Network Cabling, the Orphaned Child

On June 18-20, my company was fortunate to showcase, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, at the CeBIT America conference in NYC.  I had the pleasure of speaking with a number of attendees who attested to the fact that network cabling is the orphaned child of the IT family.

I chatted with a longtime technician who told me about a advisory board meeting he attended at a local vocational-technical school that was introducing its new IT curriculum.  When he asked how they were going to teach cabling, the response was, “Our kids don’t need to know that; it’s not important.”  He walked out of the meeting.

I have been Director of Marketing for C-Tech, a company that manufactures and develops training aids and curriculum in network cabling, for the past 8 years.  The story shared above is quite commonplace.

I could go on, but the fact of the matter is this:  it doesn’t matter how much money you spend on computers, networking equipment and software.  If the cabling connecting everything together is installed poorly, you are in big trouble.

I remember when I first got involved with networked computers back in the early ‘90s.  Like most, I took cabling for granted.  Actually, I don’t even think that I gave it a second thought.  When the computer worked, I was happy.  When the computer was down, well, that’s just what happened every so often.

Then, in 1995 I got involved with C-Tech.  What was this “Physical Layer” all about?  Who cared?  Man, did I get an education!

I started seeing the same stats that many of you did, “50%-70% of network downtime was due to problems with the Physical Layer.” I’ll never forget an ad in one of the Trades that illustrated a cabling closet in complete disarray with the above quote in bold block lettering.

Poor, or a lack of, training programs were the main reason for this turmoil.  Organizations such as BICSI (http://www.bicsi.org/) and companies like C-Tech (http://www.c-techtraining.com/) recognized the need for standards-based training.  C-Tech took a unique approach by directing our training programs at the Education and Job Training markets.  The thought process was that we could help develop the next generation of Communications Networking technicians by introducing the technology before students entered the workforce.

C-Tech’s approach worked.  BICSI’s approach worked.  Those involved in this small niche of the Communications Networking community recognize the value of what companies like C-Tech and organizations like BICSI have accomplished.  And, we have accomplished!

But it ends there.

Many of you probably remember when the IT Manager was responsible for the computer network.  This is still true.  However, the network now consists of voice, video, security, control systems, and ¾ oh, yeah ¾ data.  And the majority of this information is being run over 4-pair structured cabling.  Do we still want to take cabling for granted?

Of course not.  However, most do.

Where’s the glory in cabling?  Where’s the “ooh, ah” high-tech glitz?  Where’s the $62 Billion Giant touting the importance of cabling for every network’s ¾ wired or wireless ¾ foundation?

Did you know there are currently over 426,000 students around the world enrolled in a curriculum that teaches them to be network administrators?  And this has been going on for a number of years.  Again, the multi-billion dollar giant is able to influence an entire educational system.  But, how many career opportunities are there?

Outside of our Network Cabling niche, who’s heard of BICSI, Leviton, Berk-Tek, Hubbell Premise Wiring, C-Tech and many, many others?  Granted, not many have the bank accounts to influence a culture, but should we have to?

Someday, somewhere, someone has got to start acknowledging the importance of the IT foundation that the majority of us depend upon to function on a daily basis.  For too many years it was neglected; now it’s not even respected.

Newsflash:  when a tree falls in the forest, it makes a noise.  When all of these high-tech networks operate properly, it’s because of the network cabling that is hidden behind walls and in a Telecom Room.  It’s not magic; it’s not rocket science.  If you follow the rules and adhere to the standards, it’s a fairly easy task to accomplish.

The number of technicians needed to install, maintain and upgrade the cabling for data, voice, video, security and control system networks far exceeds the number of IT managers and technicians to manage these networks.  But for some reason, we don’t hear anything about that.

The goal of my rant, if I haven’t made it plain enough, is to open the eyes of the general public about an industry known as Network Wiring and Cabling and the opportunities that exist today and tomorrow as technologies converge.

Is there a “Daddy Warbucks” for this ignored, yet tremendously essential part of the IT industry?  Okay, so maybe I’m playing the orphan-card a little much.  But someone has got to “step up to the plate” and “sing from the mountaintops” and demand a little respect for our networks’ foundation.

Respect the very foundation ¾ the essence, the cabling ¾ of the network, or it will come back to haunt you!

It absolutely amazes me how little respect is given to those in the Network Wiring and Cabling Industry.  Don’t ignore it; don’t dismiss it; embrace it ¾ cabling.

It’s almost as if the IT world forgets about its foundation.  That’s ridiculous!

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