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"Heard On The Street" Column |
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2010 BICSI FALL CONFERENCE
CLOSES WITH EMPOWERING PRESENTATIONS A
strong grip on hand-held tools Introducing QuickTreX™
Professional Technician Tool Kits 2010 FTTH
Conference & Expo Concludes with ShoreTel to Present at Deutsche Bank 2010 Technology Conference Dow Wire & Cable
Announces Price Increase on Specific Products for The Americas FOA Using New Technology
To Enhance Education CHICAGO’s QUIET TOURISM PROBLEM: LAND SHARKS Leviton Appoints Carrella Director of Technology for Distribution Marketing and Sales Draka
BendBright-Elite Fiber Completes Independent Lab Testing OOPS Again! Will we learn
from disaster? FCC Commissioner McDowell to Speak at ACUTA
Fall Seminar Software Designed
Especially For Transmission & Distribution Contractors Mike Holt's Code Forum - August
2010 = Top 30 New Topics NAED Selects ecoInsight to
Deliver Energy Audit Software Solution Siemon
Announces New Industrial Ethernet Patch Cords NECA Labor Relations Convention Program Update BICSI APPOINTS IT MANAGER IN
TAMPA HEADQUARTERS OFFICE BICSI BRINGS WEINTRAUB ON STAFF
AS DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT CALL FOR 2011 BICSI CABLING
SKILLS CHALLENGE APPLICANTS All-Fiber Networks
Now Pass 20 Million North American Homes Continuous Growth of FTTH Networks in First Half of 2010 Fiber-to-the-Home Council Selects New President to Lead FTTH Industry to New Level of Growth Millepede technology rules the waves QuickTreX introduces
precise Wire and Kevlar scissors – “the wire surgeon) ACCUTECH supports BICSI
and their BLOG brings you the coverage Bisbee’s Buzz SIMPLE
MESSAGES for all of us. The
face of our industry is changing. Licensing, certification, and more continued
education are the new rules of the road. We all end up paying for unlicensed
companies. Cabling contractors are no exception. If you find an unlicensed
contractor in your area, drop a complaint on them. Most states will accept your
complaint as anonymously filed. Reinforce
your safety message to all your coworkers that driving and texting is forbidden.
That goes for alcohol and drugs too. Reward
loyalty and good work habits with bonuses in any manner possible. This
economic cloud won’t last forever. Remember the media can be an affordable source
of training and self improvement. Don’t wait for someone to spoon feed it to you. Quality
workmanship, nice appearance, good attitude are as valuable as any big
expensive advertising program. Make yourself into a more valuable employee, and
see what happens. But
that’s just my opinion, ********************************* BICSI OPENS FALL CONFERENCE President announces new conference continuing education credit policy Tampa,
Fla., Sept. 15, 2010—BICSI, the association supporting the information
technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge
assessment, opened the 2010 Fall Conference & Exhibition with more than
3,000 ITS professionals in attendance. During the Opening General Session,
Brian Hansen, RCDD, NTS, CSI, BICSI President, made a special announcement from
the Board of Directors concerning conference continuing education credits
(CECs). Under the new plan, the specialists will receive a proportionate rate
of CECs for their conference attendance—just as the Registered Communications
Distribution Designers (RCDDs) and Registered Information Technology
Professionals (RITPs) currently gain conference CECs. “We
understand our members have concerns, especially about gaining CECs for their
specialty credentials,” said Hansen. “When we separated the specialties and
made them standalone credentials from the RCDD, we began requiring design
skills in each of the design specialty credentials. Because of this, they now
qualify for design-related CECs. Moving forward, we will assign a proportionate
number of CECs for specialties based upon a balance of design and
credential-specific knowledge.” Following
Hansen’s announcement, Opening Keynote Speaker, Bill Fournet, stimulated the
crowd with his Perfect Storm presentation. He explained the three major
elements affecting businesses today were “global collaboration, changing of the
guard and accelerated uncertainty.” He spoke about overcoming these elements
and achieving business success in this environment of stormy transformations.
Internationally known with his weekly business column in
ALRROYA, the Dubai-based Arab World financial newspaper, James Carlini, MBA,
certified Infrastructure Consultant, President of Carlini & Associates,
since 1986, provides executive advising on technology procurement, intelligent
infrastructure, international marketing and mission critical networks as well as
due diligence for corporate capitalizations and venture funding. He also performs expert witness services in
both civil and federal courts. An award-winning adjunct faculty member at Northwestern
University’s Executive Masters and undergraduate program for two decades, he is
now developing and teaching graduate courses in infrastructure and regional
economic development at IIT based on white paper he wrote for the US Dept. of
Homeland Security on “Intelligent
Infrastructure: Securing Regional Sustainability” BICSI just
keeps getting better Additionally,
BICSI is pleased to announce 21 individuals have successfully passed
credentialing exams while attending the conference—adding four RCDDs, two NTS
Specialists, eight OSP Specialists and seven ESS Specialists to the ranks of
BICSI credential holders. The
Exhibit Hall was open from Sunday through Tuesday evenings and offered 112
exhibitor booths for attendees to explore. “I’ve
made really good contacts at my booth. They have been high-quality clients,”
said exhibitor Crystal Olsen, RCDD, of R.F. Mayo Associates. “I exhibit at
BICSI conferences two times a year, and also at regional meetings.” ********************************* 2010 BICSI FALL CONFERENCE CLOSES WITH EMPOWERING PRESENTATIONS Tampa,
Fla., Sept. 16, 2010—BICSI, the association supporting the information
technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge
assessment, concluded another successful Fall Conference & Exhibition. With
more than 3,600 individuals in attendance throughout the week, the conference
featured more than 30 educational sessions, including the two closing general
session presentations; “Grounding and Bonding Testing,” by Mike Lewis, from
Megger and “Optical Connectivity Enables the Green Data Center,” by Doug
Coleman of Corning Cable Systems. The
Closing Keynote presentation, by Afterburner Incorporated, focused on a process
they refer to as Flawless ExecutionSM. “Keep sight on the
objective,” said presenter Mike Kenny. “If you lose sight, you lose the fight.”
Through the Flawless Execution model, attendees were encourages to plan, brief,
execute and debrief. “It’s
my first conference and I’m enjoying it. There are a lot of knowledgeable
professionals here who have been willing to share their ITS knowledge and
experiences freely with me,” said Patrick Parten, BICSI ITS Installer 2, of the
U.S. Marine Corps. “The ITS industry is a big world, but a small community.
That community is here!” Throughout
the conference, BICSI Cares, BICSI’s charitable arm that supports children’s
charities, collected donations from attendees. All funds collected were
presented to The Melonhead Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports
the needs of children with cancer and their families. BICSI
President Brian Hansen, RCDD, NTS, CSI closed the conference thanking everyone
for attending and announcing the dates for upcoming conferences in 2010 and
2011, including the BICSI 2010 South Africa Conference in Johannesburg on
October 12-14, BICSI Caribbean District Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on
November 4, and the 2010 BICSI India Conference in Banglore, India, on December
7 and Mumbai, India, on December 9. The next North American BICSI conference
will take place on January 16-20, 2011, in ### BICSI
is a professional association supporting the information technology systems
(ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety &
security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design,
integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based
distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports
the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among
communications and information gathering devices. BICSI
provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and
companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ITS professionals,
including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the
fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and
automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature. ********************************* A strong grip on hand-held tools Hand tools and hand-held
testers for low-voltage use continue to evolve in order to provide increased
performance. By
Dan Carazo Fortunately
for the makers of network tools and instruments, there’s been a definite
increase in demand for their products from 2009 to 2010. “There has been an
across-the-board increase in demand after purchasing was delayed in 2009 in all
tool markets. Tools are being purchased now in order for work to move forward,”
said Matt Willard, product market manager, application tooling, for Thomas
& Betts. He noted that this increase has been driven by user demand, as
opposed to distributors replenishing stock. “There’s more demand for lighter
cordless, battery-powered tools, especially for crimping and cutting cables,“ he
added. “A steady trend moving from manual tools to power tools is undeniable.
