LEED 2009 to Include LEED Credits for Regional Environmental Priorities

&= nbsp;

&= nbsp;

&= nbsp;

&= nbsp;

&= nbsp;

Article Contributions

Contributing Publications:

= BICSI News

=

Field Testing Installed Optical Fiber Ca= bling

Positioning Customers on the Path to Convergence

Green Building Technology Alliance Mak= es Progress with New CABA Members

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes=

Multiple Technologies, Multiple Disciplines

=

BuildingGreen

=

Top-10 Products for Affordable Green Retrofi= ts

=

NAIOP Study Shows that Saving Energy Takes Kno= w-How

=

GreenBuildingAdvisor.com Launc= hed

=

Dates Announced for LEED 2009 Launch, LEED A= P Exam

=

Rememberi= ng Greg Franta

=

GreenBuildingAdvisor.c= om presents “What's New in Green Products”
=

=

=

= Carlini

=

Twitter, Other Digital Bling: Must-Have T= ools or Will They Fade Away?

=

Three Critical Issues Facing Many States A= cross the United States

=

Stimulus Money: Do State Legislators Know How= to Spend It?

=

=

=

= Cabling Networking Systems

=

Taming The Energy Beast<= /p>
=

A Terminal Rebuild

=

The Mainframe: A Platform For Energy Efficiency=

=

Standard Importance

=

=

= Communications News=

=

To my friends and associates in the technology ind= ustry

=

=

Electrical Contractor Magazine

=

Awards Won in Recent Years by Electrical Contractor Magazine

A look inside the American Recovery and Reinvestme= nt Act of 2009, aka the Economic=

Sparking a Recovery

Keep the Lines Open Communication is key to build= ing an integration team

Getting Your Ducts in a Row; Cables, other wi= ring methods in plenums

Going up ... in Flames

Where There’s Smoke, There̵= 7;s Danger

Installations On the Fly

Making Sense of Access Control Protecting safety= and assets

Keeping Security Work Clean=

Low-Voltage Opportunities in Health= care

GEMs in the Rough

The Power to Heal and More ; Selling video surveill= ance to hospitals

Know the Rules ; Grounding Low-Voltage Systems

BISBEE’S BUZZ

Unemploy= ment Rate in the US has reached 8.9 %. The highest level since 1983 as U.S. employers shed 539,000 jobs in April 2009

Recently, an associate asked me “What advice do I give my kids = on career paths?” The economy is in a state of confusion, somewhere betw= een recession and depression. Many business sectors are making rapid and radical changes.

My reply was “Electricians - a career opportunity that's hard to beat.”

The high voltage world and the low voltage world have converged into Integrated Building Systems. Old guard electrical contractors have embraced communication and control cabling and the associated revenue streams. Recent numbers from CABA (Continental Automated Building Association) prove that “smart buildings” are more energy efficient and have a higher l= evel of Security and Life Safety Systems than any previous technology. These des= igns do more for less. www.caba.org

Virtually every structure has five basic systems:

Power

Control

Communications

Security

Life Safety

These sy= stems are converging and improving as quickly as the new technology is introduced= . Many improvements will take place in th= is exciting field as new technology delivers more value to the building. =

Career s= tability is the Electricians middle name. But it doesn’t come without a solid discipline of training. We believe that the profession with a bright and durable future is the electrician. To follow the latest information o= n the scene, read each monthly issue of the Electrical Contractor Magazine www.ecmag.com.<= /p>

Wisdom isn’t just power. It’s also wealth.

We asked Michael Callanan, Executive Director of NJATC - The <= span style=3D'font-family:Arial'>National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Comm= ittee for the Electrical Industry for comments on the process to become a career professional as an Electrician:

###

&nb= sp;

Stimu= lating Apprenticeship

Remember the old Smi= th Barney ads featuring actor John Houseman: "We make money the old-fashi= oned way. We earn it." In a very similar way, the Building & Constructi= on Trades take a similar approach to training America’s workforce: We tr= ain workers the old-fashioned way. True Apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship is a = method of training skilled craft and technical workers that dates back to the Midd= le Ages. New entrants to the workforce (apprentices) were “indentured= 221; to master craftsmen who directly oversaw the training and development of the apprentice. Apprentices literally learned at-the-feet of the Master Craftsm= an. Our modern apprenticeship systems emerged from, and (in a large part) refle= ct this same fundamental concept of workforce development. Apprentices today s= till learn their craft under the direct supervision of a Master Craftsman (Journey-level worker) by completing a minimum number of hours of On-The-Job learning in their chosen craft. Additionally, each apprentice is required to complete a minimum number of hours of classroom or related instruction.

As we find ourselves= in an ever-increasing economically challenging time, I respectfully submit that t= his “old-fashioned,” system of workforce development (true apprenticeship) can and should be one of the components that we turn to, to help put Americans back to work and to help revive our faltering economy and the middle-class. I am calling for re-invigorating and re-inventing apprent= iceship into a modern system and structure that builds upon the historic framework = that has survived for hundreds of years. In doing so, our payback will be a Nati= onal Apprenticeship System that contributes to the re-building and re-emergence = of the American workforce and economy.

Many people are surp= rised to learn that registered apprenticeship is a voluntary, industry-driven traini= ng program. Frequently, registered apprenticeship programs are created jointly= by labor/management partnerships, or other employers or employer associations.= The responsibility for oversight of apprenticeship programs in the United States belongs to the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) which operates under the purvi= ew of the U.S. Department of Labor. The primary responsibilities of the OA are= to provide technical consultation services on the development of apprenticeship standards, oversight and compliance reviews of registered apprenticeship programs. OA provides apprent= iceship services in all States, and registers programs and apprentices in the 25 States where there is no State Apprenticeship Council (SAC) or Agenc= y.

Another surprising element of our apprenticeship system is that employers, = or groups of employers and unions, design, organize, manage, and finance registered apprenticeship programs themselves. Yes, you read that correctly, apprenticeship programs = are financed, for the most part, with private industry investment. In this day = and age, where we seemingly throw around “billions” of dollars, it’s hard to imagine that the total federal investment in apprentices= hip is a mere Twenty-three (23) mil= lion dollars. That amounts to an investment of less than $75 for each indentured apprentice. At the same time, look at the returns generated from this meager investment; 1) Over $2 billion leveraged from private investment in educati= on and training from program sponsors, 2)Returns $50 in federal and state tax revenues for every single public dollar invested, 3) Has an employer return= on investment (ROI) estimated at 3 to 10 times the investment, 4)Currently prepares apprentices in approximately 1,000 career areas with graduates ear= ning an average of $45,000 to $60,000 per year, 5)Meets the skilled workforce ne= eds of 250,000 employers in a wide range of industries. These findings were submitted to the Obama Transition team last year in a report by the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship; Registered Apprenticeship: A Workforce Strategy for Main Street America. What other government program can boast a return on investment that is even remotely close to these proven statistics?

Presently, in the Un= ited States, there are approximately 468,000 registered apprentices in training.= The vast majority of these are registered in apprenticeship programs directly related to the building and construction trades. We are talking about electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, iron workers, sheet metal workers, roofers, laborers, elevator constructors and many more. While new industrie= s, like health care, transportation, and IT are beginning to expand and develop apprenticeship programs, the “mainstay” remains the building and construction trades. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I= BEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), for example, in= vest approximately $125 million in training electrical workers for the industria= l, commercial, residential and the power generation industries. Similarly, the other building and construction crafts fund their programs in the same fash= ion. The simple fact of the matter is our Nation’s skilled workforce in construction is being developed right before our very eyes by private indus= try, with very little support from our Federal government!

Hardly a day passes = without increased speculation as to the potential impact of the Stimulus Package th= at is poised to emerge from Congress. No matter the final form, there can be no doubt that a key component of the final Stimulus Package will be constructi= on and infrastructure spending as well as new investments related to green job= s. Why shouldn’t the Federal Government invest directly in apprenticeship and leverage the private industry investment to stimulate the economy, implement the programs included in the Stimulus Package, and prepare the ne= xt generation of high skilled Americans to competently meet workforce demands?=

Investment in our Na= tional Apprenticeship Systems can occur immediately on two fronts. First, we must provide financial incentives to the apprentices themselves. While most apprenticeship programs have no tuition costs associated with their training programs, many apprentices struggle to make ends meet during the early year= s of their apprenticeship. The government can assist by providing funding, in the form of scholarships and grants, to help apprentices cover their book and t= ool costs and to supplement their salaries when they are completing their relat= ed instruction. Think, for a moment, about an unemployed or dislocated worker today that was earning a good average salary before they lost their job. Apprentices typically start their apprenticeship, which can be anywhere from one to five years in length, at about 35% or 40% of the Journey-level worker wage rate (current national average for starting wages is approximately $15= /hour). A government subsidy (or grant) during the initial period of their apprenticeship may make the apprenticeship opportunity more feasible to dislocated or unemployed workers considering transition to a new career.

Secondly, the govern= ment needs to provide incentives to program sponsors and employers who provide t= he apprenticeship opportunity. W= e need a system that rewards employers who hire apprentices and program sponsors w= ho increase the number of apprentices in their program. Incentives can be in t= he form of direct grants, tax credits or federal tax incentives for each registered apprentice an employer hires.

Why should the gover= nment provide these incentives? Because our apprenticeship programs are well-positioned to provide the necessary training and skilled workers to re-build America’s infrastructure and our apprenticeship programs prepare workers for the mid-level jobs that mak= e up the backbone of the stimulus job creation program. Today, the need for a true earn wh= ile you learn option for the millions of unemployed workers is more critical th= an ever.

In his recent book, Real Education: Four Simple Truths for Bringing Ame= rica's Schools Back to Reality, Charles Murray, argues that “There has n= ever been a time in history when people with skills not taught in college have b= een in so much demand at such high pay as today, nor a time when the range of s= uch jobs has been so wide.” Murray is speaking, of course, of mid-level jobs which still make up about half of all total jobs. These are jobs that require training beyond a high school diploma, but less than what is required for a traditional four = year college degree. Apprenticeship programs prepare American workers exactly for these types of jobs.

In October of last y= ear, the Department of Labor issued new Federal Regulations that updated the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937. These new regulations are progressive and have = been designed specifically to permit a greater degree of flexibility and creativ= ity in designing apprenticeship programs for the 21^st century. These new regulations, while maint= aining the essential components of registered apprenticeship, have been designed w= ith an “open-architecture” framework that can become a transformati= ve tool for those interested in re-inventing, re-designing and re-invigorating= an old-fashioned apprenticeship system. Yes, apprenticeship is an “old b= ut tested system,” however, with these new modifications to the Federal Regulations governing apprenticeship programs, we can adapt and modify our apprenticeship programs to meet the needs of our industry and better reflect the needs of our customers.

Finally, let me anti= cipate one often-heard myth and criticism, specifically of union apprenticeship programs. While acknowledging= the benefits of our union apprenticeship programs, some are quick to reprimand union programs for their “country-club” status and limited accessibility to minorities and non-traditional populations. A recent study= by Anneta Argyres and Susan Moir of the Labor Resource Center, University of Massachusetts Boston; Building Trad= es Apprentice Training in Massachusetts: An Analysis of Union and Non-Union Programs, 1997-2007, had several compelling revelations. “The findings of this study show that union apprenticeship programs in Massachus= etts are more successful at enrolling apprentices and producing Journey-level workers than are non-union programs. Specifically, we find that: 1) union programs enroll the majority of building trade apprentices, 2) the apprenti= ce completion rates from union programs is higher than from non-union programs= , 3) union programs enroll non-traditional populations in higher numbers and at higher rates than do non-union programs, and 4) the apprentice completion r= ates of non-traditional populations from union programs is higher than from non-union programs.” Apprenticeship programs provide an outstanding opportunity to enroll under-represented and minority populations in the building and construction industry. In addition, many efforts are underway to establish pre-apprenticesh= ip programs to expand apprenticeship opportunities to a broader range of populations, including disadvantaged youth and others.

As our great Nation struggles to see some light at the end of the tunnel and find a clear path = that leads us out of this economic abyss; apprenticeship, that time-proven method for building quality craft workers, is poised to enter a new era. An era equipped with a new framework and committed to re-building our Nation’= ;s infrastructure while concurrently building our next generation of skilled workers. We train America’s workforce the old-fashioned way. True Apprenticeship. www.njatc.org

Mr. Callanan is the Executive Director of the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry. Mr. Callanan is Co-Chair (Labor) of the Federal Advisory Committe= e on Apprenticeship (ACA).

We agree and feel th= at guiding the next generation of professionals is vital for the economy, industry, and country.

Remember: Safety is = also too important to ignore.

But that’s jus= t my opinion,

Frank Bisbee

"Heard On The Street" Monthly Column

www.wireville.com

4949 Sunbeam Rd, Sui= te 16

Jacksonville, FL&nbs= p; 32257

(904) 645-9077 offic= e

(904) 645-9058 fax

904-237-0365 cell

fr= ank@wireville.com

=

<= /a>Industry News

The information superhighway is a scary place without signage

&= #8220;FASTRAC” - = Facility Asset System – Tra= cking Records of As-built Cabling

Remember Gene Roddenberry’s famous introduction “The signpost up ahead says y= ou are entering the twilight zone”

Unfortunately, many = network service technicians are finding no signage or labels to guide their path. I= t is worse than driving though a large city with no street signs, traffic marker= s, or address numbers. Industry-wide, we spend millions of dollars each year in the hunt for cabling facilities in order to fix network problems. These cos= ts are avoidable.

The cabling or infor= mation transport systems are the last mile of the dazzling new information superhighway.

Today, more than 20 = million miles of cabling connects the workplace of America to the Information Superhighway. Most of the cabling is not labeled, tested or documented. Once disconnected, it is deemed “abandoned cabling” that must be rem= oved according to the NEC 2002-2008 National Electrical Codes.=

There is virtually no road map, no atlas, and no signage on the cabling of the dazzling new information superhighway. <= /o:p>

This isn’t a problem. It’s an opportunity.

Each year we account= for our wealth and assets with Annual Income Statements addressing Profit and Loss = and the Balance Statement of Assets and Liabilities. It is the language of business. The cabling or information transport systems are usually omitted and/or ignored, in spite of the huge impact they have on both.

Introduction of newe= r more effective systems or maintenance of existing technology systems has a major impact on the bottom-line. The signage and the facility management systems = are crucial to maximize the functionality of the supporting cabling or informat= ion transport systems. How do you sign your work? No labels means big problems ahead.

How much can I save = with a FASTRAC strategy? Industry ex= perts estimate billions. Even the basic concept of labeling is noted by a motto. “Cabling without labeling isn’t just stupid. It’s insane.= ”

Combine labeling, wi= th cabling performance test records, drawings, and an effective naming convent= ion, and you have a well documented asset that serves many functions. Plus it is transferable and reusable, not trash.

