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September 2026
Issue #277
A publication
of The Fiber Optic Association Inc. (FOA), the international non-profit
professional association of fiber optics and certifying body for fiber optics.
Links To Sections
|
INDEX
Newsletter Sections
Click
on any link to jump to that section
New FOA Educational Program and Microcredential in Broadband
Ideal Location For Onsite Training
Seen On The Street
New Edition Of FOA Book On Testing
FOA Broadband References Updated
FOA Online Credentials On Apple/Google Wallet
"Ask Lennie" Intelligent Search Of FOA Website
What's New And Popular On FOA Website
Is All The News About AI And Data Centers?
Conference On Polymer Optical Fibers
Women Who Splice Program In Canada
Mapping Fiber, Data Centers And Power Plants
Updated California Pole Rules
New Book On Underground Location
Starlink Raises Prices For Rural Users
Evolution Of Fiber Tech's Toolkit
Underground Dig-Up Incidents Rose in 2025
Manufacturers Collaborating on MCF Specs
FOA Installation Standard
Worth
Reading Lots of interesting
articles to read, watch or listen to.
Q&A
Interesting questions from our readers. This month features FTTH and documentation.
Workforce Training/FiberU
Types Of Work Done By Fiber Techs
FOA-Approved School News
Fiber U Courses
Resources
New FOA Technical Resources
Safety
About the FOA
FOA Certified Techs:
Time
To Renew Your FOA Certifications?
Jobs
- See FOA Jobs
Web Page and FOA on
 - The FOA Jobs
- Using your FOA
Training/Certification to Find the Right Job
in Fiber Optics
Where
Are The Jobs In Fiber Optics?
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Trademarks:
The FOA logo and name, CFOT® (Certified Fiber Optic Technician) and
Fiber U® (the FOA online learning site) are
registered trademarks of the FOA.
Want to know more about fiber optics?
Looking for specific information? Here's the largest
technical reference on the web: The
FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide.
Free online self-study programs
on many fiber optics and cabling topics are
available at Fiber U,
FOA's online web-based training website.
FOA
Reference Books
Available Printed or Kindle eBooks
Some books are available in translations
  
  
  
Click on any of
the books to learn more.
- Fiber
Optic Safety Poster to download and
print
FOA Videos on 
FOA
is a member of:
 
The FOA Newsletter is
edited by Jim Hayes - send your stories, leads,
ideas, comments to <jim @ foa.org>
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The FOA Broadband Program
A new program for everyone working with broadband - which is practically everyone!
Everyone talks about
broadband. Service providers brag about how fast their Broadband is.
Governments create whole new departments to promote Broadband. People
are building data centers everywhere to service broadband and connect
over it. Trade shows, websites, trade organizations all call themselves
"Broadband something or the other."
But what exactly is Broadband?
How many of the people who plan,
design, manage, build, operate or fund Broadband projects actually
understand Broadband? Four years ago after the pandemic brought Broadband
to everyone's attention, FOA wrote a book about Broadband
for those people. Now, at the request of both schools and individuals,
FOA has created a
Broadband education program.
We updated the Broadband book to make
it a textbook, created a complete curriculum and instructor guide for use by schools, and created a Fiber U online course.
We also created a microcredential in Broadband.
 The new FOA Broadband program is flexible; it can
be taught as a seminar for workforce development or a course in a
degree program. It can be in a classroom, online or blended. It's labs
are not hands-on skills labs for techs like the FOA certifications, but
either case studies familiar to business or project management personnel or
technical projects for engineers, scientists or technicians. And, of
course, Broadband is available as a free Fiber U self-study course.
"I like to think of this Broadband course as an elective in
college. When I was in college studying physics, I was required to take
elective courses. I chose Economics, Psychology and Philosophy. When I
became an entrepreneur in fiber optics, those courses were as important
to my success as were my courses in physics - maybe even more!" Jim
Hayes, FOA President.
Broadband is not an FOA certification course, those require hands-on skills; it leads to the "FOA Broadband" microcredential.
The FOA Broadband Program
Understanding Broadband, what we call high speed Internet access today,
has become a necessity for everyone. In less than half a century,
communications on a backbone of fiber optics has revolutionized
communications and, in many ways, society in general. How does Broadband
work? This course will explain not only how broadband works, but how it
was developed and how it is integrated into our world today.
One of our instructors teaching in a college-level program called
Broadband a "core competency" not just for fiber optic technicians, but
for practically everyone. When the pandemic had everyone quarantined
working or studying from home, everyone realized how important Broadband
really was - it enabled working from home, attending school from home,
consulting with medical teams from home, and of course shopping and
being entertained.
The programs started to connect everybody to the Internet required many government employees to focus on
Broadband often putting
responsibility on people who were new to broadband and technology in
general. Many in construction and project management had to learn about
Broadband. Everybody talked about Broadband but few understood it.
That's when FOA wrote a book about broadband, the FOA Guide To Fiber
Broadband which became a tech best seller on Amazon. We devoted articles
in this Newsletter on how FOA had worked with organizations to create
"do-it-yourself" FTTH networks in urban, suburban and rural areas, how
some rural areas were more quickly served with line-of-sight WiFi or
satellite service while waiting for a more powerful fiber network.
Unfortunately, in the US, interest in Broadband went from looking for
solutions to following the hype over the BEAD program, applying
for and waiting for US government BEAD money. Now 6 years after BEAD was
created, fiber stands to get only about 1/4 of the promised $43billion (if any is ever disbursed,)
1/2 evaporating and the final 1/4 going to satellites. The rest of the
world focused on solutions, as did about a thousand organizations in
the US, so Broadband has been growing well. The FOA Broadband program is
aimed at those looking for solutions.
FOA Broadband Program
To support the FOA Broadband program, there is an updated textbook,
Fiber U online self-study program, school curriculum and YouTube video.
Learn more about these here.
For schools interested in the FOA Broadband program, contact FOA for more information.