Customers need repeatable, consistent results and are demanding greater
reliability, lighter weight, more compact size, and better safety and ergonomic
performance.” Martha
Kness, vice president of marketing for Greenlee, a Textron company, said that
the company has also seen steady growth in its hand tools, including those
designed for the VDV market. “As the residential housing market starts to
rebound, we are seeing an increase in the sales of all hand tools, as well as
hole-making products such as auger bits and hole saws,” said Kness. Despite
the soft economy, the video surveillance market has witnessed continued demand
driving growth for CCTV/security system testers. “These hand-held devices allow
the installer to test, aim, focus, and program cameras when working alone,”
said Dan Payerle, business unit manager, datacom test, for IDEAL Industries.
“Testers eliminate the need for a second person to be stationed in the control
room to verify functionality of each camera that is installed.” John
Olobri, director of sales and marketing for AEMC, expects the PC
are growing fastest among instrument types,” he said, adding that the most
popular tester tools provide data storage and retrieval via wireless means.
“These hand-held testers save time and eliminate errors resulting from
illegible handwriting and transposition of numbers,” he noted. Tony
Casazza, president of startup company QuickTreX www.quicktrex.com. ,
a manufacturer of cabling, connectivity, and network components, expects tester
capabilities to increase significantly while product price points decline.
Casazza predicts the lines between certification, qualification, and
verification testers will blur. “Less
costly testers will offer more advanced features,” he said. “Up until now, a handful of companies
offered certification testers starting around $5,000. Many offer qualification
testers that do not certify a cable to a certain EIA/TIA standard. However,
soon verification testers will provide advanced features like ‘distance to
fault,’ presence of cross-talk interference, and split pair detection for under
$200. “We
see continued popularity for relatively inexpensive four-pair (Cat 5 and Cat 6)
verification-type testers that have multiple remotes and calculate length and
distance to fault, as well as tone and trace units that are ideal for alarm and
security,” he continued. Tool
manufacturers are beginning to offer crimpers specifically designed to work
with the new snagless-style plugs, which are designed with features that significantly
reduce the possibility of the retainer tab breaking. “Snagless plugs cost a
nominal amount more than standard plugs, but they easily pay for themselves
with fewer callbacks to replace broken plugs while raising the performance
standards of field-terminated cables,” Kness noted. A
worthwhile investment Jim
Crunk, broadband communications product group director for Thomas & Betts,
noted that in many cases the installers for numerous VDV applications tend to
hold on to their tools past their life expectancy. “The blades wear out on prep
tools and the calibration of other tools needs to be checked after years of
use,” he said. “Tools are the craftsmen’s lifelines. Why put your career at
stake for a $50 tool? Investing in new tools is a career investment.” Payerle
pointed out the importance of using the proper tools for cutting, stripping,
and crimping the connector. “A majority of VDV malfunction problems are
directly linked to poor termination. Electricians who are moving into VDV need
to carefully select the tools they buy to ensure they are designed for specific
cable types.” Carazo provides B2B
marketing services for electrical industry organizations. He can be reached at dcaraz@optonline.net. Reprinted
with permission from National Association of Electrical Distributors NAED www.naed.org and The Electrical Distributor -
TED magazine www.tedmag.com - August 2010 issue. ********************************* Introducing QuickTreX™ Professional Technician Tool Kits Special
Introductory Pricing Clark,
NJ –- QuickTreX™, a manufacturer of high
quality datacom products, introduces its Helios and Kronos tool kits, designed
for electrical technicians, cable installers, systems installers for security,
building automation, etc. Unlike other kits on the market, QuickTreX kits
contain the appropriate tools needed for these professional service
technicians. Both tool kits are equally durable and the contents are the same.
The difference is in the styling - the Helios has an attaché case design and
the Kronos has a rugged look. SPECIAL
INTRODUCTORY OFFER To
introduce the quality of QuickTreX products, the following introductory
specials are available through September 10, 2010. Use the Coupon Codes to get
the special pricing. Helios
or Kronos Tool Kits Reg.
$835.00 Intro Special $560.00
Coupon Code: QTINTRO1 Each kit contains the following (Click Here for Detailed Description of the each of
the contents in the Kit) LANTEST-PRO 8 Cable Tester with 8
Remotes QuickTreX™
Professional "Wire Surgeon®" Impact Termination Tool QuickTreX™
Professional "Five In One" Modular Crimping Tool QuickTreX™
Wire Surgeon® Wire and Kevlar Scissors QuickTreX™
E-Z UTP Cable Stripper Fenix
E20 LED Flashlight FlashLight
PAL™ 27-pc.
Pro Screwdriver Set 58-pc.
Ratchet Driver and Bit Set Kobalt
9" Linesman Pliers Kobalt
8" Long Nose Pliers Kobalt
7" Diagonal Pliers 20-oz.