Several communication contractors that we met at a recent BICSI event told us that their new secr= et weapon for labeling is the DYMO® RHINO 6000. “It gives us a real competitive edge because it gives us BIG VALUE at a small cost.” www.rhinolabeling.com

Combine the effective RHINO™ 6000 Professional Labeling Tools system with the complete certified cable test records exported from the Fluke Networks® DTX -1800 Cable Analyzer™ and you have the best system to convert the cable infrastructure from “stranded capital” to “working asset”. www.flukenetworks.c= om

Both DYMO and Fluke = Networks will be exhibiting at the NECA annual Conference and Exposition in Seattle (Sept. 2009) www.necanet.org or visit www.necaconvention.org for complete information. Make plans to visit with their folks and make your systems worth more.

Knowledge isn&= #8217;t just power. It’s also wealth.

Frank Bisbee

"Heard On The Street" Monthly Column

www.wireville.com

WESCO International, Inc. Announces Renewal of Accounts Receivable Securitization Financing

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC - News), a lead= ing provider of electrical MRO products, construction materials and advanced integrated supply procurement outsourcing services, today announced that it= and certain wholly-owned subsidiaries have entered into an amendment and restatement of its existing Accounts Receivable Securitization program that effectively renewed the program for an additional three years. A consortium= of six banks provided the $400 million of funding under the arrangement that w= ill mature in April 2012 and is priced with a credit spread of 3.00% over commercial paper or LIBOR.

(Logo: <= span style=3D'text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>http://www.newscom.com/c= gi-bin/prnh/20030508/WCCLOGO )

Stephen A. Van Oss, WESCO's Senior Vice Preside= nt and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer stated, "We are very please= d to have this attractively priced, multi-year financing in place. There was str= ong support for this facility as we received commitments in excess of our targe= ted level of $400 million. Our liquidity is strong and our capital structure is well positioned for the future."

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC - News) is a pu= blicly traded Fortune 500 holding company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvan= ia, whose primary operating entity is WESCO Distribution, Inc. WESCO Distributi= on is a leading distributor of electrical construction products and electrical= and industrial maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies, and is the nation's largest provider of integrated supply services. 2008 annual sales = were approximately $6.1 billion. The Company employs approximately 7,200 people, maintains relationships with over 24,000 suppliers, and serves more than 110,000 customers worldwide. Major markets include commercial and industrial firms, contractors, government agencies, educational institutions, telecommunications businesses and utilities. WESCO operates seven fully automated distribution centers and approximately 400 full-service branches = in North America and select international markets, providing a local presence = for area customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations.

******= *********************

Belden Announces Departure of EMEA President

Belden (NYSE: BDC - News), a lead= er in the design, manufacture, and marketing of signal transmission solutions for industrial automation, data networking, and a wide range of specialty electronics markets, today announced that Wolfgang Babel, President of Beld= en Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), will be leaving the Company. The Com= pany has already commenced its search for a replacement candidate. However, unti= l a permanent replacement is found, John Stroup, President and Chief Executive Officer of Belden will lead the EMEA business segment.

"The economic situation in Europe has cont= inued to prove challenging. This action is part of a broader series of necessary steps we will be taking to accelerate our progress in this segment during t= hese difficult times," said John Stroup, President and Chief Executive Offi= cer of Belden. "We are committed to ensuring the long-term success of our = EMEA segment, as it is a vital component to our long-term strategy. We will disc= uss our plans for this segment in greater detail on our upcoming earnings call which is scheduled for April 29th."

******= *********************

Belden Launches New Generation(R) Series of Value-Priced IP Category Cables for Vi= deo, Sound and Security Applications

(= NYSE: BDC - News), a world leader in the development of signal transmission solutions for the enterpri= se, industrial, building management, broadcast, and security markets, announces= the expansion of its New Generation cable line with a series of four new IP Category 5e and Category 6 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables.=

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/c= gi-bin/prnh/20090127/CG63239LOGO)

The new cables offer integrated Power over Ethe= rnet in a single cable, eliminating the need for an external power source. They = are designed exclusively for use with digital sound, video and security systems= to link low-voltage security devices such as security cameras, CCTV, keypads, = and intercoms.

The robust value-priced cables enable system designers, integrators and installers to provide their customers with high-quality, reliable sound, video and security systems at a very competit= ive price point. All four new cables fully meet the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-2001 Standard. They are available in both riser- and plenum-rated versions. Beld= en's new IP Category Cable products include:

·            = ;         Belden Par= t No. 5663U5 - Cat 5e (Riser-rated)

·            = ;         Belden Par= t No. 6663U5 - Cat 5e (Plenum-rated)

·            = ;         Belden Par= t No. 5663U6 - Cat 6 (Riser-rated)

·            = ;         Belden Par= t No. 6663U6 - Cat 6 (Plenum-rated)

The Category 5e cables feature 24 AWG solid bare copper conductors. The riser version has polyolefin insulation and PVC jack= et with rip cord. The plenum version has FEP Teflon insulation and Flamarrest&= reg; jacket with rip cord. Both cables are sweep tested to 100 MHz.

The Category 6 cables feature solid bare copper conductors. The riser version (24 AWG) has polyolefin insulation and PVC ja= cket with rip cord. The plenum version (23 AWG) has FEP Teflon insulation and Flamarrest jacket with rip cord. Both cables are sweep tested to 250 MHz.

All four cables are available with Black jacket= s. Footage is sequentially marked every 2 feet, with countdown from 1,000 to eliminate guesswork and waste.

With the addition of the new value-priced cable= s, Belden now offers the sound and security industry more cabling options than ever before.

For more information about Belden New Generatio= n IP Category Cables, reques= t New Product Bulletin #301. Contact Belden at P.O. Box 1980, Richmond, Indiana 47375, 1.800.BELDEN.1. FAX: 765.983.5294. Or visit our Web site: www.belden.com.

About Belden

Belden is a customer focused company. We ensure= that our customers' communications infrastructure issues are resolved and that t= hey benefit from the best signal transmission performance for their investment.= We deliver leading-edge copper and fiber cabling/connectivity systems, wireless technologies, and active switch devices. We employ customer-centric go-to-market strategies and we implement and retain world class manufacturi= ng processes. Our partners span the globe, helping our customers design, insta= ll, operate and maintain their communications applications. And our experience = is vast, including expertise in Enterprise, Industrial, Infrastructure, Transportation, Professional and Enterprise Audio and Video, and Government applications. To obtain additional information contact Investor Relations at 314-854-8054, or visit our website at www.belden.com.

******= *********************

BuildingGreen at the AIA National Convention in Frisco

BuildingGreen exhibi= ted at the AIA National Convention in San Francisco from April 30 through May 2.&n= bsp; The team of BuildingGreen said “We always like to meet our customers = in person, hear about your successes as well as anything we can help you with.”

BuildingGreen was al= so be involved off the exhibit floor. Nadav Malin, Jim Newman and others shared lessons learned from the first-ever summit on building and managing a green practice. Tristan Roberts will be among those who spoke at the all day pre-conference workshop Wednesday on sustaining the existing building stock= .

Numerous attendees t= ook advantage of their conference specials for savings on some of our green building information products.

    * BuildingGreen Suite

    * Environmental Building News

    * GreenSpec Directory

    *= and the all new GreenBuildingAdvisor.com

Contact: Jerelyn Wil= son, Outreach Director jerelyn@buildinggreen.com <= /span>

Sustaining the Exist= ing Building Stock: The Greatest Challenge of Architecture 2030

Greening our existing building stock has taken new prominence recently, both as the green building community grapples with the general economic slowdown along with the new construction slowdown, and as we get more real about what it will take for = the building sector to slash our carbon emissions.

All of the speakers,= who are experts on existing building rehabilitation, particularly on historic buildings, will be presenting a ton of material on practical issues as well= as bigger picture things to think about. Tristan will present results of his current research on the most cost-effective green retrofits.

Speakers: Tristan Ro= berts, LEED AP; Jean C. Carroon, FAIA; Ralph DiNola, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP; Carl Elefante, AIA, LEED AP; Donald R. Horn, AIA, LEED AP; and Christina Roach, = AIA, LEED AP

Provider: AIA Histor= ic Resources Committee, AIA Committee on the Environment

Building and Managin= g a Green Practice: Lessons from a First-Ever Summit of Sustainable Design Directors at Architecture Firms

What happens when 50 sustainable design directors from 40 of the leading architecture firms arou= nd the country get together to compare notes? A collection of best practices, crazy ideas, and new energy for everyone involved. Hear the highlights from this first-ever summit, and learn how you can get involved or just benefit = from the group's thinking on managing sustainable design resources, overcoming inertia to transform the design process, utilizing in-house and external expertise, and much more.

Speakers: Meredith S. Elbaum, AIA, LEED AP; Nadav Malin, LEED AP; Jim Newman, LEED AP; and Nellie Reid, LEED AP

www.buildinggreen.com

******= *********************

Corning 1Q profit skids

LCD glas= smaker's profit tumbles 99 pct.

Specialty glassmaker Corning Inc. said Monday its first-quarter profit fell 99 percen= t on slumping sales and a charge for previously-disclosed job cuts.

The worl= d's largest maker of liquid-crystal-display glass earned $14 million, or a penn= y a share, in the January-March quarter, down from $1.03 billion, or 64 cents a share, a year earlier.

Sales fe= ll 39 percent to $989 million from $1.617 billion a year ago but that also topped analyst's forecasts of $963.4 million.

The stoc= k is still down 43 percent from its 52-week high of $28.07 set May 19, 2008. It traded as low as $7.36 six months later.

After a = slump in LCD glass sales at the end of 2008, the company took $165 million in pretax restructuring charges in the first quarter to pay for eliminating 3,500 job= s, or 13 percent of its payroll of 27,000.

In March, however, the company announced that it expected to turn a first-quarter pro= fit, excluding special items, thanks to a resurgence in glass orders over the previous several weeks. On Monday, it doubled its forecast for growth of LC= D-TV units from 9 percent to 18 percent.

Flaws re= minded investors that the company is not providing specific profit or sales guidan= ce for the second quarter.

"Ho= wever, we expect to see significant sequential improvement in the company's sales, gross margin and earnings before special items," he said. "Second-quarter results will also benefit from our recently completed fixed cost reduction programs."

The 157-= year-old company is based in the city of Corning in rural western New York.

Sales in= its display technologies segment fell 57 percent to $357 million from $829 mill= ion a year ago.

DisplayS= earch, a market research firm based in Austin, Texas, estimates that about 120 milli= on will be shipped worldwide in this year, up from 105 million in 2008.=

"It= could go slightly higher -- there is some optimism in the supply chain right now = that things aren't going to be quite as bad as previously expected," said DisplaySearch analyst Paul Gagnon.

In North America, shipments were expected to edge above 30 million this year from ab= out 29.5 million in 2008.

Sales in Corning's telecommunications unit fell 8 percent to $385 million from $421 million on weakened optical fiber sales for private networks in North Ameri= ca.

Environm= ental technologies sales fell 44 percent to $110 million from $197 million, hurt = by weaker auto-pollution filter sales. http://www.corning.com

******= *********************

Draka Announces family of MDU Cables with BendBright-XS

Draka’s ezInterconnectTM MDU Drop cables with BendBright-XS® fiber with Megladon ScratchGuard™ connectors deliver value innovation for challenging MDU applications and are readily available for deployment today=

Draka Communications–Americas announces a new family of fiber cables design= ed and manufactured to provide forgiveness, speed and low connector insertion = loss during installation. ezInterconnect cables with BendBright-XS fiber inside give installers peace of mind by taking away the historical barriers encountered while routing fiber cables into and through an apartment, condo, high rise building, or multi-tenant business center.

“Value Innovation is a way of looking at the world. How can we help o= ur customers do more, make more, save more, achieve more? In this case t= hat means creating value for the installer by designing a fiber cable that has a minimum bend radius of only 7.5 mm and handles like copper in the customer premise. While working with installers during our prototype phase, we= saw first hand the frequent number of 90 degree bends and pathway obstacles, pl= us we heard the contractor reinforce the need for a fiber cable that can toler= ate tie wraps and staples” states Dean Yamasaki, Applications Manag= er at Draka Communications-Americas.

Draka’s new MDU product line offering is extensive and available toda= y:
•    Indoor or Indoor-Outdoor flame ratings
•    With or without connectors
•    With Megladon’s new enhanced HLC (Hardened = Lens Contact) ScratchGuard™ connector technology or standard connectors
•    2.9 mm OD and 4.8 mm OD versions

Bend Insensitive Fiber Leadership: Draka introduced its first G.657.A bend insensitive fiber, BendBright, in 2002. BendBright offers a 10X bend tolerance improvement over standard single mode fiber. In 2006 Draka released its second generation G.657.B bend insensitive fiber, BendBright-X= S, which offers a 100X bend tolerance improvement and is ideal for challenging FTTH applications. Over 1 billion feet of BendBright-XS has been sold since its introduction! Draka subsequently stretched its leadership w= ith the announcement of a variation of BendBright–XS, BendBright-Elite, t= hat offers an unrivaled level of bending performance at any bend radius for specialty applications like optical components and military/aerospace marke= ts. www.DrakaAmericas.com

Draka Communications is one of the first fiber optic producers to merge the ̶= 0; bendable fiber optic cable” technology with the ultra durable connect= ion properties of Megladon’s® ScratchGuard™ HLC (Hardened Lens Contact). Fiber continues to take large bites out of the complacent bottoms= of the old copper cabling world. www.megladonmfg.com

&nbs= p;

******= *********************

&nbs= p;

DuPont gets hefty fine from EPA for pollution violations in West Va. and profits f= all 59%

DuPont shareholders take it on the nose for the sins of two decades of shoddy management. DuPont Net Falls 59% and they failed miserably to meet projecti= ons…

&nb= sp;

Charleston, WV ̵= 1; West Virginia and federal authorities (EPA) say DuPont and Lucite International = have agreed to pay $2 million to settle air pollution violations at a West Virgi= nia plant.

The violations stem = from sulfur dioxide releases from a unit owned by Lucite and operated by DuPont = in Belle.

The U.S. Environment= al Protection Agency, the Justice Department and the state said Monday that modifications were made to the unit in 1996 without obtaining pre-construct= ion permits or installing air pollution controls.

EPA said the Belle p= lant burns sulfuric acid sludge, which creates sulfur dioxide.=

EPA said both compan= ies have agreed to close the unit by April 2010.

The settlement was f= iled with the federal court in Charleston and people have 30 days to comment.

DuPont lowers 2009 p= rofit range, and plans more cuts.