An Ideal Location For Onsite Training
Many FOA certified instructors train at their
customer's locations. It's convenient for the customer since their
employees do not have to travel and often the instructor can use their
facilities and equipment to make training better and more realistic.
That was certainly the case recently when Guy Sanford, FOA Approved
School #350, did a Fiber Characterization Certification (CFOS/FC) course
at an electrical utility. Here's Guy's description of the course and
some photos he sent.
"The first Fiber Characterization class was great. The company supplied
me with all of the equipment (EXFO FTBx - 570 Dispersion Analyzer) as
well as 90 kilometers of True Wave fiber and 90 Kilometers All wave
fiber. We then went out to one of their CO locations to do some real
time testing."
The customer's lab included ~200km fiber and the fiber characterization test equipment.
Outside the lab, the class could connect to the customers network for some actual network testing
Students learned how to test CD and PMD then tested the actual network.
Seen On The Street
Quick Repair
FOA Instructor Milt Murry sent us some photos from his neighborhood in
St. Louis, Missouri,USA that indicate that pedestals and cars don't mix.
Milt followed up with photos showing the pedestal was quickly repaired.
Good work by AT&T guys!
 
And New This Month - showing how bad workmanship is a widespread issue.
Jasper, GA From Sarah Kasdan, BDI Datylink
Ypsilanti, MI, from a LinkedIn post
New Edition Of FOA Textbook On Fiber Optic Testing
 FOA has published the Second Edition of The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Testing. The textbook has been updated to include new technology, equipment and practices plus a more comprehensive index.
The FOA testing textbook focuses on the testing of fiber optic cable
plants, both outside plant and premises. It covers microscope inspection
of connectors and how to clean them, visual fiber tracing and fault
location, optical power measurement, insertion loss and OTDR testing. It
also includes chapters on the types of fiber optic test instruments,
calculating loss budgets, fiber characterization and testing PONs. A
chapter of checklists is included to help test techs ensure
comprehensive testing and ease troubleshooting. The final chapter covers
the measurement uncertainty of fiber optic measurements, beginning with
typical measurement errors.
The FOA testing textbook is the reference for
FOA CFOS/T Specialist Certification In Fiber Optic Testing in classroom
training and online training at Fiber U.
The
FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Testing - Second Edition - 2026
320 pages
ISBN: 9798197159762
Independently published
List
Price: $35.95 paperback, $16.95 Kindle
Available in paperback and Kindle
versions from Amazon.com
and other booksellers.
Broadband Updates
FOA has been updating our references and courses for Broadband.
FOA Program And Microcredential In Broadband
Now, at the request of both schools and individuals,
FOA has created a
Broadband education program. We updated the Broadband book to make
it a textbook, created a complete curriculum and instructor guide for use by schools, and created a Fiber U online course. We also created a microcredential in Broadband.
New Video Lecture - Understanding Broadband
FOA has added a new YouTube video lecture to our series on fiber optics. Lecture #74 is Understanding Broadband.
This lecture was created for the same reason that we created a textbook
on Broadband - everybody talks about it but not everybody really knows
what exactly Broadband is, how it was developed and how it is delivered
(mostly on fiber optics, of course.)
This short lecture (about 15 minutes) explains Broadband in a
non-technical way to allow not only the techs to understand it, but also
the planners, business people and the general public to understand it.
You can watch FOA Video Lecture #74 - Understanding Broadband - on YouTube here.
----------------------
Update - 2nd Edition: The Fiber Optic Association Reference Guide To Broadband
A
new edition of the FOA broadband book is now available. It's updated
for new tech like LEO satellites and, at the request of our schools,
been expanded to include chapter questions and a comprehensive index to
facilitate using the book as a textbook for classes.
The new edition is aimed at teachers who want to include
communications technology in their classes. It is appropriate for a
module or semester course for engineering, science or even management
students. It is intended to be an introduction to
communications technology
appropriate for a communications course at almost any level (junior
high, high school or
college,) as well as for managers involved with broadband projects.
The Fiber Optic Association Reference Guide To Broadband
Paperback and Kindle versions available from Amazon or most booksellers.
-----------------
Fiber U Broadband Self Study Program
FOA has added a new Fiber U self-study program
on Broadband, The course includes 10 lessons that cover the full scope
of broadband technologies. Like all Fiber U courses, it's free, and after you complete the course
you can get a Certificate of Completion for a nominal cost.
The Fiber U self-study program about Broadband.
Save FOA Online Credentials to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
You can now purchase wallet-ready versions of your FOA Certification Online Credential
and save it directly to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Keep your
credentials on your phone and share them quickly whenever needed. This optional feature is now available from
your FOA Certification Online Credential web page hosted by BadgeCert.
Wallet-ready credentials are personal purchase options for individuals
who would like them.
Note you can also get a Certificate or Business Card for your credential also.
Jump to News
The FOA website and the FOA Online Guide
include what is probably the
largest knowledge base in fiber optics. We provide links,
contents pages and a search engine, but the amount of content is
daunting. Ask Lennie is
now available to search the FOA website using AI.
Ask Lennie Lightwave is waiting to help answer your questions and find things on the FOA Website.
Classroom
Resources For STEM Teachers In K-12 And Technical Schools
 Here is the POF kit sent to teachers for demonstration.
Teachers in all grades can introduce their students to fiber
optic technology with some simple demonstrations. FOA has
created a page for STEM or STEAM (science, technology,
engineering, arts
and math) teachers with materials appropriate to their
classes. Fiber
Optic Resources For STEM Teachers.
FOA
also has a YouTube
Video on "Careers
in Fiber Optics" and a "Careers
In Fiber Optics" Website.
FOA Newsletter
Sections
News
Technical
Worth
Reading Q&A
Training/FiberU
Resoures
Safety About
|
|
News
Lots more news
in Worth Reading below
NEW AT FOA:
Standards
FOA Standard For Installing Fiber Optic Cable Plants
Credentials
About FOA Credentials
Badge in FIber Optics
New/Updated Web Pages
Cross Reference Guide to Textbooks, Online Guide and Fiber U FOA Videos Guide.