Jacketed Fiberglass Claw Hammer 8"
Adjustable Wrench 8"
and 10" Groove Joint Pliers (Qty 1 Each) Precision
Diagonal Cut Pliers 4"
Scratch Awl Telescoping
Inspection Mirror 6"
Wallboard Saw Folding
Utility Knife QuickTreX™
Level QuickTreX™
Tape Measure 3M™
Lexa™ Fighter Protective Eyewear Clear AF Lens VisorMag™
- VM-14 9
Pocket Handy Pouch 2
Plastic Parts Jars Latex
Dipped Work Gloves QuickTreX
Adjustable Hat (OSFA) Case For
more information, call QuickTreX at 800-642-8320, or
visit the website at www.quicktrex.com. #
# # About
QuickTrex QuickTreX™
is a manufacturer of high quality datacom products - such as copper cabling
hardware, fiber optic cable assemblies, tools and testers - catering to the low
voltage cabling industry for use in premise networks, security, and electrical
applications. QuickTreX was founded to fill a need for products that are in
tune with the technicians who use them. The QuickTrex
R&D team is continually researching,
staying ahead of developing trends in the market place, in order to offer
quality innovative products. To obtain additional information, call 800-642-8320, or visit the website at www.quicktrex.com. ********************************* Megladon® Announces Node Tails with HLC® SCRATCHGUARD™ Terminations Are Sold Exclusively Through Draka Communications With
the growing video on demand and streaming video content on the web, a need
arises for high quality fiber optic products capable of withstanding this
trend. Industry leaders and providers are having to transition into a more
competent network infrastructure to conform to the now industry standard of
high performance fiber optic networks. Megladon’s
SM APC HLC SCRATCHGUARD fiber optic terminations are ideally equipped for
network installers that are utilizing high speed video networks. The HLC
technology provides mating surface durability and low loss; paired with an
Angle Polish Connector we now have a product that significantly reduces
reflection, cutting down on interruptions in any given network. “Since partnering with Megladon to offer scratch-resistant HLC
technology in our CATV node cables last year, Draka has secured several key
CATV accounts including several top MSO’s. The technological superiority
of this optical endface coupled with BendBright-XS bend insensitive fiber has
generated significant inquiries about Draka’s advanced node cable assemblies
for today's rigorous communications environments”, said Greg Williams,
Marketing Director, Draka Public Networks. “We
are excited about our relationship with Draka Communications. They have used
existing customer relationships to promote the HLC technology and secured
corporate approval of the node tail product with major MSOs. In response to
their focused effort, Megladon has agreed to exclusively terminate HLC node
tails for Draka to market,” said John Culbert, President of Megladon. For more information, please contact Draka’s National Sales
Manager - CATV, Jack Graves at jack.graves@ draka.com or download a node cable
spec sheet at www.drakaamericas.com/catv_connectorized_cable.cfm. Megladon®
Manufacturing Group Ltd., a subsidiary of TyRex Group Ltd.®, is recognized as a
leader in the fiber optic marketplace. Founded in 1997, Megladon made it their
mission to provide customers with fiber optic products that far exceed industry
standards. As technology innovators, Megladon created the HLC® (Hardened Lens
Contact) termination, which has changed the market and taken it to the next
level. For additional information on Megladon and their patented processes
please visit the company’s website at www.megladonmfg.com. For
additional information regarding Megladon’s variety of fiber optic products
please contact John Culbert at 512.615.4687 or by email at scratchguard@megladonmfg.com. Megladon
announces design upgrades to Node tails sold through Draka Brass
entry connector is more durable than anodized aluminum Hytrel
furcation tubing adds reliability during temperature cycling “We
have continued to improve our CATV node tail offering”, stated John Culbert,
President of Megladon. “We began with the integration of Draka’s BendBright XS
glass and Megladon’s HLC terminations. Now with the addition of a new entry
connector and hytrel furcation tubing, this is a product that can withstand
extreme conditions. The MSOs are deploying this product with a new level of
confidence.” t 512-491-0006
f 512-583-0848 tf 800-232-4810 ********************************* 2010 FTTH Conference & Expo Concludes with Attendance Upswing, Industry Awards (Las Vegas, NV) The 2010 Fiber to the Home Convention & Expo concluded this week with a special session focusing on marketing FTTH services, examining regulatory activities related to broadband, and recognizing the achievements of FTTH industry pacesetters. About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council ********************************* Megladon Announces New Product Release of Angle Polished LC HLC® ScratchGuard® Fiber Optic Terminations With
the growing video on demand and streaming video content on the web, a need
arises for high quality fiber optic products capable of withstanding this
trend. Industry leaders and providers are having to transition into a more
competent network infrastructure to conform to the now industry standard of
high performance fiber optic networks. The
SCRATCHGUARD™ Fiber Optic terminations (by Megladon Manufacturing Group) are a
critical step forward in quality. The fiber optic connector is a crucial
component and the “gateway to the fiber optic cabling network”. Damage to the
connector due to repeated use has been the biggest problem for network
managers, until now. The patented SCRATCHGUARD Fiber Optic terminations have
virtually eliminated the problem. Megladon’s
SM LCAPC HLC SCRATCHGUARD fiber optic terminations are ideally equipped for
network installers that are utilizing high speed video networks. The HLC
technology provides mating surface durability and low loss; paired with an
Angle Polish Connector we now have a product that significantly reduces
reflection, cutting down on interruptions in any given network. “As
with the SCAPC connector, we now offer an LCAPC version that has scratch
resistance, lower insertion loss than the industry standard, minimum reflection
performance of -75dB and a tight geometry tolerance that the industry cannot believe
is possible. Our customers now receive terminations that are virtually
identical in every aspect. This promotes
network reliability” said John Culbert, President of Megladon. Standard
products incorporating the LCAPC HLC terminations include SM patch cords, trunk
cables, splitter products and CWDM modules. They are also applied to Megladon’s
bend insensitive glass products. Megladon®
Manufacturing Group Ltd., a subsidiary of TyRex Group Ltd.®, is recognized as a
leader in the fiber optic marketplace. Founded in 1997, Megladon made it their
mission to provide customers with fiber optic products that far exceed industry
standards. As technology innovators, Megladon created the HLC® (Hardened Lens
Contact) termination, which has changed the market and taken it to the next
level. For additional information on Megladon and their patented processes
please visit the company’s website at www.megladonmfg.com. For
additional information regarding Megladon’s variety of fiber optic products
please contact John Culbert at 512.615.4687 or by email at scratchguard@megladonmfg.com. t 512-491-0006
f 512-583-0848 tf 800-232-4810 ********************************* NECA News Pennsylvania
Partnership Awarded $Millions To Develop Energy Innovations 09/05/2010 FASB
Proposes Changing Disclosure Rules For Multiemployer Plans 09/03/2010 The
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has released a proposed Update in
accounting standards that will increase disclosure requirements for entities
participating in multiemployer plans. This is the proposal that we have been
reporting on in our weekly Legislative Updates and the one about which many of
our members around the country have expressed considerable concern. Here's what
NECA's doing about it. NECA
Releases New Wiring Device Installation Standard 09/02/2010 NECA
130-2010, Standard for Installing and Maintaining Wiring Devices
describing installation and maintenance procedures for low-voltage wiring
devices now available from NECA. 08/23/2010 NECA's
Electrical Construction
Political Action Committee is well on the way to meetings its
ambitious goal of contributing $1 million to candidates for the 2010
Congressional elections. ECPAC distributed over $250,000 in a single month. NECA And
Partners Reach Out To Native Americans 08/22/2010 NECA
is working with the IBEW and other partners to reach out to the Native American
Indian population — as a source of new workers AND as a market for electrical
contracting services. Outstanding
Leaders to Be Honored During NECA's 2010 National Convention 08/18/2010 This
article contains links to information about the winners of the national awards
that will be presented at NECA's 2010 National Convention, as well as a list of
new inductees into the LA Chapter
Manager Willson Recognized for Distinguished Service 08/18/2010 James
Willson, manager of NECA’s Los Angeles County Chapter, has faithfully and
diligently advanced the electrical construction industry within his local area
and across the state of Hughes
Honored for Decades of Refining the National Electrical Code 08/18/2010 The
2010 winner of NECA’s Coggeshall Award, Howard D. Hughes, has contributed in
numerous areas during his long affiliation with our association but is most
revered for his 22-year involvement in Code development. NECA’s Labor
Relations Award Goes to John Negro 08/18/2010 Throughout
his long and distinguished career, John Negro has been active at all levels of
NECA — local, regional and national — and has captured several awards for his
contributions to harmonious labor relations. His winning of the 2010 Comstock
Award recognizes triumphs achieved for NECA’s Iowa Chapter and other services. Borden Earns
NECA’s 2010 James H. McGraw Award 08/18/2010 Jonathan
“Russ” Borden is recognized for his role in the development of the Florida
Initiative and the CW/CE worker classifications and other efforts that
facilitated jobs creation. His latest voluntary venture promises additional
ongoing benefits for NECA and the industry it serves. Mazzeo Earns
2010 Wendt Award for Service to Foundation 08/17/2010 Michael
Mazzeo is honored for his leadership as chairman of the ELECTRI Council and for
launching a successful program to fund more industry research projects, expand
ongoing research, and develop and implement programs based on completed
research. Finalists Announced
in 2010 Green Energy Challenge Student Competition 08/16/2010 Student
teams from the Best ELECTRI
Studies Compiled In "Strategic Issues in Construction" Book Series 08/07/2010 J.