&= nbsp;

DuPont said it's rev= ising lower its projected range for 2009 profit. DuPont in January had pegged 2009 earnings in a range of $2 to $2.50 a share. DuPont foresees "difficult market conditions continuing with the exception of global agriculture markets," adding that it remains focused on "aggressive actions to reduce costs and capital expenditures, in addition to maintaining an appropriate level of investment for high-growth, high-margin businesses including seed products and photovoltaics." Along these lines, the com= pany said it's increasing its 2009 fixed-cost reduction goal to $1 billion, up f= rom $730 million previously.

******= *********************

EPA Decision greenhouse gases are a health risk.

Big Business, greens= and lawmakers are all bracing for an announcement from the Environmental Protec= tion Agency this week on regulating greenhouse gases.

A declaration is wid= ely expected but not officially scheduled. Experts predict it will assert the federal government's right to restrict emissions in the name of health.

Joe Mendelson, global warming policy director for the National Wildlife Federation, said the expe= cted announcement would be a "game changer" for climate policy.

"It is fair to = say that this will be the largest step the federal government will have taken to dat= e on climate. It will be the first step towards what we expect will be mandatory reductions in U.S. global warming pollution," Mendelson told reporters Tuesday.

Bill Kovacs, vice pr= esident for the environment at the Chamber of Commerce, said the EPA could leverage= the Clean Air Act to regulate virtually the entire economy.
"If this comes = out and it is a real endangerment finding ... it will have a huge bearing on the economy of the United States," he said. "We're talking about something that has impact on trillions of dollars in every industry."<= o:p>

There's general agre= ement that the EPA news could give a big push to climate change legislation on Capitol Hill, making the proposals look flexible and low-cost compared with Clear Air Act remedies.

Head Winds For Tailpipes<= /p>
Green groups say the= y expect the EPA to stress auto emissions, placing new pressure on Detroit to produce low-emission cars.

"There is a str= ong anticipation that the (announcement) will focus on the contributions of mot= or vehicle emissions to global warming pollution," said David Doniger, climate change policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

He added that it wou= ld "trigger the responsibility to set national greenhouse gas emissions standards for new vehicles."

That would be consis= tent with White House hints. Carol Browner, an aide to President Obama on climate policy, in February said the U.S. needed a "unified national policy&qu= ot; on vehicle emissions.

Obama himself said l= ast month that his "one goal" in bailing out GM and Chrysler was that doing so would result in the U.S. leading the world in making clean cars.

May Spur Legislation

After an EPA declara= tion, there will likely be time for public comment as well as other bureaucratic delays. That will give Congress a chance to set the policy first. Industry = may see little choice but to cooperate.

"Do you want th= e EPA to make the decision," Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a co-sponsor of a cap-and-trade emissions bill, told Reuters, "or would you like your congressman or senator to be in the room and drafting the legislation?"= ;

Many businesses are = already on the bandwagon, viewing carbon regulation as inevitable. They're eager to have a say in it.

Charles Territo, a s= pokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, says his group hopes the EPA's announcement brings "clarity" to emissions rules.

"What is most i= mportant to this industry is that we have a single national standard administered by= the federal government and not 50 states or multiple agencies within the federal government," Territo said. "Ultimately, we want to be part of the discussion."

The looming EPA acti= on stems from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling on the Clean Air Act that found the agency= has the power to regulate greenhouse gases. With the new administration, the EPA officially said last month that greenhouse gases are a health risk.

The NRDC's Doniger s= ays greens hope the rules will drive standards that "equal or exceed" California's, the toughest in the nation.

******= *********************

High-Output Fluorescent Lamps D= eliver Energy Efficiency to High-Bay Lighting – Now on ElectricTV

The significant savings in energy and costs being realized by the use of leading-edge high-output fluorescent lamps is among the features on the lat= est edition of ElectricTV.net. A = joint production of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is t= he only web TV program dedicated to reporting the latest developments in the electrical construction and information systems industries.       =

For warehouses, factories and other high-bay buildings, metal halide bulbs have traditionally been used to light interior spaces. Yet, with the groundbreaking devel= opment of high-output linear fluorescent lamps, also known as T5HO, high-bay build= ings are now shining in a whole new light – at significantly lower costs.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

Not only are T5HO lamps twice as bright as traditional metal halide bulbs, they draw less energy and last longer than anything else on the market. T5HO uses 231 watts, compared to 4= 50 watts for metal halide, while producing double the lumens.   What’s more, T5HO lamps provide a range of color temperatures suited to a wider variety of lighting needs. According to Relight, a leading lamp manufacturer, building owners who install T5HO lamps can cut e= nergy cost by 20%, averaging a savings of $30,000 per year.

Also on this editi= on of ElectricTV.net are a segment on a new learning program that’s brin= ging an online dimension to electrical worker training; a feature on how the movement for creating a “smart grid” is working to maximize efficiency in electrical transmission; and a spotlight on how building owne= rs and managers are boosting operations and lowering costs through computer-ba= sed automation.

To view, visit www.electrictv.net/t5ho.aspx.=

ABOUT NECA AND IBEW=

Through their joint marketing organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction industry – NECA and IBEW together work to:

• Reach customers with accurate information about the industry; and

• Achieve better internal communication between labor and management.

NECA has provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construction industry that brings po= wer, light and communication technology to buildings and communities across the United States. NECA’s national office and 119 local chapters adv= ance the industry through advocacy, education, research and standards developmen= t.

With 725,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilities, telecommunications and manufacturing – IBEW is among the largest member unions in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in = 1891. www.thequalityconnection.org.

******= *********************

Hitachi Cable Manchester Begins Feasibility Study for Solar Energy

=

Hitachi Cable Man= chester (HCM) continues to be a leader in green initiatives. =

HCM has initiated a feasibility study to determine the cost and capabilities of a roof-mounted solar array for its 300,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Mancheste= r, NH.

Working with its con= tractor, HCM will explore the size and electricity generating capacity of a roof-mou= nted system. With more than five football fields of rooftop space to work with, = HCM is energized by the possibilities of producing a large share of the electri= city it uses. Mike Gallant, Vice President, said, “We’ve started down this path not just because= HCM believes in renewable energy, but because as a leader in our industry, we believe it is important to set an example.= We hope that other companies will consider using solar as well.̶= 1;

About HCM

=

HCM, located in Manchester, NH manufacturers a complete line of copper and fiber optic cables for the communication industry. Over = 3,300 different cable products are manufactured at this facility. In addition to Category 6A cables, products include Category 6 and 5e cables, outdoor Category 5e and 6 cables, indoor and outdoor fiber optic cables, armored fiber optic cables as well as plenum-rated indoor/outdoor fiber optic cables.

To learn more about = HCM products and where you can purchase them, please contact HCM toll free at 800-772-0116 or visit the HCM website at www.hcm.hitachi.com

******= *********************

New Automated Projector Lift Now Shipping and UL Liste= d!

The newly designed SL151™ Automated Projector Mount provides smooth and quiet movement at the press of a button.

www.chiefmfg.com<= /a> - Chief Manufacturing, the industry leader in projector, monitor and flat pan= el TV mounting solutions, is excited to announce the release of the SL151 Automat= ed Smart-Lift Projector Mount, now UL Listed and resized to drop directly into 2'x2' tiles.

The SL151 is a great, automated projector lift for finished ceilings in hom= es and corporate offices. The mount automatically lowers the projector from the ceiling so you can reveal or conceal at the press of a button.

The Smart-Lift offers precise positioning including vertical projector crad= le adjustments and fore/aft projector positioning. Quick disconnect provides convenient lamp and filter access on most projectors, and the SL151 maintai= ns registration even when disconnected. The low-profile design requires minimal clearance above the ceiling.

About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, is a division of Milestone AV Technologie= s, a Duchossois Group Company, and has more than 30 years of proven product and service excellence. Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lif= ts and accessories for flat panel displays and projectors.

Chief continues to design innovative mounting solutions and helpful tools l= ike Chief's exclusive MountBuilder = that complement the technology they support. With multiple product awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and is recognized f= or delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful customer service.

U.S. and Europe sales offices support a global network spanning the America= s, Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief distribution centers are located = in Minnesota, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.

******= *********************

New Belden Brilliance(R) Low Loss Plenum RG-11 Precision Digital Video Coax Significantly Improves Long-Distance Performance

Belden a= nnounces the launch of its new and improved Plenum-rated RG-11 Precision Digital Vid= eo Coaxial Cable Product No 7732LL. Market applications for the new plenum cab= le include television broadcast studios, TV and video production, post-product= ion facilities and field applications, HD-for-film production, video editing, distribution and duplication.

The new = 7732LL cable offers significant performance enhancements over Belden's previous plenum-rated version (Product No 7732A), especially when deployed in long c= able runs for high definition video (HD-SDI) or 1080p/60 applications. In fact, Brilliance 7732LL now offers the longest transmission distance in the indus= try, matching the performance of Belden's non-plenum SDI/HDTV Digital Video cabl= es (7731A). In addition, Belden's 7732LL cables carry Belden's industry-leading Return Loss guarantee of: -23 dB 5 MHz to 1.6 MHz, and -21 dB from 1.6 GHz = to 4.5 GHz - making it the only plenum RG-11 cable in the industry with this l= evel of guaranteed Return Loss performance.

Steve La= mpen, Belden's Multimedia Technology Manager, notes: "The new Brilliance 773= 2LL cable represents a breakthrough development in extending the signal transmission distance of plenum-rated copper video cables, without having to install fiber optic cabling. As digital video progressed from SDI to HD-SDI= and now to 1080p/60 and 1080p/50 (3G), these applications have placed greater length constraints on copper cables, especially plenum-rated. With this new product, the distance differential between plenum and non-plenum cables has been eliminated."

The new = Belden Brilliance Plenum-Rated RG-11/U Type Precision Digital Video Coaxial Cables feature a 14 AWG solid bare copper conductor, Duofoil® + 95% Tinned Cop= per Braid Shield, PTFE insulation and fluorocopolymer jacket. They are availabl= e in ten colors, including Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Viole= t, Gray and Natural. www.belden.com.

******= *********************

&nb= sp;

New, Free Resource from Fluke Networks Provides IT Organizations with Step-by-St= ep Process for Improving Application Delivery

“2009 Handbook of Application Delivery” by Dr. Jim Metzler now available for immediate download from Fluke Networks’ website

Fluke Networks annou= nced today that the new, updated “= 2009 Handbook of Applica= tion Delivery” is available for immediate download from Fluke Networks’ website. The “Handbook,” written by industry analyst and widely recognized network technology authority Dr. Jim Metzler of Ashton, Metzler & Associates, provides a detailed framework for successfully implementing application delivery solutions. According Dr. Metzler, this is cri= tical due to the continued investments being made in enterprise applications that support key business processes.

“Over the last= few years’ application delivery has become a priority for virtually all IT organizations,” said Dr. Metzler.&nb= sp; “However, the majority of IT organizations still struggle with= the task. The Handbook takes information gathered from over 150 IT organizations and turns that into a framework for making the best decisions about applica= tion delivery.” <= /span>

The Handbook will he= lp IT organizations minimize the occurrence of application performance issues and= to identify and quickly resolve issues when they do occur.

While discussing the= many factors that currently complicate application delivery, the Handbook presen= ts the need for IT organizations to develop a systematic approach to applicati= on delivery. The Handbook provid= es multiple recommendations that IT departments can use when formulating their approaches to ensure acceptable application delivery. Fluke Networks’ Visual Performance Manager is offered as one solution for ensuring and optimizing the delivery of business services with network-based application performance management.

Related to the topics discussed in the 2009 Application Delivery handbook, Fluke Networks and Dr. Metzler recently hosted a webcast discussing the challenges that arise as a result of working in silos, as well as the value of taking a performance-ba= sed approach to delivering critical business services. The on-demand version of this webc= ast can be viewed at by clicking here.

About Fluke Networks=

Fluke Networks provi= des innovative solutions for the installation and certification, testing, monitoring and analysis of copper, fiber and wireless networks used by enterprises and telecommunications carriers. The company's comprehensive li= ne of Network SuperVision™ Solutions provide network installers, owners,= and maintainers with superior vision, combining speed, accuracy and ease of use= to optimize network performance. Headquartered in Everett, Washington, the com= pany distributes its products in more than 50 countries. More information can be found by visiting Fluke Networks’ Web site at www.flukenetworks.com or by calling (8= 00) 283-5853.

******= *********************

New Fundamentals of Fiber Optics Training Course

The Light Brigade annou= nces a new upcoming two-day technical training course, Fundamentals of Fiber= Optics. This entry-level course covers both multimode and singlemode fiber networks= and is intended for installation contractors and end users involved in building= and maintaining local area networks (LANs), municipal networks, and private networks.

Specific topics covered include:

•           An overview of the history of fiber optics

•           Fiber optic transmission theory

•           Opti= cal fiber manufacturing

•           Syst= em design parameters

•           Inst= allation guidelines

•           Fiber optic fusion splicing

•           Fiber optic connector termination

•           Field testing and troubleshooting

•           Tech= nical standards and codes

This course includes extensive hands-on exposure to optical fiber termination, system testing and troubleshooting, and fusion splicing through six hours of hands-on training using the latest in fiber optic equipment.

Fundamentals of Fi= ber Optics is eligible for Cer= tified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) and Advanced Fiber Optic Technician (AFOT) certifications through the Fiber O= ptic Association, and is approved for Continuing Education Credits from BICSI.=

www.lightbrigade.com www.AFLtele.com

www.thefoa.org   www.bicsi.org

=

******= *********************

=

=

=

New Intellectual Property Covers NonStop Wireless Networking, Energy Conservati= on

The Unit= ed States Patent Office has awarded Trapeze Networks (NYSE: BDC - News) two breakthrough wireless networking patents. The patents advance the company's position in NonStop Wireless networking and cover technologies that allow organizations to deploy and manage access points more easily and at lower costs.

"Th= e award of these two new patents builds and reinforces Trapeze Networks' position a= s an innovator and leader in wireless networking," said Ahmet Tuncay, chief technology officer of Trapeze Networks. "We are delivering inventions = that are solving real customer problems and driving the adoption of wireless networking around the world."

Foundati= onal Patent Builds on NonStop Wireless Networking

The &quo= t;System and Method for Distributing Keys in a Wireless Network" (U.S. Patent 7,529,925) is a foundational patent that relates to improvements in roaming performance. This invention covers the fundamental operations of pairwise master key (PMK) caching, the way to maintain security when clients roam fr= om one access point to another. The invention allows the distribution of key i= nformation about client devices between access points such that clients can avoid re-negotiation of new keys with new access points as they physically move i= n a wireless network. This results in uninterrupted wireless service and superi= or quality of connection. Most of today's enterprise class wireless LANs that support high-quality voice over IP services require PMK caching features in order to provide rapid roaming between access points and eliminating dropped calls.

