to the original deadline.
Now what?
You might feel overwhelmed and not know how to begin. You know you have to
start somewhere, so just take a moment to think the project through and then
start. If you hit a roadblock, go back to the person who gave you the task.
Don’t go to someone else for guidance because they may have no clue as to the
goal or intended purpose so they might guide you down the wrong path. When you
go to the person who gave you the assignment, they might realize they didn’t
make their goals clear or that you might not have understood how this project
was to be used and they’ll clarify things. It might even happen that when you
re-discuss the goals and the purpose the whole nature of the project will be
refined or changed. You might even have to start all over again, but at least
you’ll know what the vision is.
In order to
do the task correctly, you need to understand the big picture. More
importantly, you must understand its context. Make sure you understand the end
goal and what you’re trying to accomplish. Talk it through so you can be clear
on your direction—ask questions so you know your destination. You might not be
in a position where you can push back or doubt the person who gave you the
project, but what should surface from the discussion is that there’s agreement
on its value, that it’s worth pursuing, and also that it’s part of the 20
percent you should be focusing on now.
Once that’s
established, you need to take control of the task until it’s done:
• Identify the
time frame for its completion.
• Find
whether or not there’s someone else on the team you’re allowed to consult or
work with.
• If there’s
a part of the task that requires someone else’s input, be sure you include the
person who assigned it to you when you email correspondence, so everyone is on
the same page about where the project stands, and who the task is waiting on.
• If that
other person can’t get to their part immediately, then it’s their
responsibility to email back, with a copy to everyone, saying when they think
they can get to it.
• Since the
person who assigned you the task is copied on the correspondence, they have the
option to say nothing and accept the schedule, or move priorities around to get
it done sooner.
• If days or
a week go by and you don’t have what you’re waiting for, send a reminder email,
and copy the person who assigned the task to you. Remember it’s still your
responsibility to push the task to completion as quickly as possible, so you
don’t want it to fall off the radar. Everyone gets busy, and your boss might
just assume it’s been taken care of, when in fact it’s waiting on someone other
than you.
Take charge
and proceed in a way that shows you have the vision and authorization to
complete this project. If you need something from others, don’t ask for
permission just go and get what you need. Asking for permission is saying you
don’t believe that you’re authorized to do so. You’ve already been given the
authorization, so do what it takes to get the job done. It's also important how
you ask others for what you need - don’t ask them if they can do this for you
because that just opens the door for a negative response. Tell them what you
need to get done, and get their feedback on the best way to accomplish it. If
you need to ask for something because you need help, that’s a different
story—you should always ask for that. Be assertive in making sure the goal is
met.
While you’re
working on the task, take full ownership of it by doing the necessary research.
Search the internet and learn everything you can about this topic. By seeing
how others approach it you can increase your odds of doing an exceptional job
on what’s been assigned to you. You might see an opportunity for a new idea
that didn’t even present itself initially. What a picture of success that would
be! Now you’ll become the expert in whatever it is you were tasked with.
Always be
willing to accept new tasks. Encourage them. Know that you’ll be making
mistakes, but embrace that fact that it’s part of your growth. Growth doesn’t
come from being comfortable and inert.
Remember,
there’s no such thing as inactivity unless you’re planning on being out of a
job or going out of business! Accept responsibility for the tasks that are
assigned to you and make adjustments in your attitude or workflow to
accommodate them. Change means you’re growing and that you’ve tried something.
The truly successful person who cares about their career will be open to new
tasks and expanding responsibilities—this shows they care about their future
and the business that hired them. Think about how great it will feel to know
that you’ve significantly contributed to the company’s success by your
willingness to keep growing and finding ways to add value.
www.mikeholt.com
Mike Holt’s Summer CEU Seminar in South Florida sells
out - space still available at his Orlando event!
For over 20 years Mike Holt’s
annual summer CEU seminars have become the industry’s leading technical
training event. These programs are approved in over 30 states and set the
standard for electrical training. The high energy program is educational,
motivational, and fun. This year’s program features topics from Mike’s newly
released Leadership Skills book, as well as a day of code training focused on
Grounding vs. Bonding.
August 5 – 6
Orlando, FL
Grounding vs. Bonding,
Safety, Florida Building Code, Workman’s Comp, and Business Skills
Visit www.mikeholt.com/seminar
Or call 888.632.2633
Early Registration pricing
still available.
INDUSTRY
'PAL' PASSES AWAY – WILLIAM R. ANIXTER (93)
May 13, 2016
Loving husband, father,
grandfather and “pal” to so many, William Raymond Anixter, age 93, of Chicago
and Scottsdale, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, May 8. He is survived
by his wife, Nancy Ansorg Anixter, his six children, Greg Anixter, Julie
Anixter, Carol Anixter, Amy Anixter Scott, Mari Anixter, and Jason Max Anixter,
and his grandchildren, Jason William Anixter, Ashley Anixter, Ben Forgan, Kylie
Forgan, Audrey Scott, Allegra Smith, and Gigi Smith. He was the son of Julius
“Loving Putty” and Zelda Anixter.
Bill Anixter was a World War
II veteran who was part of the 4th Armored Division, Third Army under General
Patton. He was wounded in action in a battle in which only 15 of his company
survived and received a Purple Heart. After a stint at the Command Headquarters
in London, he returned to Chicago and attended Northwestern University on the
GI Bill. He moved to Highland Park, Illinois, to raise his family.
He was well known for
founding Anixter Bros., later Anixter Inc., in 1957 with his brother, Alan B.
Anixter with an initial loan of $10,000 they received from their mother Zelda.
Anixter Bros. was the world’s first wire & cable distribution company with
a real-time inventory system and hub-and-spoke network warehouse system that
pre-dated Amazon by decades. The company went public in 1967 and grew to approximately
2,000 employees, more than 100 global locations and over $700M in sales before
Bill and his brother sold it to Sam Zell in 1986. The success of the company
was based on the renowned culture of service that they provided to their
customers as well as a unique concept of employee relations that he and his
brother initiated from the very start of the company. Bill always maintained
that Anixter Bros. was a “family company” and every employee was part of the
family.