Index Of Articles On Fiber Broadband Networks
FOA Guide To The Fiber Optic Workforce
FOA Credentials: the differences in certifications, certificates and badges.
Books - new editions
FOA Reference Guide To Network Design And Project Management, second edition - adds project management to design
FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics, Second Edition, second edition - update of the basic fiber textbook.
The FOA Reference Guide To Broadband second edition -update - popular with broadband planners
Fiber U
Broadband
Safety
New In The FOA Guide
Introduction To Broadband
Guidelines For Fiber Optic Project Planners
Cross Reference Guide to Textbooks, Online Guide and Fiber U FOA Videos Guide.
Satellite Communications
OSP Aerial Construction Workmanship
Splices And Connections Of Regular to BI Singlemode FIbers.
Fiber Optic Safety - Installation and Construction.
Fiber Optic Network Troubleshooting.
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Quotes of the month:“We
may have the smartest people in the world working on these A.I. models,
but it is like Marie Curie handling radium with her bare hands,”
Katie Moussouris, the chief executive of Luta Security, which helps
companies look for software vulnerabilities, quoted in the NYTimes.
"We have a dangerous habit of taking warning signs seriously only after a
catastrophe has taught us what they meant."Jen Easterly, a former
director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also in the NYTImes.
Is All The News About AI And Data Centers?
It certainly seems like it. And each month the focus
seems to change. Until recently, much of the focus has been on the
financial aspects of the data center building boom and the enormous
power requirements of the data centers needed for AI. Financial analysts
continue to debate over the costs, borrowing and circular financing arrangements (NYTimes, WashPost), some comparing it to the Dot-Com Bubble. Even Bill Gates is expressing concern (NYTimes.)
The workers who build data centers love them, especially IBEW electricians,
because they must not only build them, but also be around for the
frequent updates as hardware technology improves. Electricians are
reputedly moving to be near data centers because that's where the work
is. (Many electricians also do fiber optic installation also - about 40
IBEW apprenticeships include fiber optic training with FOA CFOT
Certification.) Cabling techs love them too, since they represent
more than 40% of all premises cabling work today (CI&M).,
led by the US market with a global growth of 44%, holding 69% of the
data center cabling market and significantly outpacing China and other
regions.
The power consumption issues refuse to go away, in fact, a new issue has emerged. AI data centers have giant variations in power consumption,
depending on the computing load. These variations are trouble for the
electrical components at the data centers as well as the electric grid
which is not well equipped to deal with surges. Power increments
equivalent to the consumption of factories, towns or even cities can
appear and disappear within seconds, creating repeated shocks that
connected equipment struggles to absorb. One solution is to install
dummy loads - giant resistors that even out the power needs but make it
always higher, wasting energy. Data-center users have deployed
techniques to smooth out the power fluctuations of AI workloads by
running side computations — essentially dummy math that isn’t part of
the training process — to keep GPUs operating steadily.
Building a transformer for the power grid, NYTimes
On a similar topic, the NYTimes ran a fascinating article called Why Is It So Hard to Build the Thing Our Entire Power Supply Depends On?
It covers the manufacture of giant transformers that make the grid
work, stepping down high voltages used in transmission lines to the
voltages we use everyday.
It seems the majority of recent articles about AI and data centers has
focused on "rogue" AI and how it threatens, well, almost everything. The
NYTimes ran a guest essay called "If You Weren’t Worried About A.I., You Should Be After the Past Few Weeks" by Nate Soares is the president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute. Another NYTimes opinion piece was titled "The Only Way to Keep the World Safe From A.I." And another "A.I. Is Becoming So Powerful, It’s Stumping Those Trying to Contain It."
was about Irregular, an Israeli start-up, worked with OpenAI, Anthropic
and Meta to assess the security of their A.I. models. It made a
mistake. Then the tests went off the rails.
The 34th International Conference on Plastic Optical
Fibers (POF 2026), which will take place from September 29 to October 1,
2026, in Nuremberg, Germany.
Since 1992, the POF conferences series is the leading scientific event
on all aspects of plastic optical fibers and polymeric optical
waveguides, from latest scientific developments to leading-edge
industrial applications. Major worldwide makers of POF as well as
industrial users will showcase their products in the exhibition in
parallel with the scientific POF conference. All relevant information on
submission of scientific contributions, exhibition and sponsoring
options, registration, venue, and program can be found on the official
conference homepage www.pof2026.org.
"Women Who Splice" Schedules Program in Nova Scotia In October
The "Women Who Splice" training program described in the June FOA Newsletter
has scheduled a class in Nova Scotia this October 19-21. This
program will provide realistic exposure to the technical and
professional expectations for a career in fiber optic splicing, and
provide the opportunity to learn new skills in a supportive environment.
Participants will leave with a clear understanding of the trade and
whether it aligns with their skills and interests.
More details and registration.
Mapping Fiber, Data Centers and Power Plants
Opengridworks.com is a website that shows a map of the whole Earth
where it shows the location, size and types of electrical power
generating facilities and transmission lines with their voltage.
Overlaid on this graphic is the location of data centers and the local
power substations because the biggest concern over the location of data
centers is where they will get their power.
 The website is interactive. You can zoom in on any location and
see the local area in detail. For example, below is the area of LAX, Los
Angeles International Airport, and the area around it which is home to
several data centers serving the aerospace industry in the area.
This site covers the entire world, so no matter where you are interested
in data centers or power, you can find them. It's a fascinating website
and very informative. You can spend a lot of time here!
Opengridworks.com map of the data and power for the whole Earth.
Updated California Utility Pole Rules Aid Broadband Expansion
As systems evolve and places develop, so too does
demand for utility poles – including attaching aerial fiber and
equipment with related safety considerations and coordination among
public and private entities. The California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) recently published updated state rules for access to utility
poles and rights‑of‑way in California. General Order 178 modernizes pole
attachment and replacement requirements, as well as other practices to
improve pole safety and effectiveness. Learn more about these important
changes: California General Order 178 (May 2026).