"Po= wer-Aware Multi-Circuit System and Method" (U.S. Patent 7,525,215) is an inventi= on that allows access points to use one or more types of power sources (IEEE 802.1at, IEEE 802.3af, or proprietary PoE) and adjust the functionality of = the access point based on the level of power available to it. This invention simplifies installation and operation of access points on existing networks= and allows businesses to entirely avoid installing expensive additional power mains, new PoE sourcing devices, and upgrading their wiring closets to supp= ort the wireless network.

NonStop = Wireless Networking: Wired Reliability + Total Mobility

NonStop = Wireless brings painless, fully automated dynamic redundancy and scaling to wireless LANs. NonStop Wireless technology allows for non-stop operation, in-service upgrades, and hitless failover while dramatically simplifying redundancy configuration. Trapeze's NonStop Wireless dramatically reduces capital equipment and ongoing IT operational costs associated with building, maintaining, and growing high-availability resilient wireless LANs.

NonStop = Wireless is delivered through Trapeze Mobility System Software (MSS). MSS is the distributed wireless operating system that runs on Trapeze's wireless LAN equipment and delivers the benefits of Trapeze's Smart Mobile architecture.= MSS runs on all Trapeze equipment, from access points to controllers and is backwards compatible across the company's entire product line.

About Tr= apeze Networks

Trapeze Networks, a Belden Brand, is a leader in enterprise wireless LAN equipment = and management software. Trapeze was the first company to introduce NonStop Wireless - delivering unmatched reliability to the enterprise wireless LAN = and its solutions are optimized for companies requiring mobility and high bandw= idth such as healthcare, education, and hospitality. Trapeze delivers Smart Mobile(TM) providing scalable wireless LANs for applications such as Voice = over Wi-Fi, location services, and indoor/outdoor connectivity.

******= *********************

New Learning Program Brings Online Dimension to Electrical Worker Training R= 11; Now on ElectricTV.net

A unique approach to electrical worker training that seamlessly blends online, class= room and hands-on experience is among the features of the latest edition of ElectricTV.net. A joint produ= ction of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the Internati= onal Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is the only web TV program dedicated to reporting the latest developments in the electrical construction and information systems industries.

&nb= sp;

The pion= eering training program, the first of its kind in the United States, was developed= by NECA-IBEW’s National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJA= TC) in partnership with Cengage Learning. Designed for outside line apprentices, the program offers a rich arr= ay of learning paths, from online studies – with web-based interaction between students and instructors – to classroom and application experiences conducted at NJATC’s training centers. Distant students benefit by being = able to complete coursework outside the classroom, allowing more time in the facility to be spent with hands-on lab work and direct instructor-led train= ing.

&nb= sp;

Says Mic= hael Callanan, Executive Director of the NJATC, “For more than 60 years, we’ve provided the highest quality training and apprenticeship progra= ms for NECA and IBEW members. To= day, we’re meeting our students’ diverse needs through the latest available technology. This new solution, combining web-based learning with traditional education materials, expands our ability to ensure our students are the best trained electrical workers.”

Also on this edition of ElectricTV.net are a segment on how the movement toward creating a “smart grid” is maximizing efficienc= y in electrical transmission; a feature detailing how building owners and manage= rs are boosting operations and lowering costs through computer-based automatio= n; and a spotlight on how T5HO fluorescent lamps are significantly lowering en= ergy use and costs in lighting high-bay buildings.

To view,= visit www.electrictv.net/blendedlearning.aspx.

&nb= sp;

ABOUT NECA AND IBEW

Through their j= oint marketing organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction industry – NECA and IBEW together work to:

• Reach custom= ers with accurate information about the industry; and

• Achieve bett= er internal communication between labor and management.

NEC= A has provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construct= ion industry that brings power, light and communication technology to buildings= and communities across the United States. NECA’s national office and = ;119 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research a= nd standards development.

With 725,000 me= mbers who work in a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilit= ies, telecommunications and manufacturing – IBEW is among the largest memb= er unions in the AFL-CIO. IBEW w= as founded in 1891.

www.thequalityconnection.org.

******= *********************

New NetAlly VoIP Assessme= nt Software Eliminates Risk During Deployment or Expansion of VoIP Phone Syste= ms

Fluke Networks= 217; new software quickly determines maximum call volume and call quality while savi= ng money by reducing post-deployment troubleshooting

Fluke Networks today announced the availability of NetAlly VoIP Assessment = and Troubleshooting Software, version 7.0. This new software package helps eliminate risk associated with deploying or expanding VoIP services by assessing the current state of the network and previewing the service befor= e it is deployed on that network. Assessing the network, a requirement of many leading IP PBX manufacturers, makes VoIP deployments f= aster, more successful and less costly by reducing post-deployment troubleshooting= .

As stated in the Gar= tner Research Report Ignore IP Telephony Network Assessments at Your Own Risk, “The introduction of Internet Protocol (IP) telephony impacts the enterprise data network; however, despite numerous discussions of this, some enterprises and integrators still do not perform proper predeployment assessments of the enterprise network.&nbs= p; This often leads to unplanned additional costs or deployment delays. Properly performed ne= twork assessments are mandatory to reduce this risk.”[1]

NetAlly software can= shorten installation time periods by performing proper network assessments, detecti= ng deficiencies in the network and pinpointing where corrective actions and fine-tuning need to take place. NetAlly offers users an accurate preview of the VoIP service as it w= ill be delivered over a production IP network.= Unlike network simulation software, NetAlly generates traffic over t= he actual network and provides responses based on real-world measurements.

IT professionals can= use NetAlly to determine if there is sufficient network capacity to support a proposed VoIP project. NetAll= y will discover the network devices and verify that QoS is enabled. The software will also calculate h= ow many simultaneous VoIP calls can be supported and determine expected MOS quality at various levels of usage. Service levels by location and by time of day can be collected and documented. The user can then adjust device settings and/or QoS configurations to reach the expected leve= l of service.

The NetAlly Test Cen= ter user interface runs on Fluke Networks’ OptiView Integrated Network Analyzer. This gives the user= the ability to define tests, change test parameters and view results from anywh= ere on the network, combined with OptiView’s enterprise-wide vision and VoIP-specific diagnostics. Th= e new version of NetAlly will also run independently on a stand-alone server. NetAlly version 7.0 is the result = of Fluke Networks’ acquisition of key technology from Viola Networks, announced in August 2008.

Product Availability=

NetAlly VoIP Assessm= ent and Troubleshooting Software version 7.0 is available for immediate delivery through Fluke Networks’ = sales channels worldwide.

About Fluke Networks=

Fluke Networks provi= des innovative solutions for the installation and certification, testing, monit= oring and analysis of copper, fiber and wireless networks used by enterprises and telecommunications carriers. The company's comprehensive line of Network SuperVision™ Solutions provide network installers, owners, and maintainers with superior vision, combining speed, accuracy and ease of use= to optimize network performance. Headquartered in Everett, Washington, the com= pany distributes its products in more than 50 countries. More information can be found by visiting Fluke Networks’ Web site at www.flukenetworks.com

******= *********************

New VoIP Enterprise Service Kit from Fluke Networks Reduces Installation and Problem-Solving Time for VoIP Phone Systems

Combination of three crucial test t= ools meets growing demand for comprehensive, affordable VoIP installation soluti= on

= Fluke Networks, provider of innovative Network SuperVision Solutions™ for t= he testing, monitoring and analysis of enterprise and telecommunications netwo= rks, announces the availability of the VoIP Enterprise Service = Kit, designed to ensure successful deploy= ment of VoIP phonesover existing network infrastructure. By usi= ng the three vital test tools included in this kit – a cable qualificati= on tester, an inline performance tester and a digital probe – technicians can quickly eliminate the most common problems plaguing VoIP installations.

= The VoIP Enterprise Service Kit fills a void created by existing test too= ls that only check cable integrity – without looking at VoIP performance – and tools that only look at the VoIP phone, without testing the cabling’s ability to transmit voice traffic. The new kit reduces the risk of rework and call-backs by testing both infrastructure and phone performance while the technician is on site.<= /p>
= The VoIP Enterprise Service Kit is built around the CableIQ™ Qualifica= tion Tester. The CableIQ tester checks cable bandwidth to ensur= e it will support Voice Over IP requirements. This can prevent hours of downtime and troubleshooting when VoIP equipment is installed on cabling wi= th insufficient bandwidth.

= Also in the kit is the NetTool™ Series II inline testerwith VoIP Testing Option. NetTool allows user= s to see into VoIP calls by placing NetTool between the IP phone and network.&nb= sp; Users can now quickly diagnose phone boot-up and call control problems as w= ell as measure key call quality metrics without the need of a costly, hard-to-u= se protocol analyzer.

= The third fundamental tool in the VoIP Enterprise Service Kit is the IntelliTone™ probe= . IntelliTone simplifies cable identification by responding to unique digital tones which are unaffected by sources of interference that hinder tradition= al tone-probe sets. Both the CableIQ Qualification Tester and NetTool In= line Tester generate digital tone that can be located by the IntelliTone probe, saving time during cable identification tasks.

= The VoIP Enterprise Service Kit is one of several VoIP solutions offered by Flu= ke Networks. Earlier this week the company announced NetAlly VoIP Assessment = and Troubleshooting Software, version 7.0. This new software package helps eliminate risk associated with deploying or expanding VoIP services by assessing the current state of the network and previewing the service before it is deployed on that network. Assessing the network,= a requirement of many leading IP PBX manufacturers, makes VoIP deployments faster, more successful and less costly by reducing post-deployment troubleshooting.

Product availability<= br> In addition to the CableIQ Qualification Tester, NetTool™ Series II inline tester and the IntelliTone probe, the VoIP Enterprise Service Kit includes six remote office IDs, used for identifying cable outlets at the f= ar end of a link. The VoIP Enterprise Service Kit is available for immed= iate delivery through Fluke Networks sales partners worldwide.=

About Fluke Networks
Fluke Networks pro= vides innovative solutions for the installation and certification, testing, monitoring and analysis of copper, fiber and wireless networks used by ente= rprises and telecommunications carriers. The company's comprehensive line of Network SuperVision™ Solutions provide network installers, owners, and maintainers with superior vision, combining speed, accuracy and ease of use= to optimize network performance. Headquartered in Everett, Washington, the com= pany distributes its products in more than 50 countries. More information can be found by visiting Fluke Networks’ Web site at www.flukenetworks.com or by calling (800) 283-5853.

=

******= *********************

Nobody is Recession- Proof. Microsoft Posts Landmark Loss

The link between Microsoft Corp.'s fortune and the = health of the personal computer market has rarely been clearer than in the software maker's fiscal third quarter. Consumers, Businesses Cut Back Sharply On Tech Spending.

For the first time in Microsoft's 23-year history a= s a public company, revenue fell year-over-year as PC shipments tumbled.

The shortfall again illustrated the toll the recess= ion has taken on the world's largest software maker, even though Microsoft rema= ins one of the richest and most profitable companies. In January, Microsoft sai= d it needed to resort to its first mass layoffs, cutting 5,000 jobs. Microsoft a= lso announced it would do away with merit pay increases for employees in the ne= xt fiscal year. Microsoft did not issue earnings guidance for the rest of the year, and it offered no hope for a rebound in the current quarter.

"I didn't see any improvement at the end of the quarter that gives me encouragement that we're at the bottom and coming out= of it," said Chris Liddell, Microsoft's chief financial officer.

On Friday at a technology forum in Cologne, Germany, Microsoft's chief executive, Steve Ballmer, said the company expects to hav= e to deal with a weak economy for at least the next several years. "We are planning essentially for the economy to contract," Ballmer said. "That may take two, three, four years, partly depending on government policy to ease some of the pain. Then we will see growth again."

Microsoft makes most of its profit selling the Wind= ows operating system and business software such as Office, and those divisions = have been hammered over the last six months as consumers and businesses sharply = cut their technology spending. The holiday quarter, which ended in December, was the PC industry's worst in six years, according to research groups IDC and Gartner Inc. In the following quarter, computer shipments sank about 7 perc= ent.

Last week, Intel Corp. CEO Paul Otellini raised some hopes when he said the PC market had bottomed out in the first quarter. On Thursday, EMC Corp. CEO Joe Tucci predicted that spending on information technology "has reached or is very near the bottom" and should rebound in the second half of this year. He made those comments even as EMC reported that first-quarter profit dropped 23 percent and the company plann= ed more cost cuts.

Other executives have been more cautious. "I d= on't know how someone could say we've hit bottom in the current economic climate," said Dirk Meyer, the CEO of Intel's main rival, Advanced Mic= ro Devices Inc.

******= *********************

Ortronics/Legrand Introduces= New Full Line of Mighty Mo^® Network and Server Cabinets to Addre= ss Airflow Issues in Data Centers

Ortronics/Legrand, a= global leader in high performance copper, fiber and wireless structured cabling solutions, introduces a new complete range of Mighty Mo® network and se= rver cabinets for advanced cable management in high performance networks. Ortron= ics Mighty Mo cabinets are designed to protect network integrity by addressing = the critical needs in today's data centers and large premise networks – airflow, density, protection, and performance.

Designed specificall= y to improve airflow, the Mighty Mo cabinets enable more efficient cooling throu= gh the use of patent pending airflow baffles that provide separation of hot and cold aisles and redirect airflow from side vented equipment so it matches t= he front to back airflow of servers. This passive cooling approach reduces pow= er consumption, thereby reducing costs and impact to the environment, while al= so mitigating the risk of equipment failure.

Mighty Mo cabinets a= re fully equipped to handle the density of today’s high performance networks w= hile allowing for easy moves, adds, and changes. The system provides ample capac= ity for a minimum of 48 Category 6a patch cords per rack unit on a single side = of the equipment, which is often necessary to avoid a fan tray, power supply or other removable part of the equipment.

To ensure maximum ne= twork performance, Mighty Mo cabinets protect patch cords, cable, and equipment p= orts from damage by maintaining proper bend radius requirements, reducing tensio= n on plugs and jacks, protecting network equipment ports, and supporting large c= able bundles within the cabinet. The cabinets also purposefully reposition the caster rails out of the cable pathway and effectively manage entry and exit points from within the cabinet frame.

Mighty Mo cabinets f= eature a rugged fully-welded construction and are available in widths of 24” a= nd 32” and depths of 32”, 42” and 48”. Heights of 80” and 89” provide 42 and 47 rack units of equipment room. A w= ide selection of cable, power, and thermal management accessories are available= to support the needs of any installation.

"A solid founda= tion is critical for superior network performance in high density applications, and= the physical support system, including cabinets and racks, provides that foundation," states Lars Larsen, physical support product manager for Ortronics/Legrand. "A poorly designed physical support system can have= a devastating effect on the performance of the network. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative to select a physical support system that is designed = with these considerations in mind."