Tributes to Bill Anixter from
friends and former employees began pouring in to the family the moment they
heard he had passed away on Mother’s Day.
Following his long ownership
of Anixter Bros., Bill owned and operated Stephen’s Restaurant in Albuquerque,
and served on the boards of The Armand Hammer United World College and the Boys
Club of Arizona. Then he became Chairman of the Board of A-Z Wire & Cable,
working with his nephew, Jim Anixter, and his good friend, Ray Geraci, in
another wire and cable distribution company in Northbrook, Illinois.
Bill Anixter was known far
and wide for his generosity of spirit, his humor, his common touch and for that
“twinkle in his eye” that made everyone feel they were always with their very
best friend and “pal”.
Services
have been held. Contributions in Bill Anixter’s honor can be made to the Boys
Clubs of Scottsdale, Arizona or Chicago, Illinois.
NECA Technology, Jobs, and the
Presidential Election
May
19,2016
By:
NECA Director of Research, Joey Shorter, Ph.D.
This week, NECA hosts the National Legislative Conference in
Washington, D.C., which promises to be especially intriguing in the current
U.S. Presidential election. While the issues vary sometimes from primary to
primary, there seems to be a theme that comes to the forefront in most
conversations during this election cycle. A majority of voters are concerned
about the economy, and especially jobs and workforce related issues from
training, to wages and benefits, but especially bringing jobs back to
traditional American epicenters of manufacturing. U.S. manufacturing was
greatly impacted by outsourcing and automation. Before the politicians began
mastering current sound bites, researchers and business leaders in the tech
world were projecting a re-birth of manufacturing in the U.S. [Vivek Wadhwa,
“The Future of Manufacturing Is In America, Not China”].
We’ve all heard stories about how robots are taking our jobs. But, you
may have missed the report that Mercedes-Benz (the world’s third largest auto
manufacturer) is replacing some of its assembly line robots with “real live
humans”. They have found that their robots can’t keep up with the degree of
customization they offer on their S-Class sedans. The company’s head of
production, Mark Schaefer says robots can’t deal with the degree of
individualization, and that Mercedes-Benz is saving money and safeguarding
their future by employing more people [Engadget > 2016/02/25 > Mercedes-Benz…].
If you have not seen SAM – semi-automated mason – the robotic bricklayer, you should take a few minutes to watch a clip
or check-out “Construction Robotics – Advancing Construction” at www.construction-robotics.com.
In a recent MIT Technology
Review, it was stated that the robot is responsible for the more rote tasks:
picking up bricks, applying mortar, and placing bricks in their designated
location. The author continued by saying, “the human handles the more nuanced
activities, like setting up the worksite, laying bricks in tricky areas, such
as corners, and handling aesthetic details, like cleaning up excess mortar.”
SAM was created to assist, especially in an area of construction where the
demand for masons is greater than the number of masons being recruited and trained
in the industry.
Innovative political
leadership will see the possibilities of millions of new jobs being created.
The disruption will come from a set of technologies that are advancing at
exponential rates. It’s the reason Tesla can manufacture their cars in
the Silicon Valley. Manufacturing is returning to the U.S., but the same
jobs we saw leave America won’t necessarily return, because many of them will
not exist. Autodesk CEO Carl Bass says we will see new, higher-paying jobs
created, coming out of nowhere and changing our lives. There seems to be
a lot of truth in Vivek Wadhwa’s statement, “the strongest weapon to shift
geopolitical balances isn’t nukes or missiles, it’s technology.”
NECA
Technology – the Project for Applied and Disruptive Technology explores the world of technology and keeps members
informed of what’s happening today, and of what will be launched in the not too
distant future. Dr. Joey Shorter, NECA Director of Research, has an extensive
background in education and experience in translating the work of academics
into understandable, practical ideas.
www.necanet.org
Ekinops
Opening New North American Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Area
PARIS, May 26, 2016 – Ekinops, a leading supplier of
next-generation optical network equipment, will move into its new North
American corporate headquarters in Maryland in June.
The new facility will be home
to Ekinops Corp., the wholly-owned North American subsidiary of France-based
Ekinops SA. It will serve not only as a company headquarters, but also as a
complete customer support office, housing administrative and support employees.
Ekinops support personnel will conduct customer training at the site, with a full
product integration lab for staging prior to shipping, to streamline training
and to demonstrate product capabilities for customers.
In addition, this facility
will serve as a logistical center for current and new customers across the U.S.
and Canada. While Ekinops sells its advanced optical networking products
globally, its sales are increasing faster in North America than in other
regions. Its customers here include service providers, from very large and
national to regional carriers, as well as data center operators.
In the lab, Ekinops will be
able to demonstrate all of its products and solutions, such as its flagship
product, the 360 Dynamic Multi-Reach Transport System, along with 100G and 200G
coherent technology, its recently introduced wireless fronthaul module and its
Celestis Pilot Network Management System.
“The opening of this new
office is in response to our rapid growth in North America and confirms the
long-term commitment that Ekinops is making in the region,” said Kevin Antill,
Vice President for North America.
“What is most important about
this new facility is that it allows us to focus on support for our customers.
With our team there, along with the fully functioning lab, customer training
center, and warehouse depot, we can fill all our customers’ needs from one
primary location.”
Antill added that the ability
to provide customers the training they need on Ekinops hardware and software,
and to validate network models on live equipment, will accelerate their move
from the design phase to implementation so they can deploy new services to
their customers more quickly.
About Ekinops
Ekinops is a leading supplier
of next generation optical transport equipment for telecommunications service
providers. The Ekinops 360 addresses Metro, Regional, and Long-Haul
applications with a single, highly-integrated platform. Ekinops is a
market-leading innovator in 100G and 200G transport with a coherent line of
products that truly optimizes optical networks and comes in 1RU, 2RU or 7RU
chassis. The Ekinops 360 relies on the highly-programmable Ekinops T-Chip®
(Transport-on-a-Chip) architecture that enables fast, flexible and
cost-effective delivery of new services for high-speed, high-capacity
transport. Using the Ekinops 360 carrier-grade system, operators can simply
increase capacity of their networks – CWDM, DWDM, Ethernet, ESCON, Fibre
Channel, SONET/SDH, and uncompressed video (HD-SDI, SD-SDI, ASI). Ekinops is
headquartered in Lannion, France, and Ekinops Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary,
is incorporated in the USA.