Underground Dig-Up Incidents Rose in 2025 According To DIRT Report
The Common Ground Alliance
released preliminary finding of the 2025 "DIRT" report (DIRT =
Damage Information Reporting Tool) that showed an increase in
dig-up incidents last year, with the majority of damage sustained
by telecom and CATV networks. You can read about the DIRT report in CI&M and you might enjoy reading the new book on underground disaster below.
New Book About Underground Disaster Prevention
 The FOA Newsletter article in February 2026 on underground location was adapted from the new book coming August 10 Holding
Back Disaster The Men and Women Standing Between Death and Destruction,
Billions of Dollars of Losses, and Life-Altering Infrastructure
Disruptions by Scott Landes and Benjamin R. Dierker.
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) reported that its national measure
of excavation damage to buried utilities have reached a record high.
With 50 million miles of buried pipes, cables, and wires across the
U.S., excavation damage is not unexpected. But every incident is
preventable. Common Ground Alliance (CGA) should be commended for
tracking these statistics and helping the industry work toward avoiding
every incident. The record-high Index provides the immediate backdrop
for Holding Back Disaster, but it is only one part of the story the book tells.
Rather than presenting excavation damage as a narrow technical problem or the failure of a single stakeholder, Holding Back Disaster
examines the complete system surrounding buried infrastructure
protection. Blending real-world incidents, historical development,
policy analysis, expert perspectives, operational practices, and
emerging technology, Holding Back Disaster connects national
infrastructure investment and federal safety policy with state
excavation laws, local public works, utility records, One-Call centers,
locating capacity, construction contracts, project scheduling, workforce
pressures, field practices, data quality, mapping, enforcement, risk
management, and emerging technology.
Order Holding Back Disaster (AMAZON)
Quote Of The Year (maybe Century!) (this is worth repeating)
Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia +
Technology Conference, AT&T’s CEO John Stankey said, “There’s a
fallacy to say there’s fixed networks and wireless networks. There are
only fiber networks with different access technologies on the end of
them. That’s where this is all going.”
|
Technical
Fiber optic
technology, standards, equipment, installation,
etc.
Ask Lennie Lightwave, the FOA AI that answers your questions on fiber optics
The FOA
Update Page covers the new technology
and applications we covered in this newsletter
recently. Now you can review all that new tech at
once.
Cross Reference To FOA Technical Reference Materials
The FOA has almost 1,000 pages of technical information on the FOA Guide,
100+ videos and two dozen online courses at Fiber U, all this can make
it difficult to find the right information.
Cross Reference To FOA Tech Materials
To help this, we have created a cross reference guide to the textbooks,
Online Guide and Fiber U courses, all the FOA technical information.
Besides the textbooks, online Guide and Fiber U, each section of the
Guide also includes links to the 100+ FOA videos available.
Cross Reference Guide to Textbooks, Online Guide and Fiber U
FOA Videos
We have also rearranged the 100+ FOA videos in similar categories on the
Contents Page of the Online Guide, making the videos, especially the
lectures, much it much easier to find a video on a particular
topic.
FOA Videos Guide.
Want to know more about fiber optics? Study
for FOA certifications? Free
Self-Study Programs are on Fiber
U®
|
The Evolution of the Fiber Tech's Toolkit
Vladimir Grozdanovic
We are all witnessing major technological changes that are significantly
affecting nearly every aspect of our lives. In the field of fiber
optics, the past few years have brought numerous innovations that are
already being deployed, as well as others that are expected to see
widespread adoption in the near future. These include a new generation
of ribbon cables with significantly higher fiber counts, the
introduction of MCF and HCF fibers, terabit-capable optical
transceivers, ultra-high-density optical connectors, connectors that
require no cleaning, and many other innovations.
Evolution of Fujikura Fusion Splicers
The development of telecommunications equipment is accompanied or at
least should be accompanied by the development of appropriate tools and
test equipment. At the same time, there is an increasing need for
professional training to ensure that engineers and technicians can
properly deploy, test, and maintain these emerging technologies.
Read the article here.
Optical Fiber Manufacturers Collaborating to Define Multicore Fiber Specifications
AFL, Corning, and Sumitomo Electric,
along with transceiver provider TeraHop, are working on a Multi Source
Agreement (MSA) to specify the design, performance, and interoperability
requirements of a four-core singlemode fiber. The product of
their work will be a Multi Source Agreement (MSA), titled SDM4 MCF MSA,
that will outline the MCF design, performance, and interoperability
requirements for passive optical connections in data center
applications.
Read more about the multisource agreement.
TIA has also started the Task Group on Evaluation of Cable and
Connector Testing Standards in FOTPs and Their Applicability to
Multicore Fiber and Hollow Core Fiber
Looking For More Information About Multicore Fibers?
There is an ITU document you may be interested in: ITU-T Technical Report (09/2022) GSTR-SDM, Optical fibre, cable, and components for space division multiplexing transmission
https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/tut/T-TUT-HOME-2022-1-PDF-E.pdf
The FOA Installation Standard
Available as a free download or purchase printed or Kindle versions online at Amazon.
 This standard focuses on the
processes for installing a fiber optic project and provides guidance on
the design, installation and management of the project. The standard covers outside plant installations, both aerial and
underground, and premises cabling including the various installations
methods commonly used. It is an open source standard. Users choose the sections
that apply to their project and incorporate that into their documentation like the SOW (Scope of
Work) or other project paperwork. Provide copies to your
planners, designers, contractors, installers and suppliers.
More information and a Table of Contents.
Download a free copy of The FOA Standard For Installing Fiber Optic Cable Plants. (PDF 1.6MB)
Purchase printed ($14.95 US) or Kindle ($9.95 US) versions online at Amazon.
