From the President, Todd W. Taylor, RCDD, OSP, NTS
ESSENTIAL ICT
PROFESSIONALS AND
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
October/November/December 2020 I 5
In my previous ICT Today message, I had addressed how
the ICT industry is classified as an essential business during
the COVID-19 crisis and how technicians, installers, and
other ICT professionals have kept emergency services and
other essential industries up and running. The badge
of honor for these courageous frontline professionals
should be worn not only during times of crisis but every
day. In our industry, there are always daily network
emergencies, spanning all vertical industries, that they
must handle quickly and efficiently. These ICT professionals,
therefore, are essential workers year-round.
Admittedly, this gives me a sense of pride serving this
essential industry and its essential workers. As technologies
are advancing, changing, and emerging at a historically
fast pace, it is also a realization of our crucial role
in further educating BICSI credentialed technicians, installers,
Registered Communications Distribution Designers
(RCDDs), Data Center Design Consultants (DCDCs), OSP
Designers, and Registered Telecommunications Project
Managers (RTPMs) about these new and emerging technologies.
Consider the Wi-Fi 6E and Li-Fi articles in this very
publication. It also means having to add and remember
new acronyms to a continually growing and seemingly
endless list.
Because networks are converging, some of the emerging
technologies BICSI addresses span beyond traditional
ICT applications, thereby educating credentialed professionals
on the changing role of IT and providing insights
into the work of electrical engineers/installers that can
impact mission-critical ICT networks, troubleshooting,
and the onsite jobs of our essential workers.
This further education is accomplished by ICT Today publishing
the vendor-neutral submitted articles of industry
subject experts and technology thought leaders to whom
we owe ICT Today’s success and distinction from other ICT
and data center publications. Some articles are written
by the innovators of new technologies, while other articles
are submitted by the designers, installers, consultants, and
project managers who have first-hand experience with
those new technology innovations.
Most new and emerging technologies have yet to receive
established standards, but BICSI ensures that best practices
are introduced in the meantime. For example, Li-Fi,
which is still in the early stages of development and implementation,
is covered in ANSI/BICSI 007-2020, Information
Communication Technology Design and Implementation
Practices for Intelligent Buildings and Premises. Likewise,
all BICSI standards manuals strive to include the
latest and greatest technology information so that essential
ICT professionals can be on top of their game and
familiar with other technologies that may impact their
mission-critical work.
Besides ICT Today and updated BICSI standards manuals,
there are many other ways BICSI provides the most
recent and accurate technology information including:
• BICSI Connect online courses
• Webinars
• Specialty publications on a wide range of topics
• Pocket-sized installation field guides covering
everything needing to be known for optical fiber
and copper cabling and connectivity
• BICSI’s state-of-the-art training facility
in Tampa, Florida
Then, there are the BICSI conferences and exhibitions
worldwide. Whether live or virtual—such as this year’s
BICSI Fall Conference & Exhibition virtual online event,
Leading the Future for the Connected World—emerging
technologies are highlighted through compelling presentation
sessions and demonstrations exhibited by innovators
and users in their common quest to advance the
future of communications technologies and the
ICT industry.
Following the conferences and exhibitions, the learning
continues again with ICT Today’s technology articles
that are digitally archived for a couple of years, serving
as a valuable resource library to be accessed between
conferences and while BICSI standards manuals and
specialty publications are updated.
To our essential workers, please know that you deserve
thanks today and every day.
Be Safe, Be Strong, Be Strategic.