U.S. Green
Building Council Announces LEED Pilot Credit: Building Material Human Hazard
and Exposure Assessment
New
credit continues push for better understanding and decision making around
building materials & products
Washington,
D.C—(May 24, 2016)—Today, the
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced a new LEED pilot credit—Building
Material Human Hazard & Exposure Assessment, which encourages project teams
and manufacturers to assess human health related exposure scenarios for
products during their installation and use phases.
“LEED v4, the latest version
of the LEED green building system, has begun a shift in how we think about
health and building materials,” said Scot Horst, chief product officer, USGBC.
“We have a focus on transparency and optimization so specifiers can know what
they are using and can reward innovation. But understanding how a material
impacts human health requires a full understanding of hazard and exposure. The
new pilot credit is a first step toward evaluating exposure by encouraging
product inventories in order to prioritize decision making.”
The pilot credit seeks to
reward manufacturers who perform hazard and exposure assessments that can serve
as a basis for developing products designed to minimize human health impacts
during installation and use of the products. These assessments can, in turn, be
an important consideration for alternative assessment of building materials. By
requiring exposure to be considered during product development, this pilot
begins to make linkages between the product’s ingredient inventory and hazard
assessment required by the existing Materials Ingredients credit and
performance testing required by LEED’s Low Emitting Materials credits.
The Hazard & Exposure
pilot credit continues USGBC’s work to advance LEED users’ knowledge and
understanding of the materials used to build and operate buildings. USGBC’s
ultimate aim is that project teams have a full and complete picture of building
materials and products—all in one place—which will help enable transparent,
informed decisions around important attributes of materials and products used
in our offices, homes, schools and other structures.
This pilot credit was
developed by USGBC in conjunction with the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and
its members, as part of the partnership announced in 2014. The partnership was
established to expand collaboration between suppliers and specifiers, leverage
scientific expertise and make LEED a more effective tool to deliver positive
economic, environmental and social outcomes. This initiative acknowledges
USGBC’s success in leading the transformation of the built environment and sets
up a pathway to take advantage of the materials science expertise of ACC and
its members.
“ACC welcomes the new pilot
credit, which rewards products that have undergone rigorous and scientific
hazard and exposure assessments,” says Debra M. Phillips, vice president, ACC.
“Through Responsible Care, ACC members support scientific and systematic
approaches to managing and continuously improving the safety of their products.
ACC members also undertake third-party verification of their systems and
approaches. This new credit brings such a scientific, systematic and
third-party validated approach to the important issue of health.”
All USGBC members are
eligible to submit pilot credits for consideration; pilot credits are evaluated
based on applicability to the goals of LEED, relative impact compared to other
LEED credits or pilot credits, technical rigor and achievability.
“Today, exposure information
and the assumptions that go into it aren’t required to be shared by
manufacturers,” added Horst. “This new pilot credit will facilitate information
sharing that will help us guide future credit writing.”
To fulfill the credit
requirements, LEED projects must submit product documentation from
manufacturers, including calculations and assumptions, to GBCI, the third-party
verification body for LEED. This information will be combined with data from
other ongoing pilots and credits and synthesized by USGBC and GBCI to inform
technical development of this pilot and other materials-related LEED credits.
The LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system is the
world’s most widely used program for the design, construction, maintenance and
operations of green buildings. Today, there are nearly 75,000 commercial
projects participating in LEED across the globe, with 1.85 million square feet
of building space becoming LEED-certified every day.
Green construction is a large
economic driver. According to the 2015 USGBC Green Building Economic Impact Study,
green construction will account for more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs—more than
one-third of the entire U.S. construction sector—and generate $190.3 billion in
labor earnings. The industry’s direct contribution to the U.S. gross domestic
product (GDP) is also expected to reach $303.5 billion from 2015–2018. For more
information about the LEED credits, visit usgbc.org/LEED.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed
to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving
green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation
through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a
nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild
International Conference & Expo, the Center
for Green Schools and advocacy in
support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and
communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org,
explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and
connect on Twitter, Facebook
and LinkedIn.
U.S. Green
Building Council Joins National Leaders at the White House during Building
Safety Month, Commits to Continue Focus on Resilience
Washington,
DC (May 11, 2016) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and an
array of national building industry leaders gathered this week at the White
House’s national conference on resilient building codes to discuss the economic
and community benefits of resilient design, and to consider actions that the
federal government and the private sector can take to advance resilience in the
built environment.
While we can do our best to
slow the increase in climate volatility, we also have to focus on the fact that
our homes, buildings, campuses, and communities must ultimately withstand the
forces of nature,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO
& Founding Chair, USGBC. “A focus on resiliency is a necessary companion to
sustainable thinking and strategies in real estate and urban development.”
Senior administration
officials from the White House, the U.S. Army, the Department of State, and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development joined mayors, scientists and
industry leaders on panels highlighting opportunities for, and challenges to,
institutionalizing resilience more comprehensively in buildings and
infrastructure across the country.
On the heels of the White
House’s 2016 Climate Action Summit, where the President invited key climate
actors from across the country and around the globe to make tangible progress
on the implementation of the recent Paris Agreement at COP 21, this week’s
summit also called on participating organizations to pledge to continue and
expand their work on resilience in the context of a changing climate.
One of the speakers, Kenneth
Kunkel, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s research professor at
North Carolina State University spoke clearly about the usefulness of
historical climate data for evaluating future risk exposure of buildings in a
world with a changing climate. “We can say with virtual certainty that current
design values based solely on historical data are underestimates of the actual
future risk.” A 2011 research paper co-published by USGBC and
the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
highlighted similar conclusions, pointing to LEED as a useful framework for
addressing climate mitigation and adaptation in the built environment.
The impacts of climate change
- including extreme weather, flood, and drought - pose significant challenges
for buildings, many of which were not built to withstand the future impacts of
climate change,” read the White House announcement about the conference. “To
address these challenges, architects, engineers, and developers in both the
public and private sectors are taking steps to design buildings that go beyond
minimum life-safety requirements and incorporate the principles of resilient
design.”