TIA Guide To Networks
TIA has a guide to many standard networks like Ethernet and the specs
for their use on numerous standard cabling systems. Want to know how far
Ethernet 100GBASE-LR4 can go (30 km) or how much link attenuation is OK
(6.3 dB), this publication will tell you.
Download your copy from TIA here.
"Call Before You Dig" Video
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today
announced the release of a new video, “811- Call Before You Dig,” as
part of its efforts to promote safety awareness around underground
utilities and the critical importance of making 811 calls prior to
digging.
Watch the video on YouTube,
New VIAVI Fiber Testing Pocket Guide – Built for Techs in the Field
Designed with field techs in mind, this compact guide
from VIAVI is packed with essential fiber testing tips, quick-reference
checklists, and step-by-step insights that cover every stage of the
network lifecycle. It’s built to fit right in your pocket or tool bag,
so the info you need is always within reach.
Request your free VIAVI Fiber Testing guide now.
Tech Notes And Articles From FOA's Worldwide Network Of Advisors
FOA has a worldwide network of technical advisors who
help us develop our knowledge base. This month we have contributions
fro several regular contributors, Eric Pearson, a founder of FOA, and
Vladimir Grozdanovic in Serbia. We provide an abstract here and a link
to read the entire article which will be added to the FOA Online Guide.
Ensuring
Reliability By Proper Fiber Optic
Installation
The goals of a fiber
optic installation should not be solely based on achieving the lowest
initial cost. Should lowest cost result in reduced reliability, lowest
initial cost may result in significantly increased lifecycle cost.
Eric Pearson does it all, educator, writer,
consultant, with a resume' going back to the beginning of fiber optics.
Here's advice from Eric on the way to ensure the long term reliability
of a fiber optic cable plant by proper installation.
Ensuring
Reliability By Proper Fiber Optic
Installation
Testing that Demonstrates, or Not, High Reliability
Interpreting Test Results (New November 2025)
3D Inspection and Precision Cleaning
Field Service and Production Line Considerations When Precision Cleaning and Inspecting Fiber Optic Surfaces by Ed Forrest. Ed has decades of experience in developing cleaning solutions for fiber optic connectors
A Quiet But Important Change In The Fiber Optic Cable You Buy
With so many cable designs today,
like microcables or high fiber count cables, requiring bend-insensitive
fibers, would it make sense to make all or most singlemode fibers as
bend insensitive fiber?
Two manufacturers (Corning and OFS) told FOA the industry is moving towards a G.657.A specification
in fiber, because the industry is moving towards smaller denser cables
in the network & the bend resilience is a requirement for the cable
design. So singlemode fiber is moving to being BI fiber, exactly what happened
with 50/125 laser optimized fibers a decade ago. With most new fiber,
compatibility is not an issue. But it is recommended to check with the
cable manufacturer if you are not sure what fiber is being used in the
cable you are purchasing.
Read the entire FOA report on compatibility of G.652 and G.657 singlemode fiber that includes this summary.
Jump to Worth
Reading
Updated FOA OTDR Trainer
 FOA has rewritten the FOA OTDR Trainer around Fiberizer. The Fiberizer PC
software was the version we used for creating the Trainer, but the basic
techniques apply to all versions of Fiberizer. FOA provides a folder of
sample traces in 3 categories - Parameter Traces, Sample Traces and PON
Traces - around which we build the trainer. If you set up Fiberizer,
you can complete the FOA OTDR Trainer lessons and then use the same
software to analyze other traces you may have, even from other brands of
OTDRs, as long as they are .sor files.
The FOA OTDR Trainer is ready to help you learn about OTDRs. Go to the OTDR Trainer page,
tech/ref/testing/OTDR/OTDRsimulator.html, choose your version of Fiberizer, download the FOA Traces and you are ready to go.
FOA wishes to thank VeEX
for permission to use their Fiberizer® software in our OTDR trainer.
And our compliments to them for making the ap available on multiple
platforms that ensure anybody can use it.
FTTH Technical Papers
FOA contributor Vladimir Grozdanovic has created these technical papers based on his field experiences.
The Evolution of the Fiber Tech's Toolkit
Basic Rules For Cable Installation And Termination In the Central Office/Head End
Formation of an Underground Horizontal Channel Using Manual and Pneumatic Piercing Tools
Alternatives For Installation of Optical Cables in Urban Areas
The Differences Between Conventional and PON Optical Power Meters
Fiber Optic Color Codes with Cross Reference
Splicing Optical Power Ground Wire OPGW
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Construction Methods For Microtrenching
Fiber Optic Ducts And Microducts
Fiber Optic Tools
Optical Distribution Frames (ODFs) And Patch Panels
Using Fiber Identifiers
Testing The FTTH PON Network (new)
Troubleshooting PON Installations.
Installation of FTTH Active Equipment in the FOA Guide.
Optical Splitters in the FOA Guide.
Examples of poor installation of FTTH in the aerial outside plant and in the customer premises.
Learning Important Information From A Found Cable Scrap
While walking down the street near the FOA office, we found this cable
laying in the gutter. What a find! A short length of Corning Rocket
Ribbon 864 fiber cable left over from an installation by a contractor.
We brought the cable back to our office with the intention of opening it
up and creating a video about the construction of this modern high
fiber count cable, but something got our attention first. The cable had a
very
long line of printing on it with lots of interesting and useful
information. So before we started deconstructing it, we decided to
photograph the printed information and interpret it. That turned out to
be an important part of the information we learned from the cable. Then,
as you will see below, we dissected the cable and learned even more.
Red more about what this cable marking tells you and what the cable looks like when you open it up to prepare for splicing.
Help On Color Codes (Including Copper Cabling And Fiber Optics)Here are the links to download your own FOA Guides to Fiber Optic Color Codes
FOA Guide to Fiber Optic Color Codes (print your own version) PDF
FOA Guide to Fiber Optic Color Codes (electronic version for your smartphone, tablet or PC) PDF
And Color Codes For UTP Cabling
FOA Guide to UTP Cabling Color Codes (print your own version) PDF
FOA Guide to UTP Copper Cabling Color Codes (electronic version) PDF
Not all international color codes are the same. Here is a cross reference to various color codes.