Ross Publishing is working in cooperation with ELECTRI International to publish
a series of practical guides for building and electrical contractors based on
some of the best studies commissioned by our research affiliate. Dr. Eddy M.
Rojas, professor of Construction Management at the 08/06/2010 Only one week left
to lock in early registration rates for the electrical
construction industry's favorite event, NECA's 2010 annual convention
and trade show. Project
Management Process Manual New From ELECTRI International 08/06/2010 A
new research report published by ELECTRI International provides is a step-by-
step manual that an electrical construction firm can use to implement a formal
project management process. ********************************* FIBER IS HOT at OCC Net sales during the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 were the
highest in OCC's history -- exceeding the quarterly net sales that OCC achieved
in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008. Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010
increased 32.2% to $18.8 million compared to
consolidated net sales of $14.2 million for the
comparable period last year. Net sales growth during the third quarter
was achieved over a broad customer base and product mix, with notable increases
in both commercial and specialty markets, despite the difficult economic
environment. The acquisition of Applied Optical Systems, Inc.
("AOS") by OCC on October 31, 2009 also
contributed to the net sales growth achieved by the Company for the third
quarter of fiscal year 2010. Net sales of OCC's fiber optic cable and enterprise connectivity
products increased 14.9% and 28.7%, respectively, during the third quarter of
fiscal 2010, compared to the same period last year. Net sales of OCC's
applied interconnect system products (added to OCC's product offering following
the Company's acquisition of AOS) improved during the third quarter of fiscal
2010 compared to the first and second quarters of fiscal 2010. Geographically, OCC achieved consolidated net sales growth both in
international markets and within the Gross profit increased 51.8% to $6.8 million
in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, compared to $4.5
million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Gross profit margin,
or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, increased to 36.2% in the third
quarter of fiscal 2010 from 31.6% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009.
OCC recorded net income attributable to the Company of $575,000, or $0.09 per basic
and diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010, compared to a net
loss of $1.1 million, or $0.19
per basic and diluted share, for the same period last year. ********************************* ShoreTel to Present at Deutsche Bank 2010 Technology Conference SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 9, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ShoreTel(R),
Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOR - News), the leading provider of
brilliantly simple IP phone systems with fully integrated Unified
Communications, today
announced its participation in the Deutsche Bank 2010 Technology Conference.
The Company will present on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 4:05 p.m. PDT at the
Westin Hotel in The presentation will be available live and, subsequently, on
demand via the Internet at http://ir.shoretel.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=209131&p=irol-presentations.
Investors should visit the site at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of
the scheduled presentation to register, download and install any necessary
multimedia streaming software. The presentation will be archived and available
for at least 30 days after the event. About ShoreTel, Inc. ********************************* Dow Wire & Cable Announces Price Increase on Specific Products for The Americas Houston,
TX – August, 23, 2010 – Dow Wire & Cable will increase prices on select
product grades in the North America and Low
Density Polyethylene (LDPE) based specialty compounds, including flame
retardant and low smoke - zero halogen products, will increase by 19 cents per pound. LDPE
Jacketing and elastomeric insulation grades will increase by 12 cents per pound. Selected
general purpose grades will increase by
7 cents per pound. ********************************* FOA Using New Technology To Enhance Education The
Fiber Optic Association, Inc. (http://www.thefoa.org/)
is using new media options to enhance the educational experience of those
involved in fiber optics and cabling. Over
the last few months, the FOA has established an official FOA Facebook group for
fiber optic news, a LinkedIn group for FOA CFOTs to list job and contracting opportunities,
and has now created a channel on YouTube with two dozen training videos on
fiber optics and communications cabling. The FOA has also started offering
its new textbooks in electronic formats or as they are often called, eBooks. The FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics
is now available on the Amazon Kindle and as an Apple iBook for the
iPad/iPhone. Soon the other two FOA textbooks on premises cabling and outside
plant fiber optics will be available as eBooks. Along with the highly popular FOA Online
Reference Guide to Fiber Optics website (http://www.foaguide.org),
these new options make it easier for fiber optic and cabling technicians and
students to have a reliable source of technical information and assistance from
their peers through personal computers, tablet computers, smart phones or any
other type of connected device. And most of the information is free. Only the
eBooks are not free but they sell for only $10-13, well under the price of
printed books. Links to all these new media options
are on the FOA home page: http://www.thefoa.org/ About
the FOA For
more information on the FOA, see the organization's website
http://www.thefoa.org/, email info@thefoa.org or call 1-760-451-3655. ********************************* CHICAGO’s QUIET TOURISM PROBLEM: LAND SHARKS The
Magnificent Mile sometimes called the Mag Mile is You
can go up to the 95th floor at the John Hancock Center to get a
panoramic view of the city and From
buying expensive baubles at Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus to buying a
Bentley convertible that rivals Paris Hilton’s at Bentley Gold Coast, you
cannot find a better selection and diversity of top shops in the Midwest for
satisfying expensive tastes. That
may be the politically correct, positive promotional pitch for MAG
MILE MAY NOW MEAN WHAT YOU CARRY There
is an increase in problems at night with small gangs roaming around looking for
the right prey. Don’t
bother looking for any cops, they are far and few between. Little perfume-size pepper spray canisters
may be in vogue, politically correct and fit in a purse, but they are not
practical. Forget about pepper spray,
you’d need a gallon jug of it to stop five or six assailants. Do
you now need a .357 Magnum to walk down the Mag Mile? Maybe a compact .45 or a high-capacity 9MM
“just to be on the safe side” is more what you should have. Even the police are telling each other that
they better “carry large caliber” off-duty and not be caught unarmed. Incidences
of “wilding” have increased and people have talked about it on the
controversial unofficial blog of the Chicago Police Department, (see More
Wildings) www.secondcitycop.blogspot.com
. Last
week Friday, I actually witnessed this when I came down to the John Hancock
Center to watch the Blue Angels practice in the late afternoon for the
weekend’s Air Show and then to a dinner cruise on one of the big boats at Navy
Pier. Coming
back to the John Hancock to pick up my car at around 9PM, I noticed several
little bands of four to five juveniles walking around sizing up people as they
walked down the streets. Luckily we were
already in our car, but I could sense that these “gangsta wannabes” were up to
no good. There
were some arrests made that night but very suspicious that there was no mention
in the mainstream media. There have been
incidences like this before but never a mention or a caution. Why?