Since USGBC’s early work to
respond to building and community design issues posed by hurricanes Katrina and
Rita that devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, USGBC has steadily increased its
focus on resilience. Recently, USGBC co-hosted a Resilient Cities Summit, launched a set of
resilience-focused pilot credits into USGBC’s LEED green building program, and
worked with its partner organization GBCI, to further a suite of new rating
systems that offer actionable assessment tools that can help a broad set of
players in buildings, landscapes and infrastructure address enhanced
resilience.
The resilience pilot credits in LEED are
designed to ensure that a design team is aware of vulnerabilities and addresses
the most significant risks in the project design, including functionality of
the building in the event of long-term interruptions in power or heating fuel.
At the conference, USGBC
issued the following commitment:
The U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC) commits to actively engaging through its partnership in
Resilient Communities for America (RC4A) and additional efforts to promote
resilient building codes in communities across the country. Through dialogues
among industry and public sector leaders, release of groundbreaking research
and hosting public events, RC4A we will shed light on opportunities to advance
resilience and long-term performance in codes, standards, and other policies,
and publicize community leadership in these areas.
USGBC also commits to develop
and promote the International Green Construction Code, powered by Standard
189.1, a continually evolving and improving code overlay for jurisdictions
seeking to adopt deeper sustainability and climate resilience measures into
their building codes. USGBC also commits to co-hosting a convening of
leading mayors around resilience strategies, including codes, to be held in
2016 or early 2017. We also commit to highlighting best practice for codes and
standards to support deployment of demand response strategies facilitating
resilience at the micro-grid scale.
We will engage in an
expansion of the conversation around resilience and codes to water and
landscape elements, to consider how codes in drought areas can support
appropriate vegetation strategies that have net ecosystem benefits. Lastly,
USGBC commits to posting and promoting resources relating to climate resilient
design and policy on usgbc.org and its various communications channels.
A report released yesterday
by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), titled “Preparing
to Thrive,” also highlights USGBC’s recent adoption of new pilot
credits into LEED that focus on resilient building design and planning.
The National Institute of
Building Sciences coordinated the event on behalf of the White House National
Security Council Staff, the National Economic Council, the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of
Management and Budget.
For more information, view the White House’s
fact sheet: “Obama Administration Announces Public and Private
Sector Efforts to Increase Community Resilience through Building Codes and
Standards.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed
to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving
green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation
through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a
nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild
International Conference & Expo, the Center
for Green Schools and advocacy in
support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and
communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org,
explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and
connect on Twitter, Facebook
and LinkedIn.
Prysmian
Group has entered into an agreement for to buy the Corning Optical
Communications copper data cable operation located in Germany
May
13, 2016
Prysmian
Group announced it has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of the
copper data cable operation
located in Germany from Corning Optical Communications. “The acquired business
reported sales of approximately 22 million euros in 2015, and consists of a
plant for the production of Cat 5, Cat 6 and
Cat 7 cables,” Prysmian said in the announcement.
“The
investment will allow the group to further expand its presence and speed up
growth strategy in the multimedia solutions business segment,” Prysmian
continued. “In particular the acquired business will enhance the group’s
product offering for high-capacity and flexible cable for data transmission and
data center solutions.”
tED magazine
Recognizes Industry's Young Professionals
ST.
LOUIS... tED
magazine, the official publication of the National Association of Electrical Distributors, has
released its 2016 “30 Under 35” list of rising stars from across the electrical
industry.
Representing
today’s top emerging leaders, this list recognizes 30 talented young
professionals who have the initiative, drive, integrity and creativity to move
the industry forward in the decades to come.
“Bright,
up-and-coming talent is the key to our industry’s future,’” said Misty Byers,
editor of tED
magazine. “This is the fourth year for our ‘30 Under 35’ program, and the
response just keeps growing. We had a record number of entries this year; it’s
exciting to see so many valued young people in the electrical channel today.
Through their accomplishments, the individuals on this list demonstrate they
have the skills and knowledge to lead.”
The
competition, open to electrical professionals 34 years old or younger (at the
time of nomination), drew nominations from mentors, managers and other industry
leaders working in electrical distribution, manufacturing, and related
technology and service organizations. The tED
editorial team blindly judged each submission, placing emphasis on such traits
as dedication, innovation, leadership and people skills, commitment to
training, personal integrity and work-life balance.
tED magazine and NAED congratulate the 2016 “30 Under 35”
professionals:
Curt
Andersen, 31, Fluke, Everett, Wash.
Chad Baumgartner, 32, Dakota Supply Group, Fargo, N.D.
Abby Bertsch, 25, Crescent Electric Supply, East Dubuque, Ill.
Kevin Calzada, 27, Eaton, Ellisville, Mo.
Michael Carr, 32, CapitalTristate, York, Pa.
Stacey Cooper, 28, Werner Electric Supply, Neenah, Wis.
Charles Curtis, 33, Mars Electric, Willoughby, Ohio
Adam DeBono, 29, K/E Eelctric Supply, Mt. Clemens, Mich.
Steve Eagland, 32, United Electric Supply, New Castle, Del.
Raffi Elchemmas, 30, Greenlee Textron, Rockford, Ill.
Kevin Foht, 33, Van Meter Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Anthony Fuller, 32, Eaton, Cleveland
Jesse Gilomen, 24, Stoneway Electric Supply, Kent, Wash.
Cynthia Ginter, 26, Rexel Holdings USA, Carrollton, Texas
Bryan Gohn, 30, Dakota Supply Group, St. Paul, Minn.
Brad Gravitt, 34, Buffalo Electric Supply, Birmingham, Ala.
Amaris Johnson, 35, Eaton, Cleveland
Zachary Kelly, 25, Medler Electric, Alma, Mich.
Eric Kersey, 27, Siemens, Austin, Texas
Zach Kincaid, 32, Border States Electric, Lubbock, Texas
Brock Klein, 30, ProBuilt Professional Lighting, Dallas
Matt Miller, 34, The Hite Company, Altoona, Pa.
