Press Releases

Arlington, Va. – The Fiber Optics LAN Section (FOLS) of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) recently elected its slate of officers for 2012. Serving for his fifth consecutive term as Section Chair is Rodney Casteel, CommScope; Vice Chair is Alfred Flores, Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company; Standards Chair is Pete Pondillo, Corning; Membership Chair is Dave Cook, 3M; and co-Communications Chairs are Michelle Collier, Noyes Fiber Systems and Dave Cunningham, Corning Cable Systems.

FOLS serves as an educational resource, providing information to users about the benefits of fiber in customer-owned networks. Visit FOLS at fols.org to access the organization's free cost model, register for an upcoming Webinar, or read case histories, fiber FAQs or standards updates.

"For the past 17 years, FOLS has played an integral role in helping users and network designers understand the benefits of deploying fiber in customer-owned networks," said Casteel. "We provide vendor-neutral information that helps people make an educated choice about their network decisions." FOLS maintains a website with Fiber FAQs, White Papers, Case Histories and a library of articles and presentations. It also maintains a free Enterprise Architecture Model that allows users to compare different standards-compliant architectures and determine which is the best choice for their network.

One of the Fiber Optics LAN Section's most popular programs is its free webinar series. "We offer webinars almost every month," explained Casteel. "It's a great way for our members to offer training to interested people worldwide and for network designers, consultants and end users to get the information they need throughout the year." Participants earn a BICSI Continuing Education Credit (CEC) for attending. The webinars are also available to watch on demand.

Casteel mentioned that FOLS launched a research initiative in 2011 that has received a lot of interest and which will continue in 2012. "As a group we are in the unique position of being able to survey users and network consultants on a regular basis. We have started to collect and publish this data on our website as a service to the industry."

About the TIA's Fiber Optics LAN Section
Now in its 18th year, the TIA's Fiber Optics LAN Section focuses on educating end users and influencers about the technical advantages and affordability that optical transmission brings to local area networks, Data Centers and fiber-to-the-desk applications. FOLS members are leading fiber cable, component and electronics companies including, 3M, AFL Telecommunications/Noyes Fiber Systems, Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company, CommScope, Corning, Draka Communications, Fluke Networks, General Cable, OFS, Ortronics/legrand, Leviton, Panduit, Superior Essex, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, and TE Connectivity. Visit the FOLS at fols.org. For media information contact Elizabeth Goldsmith a +1.781.259.8584 or liz@goldsmithpr.com.

About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the manufacturers and suppliers of global information and communications technology (ICT) networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org.

Join TIA at its annual Member Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, TIA 2012: Inside the Network, June 5-7, 2012 in Dallas. For detailed information about the event visit tia2012.org. To register for press credentials, contact Beth Dozier at +1.202.429.1833 or bethdozier@rational360.com, or Mike Snyder at +1.703.907.7723 or msnyder@tiaonline.org.

View video news programming on TIA Now at tianow.org.

TIA's 2012 Market Review & Forecast, is available for purchase online at the TIA store. Review copies are available for qualified media.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Read ANSI's report, "Standards Boost Business" at standardsboostbusiness.org/.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS Solutions, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, Dow Chemical Company, Ericsson, Inc., FAL Associates, GENBAND, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, Juniper Networks, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola Mobility, Motorola Solutions, Nokia Siemens Networks, Numerex Corp., OneChip Photonics, Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tarana Wireless, Inc., Tellabs, TE Connectivity, Walker and Associates and WirefreeCom, Inc.