###

For more information contact:

Ortronics/Legrand, 1= 25 Eugene O'Neill Drive, New London, CT 06320

Sales: 860-445-3900 = or 800-934-5432, Fax: 888-282-0043 or 860-405-2992

E-mail: connect@ortronics.com, Internet: www.ortronics.com

Editorial Contact and Photos:

Laura Fradette, Communications Specialist

Ortronics/Legrand, 1= 25 Eugene O'Neill Drive, New London, CT 06320

Direct Tel: 860-405-= 2861, Fax: 860-405-2972

E-mail: laura.fradette@ortronics.com

Background for Edito= rs:

Ortronics/Legrand (www.ortronics.com), headquartered in New London, Connectic= ut USA, is a global leader in high performance structured cabling solutions, offering a complete range of Category 5e, 6 and 10 Gig copper, fiber optic, wireless and residential/MDU connectivity solutions. In addition, Ortronics offers Cablofil® wire mesh cable tray and Wiremold® pathways. Other programs and services include: engineering and technical support, systems planning, training programs and a 25-year warranty program.

Ortronics/Legrand is= a subsidiary of Legrand (www.legrandelectric.com<= /span>), the world specialist in products and systems for electrical installations a= nd information networks in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Operating in over 60 countries with sales of $4.9 billion, Legrand employs approximately 33,000 people, and its catalogs include more than 130,000 products. At Legrand, innovation drives growth: with nearly 5% of sales invested in R&D every year, the group brings out a steady stream of new, high added-value products.

******= *********************

Para Systems Offers its Minuteman Power Protection Solutions as New Member of Exclusive Mitel Solutions Alliance

Para Systems, manufacturer of the comprehensive line of Minuteman® branded power protection solutions (www.minutemanups.com), today announced it has joined the Mitel® Soluti= ons Alliance (MSA), a comprehensive program that enables a wide range of third-party partners to create products and services that integrate with Mitel’s core business communications portfolio.

As = a new member, and the only power protection solution provider in MSA, Para System= s is offering a customized version of its online tool www.sizeups.com/mitel, to assist distributors, resellers and end users in selecting the right Minuteman power protection solution that best fits Mitel’s product offerings.

“We have had a strong relatio= nship with Mitel over the years, and we are excited about

joining MSA,” said Rod Pullen, president of Para Systems. “Our Minuteman brand has=

become synonymous with power protec= tion products designed for business communications, especially in the long batte= ry back-up times required for keeping the business lifeline – which is t= he telecommunications system - up and running.”

Power protection is a vital voice a= nd video communication system component that provides a return on investment in various ways, ranging from protecting equipment from damaging power events = such as spikes and surges, to maintaining productivity by providing a bridge acr= oss other common power occurrences such as brownouts and blackouts. In addition, the battery back-up function maintains up-time through extended power outag= es so that businesses do not lose their line of communication to their custome= rs.

“MSA enables us to build alli= ances with those companies who share and complement our market vision and can hel= p us implement it rapidly and successfully,” said David<= /p>
Lowenstein, MSA Director of Business Development. “We welcome Para Systems and its

Minuteman brand of power protection solutions into the program, and look forward to

incorporating their products into M= itel's global ecosystem of interoperable solutions.”

For more information on Minuteman p= ower protection solutions, visit

www.minutemanups.com. Information on Mitel’s busi= ness communications solutions can be seen at www.mitel.com.

About Para Systems, Inc.=

Para Systems, Inc., based in Carrol= lton, TX, is a leading provider of power technologies for more than 25 years. The Minuteman brand of comprehensive power protection solutions range from smal= l to large-scale uninterruptible power supply (UPS) products, along with a full = line of unique surge suppressors, power distribution units, and remote power management systems. Minuteman products are used in the protection of telephone/VOIP systems, personal computers, network servers and infrastruct= ure peripherals, security systems, and industrial applications. Para Systems was also an early pioneer in offering extended runtime UPS solutions that provi= de battery back-up power through lengthy outages.

Para Systems has an on-going commit= ment to manufacture high quality products that

provide the mission critical reliab= ility customers expect. The Minuteman brand of products is sold through a large network of distributors and resellers. Para Systems in a wholly owned subsidiary of Components Corporation of Ame= rica, headquartered in Dallas, TX, whose roots date back to 1916.

www.minutemanups.com

******= *********************

Rise of Smarter, Greener Buildings Boosts Efficiency, Reduces Cost – Now on ElectricTV

A close look at how building owners are appl= ying the latest technologies to create smarter, greener buildings is among the features on the latest edition of ElectricTV.net. A joint production of the National= Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electri= cal Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is the only web TV program dedicated to reporting the latest developments in the electrical construction and information systems industries.  =

The vast majority of the more than four mill= ion commercial buildings in the United States are equipped with outdated mechan= ical system technology, relying heavily on manual processes, from adjusting thermostats to turning on lights. Yet, with the advent of a new generation of computer-based, networked systems, building owners at every level can now realize considerable savings in time= and money through automation.

Lighting, heating and cooling, fire alarm, p= ower systems and more can now be managed from a single computer interface. Plus, says Dave Ulrich, control ma= nager for the Electric Company of Omaha, “With internet connectivity, you c= an control your systems from any location, both on- and off-site.” Such global oversight allows probl= ems to be quickly pinpointed and resolved. And the ability to automatically turn systems on and off, running on= ly as needed, results in decreased operating costs and increased energy saving= s, benefiting both the owner and the environment.

<= /span>

Also on this editi= on of ElectricTV.net are a segment on a new learning program that’s brin= ging an online dimension to electrical worker training; a feature on how the movement for creating a “smart grid” is working to maximize efficiency in electrical transmission; and a spotlight on how T5HO fluoresc= ent lights are delivering significant savings in energy and costs to the lighti= ng of high-bay buildings.

<= /span>

To view, visit www.electrictv.net/buildingautoma= tion.aspx.=

ABOUT NECA AND IBEW=

Through their joint marketing organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction indu= stry – NECA and IBEW together work to:

= 226; Reach customers with accurate information about the industry; and

= 226; Achieve better internal communication between labor and management.

NECA has provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical

construction industry that brings power, light and communicati= on technology to buildings and communities across the <= st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">United States. NECA’s national office and 119 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and standards development. =

With 725,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilities, telecommunications and manufacturing – IBEW = is among the largest member unions in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in 1891. www.thequalityconnection.org.

******= *********************

Siemon™ Launches New Line of MTP™ Plug and Play Fiber Optic Network Cabl= ing Solutions

Combining cutting ed= ge performance with high speed deployment, Siemon’s plug and play fiber optic cabling system was designed from the ground up to satisfy the needs of high-performance data centers

April 23, 2009, WATE= RTOWN, CT, Siemon is proud to introduce a completely new and expanded line of high-performance MTP plug and play fiber optic cabling solutions. Constructed of high-quality fiber optic cable and components for future-pro= of support of critical data center links including 10 Gb/s as well as future 40 and 100 Gb/s applications, the Siemon plug and play system's fact= ory terminated and tested connections guarantee maximum channel throughput with= out the performance variability of field terminations. This turnkey solut= ion can be ordered to fit the application then simply pulled and connected - a simple approach allowing high performance data center links to be deployed = 75% faster than traditional field terminations. Beyond installation speed, Siemon = plug and play products provide a “greener” approach, eliminating the waste associated with additional connectors, termination kits and other consumables.

The Siemon plug and = play system includes new low-profile MTP to LC or SC modules, MTP pass-through adapter plates and an extensive offering of pre-terminated MTP to MTP, and = MTP to LC cable assemblies.

Newly designed to be lightweight, low profile and easier to install, Siemon plug and play modules feature 12 fiber MTP connections at the rear of each module, providing up t= o 24 LC or 12 SC connections in the patching field via simple snap-in mounting within standard Siemon RIC® and FCP™ fiber enclosures and VersaPOD™ vertical patch panels. The modules provide optimized adapter spacing for easy finger access to fiber jumper latches in high-density patc= hing environments as well as reduced mounting depth to maximize cable management space in fiber enclosures. In addition to plug and play modules, Siemon also offers “pass-through” MTP adapter plates, designed to support up to 6 MTP-to-MTP connections in a single adapter plate.

Siemon plug an= d play modules and adapters are supported by a wide array of factory-terminated ca= ble assemblies that combine Siemon’s reduced-diameter RazorCore™ ca= ble with 12-fiber MTP connectors. MTP-to-MTP reels are designed to be quickly pulled and connected to plug and play Modules and MTP adapter plates. Available in 12 to 144 fiber counts in increments of 12 fibers and = in custom lengths, these reels are user-configurable to precise application requirements and efficiently put high-performance, high-density fiber connections exactly where they are needed.

Siemon's plug and play cable assembly line also includes new MTP to LC trunking assemblies that offer a connectivity transition from 12-fiber MTP connectorized RazorCore cable to duplex LC connector breakouts. T= hese trunks may be implemented with Siemon’s MTP adapter plates to provide flexible direct MTP to LC patching options over a wide range of distances and infrastructure configurations.  Additionally, Siemon offers a cost effective hydra option for creating direct MTP to LC equipment connections, typically in connections within a rack or cabinet. M= TP to LC Hydras plug directly into an MTP reel via an MTP Adaptor and pro= vide up to 12 jacketed LC (6 duplex) “legs”, eliminating the need for fiber jumpers.

All Siemon plu= g and play products are available in Multimode (62.5/125, Standard 50/125 and Laser Optimized 50/125) and Singlemode fiber types. Assembly jacket ratings include riser, plenum and LSOH.

###

About Siemon:

Established in 1903,= Siemon (www.siemon.com) is an industry leader specializing in= the manufacture and innovation of high quality, high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, with global offices, manufacturing and service partners throughout the world, Siemon offers the = most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded twisted-pair) category 5e, category 6 (Class E), category 6A (Class EA) and category 7/7A (Class F/FA), and multimode a= nd singlemode optical fiber cabling systems available. With over 400 active patents specific to structured cabling, from patch cords to patch panels, Siemon Labs invests heav= ily in R&D and development of industry standards, underlining the company's long-term commitment to its customers and the industry.

Siemon™, RazorCore™, VersaPOD™ and RIC® are trademarks of = The Siemon Company. MTP® is a trademark of USConnec, Ltd. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. <= /p>

******= *********************

Smart Grid to Maximize Poten= tial, Cut Electricity Waste – Now on ElectricTV

Does the U.S. really need a smart grid? Author Jason Makansi says the exis= ting national transmission system is graying and presents a threat to our future, according to a feature presented on the latest edition of ElectricTV.net. A joint production of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood= of Electrical Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is the only web TV program dedica= ted to reporting the latest developments in the electrical construction and information systems industries.  =

Makansi, author of Lights Out, explains how the grid transmitting electricity to U= .S. communities is old and outdated, with yesterday’s infrastructure jeopardizing the future delivery of critical energy. “The American public needs t= o pay more attention to electricity as a vital component of their economy and the= ir way of life,“ says Makansi. “Our industry and our elected officials need to focus on secur= ing the transmission part of the electrical infrastructure to ensure that future needs are met.”

What Makansi argues for is the move to a “smart grid,” a holistic approach to the transmission of electricity involving new infrastructure building and integrated electrical control systems. NECA contrac= tors and their IBEW workforce are already busy running tests of new equipment vi= tal to creating that new “smart grid.” Says NECA contractor John Colson, chairman and CEO of Quanta Services, “The smart grid is one of the few ways that we can really make an impact on saving electricity. It’s maximizing the potentia= l of the grid to transmit electricity in the most efficient manner.”

<= /span>

Also on this editi= on of ElectricTV.net are a segment on a new learning program that’s brin= ging an online dimension to electrical worker training; a feature detailing how building owners and managers are boosting operations and lowering costs thr= ough computer-based automation; and a spotlight on how T5HO fluorescent lamps are delivering significant savings in energy and costs to lighting high-bay buildings.

www.electrictv.net/smartgrid.aspx=

ABOUT NECA AND IBEW

        &= nbsp; Through their joint marketing organization – the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction indu= stry – NECA and IBEW together work to:

= 226; Reach customers with accurate information about the industry; and

= 226; Achieve better internal communication between labor and management.

        &= nbsp; NECA has provided over a century of service to the $1= 30 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light and communication technology to buildings and communities across the United Sta= tes. NECA’s national office and 119 local chapters advance the indust= ry through advocacy, education, research and standards development.

        &= nbsp; With 725,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields – including construction, utilities, telecommunications and manufacturing – IBEW = is among the largest member unions in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in 1891.

        &= nbsp; For more information, visit www.thequalityconnection= .org.

******= *********************

The People have Spoken and NETcomm Prairies a Success

The dust has settled= , and it can be said the NETcomm Prairies 2= 009 Show in Saskatoon, Sask., last week (April 21-22) built upon the solid foundation laid by the inaugural event in Halifax to be a resounding success for both delegates and exhibitors.

“It was worth = the two-and-a-half hours [to get here],” said Wayne Reesor of Linktel Communications, which installs and maintains telephone systems, network cab= ling and fiber optics for both commercial and residential clients. He came from Lloydminster, Alta., to attend the event in Canada’s Breadbasket. “Will I attend next year? 100%. I will, yes!”=

The event comprised = two days of educational sessions, along with an exhibitor showcase and hands-on workshops. The hands-on “Fusion Splicing” workshop from Day 1 proved so popular that it was repeated on Day 2 to accommodate interested delegates. Among the most popular Education Track seminars were “High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)”, FTTP and FTTx, a= nd Security.

The show proved grea= t for exhibitors, too. Garry Burrows, Telonix’s sales contact for The Prair= ies, Territories and British Columbia, said it normally takes him several days to make his calls when in the Saskatoon area but, with NETcomm, he was able to= see everyone during the show, “plus some that I might have missed!”= . He explained he also got to know some companies he didn’t know before.

“This is a sho= w that, in the future, I want to participate in,” added Burrows.

A special thanks goe= s out to NETcomm’s sponsors, without whom the Show could not have been possibl= e: Please visit them at www.netcommshow.ca.

Be sure to visit www.netcommshow.ca to learn more about, and see photos from, the Prairies event. While you’re there, check out the show video, and = sign up for NETcomm’s free newsle= tter, which provides timely industry information, as well as Show updates.

The NETcomm team is currently finalizing all the details for the next Show in Montréal, Qué., June 10-11. Again, v= isit www.netcommshow.ca to learn mo= re about both the upcoming Québec conference, as well as the Atlantic Show scheduled for Septe= mber.

******= *********************

Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago has deployed InterReach Fusion(R) in-building cellular systems

ADC (NASDAQ: ADCT) (www.adc.com) announced that the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chi= cago has deployed its InterReach Fusion(R) in-building cellular systems to provi= de clear and consistent cellular coverage for staff, visitors, and guests at t= he Chicago landmark.