Aaron “Cole” Norton, 30, Rexel Holdings USA, San Diego
Max Payne, 29, Inline Electric Supply, Birmingham, Ala.
Cameron Pederson, 33, Dakota Supply Group, Fargo, N.D.
Ryan Sasscer, 28, OneSource Distributors, Oceanside, Calif.
McKinnon Shisko, 24, OneSource Distributors, Oceanside, Calif.
Sam Sparks, 25, Wiseway Supply, Florence, Ky.
Donnie Williamson, 32, McNaughton-McKay Electric, Norcross, Ga.
Erin Noonan, 29, Shat-R-Shield, Salisbury, N.C.
tED magazine will recognize these 30 honorees in its July print and
online issues as well as during a special ceremony at the 2016 NAED Leadership
Enhancement and Development (LEAD) Conference, taking place July 20-22 in
Chicago. Registration for this event is now open.
NAED is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution
industry. Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps
electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAED’s
membership operates in more than 5,100 locations internationally.
Dark Fiber
Lit Up During Hillsdale’s 2016 Commencement Featuring Justice Clarence Thomas
Annapolis Junction,
Maryland – June
1, 2016 – A campus full of dark fiber lines plus FiberPlex
optical multiplexing added up quickly to huge cost savings for Hillsdale
College in southern Michigan and proved crucial for the college’s 2016
Commencement event featuring high-profile speaker Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas.
In 2013, Hillsdale’s Director of Technical Media Ted Matko was searching for a
way to easily move broadband video and audio from the campus’ sports complexes
to the multimedia operations center. Because the sports complexes are nearly a
mile away from the center, running broadband cables from each facility would
have been cost prohibitive. “I was walking the InfoComm show with one of my
vendors, Avtek, and they introduced me to FiberPlex,” Matko said. “It was the
perfect solution for us.” Matko explained that the campus had been
outfitted several years earlier with fiber optic lines that ran from the campus
control center to each of the classroom buildings, the sports complexes, the
fine arts building, the music building and the conference center. The fiber
lines had been ‘dark’ for some time but were still intact.
FiberPlex proposed outfitting various locations on campus with WDM-16
units. The WDM-16 is a 16-channel Active Wavelength Division multiplexer. It
allows the user to combine up to 16 sources of data on a single fiber pair. The
ultra-high data rate – up to 96 Gbps aggregate – enables transmission of
multiple channels of broadband video, audio, and data over the fiber.
WDM-16 units were placed in the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center, the George
Roche Health Education and Sports Complex and the Sage Fine Arts Building, and
a smaller 8-channel multiplexer was placed in the Grewcock Student Union building.
Two WDM-16 units were installed in the Media Operations Center. “Without the
WDM units, we would not have been able to afford this project,” said Matko.
“Since the units were able to use the fiber that was already in place, we had
no construction costs for the long hauls.”
Audio at remote locations is handled by Peavey MediaMatrix systems; an audio
feed plus the multiple camera feeds are connected to the WDM-16 in the remote
location. At the Operations Center, comprehensive A/V feeds are retrieved from
the multiplexer, assembled into a final form, and distributed via fiber to
other locations on campus as well as to the College’s LTN feed, which is picked
up by broadcast networks. Said Matko, “What used to take me four hours for a
three-camera setup is now done in a half hour. The student camera operators
only have to worry about plugging a single cable for each camera into the wall.
Without large cable runs, things go so much faster.”
Renovations to the auditorium forced the relocation of large lecture events to
the Biermann Center, all the way across campus. Matko said the multiplexers
were crucial for this and the college’s 2016 Commencement exercise in May. With
the event’s high profile speaker – Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas – high
quality feeds of video and audio were mandatory. “We ran three cameras and
support equipment over the FiberPlex system back to the Operations Center,”
said Matko, “and returned a video stream for the projection system via the
WDM-16. There were 5,200 people in the sports complex and 15,000 others
watching the ceremony via streaming. The system did exactly what it was
supposed to do.”
Other applications utilizing the WDM-16 on campus include basketball,
volleyball, football, and baseball games.
“For basketball games, I’ll have my announcer, two overhead mics, two mics in
the baskets (for the ‘swishing’ sounds), the floor announcer, etc. all
controlled by the MediaMatrix which sends a combined audio feed to us for
distribution,” said Matko. The audio is complemented by multiple camera feeds
from the floor. In addition to the audio and video, Matko feeds data from the
Daktronics scoreboard to the operations center, and then re-converts it to a
display for a live media scoreboard. FiberPlex modules are used for conversion
of the data from the scoreboard.
Other FiberPlex products are in use at Hillsdale College as well. LightViper
snakes are employed to move audio through the auditorium into a Yamaha mixer,
enabling Matko’s staff to control audio for campus and network feeds separately
from the house audio. Integrator AVI Systems, headquartered in Eden Prairie,
Minnesota, managed integration of the FiberPlex multiplexers throughout the
campus. “The system has been in place for a few years now, and I’ve had no issues
with the FiberPlex products,” said Matko. “It’s been excellent equipment.”
FiberPlex makes fiber optic products and systems for educational facilities,
government agencies, houses of worship, corporate facilities and broadcast
applications. For more information, visit www.fiberplex.com.
About FiberPlex
Technologies, LLC (www.fiberplex.com)
FiberPlex Technologies, LLC is a leader in digital transport and communications
technology. The FiberPlex name has been around for a quarter of a century and
is known for its secure fiber solutions to the U.S. government. Recently,
FiberPlex extended its secure communications and fiber optic products to the
commercial and AV sectors. As a fiber optics expert and equipment manufacturer,
FiberPlex educates businesses, houses of worship, hospitals, financial
institutions, campuses, broadcasters and live production firms on how to
leverage fiber optics technology for large bandwidth delivery as well as to
lower security risk and increase profits.
About Hillsdale
College (www.hillsdale.edu)
Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, has built a national reputation through its
classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept
federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student
grants or loans. It also conducts an educational outreach effort promoting
civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a
circulation of more than 3.2 million.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Magazine – what’s new
In This Issue
The
best thing contractors can do to stay safe is follow safety best practices. But
beyond that, there's still a job to do, and these products can help workers
accomplish tasks safely.
