AV Technology - February/March 2009 - (Page 27) BICSI and NBFAA Sign Honorary Friendship Agreement ORLANDO, FL—BICSI ASSOCIATION UPDATES BUILDING INDUSTRY CONSULTING SERVICE INTERNATIONAL BICSI has announced the introduction of the ITS Fundamentals Program. Providing a solid base of knowledge to those beginning a career in cabling ITS distribution design, the program consists of five courses, an examination, and certificate. Students with the necessary ITS job experience will be able to take the Fundamentals exam, and, after successfully completing it, will continue their professional development by sitting for either the Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) exam or one of the BICSI Specialty tests. The program’s introduction marks the first milestone in the BICSI NxtGEN Program. The courses may be purchased separately or as a bundle. Visit www.bicsi.org for more information. INFOCOMM INTERNATIONAL The organizer of InfoComm India 2009 has announced the cancellation of the show amid security concerns expressed by the exhibiting companies. Following the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, a number of exhibitors have withdrawn their participation. The continued political tension in India has led to more concerns about possible outbreak of armed conflict and consequent directives from some governments to avoid travel in India. “The safety of our exhibitors is our first priority, and the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) entered into an honorary friendship agreement to promote further growth and development of global information transport systems (ITS) and Electronic Life Safety and Security (ELSS) systems. The official agreement was signed by Edward J. Donelan, RCDD, NTS, TLT, BICSI president, and Michael Miller, president of NBFAA. “This agreement creates new opportunity for our members, between industries, in a time of rapid technology integration and fast moving business developments,” Donelan says. “We look forward to a future complete with great reciprocal working relationships with all the professional members in the highly regarded NBFAA. As a result of this agreement, our training, education, and certification are paramount to demonstrate a high degree of competence and professionalism.” The two organizations plan to engage in a variety of cooperative activities, including exchanging visits and views between the members of the two entities in order to promote a qualified and skilled work force; promoting and developing reciprocal training, education, and certifications of ITS and ELSS design and installation professionals; and pursuing other cooperative activities as appropriate. BICSI believes that this relationship will enhance and expand BICSI”s dedicated outreach and also will add significantly to its NxtGEN Outreach Programs. NBFAA sees this relationship as the quickest, most efficient approach to widening the educational horizons for the members of both associations. “NBFAA is excited at the prospect of offering our members an even greater selection of education and training to build a bridge between technologies that are fast becoming the cornerstone of the solutions they provide. We also look forward to offering training, education and certification to BICSI professionals to help them to capitalize on the integration of the IT and the electronic security worlds. Rapid technological advances make partnerships like this one a vital part of our workforce development effort,” says Miller. BICSI previously signed similar friendship agreements with InfoComm in 2005, and TIA in 2006 and again in 2008. Cross-functional relationships among entities with common goals add significantly to the benefits offered to the membership of these organizations. BICSI will continue to reach out to like-minded groups in an endeavor to enhance the knowledge base of their membership. and under the current circumstances and the fact that exhibitors have to begin preparations for the show at this point in time, we have decided that this is the appropriate course of action,” says Richard Tan, general manager of InfoComm Asia Pte Ltd. “However, India remains a market we are keen to establish a presence in, and we will continue to monitor the situation with a view to reinstating the show at the earliest opportune time,” he adds. Visit www.infocomm.org. NATIONAL SYSTEMS CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION NSCA fondly remembers the legacy Bud Rebedeau has left on the entire electronic systems industry. As the former executive director of NSCA and one of the founding fathers of the association, Bud helped build the NSCA Expo into a major trade show in the electronics industry. His tradeshow industry expertise allowed NSCA to grow into a major trade association and provide additional member services. “Bud’s vision and leadership created an awareness of this industry at a time when we weren’t recognized by anyone,” says Chuck Wilson, NSCA executive director. “He guided NSCA in developing a trade show that then launched our education programs and was the spring board for what we are today.” Bud Rebedeau passed away on January 7, 2009. He was chairman of The Rebedeau Group, an exposition and association management firm in Chicago, IL, for more than 50 years. Visit www.nsca.org. QUICK FIX LOW-COST STREAMING Media-streaming on your network is now more affordable than ever. ViewCast’s new Niagara 2100, combines exceptional ease-of-use with professional-grade value for government agencies, business enterprises and others who want to stream video over IP and mobile networks. It accepts component, Y/C (S-Video), and composite video inputs, as well as balanced and unbalanced stereo audio inputs. They call it “the lowest-priced streaming appliance on the market”, priced at a US MSRP of $3,995. Visit www.viewcast.com. www.avtechnologyonline.com february | march 2009 | AV TECHNOLOGY | 27 http://www.infocomm.org http://www.bicsi.org http://www.nsca.org http://www.viewcast.com http://www.avtechnologyonline.com
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