Afraid to report on the truth or were you told not to report on the
truth? In either case…….. WHERE
IS THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA? Well,
the shark-infested area in One
of my readers, who reads drafts of my columns had this to say: Succinctly spoken , The city is no longer safe anymore. I think Richard (Mayor Daley) should go out
in the evening without his hit squad protecting him with the firearms he
professes to hate so much. That
would be six more highly-paid police officers who could patrol the downtown
streets that you and I walk down – unarmed. With
its highest big-city sales tax and $30- $50 parking out-of-sight, Want me to come down again and spend money? Forget the Asian carp and clean up the
streets of land sharks. CARLINI-ISM
: In order to be world-class, elegant venues
with ambience cannot be diminished or blemished by crime. Follow
daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI Copyright
2010 – James Carlini Check
out www.carliniscomments.com
JAMES CARLINI’s BLOG Last
week, I attended the Executive Club of Chicago’s Executive Breakfast series
because I wanted to hear what the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Admiral Mike Mullen, had to say. He
was invited to address a large group of As
we started to have breakfast, the 3x5 cards that were placed on the tables for
the Question & Answer period were being picked up by the Executive Club’s
staff. This was a little odd because it
is common practice at these get-togethers to ask attendees to fill out the card
if they have any questions and turn it in as the guest is making their
presentation. The
cards are collected and then the presenter, who is usually a CEO, answers the
questions. CEOs
AND PROFESSORS TAKE NOTE Many
times CEOs, in order to avoid hard questions, will have an aide go through the
question cards and only select those that the CEO is comfortable with. To me, this really dilutes their credibility
as well as raises doubts on their true leadership capability. A
person sitting next to me said, “Wow, he doesn’t even want to get tripped up by
any question from the audience, so he will not be taking any questions off the
floor.” I have to admit, that was my
first reaction as well. Instead,
Admiral Mullen announced he would take any question from the floor,
DIRECTLY. Now that is leadership. That is being confident about what you
know. Something many CEOs, other
corporate executives, and politicians could take a lesson from. To
take questions directly off the floor with no aide filtering out the hard ones
and only handing the softball questions to the speaker is rare. It was refreshing to see that type of
leadership still exists. One
of my former students, who also holds several masters degrees including an MBA
from the I
think this is a great observation. We
live in a world where people in leadership positions continually want to throw
up barriers between themselves and the hard realities of their constituent
environments. Encounters
between leaders and the groups they report to (customers, shareholders,
employees and the like) need to be less scripted. Whatever happened to those skills? Most shareholder meetings today are little
more than elaborate cheerleading sessions.
Perhaps,
if we had more frank exchanges between our leaders and those they serve, we
could avoid many of the “spin” moments that we see on the news that lead to the
skepticism and cynicism that many now have about such events and the leaders
who are at the center of them. Business
schools that want to graduate the best for future executive positions should
take note. Public speaking and the
ability to write well are two key executive skills that many business schools
don’t seem to stress. You can tell by
their graduates. At
Northwestern and IIT, I emphasized these two skills in all my courses and
believe presenting and writing skills are key leadership attributes. I was lucky to have a diverse exposure to
both higher education and military service at the same time and believe that
teaching from that perspective is a good one. TRANSITIONING
INTO INDUSTRY The
Chairman’s speech focused on the transition of military personnel coming home
from Having a military background is always an asset for
someone if you are looking to hire someone.
Their perspective is a lot different than a person who has only gone
through a four-year degree program.
Their exposure to training and leadership as well as exposure to a
different culture (if they served overseas) gives them more maturity at an
early age. The Chairman covered some other related issues, but
I think the single action to spotlight was his ability and willingness to take
questions directly from the floor. I
would like to see more CEOs and politicians with that much candor and ability,
especially in this economy. Follow
daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI ********************************* Leviton Appoints Carrella Director of Technology for Distribution Marketing and Sales Position
focuses on use of technology to support customer needs
********************************* Demarc Extension Nationwide provides support services for Telecom Agents at Channel Partners Conference & Expo In
addition to offering nationwide and international demarc extension services,
the company also is committed to the education of the demarc extension. Free
resources offered by Demarc Extension Nationwide include a white paper, video
series, diagrams and terminology. “I
was quite impressed by the website’s diagrams and terminology used to clearly
explain this critical aspect of a circuit, the demarc extension. It was instrumental in developing a Premise
Distribution System policy for use in our new Terminal, and distinguishing
Tenant vs Airline support responsibilities.” commented James Caldwell, San
Antonio Aviation Dept. FCC
part 68 regulation and federal law mandates every telecommunications circuit to
have a demarc extension. This is the critical cabling and equipment that
extends a circuit in the building from the local access provider’s demarcation
point to the edge customer’s premises equipment. “Offering demarc extension services is
supplemental to the services the telecom agents provide for their customer.
This value-added service provided on a nationwide scale supports the efforts of
the agent in circuit delivery and the rapid resolution of an issue, ultimately
resulting in a positive experience for the Agent’s customer,” commented founder
of Demarc Extension Nationwide
and President of Concert Technologies, About
Demarc Extension Nationwide ********************************* Draka BendBright-Elite Fiber Completes Independent Lab Testing
Claremont, North Carolina, (NYSE EURONEXT: DRAKA) –
Draka Communications Americas, one of the leading fiber optic cable
manufacturers, announces that its newest ultra bend insensitive fiber has
completed the rigorous requirements of independent lab testing. Branded as
Draka BendBright-Elite, this new ultra bend insensitive fiber can tolerate
bends as small as 5mm while achieving attenuation values less than 0.1dB. ********************************* OOPS Again! Will we learn from disaster? The
Deepwater Horizon rig drilling for oil 5000 feet beneath the surface of the
Gulf of Mexico, exploded, killing 11 workers and causing the largest spill of
oil in the history of the Brown’s
Law Brown’s
law says that for any engineered system to be reliable it needs to meet the
following criteria: Good
design A
technical system design has to assume that the worst-case scenario can
definitely occur. A
system design has to include safety features to cope with the worst-case
scenario. A
system whose failure would be a catastrophe should never include a single point
of failure. Safety
features must be redundant. The
design of safety features has to take into account practical limitations, such
as cost. Cost
of safety features must be balanced against costs of system failure. Nothing
is completely failsafe. Good
Test and Maintenance The
best design in the world is worthless without a serious program of regular
testing and maintenance. The
best testing and maintenance program in the world is worth very little if it is
not based on accurate as-built information. The
best testing and maintenance program in the world is worth very little without
keeping complete and accurate records. How
did it happen? The
headline in the June 21st edition of the New York Times (www.nytimes.com) was “Lapses Found in
Oversight of Failsafe Device on Oil Rig.” The extensively researched article
under that headline reveals that this was no surprise to a great many
thoughtful people in the industry. First thing to ask is what does failsafe
mean? It means nothing can go wrong. Obviously, the failsafe device didn’t do
its job. The
failsafe device in this story is a blowout preventer (BOP). In the event of an
accident this would cause a “blind shear ram” to cut and seal the pipe that
connects the well to the outside world. It was supposed to be failsafe. IT
DIDN’T WORK!! Design This
supposedly failsafe device violated several of the rules of good design.