Falls are one of the most dangerous hazards in the construction industry. Too
often, a worker falls off of a ladder and suffers an injury or death. In this
month's Cool Tools, Jeff Griffin
focuses on the safety innovations of modern ladders.
Need to see in the dark or tie off? This month's featured products, Safety Equipment and Apparel,
offer solutions for your safety needs. From protecting extremities to guarding
hearts from electric shock, safety product manufacturers have you covered.
Enjoy
the issue, and stay safe out there.
Timothy Johnson
Editor-Digital
www.ecmag.com
IEEE
Standards Association Announces IEEE 802.3™ Projects to Meet Industry Demands
for Higher Ethernet Speeds
May 31, 2016 - Projects leveraging new technologies
to advance 50 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, and 200 Gb/s, and extend reach of 25 Gb/s
Ethernet
PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization
dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, and the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA), today announced the
initiation of two new IEEE 802.3TM projects, as well as a
modification to the existing IEEE P802.3bsTM 400 Gb/s Ethernet
project. These projects, authorized by the IEEE-SA Standards Board in early
May, will address the growing industry demand for additional Ethernet rates for
use across a broad range of applications.
New #IEEE802.3 projects launched to meet industry demands
for higher #Ethernet speeds via @IEEESA
"The demand for Ethernet continues to expand rapidly
throughout the industry driving the need for market relevant standards to
support the adoption and growth of Ethernet," said David Law, chair, IEEE
802.3 Ethernet Working Group. "These latest IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working
Group projects will address the increasing needs for speeds targeted at
specific application areas, and help ensure best practices are implemented
through the principles of standardization."
These projects are aligned to the next set of
requirements from the data networking industry. The IEEE P802.3ccTM project
will complete the 25 Gb/s Ethernet family of physical layer specifications
(PHYs). The IEEE P802.3cdTM project will enable 50 Gb/s
Ethernet for next generation server speed and next generation campus cores as
well responding to the industry desire to lower costs for next generation 100
Gb/s Ethernet solutions. Both the IEEE P802.3cd and IEEE P802.3bs projects will
enable 200 Gb/s Ethernet which will provide a next generation network
aggregation speed.
The IEEE P802.3cc 25 Gb/s over Single-Mode Fiber Task
Force will develop new 10 km and 40 km PHYs over single-mode fiber
for 25 Gb/s Ethernet. The IEEE P802.3cd 50 Gb/s Ethernet, 100 Gb/s Ethernet and
200 Gb/s Ethernet Task Force will develop 50 Gb/s Ethernet as well as a set of
PHYs for 50 Gb/s Ethernet, 100 Gb/s Ethernet and 200 Gb/s Ethernet that
leverage common 50 Gb/s optical and electrical signaling technologies. Both
copper and multimode fiber PHYs will be developed for all three Ethernet rates
as well as single-mode fiber PHYs for 50 Gb/s Ethernet. The IEEE P802.3bs
400 Gb/s Ethernet project modification will expand the project to include 200
Gb/s Ethernet and 200 Gb/s single-mode fiber PHYs within its scope.
Technology specified by IEEE 802® standards
is already globally pervasive, driven by the ever-growing needs of data
networks around the world. New application areas are constantly being
considered that might leverage IEEE 802 standards in their networks using
wireless, twisted-pair cabling, and fiber-optic cabling. To better address the
needs of all of these areas, IEEE 802 standards are constantly evolving and
expanding. The success of IEEE 802 standards—from their inception through
today—has been based on their fair, open and transparent development process.
To learn more about IEEE-SA, visit us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, connect with us on LinkedIn or on the Standards Insight Blog.
About the
IEEE Standards Association
The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body
within IEEE, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages
industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set
specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological
knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 1,100 active standards and more
than 500 standards under development. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org.
About IEEE
IEEE is the largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing
technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications,
conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities,
IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace
systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric
power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org.
Contacts
Lloyd Green, +1 732-465-6664,
Director, Engagement Marketing & Creative Community Services
l.g.green@ieee.org
or
Jeff Pane, +1 732-465-6605,
Solutions Marketing Specialist
j.pane@ieee.org
SIGFOX and Atari® Announce Partnership to Develop
Atari-branded Connected Devices Using SIGFOX’s Global IoT Network
New Product Line of
Connected Devices to Target Mass Market and Charity Organizations
NEW YORK and LABÈGE,
France, – May 31, 2016 – Atari®,
one of the world's most recognized
publishers and producers of interactive entertainment, and SIGFOX, the world’s leading provider of dedicated
communications service for the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced a
global partnership to develop a line of new connected devices based on Atari’s
iconic brand.
The cooperation will bring
together Atari’s brand and creative power with SIGFOX’s unique value
proposition: connecting the physical world to the Internet through a simple,
reliable, low-cost, energy-efficient solution. Currently operating in 18
countries and registering over 7 million devices in its network, SIGFOX is on
its way to establishing one global, seamless network that provides ubiquitous
connectivity for billions of objects.
The collaboration will cover
a wide range of new Atari products, from the very simple to the highly
sophisticated, providing customers with an easy way to know at any time where
the devices are and what their status is. The initial product line will include
categories such as home, pets, lifestyle and safety. By connecting to
SIGFOX’s global network, the products will benefit from its competitive
advantages: a very long battery life and a simple solution that does not
require local Internet connectivity and pairing. As soon as the battery is
inserted in the object, it is immediately connected to the network.
“Atari, which has disruption
rooted in their DNA, was quick to envision the transformative role that the
Internet of Things can play in interactive entertainment,” said SIGFOX CEO
Ludovic Le Moan. “Our network bridges the virtual and physical worlds simply, reliably
and inexpensively and this collaboration will launch a new dimension to gaming,
while supporting features that are limited only by the imagination.”
“SIGFOX is transforming the
way people are connecting to their objects in a simple and intuitive way. By
partnering together and using SIGFOX’s dedicated IoT connectivity, we are going
to create amazing products with our brand,” said Fred Chesnais, Chief Executive
Officer, Atari. “We look forward to our collaboration with SIGFOX and
releasing new products to the mass market on a global scale.”