Warning For Techs Doing OSP Restoration
 FOA received an inquiry about whether techs
working on restoring OSP links should be concerned about eye safety if
the link used fiber amplifiers. To answer this question, we had to do some research on fiber amplifiers.
The short answer is YES, you should be concerned. The long answer is
more technical and includes details that every OSP tech needs to know.
See "Fiber Amps And Restoration" in the FOA Newsletter Archives..
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Worth Reading
Each month we read
hundreds of newsletters and online articles. These
are the ones we think you will find "worth
reading."
FOA has a web page with resources on fiber broadband networks and the IIJA/BEAD funding programs.
Index Of Articles Fiber Broadband Networks From The Fiber Optic Association - dozens of articles on fiber broadband over the last 4 years.
Cross Reference Guide to FOA Textbooks, Online Guide and Fiber U
 AT&T PR photo from the mid 1970s
The FOA's History
Stories From The Past FOA Newsletters
Recent articles from The FOA Newsletter
Fake OTDR Traces Submitted For Testing Documentation January 2023 Tech
Using OTDRs To Test Transoceanic Cables And PONs February 2023
POF - the Other Fiber March 2023
What Do Employers Expect From A Fiber Optic Tech? April 2023
Are Standards Ignoring The OSP? May 2023
FOA Has Proven Results In Fiber Optic Workforce Development June 2023
BEAD Funding For States Announced And Analyzed July 2023
Wisdom From The Street (Analyzing the printing on a fiber optic cable) July 2023
Focus On Disasters August 2023
FOA's Role In Education and Work Done By Fiber Techs September 2023
The Workforce: New US DoL Bureau of Labor Statistics Telecom Tech Category October 2023
How Many Telecom Techs Do We Need and How Big Is The Fiber Optic Market November 2023
Guidelines For Fiber Optic Project Planners December 2023
2023 Year In Review. Kentucky Shows The Value Of Fiber January 2024.
What is Broadband? History of the Cable Modem February 2024
It's Just Economics. Things you need to know. March 2024.
Fiber To The Shore - Undersea cables along the coast April, 2024.
The Future Of The Fiber Tech May 2024.
|
Worth Reading (Or
Watching Or Listening)
Are you ready for cables with 14000 fibers? HFCL in Hyderabad,
India is expanding and deep in the article is this "HFCL has designed
7,000-fibre cables, which are under customer approval, and is working on
14,000-fibre cables, developed through its own engineering
teams." Times of India.
UK users warned that PSTN (public switched telephone network) in nearing shutdown. Users must move to digital services. It's not just AT&T wanting to move away from legacy telecom networks. Mobile Europe.
From office to campus: why "beyond 100 metres" Is becoming the new normal,
Aginode, FTTO architecture combines fibre and copper to deliver a
simpler, more efficient, and future-ready network for smart buildings
and modern workplaces.
Behind the Mysterious Symbols Spray-Painted on Our Streets - NYTimes.
(We were tempted to call the following section "IoT = Internet of Thieves, Powered by AI)
OpenAI blamed a hacking event on its AI models going rogue. - Washington Post -
OpenAI says it is still investigating the “unprecedented cyber
incident” that led its artificial intelligence systems to break out of a
testing environment and hack into another AI company
OpenAI bot’s rogue attack rattles industry leaders, policymakers and consumers
- LA Times - test versions of its AI models slipped their offline
confines, accessed the internet and hacked into rival startup Hugging
Face, triggering alarm over uncontrolled, rule-breaking machines.
How a Gang of Thieves Pulled Off a Multimillion-Dollar Data Center Heist - NYTimes. The world’s most valuable assets are stored on rows of servers in giant, anonymous buildings. And they can be stolen.
What is social media's "hustlebro" scam? from Marketplace on Public Radio.
Top 10 US states for ISP network infrastructure attacks in 2025 - Broadband Communities
SpyCloud, the leader in identity threat protection, today released its 2026 Phishing Pulse Report,
revealing that phishing attacks continue to increase in both volume and
sophistication for enterprise organisations as artificial intelligence
and phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platforms enable threat actors to
launch highly effective campaigns at scale
Useful Articles And Links
Pre-Excavation Safety Checklist (PDF) - Excavation Safety Alliance - essential steps before breaking ground for underground construction.
CABL® (cabl.com) serves
the business needs of the Broadband industry (including traditional
cable TV, fiber, telecom and satellite providers) with employment
listings, classified ads, discussion forums, and more. A contractor told us it's where they find lots of opportunities for subcontracting.
ESRI has created an ebook on GIS location technology for telecom. Use the link to download the book.
Google Video On Their Undersea Cables YouTube Slick but interesting video on how undersea cables are designed, built and used.
Worth Reading - Magazines, Websites and Newsletters
CABL® (cabl.com) serves
the business needs of the Broadband industry (including traditional
cable TV, fiber, telecom and satellite providers) with employment
listings, classified ads, discussion forums, and more. A contractor told us it's where they find lots of opportunities for subcontracting.
The Institute for Local
Self-Reliance weekly newsletter has
lots of interesting articles and links.
Next Century Cities Newsletter
- News from cities around the US
including Detroit and New York plus small
Structured Cabling News
- a website and weekly newsletter about cabling
RTI Telecom Magazine from Brazil, in Portuguese. A revista RTI do mês de abril já está disponível online e recomendo a leitura de alguns artigos:
Worth Reading - History & Technical
FOA was founded in 1995 - FOA's History
As
part of celebrating 3 decades serving the fiber
optic industry as its primary source of technical
information and independent certifying body, FOA
thought it appropriate to create a short history of
the organization and how it has developed to
help the fiber optic industry. We also wanted to
recognize the contributions many people have made to
the organization over the years that made FOA what
it is today.
The FOA history is on the FOA
website where you can read it or link to
it.
