BICSI Winter Conference Opens in Orlando
Orlando, FL —Under pleasant mid-70s temperatures and the blue skies of central Florida, the annual BICSI Winter Conference (January 17-20, 2000) kicks off today at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL. An estimated 3,000 telecommunications professionals have arrived for an event that promises to cover the latest in voice, data, and video technology. Towards that end, 14 technical presentations on topics related to the telecommunications infrastructure and to end-user applications are scheduled.
Other activities include more than 160 industry exhibitors, a BICSI members-only technical seminar, the exam for the RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) designation and a local-area network specific RCDD-LAN designation, and pre-and post-conference BICSI design and installation courses.
The BICSI Winter Conference opens today in Orlando, FL far away from the winter weather.
Originally founded in 1974 as the Building Industry Consulting Services International, BISCI focuses on the technical aspects of combining communication-cabling designs with the process of building design. The original impetus was to develop a way for building designers and telephone companies to share technical information and, perhaps, work together harmoniously.
In those dim technological days, communications networks—i.e. phone wiring—were unceremoniously strung along office baseboards with little or no regard for the other wiring in the building. Who could blame the phone companies? Back when structured wiring technology was still science fiction, buildings were designed with little or no provisioning for cabling.
In the years since, telephone networks have expanded, the data network was invented and exploded into a gigantic industry, and BICSI has shared the growth of both industries. Today the association serves 17,000 members from more than 80 countries.
Signs of growth
Perhaps the biggest story is the surge in BICSI membership growth. In 1999 the association gained 5175 new members—more than its total membership from 1974 to 1994. With an overall growth rate of 20%, BICSI experienced a 100% increase outside of North America. This rapid growth is fueled by the exuberant growth of the telecommunications industry. Current BICSI members consist of cabling/wiring contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, telecommunications managers, systems or network integrators, architects, engineers, electrical contractors, and end users.
Situated on the grounds of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, the BICSI industry exhibit features 160 manufacturers and suppliers, cabling/wiring contractors, systems integrators, and resellers.
One of the most visible signs of growth at the BICSI Winter Conference is its industry exhibition. Although it has expanded to 160 exhibitors, and this year is housed in a large temporary building on the Resort grounds, the show still follows BICSI traditions.
Companies that may exhibit at a BICSI are chosen by a lottery system; many more wish to exhibit than the 160 allowed. Those lucky enough to make the cut are given the same modest-sized booth. It matters little whether you are a Lucent Technologies or a mom and pop electrical contractor: Each company gets equal exposure at BICSI.
Since the meat of the BICSI conference remains the technical sessions during the day, the exhibits are limited to a few hours in the early morning and in the evening with a catered finger food (and an open bar) to encourage attendance.
With Monday filled with a BICSI members-only technical seminar, the RCDD and RCDD-LAN specialty exams, and BICSI committee meeting, the conference sessions begin Tuesday. Various topics include: "Fiber Optic Technology as it Applies to 10 Gigabit Ethernet Applications," "Blown Fiber: A New Dimension in Fiber Cabling," and "The Lost Art of Splicing Copper Cables in the Outside Plant."
At the conclusion of the conference, a monetary donation will be made to a local charity from BICSI Cares, the charitable arm of the association. BICSI Cares has donated more than $600,000 to children's charities in cities where BICSI conferences have been held, and for student scholarships around the world.
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