According to the Times, a confidential report from the year 2000, “concluded
that the greatest vulnerability by far on the entire blowout preventer was one
of the small shuttle valves leading to the blind shear ram. If this valve
jammed or leaked, the report warned, the ram’s blades would not budge.” Thus
the system design included a single point of failure. Another possibility is
that the shear may have closed on a “nearly-indestructible” joint between two
of the drilling pipes. To avoid that possibility, other rigs have been using
two, rather than just one blind shear ram. Test
and maintenance According
to the NY Times, “government regulations do not require any regular checks of
several important elements of blind shear rams.” Further, according to the
Times, “A draft of another industry-financed study this year contended that
companies cut corners on federally mandated tests of blowout preventers. A copy
obtained by The Times described a mentality of ‘I don’t want to find problems;
I want to do the minimum necessary to obtain a good test.’ It also included
this observation: ‘Often there is a great deal of pressure to run the B.O.P.
stack before it is deemed fit for the purpose by the experts who maintain and
test the equipment.’ When the report was finalized, those criticisms were
omitted, although it is not clear why.” Recent
developments In
testimony at Federal hearings on the tragedy, on Wednesday August 25 in The bottom line What
happened was no surprise — it was deliberately ignoring the principles of good
design and test (Brown’s Law) in order to reduce costs. This is turning out to
be a very costly set of decisions. WILL
WE LEARN FROM OUR FAILURES OR ARE WE DOOMED TO REPEAT THEM OVER AND OVER? Ed Brown - Director WRITING, RESEARCH, EDITING - TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ********************************* FCC Commissioner McDowell to Speak at ACUTA Fall Seminar Two
strong educational tracks will be presented at this seminar: Who’s in Charge of the Network? and IT Services for Free? Financial Issues
Surrounding IT. After the joint session with Commissioner McDowell, other
presentations in the network track will address managing bandwidth growth,
network aggregation and virtualization, open-source network management,
deploying storage networks and/or VM clusters, and network video surveillance.. In
the financial track, presenters will discuss controlling wireless costs,
outsourcing, ARRA funding, help desks, maximizing the IT budget, and other
issues essential to financing IT in today’s budget-conscious economy. “We
are very pleased that Commissioner McDowell has accepted our invitation to
discuss these critical issues,” said Jeri Semer, executive director of ACUTA.
“What he brings to the seminar will be both timely and important, and will
complement a program that is always filled with practical, pertinent
information.” Beyond
the educational sessions, ACUTA events are well known for the extensive
networking opportunities they present for campus technology professionals. The
seminar begins with a reception in the exhibit hall on Sunday, October 24, and
ends at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 27. Detailed information about the
presenters and sessions as well as the hotel, travel, and registration can all
be found on the ACUTA website at www.acuta.org.
For more information or to register, visit the ACUTA website at www.acuta.org
or call 859-278-3338. About ACUTA ********************************* Legrand North America Targets Energy Efficiency, Sustainability and Public Policy with Appointment of Susan Rochford WEST
HARTFORD, Conn. (September 2, 2010) – Legrand, the world specialist in products
and systems for electrical installations and information networks, today
announced the appointment of Susan Rochford as Vice President, Energy
Efficiency, Sustainability and Public Policy for Legrand North America. In
this position, Rochford will be responsible for advancing Legrand North
America’s progress in setting and achieving sustainability goals and
commitments, as an organization and in the marketplace. In this capacity
she will work closely with all the Legrand North America entities to identify,
design and deliver sustainable products and solutions to meet the needs of the
customers they serve. “Our
distribution and contractor partners understand the critical need for energy
efficiency and sustainability in the companies they work with and products they
sell,” said John Selldorff, President and Chief Executive Officer, Legrand
North America. “Susan’s tremendous experience in these areas will allow Legrand
to focus its efforts on bringing more energy-efficient products to market;
being a more sustainable company that reduces costs and its environmental
footprint; and playing a positive role in the formation of public policy in
areas critical to our economic future and national security.” Renowned
for its inventive, dependable and stylish products, the Legrand brand is
present in more than 180 countries and has a workforce of over 30,000 people.
With a clear focus on electrical and information networks and applications,
Legrand is passionate about improving systems and networks wherever people live
and work. Legrand products and technology can be found in every building type
from homes, to schools, to commercial buildings, to government facilities. #
# # About The Legrand Group ********************************* Software Designed Especially For Transmission & Distribution Contractors Estimating
software, used also for project management, is a staple of the electrical
contracting business. McCormick Systems, for example, has offered a suite of
electrical estimating products for ECs since our founding (by an electrical
contactor) in 1979. What about other types of
contractors? Datacom and systems integrators, security dealers, building
automation contractors, and others in the low-voltage business can use the
automated building systems version of our software. But not until now – with a new
introduction set for fall 2010 – has the company provided software specifically
designed to serve contractors who work on the national, regional, and local
transmission & distribution power grid. “Line contractors are a different
breed, really in a different business,” explained President Todd McCormick. “We
know that. We’ve waited until we got our estimating software, and our database,
to precisely where these contractors need it to be.” While a construction project for a
typical EC consists of buying and installing lighting, switchgear, wire and
cable, and everything from UPS units to wirenuts, line contractors are
dedicated to digging holes, planting poles, and hanging high-voltage cable on
them (or rehabilitating, renovation, and/or maintaining existing power lines). “We’ve listened to these
contractors,” McCormick noted. “Now, they estimate using spreadsheets or
estimate it by hand. Systems created to serve ECs doing product installation
inside buildings will not work for them.” “So we had to create something new.” Spade work on the T&D software
focused on extensive development of a specialized program line contractors will
use to do faster, more productive estimating, McCormick said: “Our standard
software has a deep product database, but those products have nothing to do
with what the line contractors use every day to get their work done.” An example: “Line contractors use a
lot of equipment – many different types of trucks. Sometimes they rent,
sometimes they lease them, sometimes they own. That information has to be in
our program, and it is.” About McCormick Systems Privately
owned McCormick Systems ( More information: www.mccormicksys.com or 800-444-4890. ********************************* Mike Holt's Code Forum - August 2010 = Top 30 New Topics
Another great resource from Mike Holt Enterprises! The following is a list of
the top 30 topics discussed on our code forum in the past month. Simply click
on any topic that interests you to read or join in the discussion. If you’re
not already registered as a code forum member,click here to sign up now! 1: What
is the power of an incandescent lamp at 200v 5A? with 202 replies in the
Electrical Calculations/Engineering forum 2: Ground
Dead End with 92 replies in the Grounding versus Bonding forum 3: Immune
to Electrocution with 72 replies in the Electrical Calculations/Engineering
forum 4: electrical
business with 69 replies in the Electrical Contracting and
Estimating/Management forum 5: 210.12
with 68 replies in the Electrical Contracting and Estimating/Management forum 6: Outdoor
Hot Tub 680.26(B)(7) bond metal rain gutters? with 65 replies in the NEC
forum 7: Schedule
20 PVC with 65 replies in the NEC forum 8: ughhhh
wallplates with 63 replies in the Electrical Contracting and
Estimating/Management forum 9: Rigid
installed on top of concrete floor? with 61 replies in the NEC forum 10: Two
prong tester! with 59 replies in the Safety forum 11: Would
You or Wouldn't You with 58 replies in the NEC forum 12: All
Slope Can and Arc Fault....Bad Combination with 55 replies in the NEC forum 13: Reactive
power loss with 50 replies in the Electrical Calculations/Engineering forum 14: Lighting
circuit Power with 49 replies in the Electrical Calculations/Engineering
forum 15: Make
ice or buy it? with 48 replies in the Electrical Calculations/Engineering
forum 16: NM
cable (romex) in PVC with 47 replies in the Electrical
Calculations/Engineering forum 17: joist
in way of can light with 46 replies in the NEC forum 18: Transformer
Mixup with 46 replies in the Electrical Calculations/Engineering forum 19: Non
Compete Clause for Employees with 46 replies in the Electrical Contracting
and Estimating/Management forum 20: NM
cable through a plastic box. with 45 replies in the NEC forum 21: number
of ground rods with 44 replies in the Grounding versus Bonding forum 22: Could
marking material up equal losing money? with 44 replies in the Electrical
Contracting and Estimating/Management forum 23: Recpt
height with 43 replies in the Electrical Contracting and
Estimating/Management forum 24: counter
top rec with 40 replies in the NEC forum 25: 210.52--
Code Violation? with 39 replies in the NEC forum 26: Do
I need a megger? with 39 replies in the Electrical Contracting and
Estimating/Management forum 27: can
lights with 38 replies in the NEC forum 28: running
parallel wires with 37 replies in the Electrical Calculations/Engineering
forum 29: How
Connect NM to Panel? - Old Work with 34 replies in the NEC forum 30: Neatness
required by NEC? with 34 replies in the NEC forum http://www.MikeHolt.com
1-888-NEC-CODE (1-888-632-2633) ********************************* NAED Selects ecoInsight to Deliver Energy Audit Software Solution New software will increase distributor sales and reduce time needed to develop a comprehensive customer proposal
********************************* NAED’s tED Magazine Receives Six Azbee Awards of Excellence from American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE)
At the National level tED
received a Gold Award for Design Excellence in the category of Opening
Page/Spread Computer Generated for the June 2009 article “The Optics of the
Industrial Market.” tED also
received a Gold Award for Editorial Excellence in the category of Overall
Headline Writing for October/November 2009. At the Regional level, tED
received a Gold Award for Editorial Excellence in the category, Organization
Profile, for “ The magazine was also recognized with three Awards for Design
Excellence in the following categories: Gold Award for Opening
Page/Spread-Photo, “Damage Control” (October 2009); Silver Award for Front
Cover-Photo, “A Successful Merger Takes the Right Blend” (July 2009); and
Bronze Award for Feature Article-Design, “The Rules of Retention” (April 2009).
