TIA's Fiber Optics LAN Section's (FOLS) premises cost model was the topic of a pre-conference half-day seminar at the Fall BICSI Conference. Designed to help network designers compare the installed first costs of different architectures, the cost model is a fully-interactive tool that can be downloaded for free from FOLS’ Web site. More than 100 people, mostly network designers, attended the seminar, which was presented by FOLS Chair Andrew Oliviero of OFS Optics, FOLS Vice Chair Rodney Casteel of CommScope and Robert Reid of Panduit.

The speakers gave an overview of two standards-compliant fiber-based architectures, Centralized Cabling and Fiber-to-the-Telecom Enclosure, showed how these architectures compare to a traditional Hierarchical Star approach, discussed how to use the cost model, and presented case histories to show real-life examples of how the cost model can help users identify the best solution for their needs.

Rodney Casteel described the three architectures used in the model, explaining the pros and cons inherent in each. He emphasized that although fiber-based networks are not the solution for every network, they offer important alternatives for network designers to consider.  He pointed out that while the FOLS cost model addresses only installed first costs, fiber-based networks typically show significant savings over copper networks when life cycle costs are considered.

Robert Reid, who supervised the programming of the model at Panduit, focused on the specifics of using the model.  In the sample scenarios, the cost model uses aggregate pricing derived from the PEPPM Technology Bidding and Purchasing Program, an on-line for government and educational institutions in California and Pennsylvania with secondary listings for most other states.

“The opportunity to teach this seminar at the BICSI conference is excellent for FOLS, because this is our target audience for tools like the cost model” said Oliviero. “We learned a tremendous amount from the session attendees. In addition to the lively discussion that developed as part of the Q&As, we also collected valuable market data through a survey we distributed. We plan to use this data to help us build the next version of the model.”

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Michael Cleveland, of TIA member company RTKL Associates, presented a session on "Building a Tier IV Data Center on a Tier 1 Budget – A Walk Through TIA-942" during the Fall BICSI Conference. This session reviewed ANSI/TIA-942 Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers to help designers explain to clients what "Tier IV" really means and what it costs. TR-942 assists designers in explaining data-center elements (spaces, systems, architecture, mechanical systems and cabling) and all levels of redundancy so clients can find an affordable solution to meet their data-center needs. 

Equally essential to the establishment of a data center, Cleveland said, is an understanding of potential growth – critical to a client's future needs.  He stressed that if planned properly, a data center can grow with a client's needs. Combination hardware/infrastructure tiering and application tiering helps clients price what is best for them, he said.

The ANSI/TIA-942 standard specifies the minimum requirements for the telecommunications infrastructure of data centers and computer rooms including single-tenant enterprise data centers and multi-tenant Internet hosting data centers. The topology proposed in this document is intended to be applicable to any size data center.

To learn more about TR-942, contact Stephanie Montgomery at smontgomery@tiaonline.org.   The document can be purchased for $269. To purchase TR-942, call Information Handling Services at 1.800.854.7179 (USA/Canada)  or +1.303.397.7956 (International) or visit global.ihs.com.

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TIA CTO Dan Bart was among the winners when the America National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced the recipients of its 2007 Leadership and Service Awards last week.  According to ANSI, recipients are recognized for their "significant contributions to national and international standardization activities, as well as an ongoing commitment to their industry, their nation, and the enhancement of the global voluntary consensus standards system." 

Bart will receive the Howard Coonley Medal, which recognizes an executive "[who] has benefited the national economy through voluntary standardization and conformity assessment and has given outstanding support to standardization as a management tool."  ANSI cited Bart's active promotion of standardization programs and partnerships for the industry and his long careers with the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and TIA.  This is Bart's second ANSI award; he won ANSI's Meritorious Service Award in 2004.

ANSI will honor Bart and other 13 recipients during an October 17 ceremony held in conjunction with the U.S. celebration of World Standards Week 2007.

For questions or comments about the award, please contact Ian Martinez at +1-703-907-7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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TIA will have a strong presence at the Telephony LIVE summit this October 10-11, with President Grant Seiffert participating in a key panel. TIA members qualify for discounts on registration.  The summit will address industry questions on the converged services, video services and enterprise services sectors.

The two-day summit, at the Westin Park Central in Dallas, features industry speakers and networkers from Clearwire, Verizon Communications, Time Warner Telecom, Tellabs, NewEdge Networks and others. 

Seiffert will sit on an October 10 panel, Technologies for the Transformation, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.  The panel will be comprised of high-level network technology convergence and integration experts, and will focus on the evolution of communications networks. The panel will be moderated by a Telephony editor and will take place in an executive roundtable format. It will be followed by the presentation of the Telephony Innovation Awards and a cocktail reception.

TIA members will save $100 on registration by using the promo code TIA01.

For more information, see the Telephony LIVE site or register now for reduced rates. TIA members can also contact Florence Sumaray at +1.703.907.7471 or fsumaray@tiaonline.org for more information.

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The Corporate Council on Africa will host the second annual U.S.-Africa Infrastructure Conference in Washington, D.C., October 8-10, 2007. The conference has obvious interest for TIA members, as Africa is an emerging market with much room for broadband and wireless development.

According to its mission statement, the Corporate Council on Africa is "a member organization dedicated to the increase and enhancement of investment and trade in Africa."  The conference will focus on investment and trade opportunities in key African growth sectors such as air, sea, road and rail transportation; urban development; water and sanitation; energy; maritime and food security; and information and communications technology.

Key infrastructure-related sponsors of the conference include GE, Raytheon and DynCorp International.

For more information on the conference, please visit http://www.africacncl.org/Events/Infrastructure_Conference_2007.asp.

For question or comments please contact Adina Ellis of the Corporate Council at aellis@africacncl.org.

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This November, Tel Aviv, Israel, will host the 13th annual World Electronics Forum (WEF), a congress of global electronics association leaders.  TIA President Grant Seiffert will join his colleagues from around the world to work toward WEF's goal of discussing "major topics of common interest to the various associations," and using the opportunity to "exchange information on services and recent data within the electronics industries worldwide... [and] strengthen relations between associations for the benefit of our industries."

This year's WEF agenda includes the election of a new Secretariat, a report on the WEF 2006 meeting, reports on green manufacturing and waste management, international standards and technical regulations, venture capital in our industries, and a tour of key Israeli electronics industry players around the country. 

For questions or comments about the WEF, please contact Ian Martinez at +1.703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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