Completed in 2008, t= he Trump International Hotel and Tower boasts 28 floors of guest rooms plus an additional 61 floors of condominium residences, making it a towering landma= rk of luxury at the north end of Chicago's Loop. During its three-year construction phase, hotel management recognized the need to provide in-buil= ding cellular coverage throughout the hotel's interior space, and chose ADC's InterReach Fusion system as the solution. Currently, Sprint and Verizon pro= vide service through the Fusion system at the hotel, although discussions with AT&T and T-Mobile are underway.

"We wanted an in-building wireless system that could support all of the carriers in the a= rea, and ADC came highly recommended by carriers and consultants," said Jer= ry Chang, IT director at the Trump International Hotel and Tower. "The Fu= sion system has eliminated service complaints from subscribers to the carriers w= ho are on it so far, and we hope to have agreements with all other carriers soon."

The InterReach Fusion in-building distributed antenna system (DAS) feeds 174 remote antenna units (RAUs). Thanks to the Fusion system's active architecture, deployment teams were able to leverage existing fiber cabling in utility risers to extend signals from Main Hubs to Expansion hubs located on various floors, while t= he RAUs are linked to Expansion Hubs via standard CATV cable. This DAS architecture allows the RAU to be placed close to the user in strategic are= as of the property where coverage improvement is needed most. The system deliv= ers wireless service to all guest rooms as well as the reception area, a 23,000 square-foot spa, meeting rooms, the restaurant, and the bar.

"InterReach Fus= ion's high-performance architecture and ADC's proven ability to deliver effective coverage in high-rise hotels and residences has led to deployments in hospitality venues across the globe as quality wireless service is increasi= ngly viewed as an essential amenity," said John Spindler, vice president of product management for ADC. "Our deployment at the Trump International Hotel and Tower leverages expertise gained through other high-profile deployments such as the City of Dreams in Macau, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai,= and many of the premiere properties on the Las Vegas strip."

About ADC Network So= lutions

ADC's Network Soluti= ons Business Unit offers products that deliver high-performance wireless covera= ge and capacity to business and consumer subscribers in any indoor or outdoor location. ADC is the global leader in advanced in-building wireless solutio= ns and compact network systems, and is a leader in solutions that enhance cove= rage in macro networks.

About Trump Internat= ional Hotel & Tower Chicago

Trump International = Hotel & TowerChicago, located in the heart of the city at 401 N. Wabash Avenu= e, welcomed its first hotel guests in January 2008. The hotel, comprising floo= rs 14-27 of a 92-story residential tower in development by the Trump Organizat= ion, features 339 luxuriously appointed guestrooms including one-, two- and three-bedroom suites; Sixteen, a fine dining restaurant featuring the modern American cuisine of Executive Chef Frank Brunacci; The Spa at Trump; the Tr= ump Health Club; Rebar, a chic cocktail lounge and more. Fifty-three spa guestr= ooms were also unveiled September 2008. Designed by the noted architectural firm= of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with interiors by McGinley Design, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago promises to be a stunning addition = to Chicago's distinguished skyline. For room and event reservations at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, call (312) 588-8000, (877) 458-TRU= MP (7867) or visit www.trumpchicagohotel.com. To find the property on Facebook, please visit http://tinyurl.com/c3hmm5.

For information on o= wning a Residential Condominium or Hotel Condominium in Trump International Hotel a= nd Tower Chicago, please call (312) 644-0900 or visit www.trumpchicago.com. Pr= ices start from the upper $500,000s.

About Trump Hotel Co= llection

Launched in October = 2007, Trump Hotel Collection is the next generation of luxury hospitality - one t= hat is raising the bar in the top-tier travel experience with a level of custom= ized service unrivaled on the market today. Within its prestigious portfolio are= the highly acclaimed Trump International Hotel & Tower New York, and the ne= wly opened Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago and Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. Joining Trump Hotel Collection in 2009 are Trump Internati= onal Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale, Trump SoHo New York and Trump Internatio= nal Hotel & Tower Waikiki. Additional hotel projects are under development around the globe, including: Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto, Trump Ocean Club Panama, Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai, Trump= at Cap Cana, Trump Scotland and Trump International Hotel & Tower New Orle= ans. Trump Hotel Collection, a division of The Trump Organization, is headquarte= red at Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

About ADC=

ADC provides the con= nections for wireline, wireless, cable, broadcast, and enterprise networks around the world. ADC's innovative network infrastructure equipment and professional services enable high-speed Internet, data, video, and voice services to residential, business and mobile subscribers. ADC (NASDAQ:

******= *********************

VERIZON – PROFITS AND = REVENUE UP IN 1ST QUARTER ‘09

Verizon Communications continues to produce fin= ancial results that contradict the notion that the economic recession is affecting telecom. The telco reported first-quarter earnings that included a 5.3 perc= ent increase in net income to $3.21 billion and a revenue increase of more than 11 percent to $26.6 billion. Wireless growth, including benefits = from the company's acquisition of Alltel, continued to drive overall growth. The company added 1.3 million wireless subscribers during the first quarter, topping AT&T wireless customer additions of 1.2 million, which reported= ly surprised many analysts.

Verizon also saw strong contributions from its = FiOS broadband efforts, as FiOS TV collected 299,000 new subscribers during= the quarter and FiOS Internet landed 298,000 subscribers.<= /span>

Some key wireline business services, such as managed services, Ethernet and security solutions--a set known as strategic business services--showed a 7.5 increase in revenue to = $1.5 billion. However, wireline revenue overall fell, as residential landline connections dipped 10.4 percent, not quite as sharp of a drop as the 12 per= cent decline reported by AT&T last week. It was unclear Monday morning how m= uch the success of Verizon's new Hub media phone might be offsetting at le= ast a small amount of that landline loss. We'll follow up with an update l= ater today.

******= *********************

Wesco's 1st-quarter profit falls along with everybody else

Along with the rest of the industry, Electrical= and industrial supplier Wesco International Inc.'s profit fell 45 percent in the latest quarter as construction and all of the company's other end markets -- except government sales -- sagged. The company plans further cost-cutting, = and said it has identified areas that will help it save an additional $22 milli= on a year, though didn't offer specifics on where those cuts will come from. We interviewed several big contractors and got some very positive feedback on WESCO. Many new initiatives by Wesco and subsidiary CSC – Communications Supply Corp. are starting to produce new sales and build the= ir customer base. Visit their websites for up-to-date information on new progr= ams. Knowledge isn’t just power, it’s also wealth. www.wescodist.com= www.gocsc.com=

Wesco said that it was able to improve its gross profit margin from the fourth quarter. The company's gross margin -- which measures profitability once the cost of making goods are stripped out -- was 20.2 percent of sales, up from 19.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. Wesco remains a top industry leader in distribution.

******= *********************

Corning Cable Systems Introduces Low-loss, Bend-Tolerant Jumpers for Enterprise Applications

Ideal for linking electronics to network components in fiber optic applications where bend-induced mistakes = can be costly

Corning Cable System= s LLC, part of Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) Telecommunications segment, introduces its Pretium^® Low-loss OM3 Jumpers with ultra-bend performance. Local area network (LAN) and data center applications can bene= fit from the improved bend tolerance of these new OM3 (high-bandwidth, laser-optimized) cable assemblies with Corning^® ClearCurve® multimode fiber.

Corning Cable Systems PretiumLow-loss OM3 Jumpers with ultra-bend performance can gre= atly reduce outages and degradation in systems caused by severe bending problems. Even when best practices are employed, mistakes may occur that result in ki= nked cables and cables bent beyond the recommended minimum bend radius found in today’s typical jumpers.

As network transmiss= ion speeds increase, available margins tighten and become more sensitive to loss associated with a number of factors including bends. Attenuation loss impac= ts associated with inadvertent macro-bending events may be reduced by more tha= n 50 percent when using Pretium Low-loss OM3 Jumpers with ultra-bend performance= in place of traditional 50 µm jumpers. Some severe bending problems that could typically result in a system outage become a non-event when the Preti= um Low-loss OM3 Jumpers with ultra-bend performance are deployed in the networ= k.

Enabled by Corning ClearCurvemultimode fiber, Pretium Low-loss OM3 Jumpers with ultra-bend perform= ance are able to accommodate a minimum bend radius of 8 mm (1.6 mm cable) to 10 = mm (2.0 mm cable) with minimal bend-induced attenuation loss.

Multimode fibers hav= e many modes of light traveling through the core of the fiber. These modes have a tendency to leak from the core under tight bending conditions. The resulting additional signal loss can cause system downtime or reduced network efficie= ncy. Corning ClearCurve multimode fiber is designed to confine these modes within the fiber’s core; the result is a virtually undiminished optical sign= al and a reduced risk of network downtime.

Visit the Corning Ca= ble Systems exhibit (booth #115) at the 2009 BICSI Spring Conference & Exhibition May 10-13, in Baltimore for a demonstration of the optimized bend performance of the Pretium Low-loss OM3 Jumpers with ultra-bend performance= .

For additional infor= mation on Corning Cable Systems products and services, contact a

customer service representative at 1-800-743-2675, toll free in the <= st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">United States, or (+1) 828-901-5000, international, or visit the Web site at www.corning.com/cablesystems.

******= *********************

AFL Telecommunications Acquir= es Draka's OPGW Business

AFL Telecommunications has signed an agreement to purchase Draka's Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) business based in Monchengladbach, Germany. This acquisi= tion positions AFL Telecommunications as the leading OPGW manufacturer worldwide, increasing its reach in additional countries of Europe, Africa and the Midd= le East.

"The combined business synergies will enhance our technologies, increa= se manufacturing efficiencies and leverage the value of what we offer our customers," said Jody Gallagher, AFL Telecommunications' President and CEO. "Not only will our capacity increase, but it will enable us to enhance our capability and flexibility along with our ability to meet the increasing demands of our customers." AFL Telecommunications currently manufactures OPGW cables in the United States and United Kingdom.

Optical Ground Wire is a dual functioning cable that serves as ground wire = for power lines, while providing a path for the transmission of voice, video or data signals by incorporating optical fibers into the design of the cable. = OPGW is placed at the highest point on power utility structures, allowing for fa= st, cost-effective installations with exceptional reliability.

With over 20 years of experience in the aerial cable market, AFL supplies a full range of OPGW products, hardware accessories, engineering and installa= tion services.

Terms of the acquisition are undisclosed, and are subject to customary clos= ing conditions and standard procedures due to local legislation. For additional information on AFL Telecommunications, visit www.AFLtele.com.

About AFL Telecommunications
AFL Telecommunications, a subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan, is an indus= try leader in providing fiber optic products, engineering expertise and integra= ted services to the Electric Utility, Broadband, Telco, OEM, Private Network and Wireless markets. AFL Telecommunications is headquartered in Spartanburg, S= outh Carolina and has additional operations in the U.S., Mexico and the U.K.&nbs= p;

******= *********************

NETcomm Presents Atlantic 2009 Conference, Issues Call for Papers

Following the succes= s of the Maritimes Conference held in Halifax last September—and Prairies and Québec conferences this year in April and June that promise to be ev= en better—NETcomm is returning to Halifax for its Atlantic 2009 Conference this September 14-15 at The Lord Nelson (Official Conference Hotel).

The Atlantic 2009 Co= nference is the third in a series of regional conferences NETcomm is conducting acro= ss Canada this year. The conference format combines a trade show-like forum wi= th a series of educational seminars and technical workshops related to all aspec= ts of communications networks and connectivity solutions.

Attendees consist of contractors, installers, integrators, designers, engineers, communications specialists, etc., who work in public administration, transportation, telecommunications, security, electrical and cabling installation, network design and installation, and purchasing and operations management.

NETcomm has issued a Call for Papers for the Atlantic 2009 Conference, seeking presentations on subjects touching upon o= ne or more of the following:

• Voice/Data/V= ideo

• Security

• Industrial Automation

• Environmental Systems

• Backbone and Cable/Rack Management

• Test & Measurement

• Regulations = & Standards

            (Other subjects will be considered)

To enquire about facilitating an educational seminar, please contact:

Anthony Capkun

(905) 713-4391 direc= t

acapkun@clbmedia.ca<= o:p>

For more information= , and to learn about exhibiting and sponsor= ship opportunities, visit www.netcommshow.ca.

******= *********************

FSU Converges Support to Follow Technology

By Suzanne Kane and Donna Taylor

Convergence implies the carriage of different types of traffic such as voice, video, data, and images over a single, integrated network based on the Internet protocol (IP). Throughout most of the 20th century, communications media were separate and services were distinct. Voi= ce telephony, online computer services, and broadcasting were separate, and ea= ch had its own platform. Each was also regulated differently and by different entities. These concise business models had support that was easily defined= .

    The trend toward convergence combines all of these different media into one operating platform. This merger of telecom, data processing, and imaging technologies is creating a new era of multimedia that customers not only wa= nt, but demand. One of the challenges presented by this demand that receives le= ss attention but is critical to success is support. Customer service groups mu= st be formed that can cross all technological boundaries to support the breadt= h of products, services, and features required to satisfy our customers’ e= xpectations.

    In response to this development, The Florida State University (FSU) made the decision to converge its computer help desk and telecom call center/directo= ry assistance section with reporting lines to the telecommunications customer service area. This coincided with a restructure that reassigned reporting of the telecommunications department to the Office of Technology Integration (OTI). All support for computer and telephony would remain intact; however, this unit had a more comprehensive, university-wide role to fulfill. The me= rger was announced in December 2005, and although the process was not without obstacles, it was managed expediently and seamlessly. Here is how FSU made = this work.

Early Decisions

Early in the process, it was decided to scale back, defi= ne the areas of need, and distinguish between short term and long term. Rather than looking at the big picture, the focus was on the short-term, critical = need so the process could be manageable. As for any other project, parameters we= re defined, plans were developed, a timeline was established, and tasks/leaders were assigned. It was time to= set the start date and roll up shirtsleeves.

    The following six project parameters, initial areas of critical need, were identified:

1. Location. The = goal was to bring the staff from both sections together. Regardless of the locat= ion selected, one of the two groups (if not both) would need to be physically relocated. Because space was limited in our main building, the computer help-desk location was selected, and the staff from the main telecommunicat= ions building relocated. While this was not ideal from the standpoint of buildin= g a cohesive department, it ultimately helped build relationships and bridge tr= ust with the newly formed alliance with other technology departments. Because t= his location was more closely connected to other IT departments, it confirmed t= hat the help desk was still there to support the entire division.