ASBPE is widely known for its annual Azbee Awards of Excellence
contest in editorial and design for magazines, newsletters, and digital
publications. Awards are given in 74 categories, most on both a national and
regional level. One of the most competitive competitions in the business press,
the ASBPE judging panel consists of experienced business editors, designers,
consultants and academicians. For more information, visit http://www.asbpe.org. tED magazine is the primary source of information for the
electrical distribution channel across 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 represents approximately 4,400 locations
internationally. ********************************* Siemon Announces New Industrial Ethernet Patch Cords Designed to provide reliable network connectivity in harsh environments, Siemon’s Industrial MAX RJ-45 cords are now available with new cable jacket types for enhanced durability, flexibility, temperature, moisture and chemical resistance. Watertown, Connecticut – August 25, 2010 – Siemon, a leading
global manufacturer of IT network cabling and infrastructure systems, announces
new cable jacket options for their line of category 5e Industrial MAX patch
cords. These new cords join Siemon’s
full Industrial MAX line of modular outlets and patch cords and industrial LC
fiber optic connectors and jumpers. The
industrial MAX line was designed specifically for industrial applications or
any facility where dust, moisture, chemicals, or vibration can negatively
affect network connections. Available in both shielded and UTP configurations, the new
category 5e cords feature flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer (FR-TPE),
polyurethane (PUR) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cable jacket options. These three jacket options allow the user to
select the best cable for their specific application, based on their relative
physical durability, flexibility and resistance to environmental conditions
such as temperature, ultraviolet light, moisture, chemicals and flammability.
TPE and PUR cables feature pressure-extruded jackets that provide outstanding flex endurance as well as tear
and crush resistance to support harsh conditions such as continuous
flexing in robotics or the splatter from automated welding. All three jacket All varieties are RoHS
compliant and lead-free. Both the Industrial MAX 5e patch cords and outlets feature
Siemon's high-performance category 5e RJ-45 connectivity encased in a
protective outer housing. This housing, made of heat-resistance thermoplastic,
features a bayonet-style mating design that easily and securely latches with a
quick 1/4 turn, offering a superior protective seal against solid and liquid
contaminants. Both outlet and patch cord are IP67-rated. The Industrial MAX 5e
patch cords are available in both industrial plug-to-industrial plug and
industrial plug-to-RJ45 versions. Siemon also offers standard RJ45 category 5e shielded and UTP
patch cords with thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyurethane (PUR) and
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cable jacket options.
These patch cords can be used between enclosures or where IP67
connectivity is not required. The Industrial MAX 5e outlet and patch cords are ideal for
protecting network connections in manufacturing and laboratory environments,
hospitals, food processing plants and other environments with less than ideal
conditions, while still providing category 5e performance for Gigabit Ethernet
and other industrial and IP-based applications. To find out more about Siemon’s Industrial MAX line of
twisted-pair copper and optical fiber cabling for network connectivity in harsh
environmental conditions, visit: http://www.siemon.com/go/industrial Follow Siemon on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siemoncabling/ Join Siemon on Facebook: http://www.siemon.com/go/facebook ### About Siemon ********************************* NECA Labor Relations Convention Program Update # # # The
National Electrical Contractors Association is the voice of the $125 billion
industry responsible for lighting, power, and integrated building systems
across the United States. NECA’s national office and 120 local chapters advance
the electrical contracting industry through advocacy, education, research, and
standards development. NECA celebrated its 109th anniversary this year. For
more information, visit www.necanet.org . As the electrical construction
industry’s largest event, the annual NECA Convention and Show draws attendees
and exhibitors
involved in all aspects of the expanding electrical construction industry. CONTRACTORS
CONNECTING THE WORLD WITH POWER + LIGHTING + INTEGRATED SYSTEMS ********************************* BICSI APPOINTS IT MANAGER IN TAMPA HEADQUARTERS OFFICE Tampa,
Fla., Aug. 17, 2010—BICSI, the association supporting the information
technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge
assessment, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Everett II to the
position of IT Manager. As
BICSI’s IT Manager, ### BICSI
is a professional association supporting the information technology systems
(ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety &
security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design,
integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based
distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports
the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among
communications and information gathering devices. BICSI
provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and
companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ITS professionals,
including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the
fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and
automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature. ********************************* BICSI BRINGS WEINTRAUB ON STAFF AS DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT Tampa,
Fla., Sept. 2, 2010—BICSI, the association supporting the information
technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge
assessment, is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Weintraub, RCDD,
ESS, to the position of Director of Global Development & Support. As
BICSI’s Director of Global Development & Support, Weintraub will maintain
and manage BICSI’s growth globally. Other areas of responsibility within the
organization include working in partnership with the BICSI Board of Directors,
volunteers, international representatives, management organizations, licensees,
and affiliates promoting BICSI worldwide while implementing business plans to
promote BICSI’s strategic plan and core products and services. Weintraub
holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in
International Business from More
recently, Weintraub worked at Panasonic as Group Manager-IP Channel, Security
Systems Group. Prior experience includes work with Sumitomo as Regional Sales
Manager for the Southeast U.S., Caribbean and Weintraub
holds both the BICSI Registered Communications Distribution
Designer® (RCDD®) and Electronic Safety &
Security (ESS) Specialist credentials and has been an active
volunteer supporting BICSI conferences, regional
meetings, breakfast clubs and the Technical Education Summit. ### BICSI
is a professional association supporting the information technology systems
(ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety &
security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design,
integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based
distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports
the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among
communications and information gathering devices. BICSI
provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and
companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ITS professionals,
including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the
fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and
automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature. ********************************* CALL FOR 2011 BICSI CABLING SKILLS CHALLENGE APPLICANTS Tampa,
Fla., Aug. 26, 2010—BICSI, the association supporting the information
technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge
assessment, is in search of the best and most experienced ITS Installers and
Technicians to compete in the 2011 BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge. Previous
Challenges brought together top-notch participants from around the globe. The
Cabling Skills Challenge will take place on January 16-19 at the 2011 BICSI
Winter Conference & Exhibition in Competitors will be vying for the title of BICSI Installer of
the Year. Prizes will be awarded and the grand champion will walk away with
$5,000. Eligible applicants are urged to apply today—the deadline is November
1, 2010. Visit www.bicsi.org/skillschallenge
to download an application form. The 2011 BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge will include
the following seven events: Event A: SCS Installation Event B: Copper Cable Terminations & Firestopping Event C: Fiber Termination Event D: Cable Assembly Event E: Cable Troubleshooting/Technical Support Event F: Competency Exam Event G: Professionalism/Orientation For
a complete schedule of events, please visit www.bicsi.org/skillschallenge.