Development
of the new product line will begin this year and more details will be shared
soon.
To learn
more about SIGFOX, visit www.SIGFOX.com. For more details, “Like”
us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sigfox) and follow us on Twitter
@SIGFOX (https://twitter.com/SIGFOX).
To learn
more about Atari, visit www.Atari.com. For more details, “Like”
us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Atari and follow us on Twitter @Atari
(https://twitter.com/atari
About SIGFOX
SIGFOX is the world’s leading
provider of dedicated connectivity for the Internet of Things. The company’s
network complements existing high-bandwidth systems by providing simple,
economical, energy-efficient two-way transmission of small quantities of data
over long distances, thus lowering barriers to wide implementation of IoT
solutions, and greatly extending the battery and service life of connected
devices. Currently deployed or being rolled out in 18 countries and registering
over 7 million devices in its network, SIGFOX is today the only commercially
available IoT-dedicated connectivity solution that guarantees a high level of
service and reliability on an international scale. Corporate headquarters are
in France, and the company has offices in Boston, Dubai, Madrid, Munich, San
Francisco and Singapore. For more information, see www.SIGFOX.com and follow us on Twitter
@SIGFOX.
About Atari
Atari (www.atari.com) is an interactive entertainment production company.
As an iconic brand that transcends generations and audiences, the company is
globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment and
licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games
and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®,
Missile Command®, Pong®, Test Drive®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®.
Atari has offices in New York
and Paris.
RAD
Introduces Small Cell Aggregation Platform
MAHWAH,
New Jersey, June 1, 2016 – RAD, the award-winning vendor of Service Assured Access
(SAA) solutions for service providers, has expanded its LTE and LTE-Advanced
(LTE-A) backhaul portfolio by introducing a unique new platform for small
cell aggregation.
“4G
networks will rely heavily on small cell deployments to provide the required
capacity and coverage,” said Ulik Broida, Vice President of Marketing and
Business Development at RAD. “Small cells are already the market’s fastest
growing element in today’s networks and are expected to feature prominently in
5G deployments as well. Despite their importance, however, there has been no
efficient and economical way to properly aggregate large traffic volumes over
fixed lines until now.”
RAD’s
new ETX-2i-10G is a small cell aggregation platform that combines high port
density, including 10 Gbps uplinks, in a compact, environmentally hardened
enclosure, which saves valuable rack space for carriers. It has full IP and
Carrier Ethernet demarcation and performance monitoring capabilities, as well
as flexible IEEE 1588 and Sync-E timing synchronization functionalities.
“This
is a powerful combination,” said Broida. “As a result, the ETX-2i-10G enables
mobile service providers to unleash the full power of the LTE experience for
their customers while lowering their costs.”
RAD
is exhibiting the ETX-2i-10G at CommunicAsia 2016 this week in Singapore. RAD
is in Stand 1H2-01.
About RAD
RAD is a global telecom access solutions and
products vendor. Our Service Assured Access solutions
for mobile, business and wholesale service
providers are designed to improve the way they compete: service agility to
minimize time to revenue, complete visibility of network performance for
greater operational efficiency, and better QoE to reduce churn. We are at the
forefront of pioneering technologies, such as: virtual CPE (vCPE), MEF Carrier
Ethernet 2.0, Carrier Ethernet and IP performance monitoring, hardware
miniaturization, and synchronization over packet. Founded in 1981, RAD has an
installed base of more than 14 million units, and works closely with Tier 1
operators and service providers around the globe. RAD is a member of the $1.25
billion RAD Group of companies, a world leader in communications solutions. www.rad.com
Prevent,
Detect and Resolve Network Failures with IDEAL FiberMASTER™ Fiber Optic Cable
Testing Kit
Simple to use tester provides optical loss measurements meeting Tier 1
certification of multi-mode and single mode cable
SYCAMORE, IL, JUNE 1, 2016 -- The FiberMASTER MM/SM fiber
optic testing kit from IDEAL Networks (www.idealnetworks.net) allows network technicians to
measure absolute power and calculate the loss of fiber optic links on active
LAN cabling infrastructure.
By deploying the FiberMASTER, the technician will be able to
prevent, detect and resolve the leading causes of optical network downtime,
including poor splices, micro-bends, and contaminated connectors. In addition,
it will certify cable performance to ISO 11801 and TAI 568-C standards,
ensuring that the cable can support bandwidth demand and network applications.
The FiberMASTER measures power in milliwatts (mW) and
decibel-milliwatts (dBm) when troubleshooting network components. It also
measures fiber signal loss (dB) at 850, 1300, 1310, 1490 and 1550nm
wavelengths, letting the operator set a reference level to the light source and
directly read the loss of fiber optic links without needing to manually
calculate the values.
Unlike bulky testers, the FiberMASTER features a unique form
factor allowing the light source to be docked within the power meter, making it
compact for storage while still permitting full operation of both the source
and meter. The kit includes a universal adaptor for the power meter and
ST, SC and FC adaptors for the light source.
For more information, please visit www.idealnetworks.net.
News From
The FOA for May 2016 - The Latest Issue Of The FOA Newsletter Is Now
Online
Stories this month:
How Much Is A Broadband Subscriber Worth?
How Much Revenue Does FTTH Generate?
How Big Are CATV Companies/ISPs?
Where Does Google Fit In?
Cutting The Cost Of Transceivers By 90%
SmartGigabitCity Comes To The Bay Area - Special
Deal For FOA Readers
Lennie & Ted Guides Updated, Now At FOA
Older Fiber - How good Is It?
Product Reviews - Fiber Tools and Testers - And
a deal on an OTDR
Cleaning Expanded Beam Connectors
Fiber Optic Fashion
It must be
"special offer month" at FOA! We have three deals for our readers.
Special Offer For FOA Readers - SmartGigabitCity Comes To The Bay
Area - this is
the meeting we reported about in the March newsletter that impressed us so
much! Now they are having a similar meeting in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here
is an opportunity to learn about what cities are doing to plan for the gigabit
future plus contractors can meet many potential customers and learn about their
projects. Read the newsletter article for details and a link to get a
big discount on the registration fee.