    Another advantage to this location was the ability to act quickly. Fall was rapidly approaching, and neither section was adequately staffed. The options were to either fill the vacancies in both sections and operate in two locations unt= il peak time settled down or to bite the bullet, move and train existing staff, and hold on until fall rush was over! Choosing the latter was one of the toughest decisions made, leaving = most staff members very apprehensive; but in the end, it proved to be the right decision because it worked.

2. Positions/staf= fing. The strength of any successful business resides with its employees. FSU had= two great units that functioned well separately. The goal was to capitalize on = the technology strengths of the help desk and the customer-centric attitude of telecom’s call center to establish a broader help-desk identity. With that in mind, the blended Florida State University Technology Services Help Desk was born.

3. Telephone syst= em configuration. Both help desks used automatic call distribution (ACD) syste= ms, with long-term, established numbers. Functionality and telephone numbers ha= d to be merged and/or forwarded into one system, with 644-HELP as lead number. Telecom’s call center evolved from campus operators, which introduced= a third long-term number and system to support FSU’s directory assistan= ce. Historically, this directory assistance number was globally published as the university’s main number, which also had to be factored into the configuration. Once the technical configuration was complete, all of the ne= wly united employees had to be trained to collectively support computer help de= sk, telephony help desk, and FSU directory assistance prior to fall rush, August 2006.

    In October of that same year (2006), 60 percent of the directory assistance ca= lls were diverted when FSU launched its interactive voice response (IVR) system= for directory assistance, routing only overflow or attendant-assisted calls to = the help line. This automation was crucial as it allowed staff to turn attentio= n to support issues and other more critical tasks.

4. Customer conta= ct points. Success required consolidating points of contact, highlighting the = word HELP. To inform the FSU community, a campaign was launched via all campus media, such as mass email and website news flashes. It took over two years = to cancel old numbers, eliminate outdated literature, and forget “the wa= y it was before,” but for the most part the campus now knows how to reach someone for assistance: phone (850) 644-HELP (4357); email help@otc.fsu.edu= ; or visit the website at www.helpdesk.fsu.edu.

5. Website Consol= idation. Both help desks had dynamic websites, each serving unique purposes to distinctly different customers. Significant time was spent reviewing the si= tes to determine the best course of action. The goal was, and remains, to devel= op one useful, customer-friendly website, while preserving the various roles. =

    An important component in the combining design, which remains a challenge toda= y, was multiple ticketing systems. One system was used for university-wide tic= kets such as FSU email, human resources, computer account access, and password resets. The other system was specifically integrated into telecom’s trouble ticket and billing system.

6. Contact manage= ment. To establish and strengthen communication with clients as well as customers, meetings were held with key personnel, specifically within the technology departments. In these meetings, plans were reviewed and working terminology defined:

•   Customers: people (students, faculty, staff, prospective students, parents) who contact the help desk with a question. We define a customer as anyone you come in contact with (i.e., students, parents, coworkers, vendors, departmental pee= rs, etc.), or “the one who gets it next!”

•   Clients: the group we are representing to the customer with the question.

•   Tier 1 support (help desk): basic questions with routine answers.

•   Tier 2 support: support that cannot be provided by the help desk and must be sen= t to our clients for more in-depth assistance (typically provided by our clients= ).

•   Knowledge base/scripts: a collection of preformatted solutions, developed with our clients, that address known or common customer problems. =

•   Turnaround times: standard time for the resolution of a problem or ticket.<= /span>

•   Tracking: the process of reporting on status.

•   Escalation procedure: established process used to assist with difficult problems.=

Comm= on Sense Approach

Once the foundation was established, the plans were exec= uted and observed following the principle of leadership that is structured yet flexible. Following a one-year review, these observations led to structural changes and responsibility shi= fts to strengthen support. For instance, it was evident that the duties associa= ted with customer contact had to be separated from the duties of content manage= ment (i.e., support for client interaction, ticketing systems/administration, knowledge base, and website maintenance). To accomplish this goal, a custom= er resource management area was created, not separating what had just been converged, but creating a whole new section to help support the help desk.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> To more accurately match skill set= s, several employees were repositioned and a supervisor was reassigned to lead this new area. Now help-desk staff could get back to the basics and clearly focus on customer and client support.

Cust= omer Service 101

Technology changes are inevitable and necessary. Custome= rs who are kept informed and receive high-quality support will not only accept such changes, they will embrace them. The secret to success is to make cust= omer satisfaction top priority.

    It did not take long to discover that technical staff much preferred email contact with customers to actual conversation. Conversely, our most outgoing, customer-oriented staff was similarly frustrated with technical tasks. Appl= ying basic telephone etiquette, such as to clearly identify area and state names= to callers, presented a burden to longtime IT help-desk staff.

    At this point, customer contact job listings were rewritten as level 1 help de= sk services. Interpersonal skills were emphasized, and technical ability deemphasized. It appeared to be easier for effective communicators with the inherent ability to serve customers to learn repetitive technical skills th= an for technical staff to learn the level of “people skills” requi= red for good customer relations. Gradually, attrition brought with it renewed energy, and clearer goa= ls were communicated focusing on the customer’s experience. <= /span>

Meas= uring Success

The next ongoing challenge became how to determine that these changes in philosophy were successful. Reports to ensure uniformity in services and quality metrics were developed. Processes and procedures were written or rewritten to provide internal training, as well as to update our Web-published knowledge base. Involving employees heavily in the developmen= t of these tools accelerated learning curves and helped promote teamwork from the outset.

    The character of any team is reflected in the standards it sets for itself. Here are some examples of what is working for FSU:

1. Defined standards and rules of thumb, such as the following:

   = 226;        Customer service employees are provided these customer contact expectations as part = of training:

(1) Guaranteed response time on email, voicemail, or ver= bal inquires

(2) Phone and email etiquette

(3) Coverage: maintain work schedules and leave requests= on a shared calendar

(4) Out-of-office procedures: Change voicemail greeting, activate “out-of-office assistant” on email
   = 226;        Defined turnarounds for all services

   = 226;        Customer contact instructions to confirm satisfaction

2. Examples of defined monthly benchmarks:

   = 226;        Number of repairs (opened/closed)

   = 226;        Calls to help-desk line (offered, answered, and abandoned)

   = 226;        Calls to directory assistance IVR

(offered, answered, and abandoned)

   = 226;        Number of website visits

   = 226;        Number of online chats

   = 226;        Number of password resets

3. Examples of we= ekly management tools and reports used to keep us on track:

   = 226;        Repairs open > 24 hours

   = 226;        Email notice to tier 2 clients and vendors seeking updates for past-due tickets a= nd accounts that had not been accessed for a prespecified time frame

   = 226;        Client/customer call tracking (defines trends in who is calling and what their needs are)

   = 226;        Monitoring IVR calls to identify success rates

What= Lies Ahead?

As we look to the future, FSU continues to seek areas of improvement. Some projects th= at have been identified include the following:

•   Consolidate and improve reporting capabilities for university-wide ticketing system, ra= ther than multiple systems. <= /o:p>

•   Increase the presence and communication with clients who provide tier 2 support.

•   Separate tier 2 support into a tier 2 and tier 3 structure (defining tier 3 and redefining tier 2).

•   Implement improved call center software and hardware to increase efficiency and impro= ve automation.

•   Solidify and clearly communicate computer software and hardware standards and configurations to students, parents, and professors.

•   Continue to enhance online services based on customers’ needs.

•   Seek continuous feedback from clients and customers through surveys, focus group= s, and open forums.

•   Explore options for moving all help-desk staff into the main department’s building.

    In a university environment, it is important to establish benchmarks in order to track trends and measure volumes. Defining the elusive measurement to ensure that clients and customers receive the level of quality customer care they deserve is a requirement. Typically help-desk staff are trained to accept t= he fact that complaints will be lodged no matter how well they perform. At FSU= , a basic goal is to measure success not by a lack of complaints, but on the abundance of compliments. Bas= ed on this measurement, The Florida State University Technology Services Help Des= k is well on its way to transforming two help desks into one unified and highly successful service and support center.

Donna Ta= ylor is assistant director, customer service, and Suzanne Kane is manager, Technolo= gy Services Help Desk in the Office of Telecommunications, at The Florida State University. Reach Donna at dltaylor@otc.fsu.edu and Suzanne at suzkane@= otc.fsu.edu.

&nb= sp;

******= *********************

&nb= sp;

Megladon HLC®SCRATCHGUARD™ F= iber Optic Patch Cords Withstand 1000 Matings

Megladon’s sig= nature HLC SCRATCHGUARD fiber optic patch cables were utilized in durability testi= ng simulating an in-field 1000 mating requirement. Multiple mating scenarios a= re experienced by network installers and maintenance personnel when certifying= or troubleshooting fiber optic networks. = ;            &n= bsp;

The durability test = was initiated using SM SCHLC processed connectors from several manufacturers to ensure the final product was not manufacturer sensitive. The mated pair was tested for insertion loss after each mating and visually inspected after ea= ch set of 100 matings. The mating surface was only cleaned when a substantial insertion loss increase was noticed (see data graph below).

Megladon’s HLC= fiber optic terminations are known for their mating surface durability and coupli= ng efficiency. This provides network installation personnel with an ease of use during network deployment and provides maintenance personnel a reliable net= work utilizing the highest optical performance patch cords in the industry.=

“We are very e= xcited to demonstrate our fiber optic technology in this way”, said Daniel Hogberg, Megladon Product Group Manager. “It is an extreme test that a standard product could not endure. When you look at the data, it raises the question why these products are not deployed in all networks”.

Megladon Manufacturi= ng Group Ltd., a subsidiary of TyRex Group Ltd.®, is recognized as a leader in t= he fiber optic marketplace. Founded in 1997, Megladon made it their mission to provide customers with fiber optic products that far exceed industry standa= rds. As technology innovators, Megladon created the HLC (Hardened Lens Contact) termination, which has changed the market and taken it to the next level. F= or additional information on Megladon and their patented processes please visit the company’s website at www.megladonmfg.com or respond by email to scratchguard@megladonmfg.com.

******= *********************

Megladon Manufacturing and Draka Communications will present at SCTE Meeting

Megladon Manufacturing Group announced today a joint presentation with Draka Communications at the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Southern California Chapter (www.scte.org) meeti= ng in Los Angeles on May 20, 2009. The presentation is titled “Optical Communications – Then and Now”. Topics will include reviewing long-standing fundamentals for those desiring to better understand the foundation building blocks as well as several of the hottest product performance requirements being driven by cutting edge applications.

The presentation will begin at 9:00AM and lunch is included. The meeting locati= on is Time Warner Cable (www.timewa= rnercable.com) – Los Angeles Area – West Office 6320 Arizona Circle Los Angele= s, CA 90045. Presenters for this session will be Mr. Dean J. Yamasaki, Applications and Technology Manager for Draka Communications (www.drakaamericas.com) and Mr. Jo= hn M Culbert, President of Megladon Manufacturing (www.megladonmfg.com).

“We are e= xcited about supporting the SCTE Southern California Chapter”, stated John M Culbert, President and Partner at Megladon. He continued “The informa= tion presented will be valuable to the attendees and include cutting edge technologies utilized in CATV networks to minimize cost and improve video transmission”.

“Optical communications technology has been required to adapt to a growing number of= new challenges as the diversity of applications continue to expand. We appreciate the SCTE Southern California Chapter providing us this opportunity to educate the CATV indust= ry on recent advancements that facilitate broadband deployments.” states Dean Yamasaki, Applications and Technology Manager for Draka Communications= .

Megladon Manufacturi= ng Group Ltd., a subsidiary of TyRex Group Ltd.®, is recognized as a leade= r in the fiber optic marketplace. Founded in 1997, Megladon made it their missio= n to provide customers with fiber optic products that far exceed industry standa= rds. As technology innovators, Megladon created the HLC (Hardened Lens Contact) termination, which has changed the market and taken it to the next level. F= or additional information on Megladon and their patented processes please visit the company’s website at www.m= egladonmfg.com or respond by email to scra= tchguard@megladonmfg.com.

Draka, headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a € 2.5 billion, publ= icly listed (Euronext) company with 9,145 employees worldwide. Draka is divided into three groups, Energy & Infrastructure, Industry & Specialty and Communications. Communications is responsible for = the production and sale of optical fiber, cable and communication infrastructure solutions globally. Draka Communications – Americas’ roots in N= orth America run a century deep in names like Alcatel, ITT, Ericsson, Chromatic Technologies, and Phelps Dodge. Our clients are served from Draka's unique = site in Claremont, North Carolina which is home to the 125-acre corporate campus & Americas headquarters, over 1 million square feet of manufacturing sp= ace and the only integrated optical fiber and cable facility in North America.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> For more information please visit = http://www.drakaamericas.com.

Association News

ACUTA

ACUTA Honors Innovative Technology Projects at Three Universities with Institutio= nal Excellence Awards

Ball State Universit= y in Indiana, Marquette University in Wisconsin, and Abilene Christian Universit= y in Texas have each been recognized for their information communications techno= logy projects with a 2009 Institutional Excellence award from ACUTA, the Associa= tion for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education= .

ACUTA announced the = awards during the organization’s 38th Annual Conference here. As the only international association dedicated to serving the needs of higher education information communications technology professionals, ACUTA represents nearly 2,000 individuals at some 780 institutions. Its award for Institutional Excellence in Information Communications Technology is ACUTA’s premier recognition of the work being done on college and university campuses.

Ball State University, the award winner for schools with more than 15,000 studen= ts, was recognized for its “The Aesthetic Camera” project, a course that uses the Internet-based world of Second Life to provide class particip= ants with hands-on use of virtual film and video equipment and resources that wo= uld be impractical to duplicate in the physical world. As a self-paced distance learning tool, Aesthetic Camera allows students to shoot and record the evidence of their understanding of learned cinematography concepts.

Aesthetic Camera is = a joint project of numerous colleges within the Muncie, Indiana-based university, as well as telecommunications professionals and computer scientists.

Marquette University= in Milwaukee, the award winner among schools with 5,000 to 15,000 students, was recognized for its implementation of a Voice over IP unified communications system. The Marquette system combines voice mail and e-mail, with benefits = such as a single mailbox for all communications and a broad range of options for accessing and managing communications, including tools such as instant messaging, voice, e-mail, and web conferencing.

Abilene Christian University, the award winner for schools with fewer than 5,000 students, was recognized for its groundbreaking project of providing each incoming freshm= an with an iPhone or iPod Touch as part of a revolutionary mobile learning initiative. The Abilene, Texas-based school’s project recasts the 21s= t Century classroom as infinitely flexible, with new forms of both in- and out-of-classroom learning. Students use their mobile devices to leverage a single-sign-on portal for access to teaching tools and information.

ACUTA also gave an honorable mention to Indiana University, whose UniCom project provides a full-featured unified communications client combining e-mail, vo= ice mail, instant messaging, videoconferencing, enhanced presence, web collaboration, and remote call control in a single easy-to-use desktop platform. The 15-month project went live in September 2008 and continues to grow in its number of users.