1983
Video of AT&T's First Test Of A Submarine
Cable System From the AT&T Tech
Channel archives (worth exploring!)
Richard
Epworth's Optical Fiber History from his work
at STL from 1966 with Charles Kao.
50th Anniversary of The
Development of Low Loss Fibers A history
of the development of low loss fiber, a fascinating
story by Jeff Hecht on the OSA (Optical Society of
America) website.
The First Transcontinental Telephone Line
began operation on July 29th in 1915 - 3400 miles between New
York and San Francisco - required over 100,000 telephone poles! Wonders
of World Engineering
"Who Lost Lucent?: The
Decline of America's Telecom Equipment Industry"
This is a MUST READ for managers in telecom or any
industry!
Communications Systems Grounding
Rules: Article 800 provides specific
requirements by
Michael
Johnston, NECA Executive Director of
Standards and Safety in EC Magazine
How
To Build Rural Broadband, Learning From History
In the August 2021
FOA Newsletter, we published a lengthy article on
rural broadband and compared it to rural
electrification in America in the last century.
Much of the comparison was based on an article
written in 1940 by a USDA economist, Robert Beall,
called "Rural Electrification." If
you are interested in or involved in rural
broadband, we recommend you read the article "How
To Build Rural Broadband, Learning From History"
in the August 2021 FOA Newsletter and
read the Beall article also.
Recycling Fiber Optic
Cable - Contact:
Steve Maginnis
LD4Recycle/ CommuniCom Recycling
(Visit
website)
sm@LD4Recycle.com
803.371.5436
Sumitomo's Ribbon
Splicing Guide - download from
one of the leaders in splicing.
OFS also has an excellent
website and blog of tech articles worth browsing.
IEC 60050 - International
Electrotechnical Vocabulary - An
extensive dictionary for fiber optics in English and
French. Highly technical - this is one definition:
"mode - one solution of Maxwell's equations,
representing an electromagnetic field in a certain
space domain and belonging to a family of
independent solutions defined by specified boundary
conditions"
Restoration: If you are interested in restoration -
aren't we all? - you should also read this
article in dpPro magazine by FOA President Jim
Hayes: Damage Protection Requires
Looking Overhead As Well As Underground
- dpPRO Magazine - about the problems with
aerial cables. His previous article for the
magazine was New Techniques for Fiber
Optic Installation.
DIRT
Report On Damage To Utilities Common Ground
Alliance (CGA) annual DIRT report provides a
summary and analysis of the events submitted into
CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) for
the year 2018. The complete report is available
for download here. In addition,
there is an interactive dashboard that
allows users to filter the data more by
factors contributing to damages.
Fiber Trivia From
Corning.
VIAVI Books On
Fiber Optic Testing (2 volumes)
 
Besides
the FOA reference materials, two JDSU/VIAVI
textbooks, Reference Guide to Fiber Optic Testing,
Volumes 1 and 2, were used as references for
some of the FOA courses and are recommended for
instructors and students. The books are available
from VIAVI as eBooks and the everyone should
download them and recommend them to others.Download
yours now. Volume 1. Volume 2. Viavi Books
Ciena's Submarine Cable
Handbooks (4 to download)
How OFS Makes Fiber
Interesting YouTube video on how fiber is made.
Perhaps a little too much "show biz" but
fascinating. If you have ever seen fiber
manufacture, look at this video. You will be amazed
at how big preforms have become!
The True Cost of Telco Damages
(what backhoe fade or target practice can
cost)
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Q&A
When readers ask us questions, we genrally refer them to FOA
resources where they can find the answer to their question and many
more. We first send them to the FOA Guide
which is the table of contents for the FOA technical resources. There
they can find pages indexed by topic and a search engine for the FOA
website. It also links them to FOA videos and courses on our free online learning site Fiber U.
The FOA
Fiber FAQs Page (FAQs = frequently asked
questions) gathers up questions readers have
asked us (which first ran in this newsletter)
and adds tech topics of general interest.
|
Good Question!
Tech
Questions/Comments From FOA Newsletter Readers
CFOT Prerequisite For CFOS/D
Q:I want to get the CFOS/D Fiber Optic Network design and
Project Management certification but why do I have to take the CFOT
first - I want to be a “designer" and not an “engineer."
A: In order to design a fiber optic network and manage the
project (remember the CFOS/D is now Design AND Project Management) one
must understand the basics of fiber optics, communications networks,
components and installation. That is the CFOT. The CFOT is not for
engineers; it is the basic knowledge that all professionals in fiber
optics need to know. Most CFOTs are installers who learn the basic
knowledge, skills and abiities (KSAs) from the CFOT the proceed to
Specialist certifications in Splicing, Testing, OSP (outside plant which
includes construction and installation for OSP cable plants) or for
some, Design/PM.
FTTH Installation
Q: The way the fibre broadband to my house has been
installed means that the 'cable' junction in the grass verge just
outside my boundary is immediately under a plastic cover (it actually
touches the underside of that cover). Not surprisingly the fibre was cut
when the Council came through with their lawnmower etc. Surely the
installation isn't compliant? Please advise because the repair was to
replicate the above!
A: It is a dumb way to place the cable so close to the surface.
In most areas the cable must be at least 20 cm/8 inches below the
surface, but local codes can be different. We suggest putting markers
over where the cable runs so they might be careful in the future.
Docmentation
Q: Has there ever been any thought to creating a standard
for documentation of fiber assets? As to minimums, like to haves, and
not needed. I've been a part of many companies, and the
documentation varies widely from company to company. Maybe this is too
broad a subject considering the number of products available and the
formats they can come in, but, wow, it would be great to send and
receive files within the industry knowing that I wouldn't have to
translate basic items between each company.
A: It certainly makes sense. TIA has such a standard for
premises cabling documentation as part of the TIA-568 standard - TIA-606
for cabling administration. There is nothing similar for outside plant
that we are familiar with, at least as a standard, but numerous
documentation software solutions exist that offers ways to do it.