Special Offer On An
OTDR (North America Only) - Yokogawa is offering a free
mainframe ($2520 value) when you buy a 7280 Series OTDR. Read the review in the newsletter and learn more about the
offer.
Special introductory offer - 25% off the new FOA Design book. Order from the FOA eStore, use the
discount code KKVXALV6
and get 25% off your order. Go here to order the books: FOA Guide To Fiber Optic Network Design. Offer good on the FOA eStore only
during the month of June 2016 when using the discount code KKVXALV6
We post lots of "Worth Reading" articles on Pinterest.
Do you follow FOA on social Media?
FOA's free online
learning site, Fiber U, has some new courses and now offers
certificates of completion for online study - great preparation for FOA
certification exams.
The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.,
1119 S Mission Road #355, Fallbrook, CA 92028
phone: 760-451-3655
FOA Website: www.foa.org
Quick Links...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOA Website: www.thefoa.org
FOA Online Newsletter
FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference
Guide
AFL Receives
Six New Patents for Products and Technologies
Spartanburg, SC – June 1, 2016 – AFL has been awarded six patents for
new products and technologies that are being used to enhance Optical Connectivity and Apparatus (OCA) products, fiber optic cable and sensing
products.
AFL was awarded a patent for a specialized Logging Cable designed to more
accurately measure Distributed Pressure and Temperature Sensing (DPTS). This
new invention provides a cable structure that allows for an optical fiber to
have increased exposure to environmental factors within a well, while
protecting the fiber from external mechanical forces, such as crushing and
abrasion.
AFL’s OCA business unit received four patents. The first patent is for a Fiber
Splice Enclosure which includes a chassis, cover and a cable port mounting
plate that allows for the entry and exit of cables. Another patent was received
for the method and apparatus for a universal XDSL demarcation interface with
multi-functional capability and single performance enhancement. Additionally, a
patent was received for an Exterior Distribution Pedestal Cabinet, a convenient
modular approach allowing efficient fiber management. Lastly, AFL was the
recipient of a patent for an Optical Fiber Distribution Cabinet that includes
an optical splitter module and a connector holder support frame that allows for
maintaining a multiplicity of output connectors.
AFL’s Research & Development Center received a patent for an
innovation to Fujikura’s Optical Fiber Vibration Sensor technology.
Historically used for perimeter security applications, the original technology
uses a sensing loop involving multiple wavelengths of light injected into
opposite ends of a fiber optic sensing cable length. That approach is difficult
for applications where only one end of the sensing loop is accessible, as in
downhole oil wells, because the photonic devices used to enable the sensing
loop are too large to be placed at the far end of the sensing cable
length. The patented innovation uses several different approaches to solve
this problem.
For additional information about AFL, its products and services, visit www.AFLglobal.com.
About AFL
AFL provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility,
broadband, communications, enterprise and OEM markets as well as the emerging
markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics, renewables and
transportation. The company’s diverse product portfolio includes fiber optic
cable, transmission and substation accessories, outside plant equipment,
connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and training. AFL’s service
portfolio includes market-leading positions with the foremost communications
companies supporting OEM, outside plant, enterprise and wireless areas.
Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional
products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical
and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada,
Europe, Asia and Australia. The company is headquartered in Spartanburg, SC and
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. For more information,
visit www.AFLglobal.com.
FTTH Council
Approves Certification for FTTx OSP Design Course
Light Brigade is pleased to
announce that its FTTx OSP Design course has been approved by the FTTH
Council for a new certification program. The new FTTx Outside Plant Design
certification program will be launched this June at the FTTH Council’s FTTH
Connect conference in Nashville, Tennessee. This certification program is the
only curriculum and examination program specifically designed to certify
professional competence in FTTx OSP design.
The Council will serve as the sponsor and operator of the certification and
testing platforms, while Light Brigade will provide relevant instructional
materials to support the program. Using Light Brigade’s 30 years of fiber optic
training expertise, the course content will be structured to allow easy
absorption and application of the FTTH technology options available to today’s
system designers.
“The need for qualified FTTx OSP professionals is significantly
increasing due to the expansion and growth of new FTTH networks and last mile
broadband deployments worldwide,” said Lee Kellett, General Manager of The
Light Brigade.
“Our mission is to do everything we can to boost fiber in the Americas, and
that includes preparing and training people to be part of the all-fiber
revolution,” said Heather Burnett Gold, president and CEO of the FTTH Council
Americas.
The three-day FTTx OSP Design course is intended to provide outside
plant and network engineers with in-depth knowledge and skills to design
effective fiber to the home (FTTH) and fiber to the building (FTTB) networks
for urban and rural applications. The course covers everything from network
design to field planning to active technologies and covers all types of urban
and rural applications. On the final day of class, attendees participate in
hands-on network design practice sessions to learn how critical issues such as
customer take rate and density apply to outside plant design for distributed
split, centralized split, home run and point-to-point systems.
“The FTTx OSP Design course and program is designed to support the
development of outside plant designers and planners with a high level of
proficiency,” said Larry Johnson, Director and Founder of The Light Brigade
About Light Brigade
Founded in 1987, Light Brigade has trained over 50,000 people worldwide in its
instructor-led public and custom classes on fiber optic design, maintenance,
and testing. Other Light Brigade FTTx courses include Certified Fiber to the
Home Professional, which is available in classroom or online formats, and FTTx
for Installers and Technicians. The company also produces online and
DVD training courses that provide focus on specific fiber related topics.
For more information, visit www.lightbrigade.com.
About the FTTH Council
The Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Council is a non-profit association consisting of
companies and organizations that deliver video, Internet and/or voice services
over high-bandwidth, next generation, direct fiber optic connections – as well
as those involved in planning and building FTTH networks. The Council works to
create a cohesive group to share knowledge and build industry consensus on key
issues surrounding fiber to the home. Its mission is to educate the public and
government officials about FTTH solutions and to promote and accelerate
deployment of fiber to the home and the resulting quality of life enhancements
such networks make possible. More information can be found at www.ftthcouncil.org.
REMEMBER TO RECYCLE, REDUCE AND REUSE
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