New England Fiberoptic Council

State of FTTH Deployments in the US and Canada

July 28, 2010, 6:00pm
NEFC Dinner Meeting: State of FTTH Deployments in the US and Canada
Sheraton Framingham (map) - Framingham, MA

David Russell Solutions Marketing Director, Calix

David Russell will be speaking about the progress to date in the deployment of FTTH in the US and Canada. Where are these deployments taking place and what types of operators are deploying FTTH? He will also cover what lessons have been learned from successful deployments and what operators can do to increase their chances of success. The implications of FTTH deployments resulting from the National Broadband Plan and the broadband stimulus awards will also be discussed.

David is responsible for the marketing of Calix’ fiber access solutions. He has spent over twenty years in business development and marketing of fiber access systems for broadband service providers. David joined Calix through its 2006 acquisition of Optical Solutions, the pioneer in FTTH and GPON. In 2010, David is serving as the Chairman of the FTTH Council Board of Directors.

TO REGISTER: E-mail info@nefc.com or call (617) 548-NEFC
Members: $40 Non-members: $45 Dinner: Choice of Chicken Marsala or Grilled Salmo

NEFC Announces its Scholarships Winners for 2010 - 2011

Chestnut Hill, Mass. The New England Fiberoptic Council (NEFC), a regional professional organization committed to promoting the photonics and fiber optics industry, has announced that seven community college students have been awarded its annual NEFC scholarship.

According to NEFC board member and educational chair, Fenna Hanes, the organization awarded $1000 to seven qualified community college students who will be enrolled for the 2010 - 2011 academic year in a program that offers at least on course in fiber optics. The award is merit-based. Since the scholarship’s inception more than ten years ago, the organization has provided more than $55,000 in educational funds to regional students.

According to Hanes, scholarship benefits extend beyond just the money. “Students will also have the opportunity to attend all our monthly meetings for free and take advantage of the great networking opportunities they present,” she explained. “Also, they can participate, free of charge, in all the NEFC workshops at our annual FiberFest trade show.” Hanes continued, “We’re also very interested in hearing from schools that are exploring ways of establishing a course in the future for their students.”

Great Bay Community College (GBCC)

Left to right, Raymond Parenteau Jr., NEFC Education Chair Fenna Hanes, Tommy Parnell, GBCC Professor David Miller, Michael Tuttle, NEFC Board President Gerald Joyce.

Raymond Parenteau, Jr.

Raymond is a student in GBCC’s Information Systems Technology (IST) program in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A graduate of Somersworth (NH) High School, he plans to obtain a bachelor’s in science degree in IST after completing his degree at GBCC. He is especially interested in fiber optics in IT, stating “I’ve discovered at Great Bay that fiber is an awesome tool that will continue to change how we do things in the IT world… if I am serious about having a career in IT, then I must incorporate fiber classes into all of my degree programs and get completely certified in this area, so that I may be more valuable to a potential employer.”

Tommy James Parnell

Tommy is a student in GBCC’s Information Systems Technology (IST) program in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Also a graduate of Somersworth (NH) High School, he is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages the academic achievement of two-year college students and provides opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming. After graduating from GBCC Tommy will continue to UNH for a bachelor’s in science degree. He discovered a love for fiber optics in a course taught by Professor David Miller at GBCC. “The class made me realize that I really want to design faster switches that utilize fiber technologies…I would like to achieve even higher bandwidth through one fiber pipe.”

Michael S. Tuttle

Michael is a student at GBCC in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with a double major in Information Systems Technology (IST) and Liberal Arts. He is a graduate of Spaulding High School in Rochester, NH. He returned to GBCC after a four-year break from studies during which he became fascinated with photonics and fiber optics. His eventual goal is to earn a bachelor’s in science degree in either Electrical or Optical Engineering. “With these tools at hand, I believe I can position myself on the crest of this new wave of technology and secure a career that will provide for me and my family for many, many years.”

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC)

Left to right, NEFC Education Chair Fenna Hanes, Samantha Bullard, STCC Professor Nicholas Massa, Dat Tran, NEFC Board President Gerald Joyce.

Samantha Bullard

Samantha was the valedictorian of her class at Baptist Village Christian Academy in East Longmeadow, MA. She will be graduating from STCC’s Laser Electro-Optics Technology program this May and is transferring to Central Connecticut State University’s Electronics Technology program. She is excited by their 400-hour internship requirement and looks forward to gaining real world experience. After graduation, Samantha plans to pursue a career in technical sales and marketing in the photonics field; she is interested in medical lasers.

Dat Tran

Dat is a student in STCC’s Laser Electro-Optics Technology program and a graduate of Northampton (MA) High School. “The field of lasers is so broad and versatile, the possibilities unimaginable and opportunities are endless.” His goal is to obtain a bachelor’s in science degree in engineering, but he is still considering whether to pursue green electrical or green mechanical engineering. He feels that “either choice I make, I want to support the community and I hope to give back to our community someday.”

Three Rivers Community College (TRCC)

Left to right, NEFC Education Chair Fenna Hanes, Benjamin Reynolds, Timothy Rice, TRCC Professor Judith Donnelly, NEFC Board President Gerald Joyce.

Benjamin A. Reynolds

At TRCC, Ben is an Electrical Engineering Technology major and also pursuing a certificate in Laser & Fiber Optic Technology. A graduate of Columbus (IN) North High School, Ben spent five years in the US Navy as a sonar technician on the USS Toledo based out of Groton CT. It was during his time in the Navy that he became interested in optics. He plans to continue his education at the University of Connecticut and earn a bachelor’s in science degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on opto-electrical devices. His goal is to become a research scientist in industry in New England.

Timothy B. Rice

Timothy is double-majoring at TRCC in Electrical Engineering Technology and Laser & Fiber Optic Technology. A 1980 graduate of Wilmington (VT) High School, Timothy received a bachelor’s in science degree in Communications from Florida Southern College. He has primarily worked as a commercial mariner and marine carpenter for the last 20 years but wanted a career change that would allow him to stay in one place. He returned to school full time to seek a technical degree and “I decided that the Laser and Fiber Optic Technologies program has the best fit for my personal interests and has great potential for anyone that likes to be challenged by their work.”