“Each of these= award winners provides an outstanding example of the type of innovation that ACUTA’s Institutional Excellence Award is designed to recognize,̶= 1; said Dr. Walt Magnussen, immediate past president of ACUTA and chairman of = the Awards Committee. “From Ball State’s Aesthetic Camera to the communications convergence at Marquette and the innovative use of mobile technology at Abilene Christian, each of these projects highlights the important ways that information communications technology helps fulfill the mission of each institution.”

The Institutional Excellence in Information Communications Technology Awards, sponsored by PAETEC, are part of each ACUTA Annual Conference. The conferen= ce is an opportunity for hundreds of representatives of higher education institutions to explore and discuss information communications strategies t= hat support their organizations’ missions.

About ACUTA
ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, is an international non-profit educational association serving colleges and universities. = Its core purpose is to support higher education information communications tech= nology professionals in contributing to the achievement of the strategic mission of their institutions. ACUTA represents nearly 2000 individuals at some 780 institutions of higher education, with members ranging from small schools a= nd community colleges to the 50 largest U.S. institutions. ACUTA’s Corporate Affiliate members represent all categories of communications technology vendors serving the college/university market. For more information, visit www.acuta.org

******= *********************

Four ACUTA Conference Exhibitors Win ‘Favorite Booth’ Honors from Attendees

Verizon,= Aastra, Telecom Technology Resellers, and Aruba Networks were the winners in the “Favorite Booth” competition at this year’s annual confer= ence of ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education.=

Attendee= s at ACUTA’s April conference in Atlanta were asked to select their favori= te island and inline booths and favorite booth giveaways. When the responses w= ere tabulated, in island booths the Verizon Business/Verizon Wireless booth was= the favorite, while attendees liked Aastra’s giveaways the best. For inli= ne booths, Telecom Technology Resellers was the first choice in overall booth appeal, while Aruba Networks’ giveaways were the best-liked.

ACUTA is= the only national association dedicated to serving the needs of higher education information communications technology professionals, representing some 2,000 individuals at 790 institutions and 170 corporations.

“T= he exhibition portion of our annual conference is always a focal point of the event, in addition to the many informational sessions,” said Jeri Sem= er, executive director of ACUTA. “The favorite booth contest is one more = way we generate attendee interest in our valued exhibitors.”

The 2010= ACUTA annual conference will be April 18-21 in San Antonio, Texas.

About AC= UTA
ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, is an international non-profit educational association serving colleges and universities. = Its core purpose is to support higher education information communications technology professionals in contributing to the achievement of the strategic mission of their institutions. ACUTA represents nearly 2000 individuals at = some 790 institutions of higher education, with members ranging from small schoo= ls and community colleges to the 50 largest U.S. institutions. ACUTA̵= 7;s Corporate Affiliate members represent all categories of communications technology vendors serving the college/university market. www.acuta.org

******= *********************

Optimism Ahead for National Policy Changes

Jeri A. Semer, CAE

Executive Director, = ACUTA

A number of developments are under way in Washi= ngton, D.C., that bode well for consumers of information communications technology services. There is cause for optimism for both individual consumers and organizations such as colleges and universities.

Economic Stimulus

At the time this column is being written, the U= .S. Senate and House are still in negotiations on an unprecedented economic stimulus package. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill contain several billion dollars of support for our nation’s cyberinfrastructu= re. So, although we don’t yet know the specifics of legislation that will eventually be passed by Congress and signed by the president, it is virtual= ly certain to contain a huge investment by the federal government in the deplo= yment of broadband services to unserved and underserved areas of the country.

  &nb= sp; Only a few short weeks ago, we were lacking a national government commitment to broadband deployment. While we are still without a cohesive national broadb= and policy, this legislation will jump-start bringing a critical service to communities that have been handicapped by a lack of access.

  &nb= sp; As negotiations continue with the goal of bringing the entire stimulus package into a form that will garner enough votes to pass, billions of dollars are being shaved from the spending plan. Over the last weekend, funds earmarked= for renovation and repair of buildings on college campuses were significantly reduced, and $2 billion was cut from the broadband provisions in the Senate bill. We will definitely keep you informed of ways in which the economic stimulus is likely to affect higher-education institutions. In the final analysis, thousands of jobs will be created or preserved, and badly needed investments will be made in our physical and cyberinfrastructure.

Other Bills in Congress

Although the majority of attention has been foc= used on the economic stimulus, a couple of other bills of interest have been introduced and are moving quickly through the committee process in Congress. Legislation has been reintroduced in both the House and the Senate to resol= ve the burdensome record-keeping rules by removing cell phones and similar PDA devices from “listed property” under the IRS Code. You can keep up-to-date on these bills via a widget on the ACUTA website at www.acuta.or= g.

  &nb= sp; In addition, a bill was recently introduced and has already passed the House of Representatives (H.R. 748—The CAMPUS Safety Act of 2009) that will cr= eate a National Center for Campus Safety within the U.S. Department of Justice. = This legislation is supported by the campus law enforcement community, and would have an important role in research, promoting collaboration and information dissemination, developing threat assessment models, and coordinating the activities of various government agencies concerned with campus safety.

Changes at the FCC

While Congress is debating economic stimulus legislation, major changes are also taking place at the FCC. These changes = are positive as well, and they are designed to create greater openness and tran= sparency at this important agency.

  &nb= sp; We are observing a real initiative toward bipartisanship, collegiality, and op= en communication among the interim chairman and the other two remaining FCC commissioners. Efforts have begun to promote better communication among the career professionals who bring tremendous value to the FCC and the commissioners’ staffs. Simple ideas such as announcing upcoming meeti= ng dates a year in advance, making the FCC’s website more user friendly,= and ensuring that commissioners have sufficient time to review proposed decisio= ns in advance are receiving positive reviews.

  &nb= sp; There has also been talk of bringing more technical expertise (engineers and other technology professionals) onto the professional staff over time and retuning the agency’s strategic plan to bring it into line with the current environment. Based on the FCC’s statements about the importance of advanced broadband services and their role in promoting advanced technologi= es, it will be interesting to see what direction the agency moves in once it escapes the quagmire of the digital TV transition. As an outside observer w= ho has interacted with staff and commissioners under several FCC chairs, these seem like very positive developments that will benefit both consumers and t= he industry.

  &nb= sp; By law, the FCC has a 3-2 split between the majority and minority parties. The= re are currently two vacancies (the chairman and one commissioner), and one of= the remaining members is being considered for another job in the administration. This all means that the president will need to appoint a permanent chair an= d, presumably, one more Democrat and one Republican to the Commission.

Dept. of Education Negotiated Rulemaking

Another potentially positive development has oc= curred at the Department of Education, where very early efforts are under way to develop regulations to implement the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 20= 08. The three areas of most interest to ACUTA members are peer-to-peer (P2P) fi= le sharing, emergency notification and response, and identity verification of distance-learning students.

  &nb= sp; ACUTA had the opportunity to nominate rulemaking negotiators on these topics. We learned this month that one of our nominees, Matt Arthur from Washington University in St. Louis, was accepted as an alternate negotiator on P2P. Th= is means that Matt will have a seat at the table at all three negotiation sess= ions on this important subject. We will keep you informed as negotiations proceed throughout the spring and final rules are put in place by a target date of November for implementation in summer 2010.

  &nb= sp; This is a fast-paced and fascinating time for ICT issues at the federal level, a= nd ACUTA is increasingly involved in these issues, both independently and in concert with other higher-education
associations. I am constantly reminded of our dual roles of advocacy in representing the interests of our members at the national level and keeping= you informed of issues that will affect your campus. If there are issues you are particularly interested in, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jsemer@acuta.org.

******= *********************

ACUTA Salutes Two Longtime Members and Former Presidents with Top Leadership Awar= ds

Two form= er presidents and longtime members of ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, have been hono= red with special awards by the organization. They are Patricia Todus of Northwestern University and Carmine Piscopo of Providence College.

Todus was honored with the Bill D. Morris Award, named for a popular past president. ACUTA gives the Morris Award to the member who best exemplifies the dedicat= ion, vision, professionalism, and leadership that Morris brought to the organization.

Todus is= deputy chief information officer and associate vice president at Northwestern, whe= re she has led strategic IT planning and helped develop a degree program in telecommunications. Todus has been a member of ACUTA since 1984, serv= ing as president in 2005-2006 and currently serving as chair of both the Higher Education Advisory Panel and the prestigious ACUTA Forum for Strategic Leadership in Information Communications Technology.

Piscopo = received the Ruth A. Michalecki Leadership Award, recognizing outstanding leadership= by a member. He has been an ACUTA member since 1985, and was the organization’s 2006-2007 president. He has also spoken at numerous AC= UTA conferences and seminars, held the office of secretary-treasurer, chaired t= he Program Committee, and served on the Higher Education Advisory Panel=

An RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer), Piscopo is in charge of = the communications network at Providence College.

“A= CUTA is only as strong as its members’ willingness to share their leadership skills and their technology and management expertise,” said Jeri Seme= r, executive director of ACUTA. “The winners of the 2009 Bill D. Morris = and Ruth A. Michalecki awards have been great sources of strength to ACUTA. We = are honored to recognize the contributions that Patricia Todus and Carmine Pisc= opo have made to our association.”

About AC= UTA
ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, is an international non-profit educational association serving colleges and universities. = Its core purpose is to support higher education information communications technology professionals in contributing to the achievement of the strategic mission of their institutions. ACUTA represents nearly 2000 individuals at = some 790 institutions of higher education, with members ranging from small schoo= ls and community colleges to the 50 largest U.S. institutions. ACUTA’s Corporate Affiliate members represent all categories of communications technology vendors serving the college/university market. For more information, visit www.acuta.org

******= *********************

BICSI

BICSI RELEASES NEW ELECTRONIC SAFETY AND SECURITY DESIGN REFERENCE MANUAL (ESSDRM= )

New manual will becom= e the foundation document for ESS credential applicants.

BICSI, the associati= on supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry with informatio= n, education and knowledge assessment, announces the release of the second edi= tion of the Electronic Safety and Security Design Reference Manual (ESSDRM). The convergence of security systems such= as access control and surveillance onto the network places much of the responsibility for future security designs into the hands of ITS profession= als.

With significant changes from the first edition, the new manual provides key elements essential to anyone in ITS design, including:

Corning 1Q profit skids<= o:p>

DuPont gets hefty fine from EPA for pollution violations in West Va. = and profits fall 59%

Association News<= /a>

BISBEE’S BUZZ

The information superhighway is a scary place without signage

WESCO International, Inc. Announces Renewal of Accounts Receivable Securitization Financing

Belden Announces Departure of EMEA President

Belden Launches New Generation(R) Series of Value-Priced IP Category Cables for Vi= deo, Sound and Security Applications

BuildingGreen at the AIA National Convention in Frisco

Corning 1Q profit skids

Draka Announces family of MDU Cables with BendBright-XS

DuPont gets hefty fine from EPA for pollution violations in West Va. and profits f= all 59%

EPA Decision greenhouse gases are a health risk.

High-Output Fluorescent Lamps D= eliver Energy Efficiency to High-Bay Lighting – Now on ElectricTV

Hitachi Cable Manchester Begins Feasibility Study for Solar Energy

New Automated Projector Lift Now Shipping and UL Liste= d!

New Belden Brilliance(R) Low Loss Plenum RG-11 Precision Digital Video Coax Significantly Improves Long-Distance Performance

New, Free Resource from Fluke Networks Provides IT Organizations with Step-by-St= ep Process for Improving Application Delivery

New Fundamentals of Fiber Optics Training Course

New Intellectual Property Covers NonStop Wireless Networking, Energy Conservati= on

New Learning Program Brings Online Dimension to Electrical Worker Training R= 11; Now on ElectricTV.net

New NetAlly VoIP Assessme= nt Software Eliminates Risk During Deployment or Expansion of VoIP Phone Syste= ms

New VoIP Enterprise Service Kit from Fluke Networks Reduces Installation and Problem-Solving Time for VoIP Phone Systems

Nobody is Recession- Proof. Microsoft Posts Landmark Loss

Ortronics/Legrand Introduces= New Full Line of Mighty Mo® Network and Server Cabinets to Addre= ss Airflow Issues in Data Centers

Para Systems Offers its Minuteman Power Protection Solutions as New Member of Exclusive Mitel Solutions Alliance

Rise of Smarter, Greener Buildings Boosts Efficiency, Reduces Cost – Now on ElectricTV

Siemon™ Launches New Line of MTP™ Plug and Play Fiber Optic Network Cabl= ing Solutions

Smart Grid to Maximize Poten= tial, Cut Electricity Waste – Now on ElectricTV

The People have Spoken and NETcomm Prairies a Success

Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago has deployed InterReach Fusion(R) in-building cellular systems

VERIZON – PROFITS AND = REVENUE UP IN 1ST QUARTER ‘09

Wesco's 1st-quarter profit falls along with everybody else

Corning Cable Systems Introduces Low-loss, Bend-Tolerant Jumpers for Enterprise Applications

AFL Telecommunications Acquir= es Draka's OPGW Business

NETcomm Presents Atlantic 2009 Conference, Issues Call for Papers

FSU Converges Support to Follow Technology

Megladon HLC®SCRATCHGUARD™ F= iber Optic Patch Cords Withstand 1000 Matings

Megladon Manufacturing and Draka Communications will present at SCTE Meeting

Association News

ACUTA

ACUTA Honors Innovative Technology Projects at Three Universities with Institutio= nal Excellence Awards

Four ACUTA Conference Exhibitors Win ‘Favorite Booth’ Honors from Attendees

Optimism Ahead for National Policy Changes

ACUTA Salutes Two Longtime Members and Former Presidents with Top Leadership Awar= ds

BICSI

BICSI RELEASES NEW ELECTRONIC SAFETY AND SECURITY DESIGN REFERENCE MANUAL (ESSDRM= )

We just got our copy of the May/June Issue of BICSI NEWS =3D WOW!

FOA

FOA Sees Growth In Fiber Optic Usage Even In Today’s Economy

NAED

NAED Announces Upgrades to EPEC Silver Module

Deadline for June 13 Certified Electrical Professional™ (CEP) Registration is = May 15

<= /a>May 21 Profit Talk 101 Provides Information on Captive Insurance Programs at New Price: $29

May is National Electrical Safety Month

NECA

Recent Press Releases

NECA CONVENTION & EXPO (Sept ’09) keeps getting better

NEMA

Economic Stimulus - technology & IT infrastructure information

Ortronics/Legrand Introduces= New Full Line of Mighty Mo^® Network and Server Cabinets to Addre= ss Airflow Issues in Data Centers