NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 142

In this month’s newsletter:

Welcome to the Fibre Optic Industry Association newsletter for January 2021.

As usual, we start by welcoming a new member:

All being well, Datanet will also be the newest recruit to the Accredited Installer Scheme (AIS), by the time this is published.

FIA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM was held via Zoom on 1^st December 2020, as previously notified.

The Minutes, Chairman’s & Treasurer’s reports are available for member review on our website at:https://www.fia-online.co.uk/about-the-fia/accounts-and-agms/

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES AT COUNCIL

We are delighted to welcome a New Council Member:

Paul Forster was appointed as a Council member at the AGM – Paul’s company is Total Network Solutions (Europe) Ltd, an FIA Approved Training Provider, and Paul is an FIA Certified Trainer.

Saddened to report the departure of an Existing Council Member:

Martin Smith, formerly Qualifications Director, has left to join a new company, and pursue new challenges.

All FIA Council members are listed at: https://www.fia-online.co.uk/about-the-fia/fia-council-members/

FIA SUMMER SEMINAR

Due to Covid-19 the Summer Seminar for 2020 was unfortunately but inevitably cancelled.

The event for 2021 is provisionally booked at the same venue, Whittlebury Hall, Nr. Towcester, Northants for Thursday 10^th & Friday 11^th June.

We are hoping the event can go-ahead this year and list below some of the Sponsorship packages available.

Speakers already committed include:

Illyas Yousaf – Micron – ‘Installing Broadband’ (provisional title)

Malcom Corbett – INCA – ‘Digital Broadband’ (provisional title)

If you are interested in being a sponsor, there are no monies to pay until April but you can reserve a particular package or a Table-top exhibition stand now.

Additionally, if you are interested in providing a presentation or if there is a particular topic you would like to be covered, please advise the Secretary.

The Packages

Main event Sponsorship £2,000 + VAT. Benefits to include:

Banner at the front of the Seminar Room on both days
Logo on slides
Exhibition Table-top in main Seminar room (half-day on 10th and half-day on 11th June)
Company logo on event web page
5 minute slot at Seminar on Day 1 to introduce the company and provide details of the exhibits
2 FOC delegate Seminar & Dinner places
Follow up Sponsors message (100 words) in the next Newsletter after the event

Dinner Sponsor £1,500 + VAT. Benefits to include:

Banner and /or Pop Up in the Dining Room on the evening of the Dinner
Gift on table for Delegates (provided by Sponsor)
Exhibition Table-top in main Seminar room (half-day on 10th and half-day on 11th June)
Company logo on event web page
5 minute slot at Seminar on Day 1 to introduce the company and provide details of the exhibits
2 FOC delegate Seminar & Dinner places
Follow up Sponsors message (50 words) in the next Newsletter after the event

Bar Sponsorship £1,000 + VAT. Benefits to include:

Exhibition Table-top in main Seminar room (half-day on 10th and half-day on 11th June)
Company logo on event web page
5 minute slot at Seminar on Day 1 to introduce the company and provide details of the exhibits
1 FOC delegate Seminar & Dinner place

Exhibitor Table-top Sponsor £575 + VAT for members & £800 + VAT for Non-members. Benefits include:

Exhibition Table-top in main Seminar room (half-day on 10th and half-day on 11th June)
Company logo on event web page
5 minute slot during Seminar programme to introduce the company and provide details of the exhibits

Note: Delegate places are not included in the table-top sponsorship fees and must be additionally booked.

NHS BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURES FOR HEALTHCARE ICT – IET CODE OF PRACTICE- AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE, FOR ALL FIA MEMBERS

The FIA has been a major contributor to the Code of Practice and we are pleased to advise that after two years in development it is now available to become the go-to document for all those involved in hospital and healthcare infrastructure design.

The Code of Practice directs designers to the relevant network cabling standards applicable to healthcare, and covers in detail:

Concepts and terms
Project management and governance
Logical design and architecture
Implementation in buildings
Implementation outside buildings
Healthcare building considerations
Annex A Definitions and abbreviations
Annex B Standards
Annex C Bibliography
Annex D Installation specifications
Annex E Street Works

The document is available free of charge in electronic PDF format from both the FIA and the IET.

See FIA Website: https://www.fia-online.co.uk/2020/10/14/nhs-building-infrastructures-for-healthcare-ict/

IET access reference: https://electrical.theiet.org/guidance-codes-of-practice/publications-by-category/healthcare/code-of-practice-for-building-infrastructures-for-healthcare-ict/.

FIA IS ESTABLISHING AN FTTH SUB-COMMITTEE

Under the stewardship of FIA’s Frank Kler, (Director for Installation), we appreciate input from any FIA member interested in Broadband rollout. Please advise the FIA (via the Secretariat) of any and all key issues in this area which you feel should be addressed.

FIA TRAINING MATRIX

After a protracted period in design, we expect to publish a matrix showcasing the capabilities of those fibre training organisations who are FIA members. Our intent is to provide a useful guide to training capabilities, with sufficient detail to enable members to select a training course, trainer and facility appropriate to their needs. We hope to be able to publish the FIA Training Matrix by April this year (assuming our FIA trainers have delivered their data).

BASEC – PRESS RELEASES

We have received a number of important, relevant press releases from the British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC). Most recent articles are:

3^rd Nov – ‘Why Obtain third Party Testing and Certification on Data Cables’. View the full article online: View the full piece online

12^th November – ‘UKCA update for cable stockists and distributors.’ View online

25^th November – ‘Preparing your Cable for Power over Ethernet’.

7^th January – ‘MHCLG Confirms BASEC as Approved Body 2661’ View online

BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTE – LATEST NEWS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST

COMING UP IN 2021

We are working hard planning the 2021 BSI Standards Conferences and hope to see many of you at one or both of these events planned as follows:

19 May – BSI Standards Conference (bookings open soon)

18 November – BSI Standards Conference and Awards It is likely that the May conference will be online, but we have not yet made a final decision. We hope that the November conference will be a combination of face-to-face and online. We will keep you informed.

USEFUL LINKS

NEW STANDARD FOR COMMUNITY FACE COVERINGS

International and European Policy Update

HOW STANDARDS ARE SUPPORTING INNOVATION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

THE VIRTUAL CONSUMER: LIVING ONLINE IN 2020

BSI EDUCATION PODCAST – NEW EPISODES

And that is it! A very full newsletter for the first month of 2021! Enjoy!

Stay safe, sane and healthy. From all at FIA Council, until next time….

26 Jan 2021

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