### BICSI
is a professional association supporting the information technology systems
(ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety &
security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design,
integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based
distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports
the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among
communications and information gathering devices. BICSI
provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and
companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ITS professionals,
including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the
fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and
automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional
registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in
delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for
continual improvement and enhanced professional stature. ********************************* All-Fiber Networks Now Pass 20 Million North American Homes
( About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council ********************************* Continuous Growth of FTTH Networks in First Half of 2010 The latest update of the FTTH Councils' global ranking shows a steady growth of all-fibre networks all over the world.
( ********************************* Fiber-to-the-Home Council Selects New President to Lead FTTH Industry to New Level of Growth (WASHINGTON)
- The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council - an organization dedicated to
expanding the deployment of high speed all-fiber networks - has named
Daniel O'Connell, an executive from Verizon Communications, to serve as its
new President effective October 1. O'Connell will replace Joe Savage, who announced earlier this year that he
would retire from the Council at the end of 2010 after having served as
President for the past five years. Under Savage's leadership, the
Council more than doubled its membership, put itself on solid financial
footing and vastly strengthened its educational, legislative and public
advocacy efforts. "It is highly gratifying to hand over
leadership to such a talented and highly-respected executive," said
Savage. Selected by the Board of Directors after a nationwide executive
search, O'Connell joins the FTTH Council after nearly 30 years in the
private sector. He was most recently the National Sales Director for
Verizon Enhanced Communities (VEC), the division of Verizon Communications
that works with housing developers and property owners to deliver the
benefits of FTTP technology to their residents. O'Connell directed
the organization in securing more than two million homes and apartments
under all-fiber access agreements over the last five years. "Not only is Dan O'Connell an accomplished leader in the
telecommunications industry, but he has been directly involved in running
fiber all the way to millions of North American households," said
David Russell, Chairman of the FTTH Council's Board. "He is
uniquely qualified to lead the Council into its next era of growth and
progress toward our goal of bringing lightning fast, next-generation,
all-fiber broadband to every home on the continent." O'Connell has more than 20 years experience in the
telecommunications sector, having served previously in other executive
positions at Verizon and on international assignments in "The FTTH Council has an extraordinarily diverse membership that
rallies around a single vision of bringing unlimited bandwidth to every
home. I am excited about the opportunity to work with this group, to
learn and to benefit from their real-world experience and knowledge, and to
help forge a strategy for FTTH industry success in the years ahead,"
said O'Connell. O'Connell's appointment as President will be officially
announced at the Council's annual conference and trade show, the 2010 FTTH Conference & Expo, which will take place
next week in Las Vegas, NV. Joe Savage, the outgoing President, joined the Council as
President in June, 2005. He has forty years of executive level
experience in telecommunications and optical networking, including CEO and
Corporate Director positions with a number of optical equipment
companies. Joe began his career in fiber optics in the 1970's,
helping to build the first fiber production facility at Western Electric in
Norcross, Georgia, and worked as VP Planning and Engineering for Fujitsu Network
Systems, and as VP Research for RHK, Inc. He served as Chief
Executive Officer for Geyser Networks, Radiant Photonics and Broadnet
Technologies. About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council ********************************* Millepede technology rules the waves Millepede has yet again demonstrated the lead it
has in High Performance Cable Management by being specified for the new British
Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers being built in the A special version of Millepede’s patented
Mille-Tie was created for the fibre optic backbone for the British Type 45
Destroyer and the success of that project has made it the natural choice for a
similar state of the art system on the new carriers. “Our technology is so far ahead of any other
cable management product available in the world it is really the only choice
when it comes to the management and protection of sensitive cabling. There is
nothing else that can compare.” Said Millepede’s managing director John
Butterworth. “The Mille-Ties patented intelligent grip system
physically holds cables without ever causing undue pressure or crush, even in
the case of an explosion, as proved with the Type 45 destroyers system, and is
unique in the world.” Mr Butterworth went on to say. “We are proud that our technology has helped to
make the systems in these new ship world leading.” “The ability to have communication systems that
can survive under extreme conditions is probably the ultimate test any cable
tie or management system can have.” Mr Butterworth said. More information on Millepede’s web site www.millepede.com For further information contact: John Butterworth: Tel: Picture gallery of Queen Elizabeth Class
Carriers for press use: Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers web site: http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.co.uk/the-ships.aspx ********************************* QuickTreX® Introduces Electricians' Wire and Kevlar Cutting Scissors So
precise that we named them "Wire Surgeon®" Clark,
NJ – September 16, 2010 QuickTreX®, a
manufacturer of high quality datacom products, introduces Wire Surgeon® electricians' wire and Kevlar cutting scissors,
crafted in Germany of durable ice-tempered Solingen stainless steel that holds
up under extreme use. This
wire and Kevlar shear is precision designed for clean cutting and is specially
ground for use with wire, Kevlar, braiding, etc. Slight serrations on the blade
prevent wire slippage and make dependable precise cuts possible. The
ergonomically designed soft rubber handle provides fatigueless use. It is
suitable for right or left-handed people and for the amateur or professional. The
QuickTreX brand objective is to design high quality products for technicians to
accomplish their goals with speed, accuracy and agility. To obtain additional
information on this or other QuickTreX products, call 800-642-8320 or visit the
website at www.quicktrex.com. #
# # About QuickTrex ********************************* New E-Book for Data Center Professionals: Deploying, Managing and Securing an Efficient Physical Infrastructure September
8, 2010, Entitled
"Deploying, Managing and Securing an Efficient Physical
Infrastructure", this free 61-page E-Book is geared towards data center
and IT network professionals and is available at:
http://www.siemon.com/go/DC_Ebook In
the free E-Book: Strategies
and Considerations for Cloud and Co-location Data Centers Facility Owners and
Hosting Providers Strategies
and Considerations for Cloud and Point-to-Point
Vs Structured Cabling Intelligence
at the Physical Layer Benefits
of Screened and Shielded Cabling To
download this E-Book, visit http://www.siemon.com/go/DC_Ebook Follow
Siemon on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/siemoncabling/ Join
Siemon on Facebook: http://www.siemon.com/go/facebook ### About
Siemon ********************************* ACCUTECH supports BICSI and their BLOG brings you the coverage Some
BICSI members did not make it to the Vegas venue for the FALL CONFERENCE. Don’t
despair. ACCUTECH is building a visual recap. www.accutech.com Thanks. |