ACUTA Offering Hurricane Preparation

Checklist to All Colleges and Universities

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, June 11, 2008 – Just in time for the beginning of the 2008 hurricane season, ACUTA, the Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, is making available a communications- and networking-focused hurricane preparation checklist to all higher education institutions.

The 13-page document covers a broad range of pre-storm and post-storm activities and considerations, tailored to the needs of the college and university information communications technology personnel who make up ACUTA’s membership. ACUTA is the only international association dedicated to serving the needs of higher education information communications technology professionals. It represents nearly 2,000 individuals at some 780 institutions.

The checklist can be accessed by both ACUTA members and non-members through the ACUTA website (www.acuta.org), specifically at this URL: www.acuta.org/?2026 or by searching for “hurricane checklist.”

“Colleges and universities play an important role in disaster preparedness and recovery for both their campus constituencies and their communities in general,” said Dr. Walt Magnussen of Texas A&M University, president of ACUTA. “In the event of a major disaster such as a hurricane, these schools often provide emergency medical care, temporary shelter, communication services, and a variety of other functions in addition to providing for the safety of life and property on campus.”

Magnussen added, “I can’t overemphasize the importance of maintaining communication services to a campus community during an emergency situation.”

In the wake of the devastation wrought by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, ACUTA began working closely with the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), a technical planning and standards development organization, and its Network Reliability Steering Committee. As a result, ACUTA adapted a master ATIS checklist to the specific needs of information communications technology professionals at colleges and universities.

The checklist covers areas such as emergency facilities and lodging, creation of contact lists, physical power and fuel, staffing, computer and network services, damage assessments and other post-storm activities, and training.

“One major advantage of the hurricane preparation checklist is that it covers very extensively the basic considerations, and schools can build on those to add specific activities and preparations of their own,” said Jeri Semer, executive director of ACUTA. “Our goal in preparing this checklist is to do what we can to help our members and others contribute to the health and safety of everyone on campus.”

About ACUTA
ACUTA, the Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, is an international non-profit educational association serving colleges and universities. Its core purpose is to support higher education information communications technology professionals in contributing to the achievement of the strategic mission of their institutions. ACUTA represents nearly 2000 individuals at some 780 institutions of higher education, with members ranging from small schools and community colleges to the 50 largest U.S. institutions. ACUTA’s Corporate Affiliate members represent all categories of communications technology vendors serving the college/university market. For more information, visit www.acuta.org or call 859-278-3338.

Contacts:
Pat Scott, ACUTA, 859-278-3338, ext. 221, or pscott@acuta.org
Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR, 972-889-9577 or kevin@duxpr.com

Tuesday, October 11, 2007

Now Hiring

Telephone System Technician.
Familiar with Northern Telecom MICS, CICS, etc. Experience with voice and data cabling. Background and References checked. Drug test required. Fax resume to 904-645-9058, or click below to apply with posted resume or apply via email.

Cabling Installers - Voice/ Data/Video
Cabling Installers - Voice/ Data/Video
Experience with CAT5E and CAT6 copper UTP
Including termination and testing.
Fiber Optic Cable installation experience is a plus.

Northeast Florida area. Typically Mon-Friday, some evenings and weekends. Competitive hourly wages based on experience and performance.


COMMUNICATION PLANNING CORPORATION

SERVING NORTH FLORIDA SINCE 1980

4949 SUNBEAM ROAD SUITE 16
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32257

TEL. 904-645-9077
ASK FOR FRANK BISBEE OR MICHELLE GILLEO

FAX 904-645-9058

INFO@COMMUNICATIONPLANNING.COM
WWW.COMMUNICATIONPLANNING.COM

The Southeast Is Sizzling

The communications marketplace is energized. We saw major signs of increased business throughout the SE beginning in April and reaching fever pitch during June.

Part of this increase may be due to the migration of people and businesses from other sections of the US. We surveyed various contractors and distributors to confirm our finding of this business growth pattern.

Graybar, CSC, and Rexel reported similar surges in sales. Michael Shannahan, Vice President - Communication Planning Corporation (a communications contractor based in Jacksonville, FL) said, “Due to increased demand and higher sales, we are increasing our capabilities. We have added technicians, new vehicles, upgraded test equipment and, for projects, the new Beast III Cabling System.” Shannahan commented, “We’ve also added Fluke Networks DTX 1800 test equipment and a certification process. Now, we are expanding our capabilities on the fiber optics cabling solutions with training by the Light Brigade.”

Michelle Gilleo, VP Operation - CPC, also added, “Our old-fashioned customer service is a powerful tool to capture and keep our customer base. We treat our customers with TLC and we try to respond faster than the fire department.” www.communicationplanning.com

http://www.wireville.com/hots/hotsjuly06.html#52

New Service For Abandoned Cable Requirements - Communication Planning Corporation (www.communicationplanning.com), Jacksonville FL, is pleased to announce the addition of Abandoned Cable Removal Services. With the focus on safety in the workplace and the changes in the building safety codes and standards staying in compliance can be expensive and confusing. CPC's service has been designed to help building owners and tenants navigate through the process.

SAFETY IS TOO IMPORTANT TO IGNORE

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), states that approximately 60 billion feet of communications cabling has been installed in the United States.

Nearly 4,000 people died in U.S. fires in 2004. Toxic gasses or smoke caused almost 80% of those deaths. In all, 17,785 people were injured in fire situations during 2004. That number may be under reported because the symptoms from some toxic gasses may not appear for many hours after the exposure. www.nfpa.org

Communication Planning Corporation believes a significant percentage of communications cabling has been abandoned in buildings and represents a large potential fire hazard and a dangerous source of toxic gasses in a fire scenario.

Communication Planning Corporation's Abandoned Cable Removal Services will provide assessment services for identification of abandoned cable in office buildings, and connections with local contractors to handle the required removal to comply with the code as approved by the local authority having jurisdiction. This packaged offering is available to building owners, property managers, tenants, and corporate network engineers. This recommended abatement is based on concern over the accumulated build-up of combustible and toxic materials in the abandoned cable.

Communication Planning Corporation's Abandoned Cable Removal Services are delivered through professional cable inventory specialists, local contractors, referred by Communication Planning Corporation through its contacts at NECA, BICSI, BOMA, and CABA.

Contact: Frank Bisbee, President
Communication Planning Corporation
4949 Sunbeam Road Suite #16
Jacksonville, FL 32257

Tel: 904-645-9077
Fax: 904-645-9058
Email: frank@communicationplanning.com