January/February/March 2020 I 5
From the President, Jeff Beavers, RCDD, OSP
CONTINUITY
I recall my first presidential address at the BICSI Winter
Conference of 2018 where I spoke about my introduction
into the ICT profession when I enlisted in the U.S.
Air Force and entered technical training to become
a Cable Splicer Technician, joining the close-knit
community of Cable Dawgs.
Technical training or tech school puts students
through numerous blocks. Blocks would cover topics,
such as Basic Electronics, Pole Climbing, Optical Fiber
Splicing, Termination and Testing, and Missile Cable
(a cable splicer technician could be assigned to duty
at a missile base and have to maintain cabling within
the launch control facilities). A student was required
to pass hands-on tasks and written exams to advance
to the next block. Some of the exams were unofficial
with no pass/fail criteria. If a student could be tricked
into responding that there was such a thing as a cable
stretcher, he or she would be the subject of contin-
ued ridicule.
Back in the day, our fusion splicing machine was the
size of a brief case and, when closed, looked like one
too. It was not automated. It did not have factory
presets of the various manufacturers’ fiber specifications,
automated cleaning, automated X-Y alignment,
automated splicing or estimated dB loss. We had to
manually turn the thumb wheels on the splicer to align
the X and Y axes and push the fiber strands together
during the arcing. It was easy to push each fiber too
fast or for too long and end up with a molten ball of
glass at the splice point. And the machine certainly did
not have a monitor to display the splicing actions. By
the way, those unofficial exams were also contingent
on whether students could look into the microscope
without getting a black ink ring around their eyes.
Today, there is automation. Automated fusion splicers
remove even the cladding and core, clean and
cleave automatically, give pass/fail results with loss
values, and come with a built-in oven or two for the
splice protectors. And for a few thousand dollars,
a splicer that can fit in the palm of a hand can splice
faster and with more precision than the old brief case
sized machine.
Technology continues to benefit us in countless ways,
but it can have negative impacts too. AI and auto-
mation reduce the learning curve. However, technol-
ogy can be a compensator and not an indicator of
actual knowledge. I liken it to getting to your destina-
tion without knowing anything about navigation.
It was through my technical training that I learned
about continuity, quite possibly the single most impor-
tant criteria for a circuit. For BICSI, businesses, the ICT
industry and the ICT profession, continuity is quite possi-
bly the single most important criteria for staying relevant,
growing and blossoming. Our industry continues
to be constantly and rapidly changing. Continuity
from generation to generation of ICT professionals
requires mentoring and knowledge transfer. Protecting
and enhancing our core programs and credentials
requires continuity of focus. Relevance and growth
in the global ICT community requires continuity
of commitment.
Another valuable lesson learned in the USAF was
Esprit de corps—pride, fellowship, and common loy-
alty shared by the members of a particular group.
We’re all in this together. I look forward to continue
serving with you as we work to advance our organi-
zation, our industry and our profession.
In the spirit of continuity, I also pass the BICSI presidency
to Todd Taylor who will serve BICSI, the ICT industry
and every member through his own unique skills
and experiences.
It has been my honor to serve you as president.
You were very gracious in allowing me this most
memorable opportunity.
Be safe, someone is counting on you.