Perhaps the Telcordia Blue Book covers that.
FOA created it's own installation standard
(https://foa.org/NECA301-MO.html) because no standard body did it, but
we do not go into detail on documentation.. When we searched for "fiber
optic cable documentation” half the links were to the FOA.
Are Tier 1 and Tier 2 Test Methods Used In International Standards?
Q: Has the concept of Tier 1 (OLTS) and Tier 2 (OTDR) testing which
is used in TIA structured cabling standards been adopted into any
international outside plant standards?
A: We asked some of our contacts in the test equipment business.
"The OLTS and OTDR measurement methods used in TIA Tier 1 and Tier 2
testing are fully adopted in international outside plant standards such
as ITU‑T, IEC, and ISO/IEC. However, these standards generally do not
formalize the concept as “Tier 1” and “Tier 2.” Instead, they specify
required measurements (e.g., insertion loss via OLTS) and complementary
characterization methods (e.g., OTDR traces) without using a tiered
terminology. In practice, OSP deployments typically use both methods,
but within a different framework than TIA structured cabling
certification."
How Long and How Fast?
Q: How much Capacity per pair of Fiber can be generated / get from 144 core of a fiber on 20000km distance?
A: Currently using coherent transmission and DWDM, service providers
are sending ~ 12 terabits/sec on a fibe pair, and fiber amps can go as
long as needed. But where would you have a 20,000km/12,500 mile link?
How Long Do Fiber Optic Cables Last?
Q: I work at a large industrial facility with several
buildings connected by fiber optic cables. The fiber cables run through
underground conduits between the buildings. Many of the fiber cables
were installed 20 to 25 years ago. Is there any general industry
guidance on when cables such as ours should be replaced solely based on
the age of the cable?
A: The question you ask is one often asked. Usually it
refers to the outside plant cables that have been used for many years -
some now approaching 40 years like the optical power ground wire (OPGW)
used by electrical utilities and some telco cables installed in the same
era. Cable manufacturers are not very specific about cable lifetimes,
but the standard today is cables are designed to last 40 years or more.
Cable installed 20-25 years ago should be still serviceable for years to
come. Some cables may suffer from moisture migration which can cause
attenuation increases and fiber brittleness. Brittleness is generally
not a problem is the fibers are undisturbed but it is a good reason to
not disturb them. Most cable plants are not replaced unless they suffer
damage - weather and wildfires are a big problem for serial cables,
flooding and freezing for underground cables - or the owner is ready to
upgrade communications systems and needs more modern, higher performance
fibers.
Our advice would be to not disturb the cables you have if systems are
working properly. If you are in a “nonstop” environment that would be
badly harmed by loss of communications and you want to have a backup,
you could hedge your bets and install ducts for replacement. cables. If
there is space in the ducts, you can install microducts or fabric ducts
in the same conduits and install backup cables. You may read advice that
says cables need maintenance like cleaning connectors and testing
periodically. That’s bad advice; it’s more likely to damage the cables.
Our advice on cables is install them, lock them up and don’t worry. But
have a restoration plan. Have documentation on the cables, spares and be
prepared to repair or replace them quickly. See
https://foa.org/tech/ref/restoration/rest.html
Hybrid cable For Aerial Installation
Q: Is there a hybrid cable (fiber + conductors (2 or 4)) that can be aerial lashed?
A: Practically any outside plant cable can be installed
aerial if it is within the weight limits of the messenger being used.
Cables with fiber and copper conductors are used for connections to
remote electronics or cameras.
Gloves for Splicing?
Q: What’s the FOA’s (or your personal) stance on wearing gloves whilst splicing?
A: Wearing gloves may recommended for
preparing metallic armored cables because of the danger of cuts. For
regular cables, gloves may be recommended for those who use knives to
open cables, a practice still used. However for splicing fibers where
some recommend them to prevent sticking yourself with fibers, it hampers
fiber handling and slows the work down. We do not recommend gloves
except for prepping certain types of cables.
Are Splices Too Close Together A Problem?
Q: When installing fiber in an plant. Is there a minimum distance that two splices should be apart? ;
A: The recommendation in the past was to bot have splices close
together since slight reflectances at the splices could cause an
interference problem with laser systems. The recommendation was to keep
splices 30-100m apart. IT was especially noted if you had to splice in a
section of cable to repair a cable break. However we have not heard
this in recent history, perhaps because fusion splices are so good. We
asked a number of FOA's technical advisors for their opinions. Their
feedback is the problem of reflectance causing problems at closely
spaced splices seems to have disappeared. It’s a matter of better
splicing machines and more consistent fibers, and also a matter of
lasers being engineered to work better in links.
Copper Tech Wants To Learn Fiber Optics
Q: I am originally from copper installations and faults
finding. I would like to get involved in Optic fibre faults and
finding, how do I go if there is a possible training it will be highly
appreciated,
A: Just learn about fiber, especially fiber testing and troubleshooting. Fiber U has courses you can take for free.
OSP Installation Standards
Q: I'm looking for standards for fiber optic OSP installation.
A: The whole issue of OSP standards has been one FOA been
trying to get standards bodies interested in for years with little
success, probably because it is an enormous project. Right now there are
two documents that address OSP cable plant:
ITU-T Technical Report, TR-OFCS Optical fibres, cables and systems, (3 July 2015)
As you can see, the ITU document is almost 10 years old and a lot has changed in that time.
The Other is the Telcordia Blue Book - Expensive but thorough
Telcordia Blue Book - Manual of Construction Procedures
Document Number SR-1421, Issue Number 07, Issue Date Jan 2023
Is The FOA CFOT® A License?
Q: Can you use a CFOT certification to install fiber and charge for it? Or do you need other licenses as well? ;
A: FOA Certification is considered evidence of competence and
accepted worldwide by many companies, groups, etc. Licenses are a legal
credential required by local authorities to conduct business for
anything from a barber to a truck triver to contractors doing fiber or
other work. Most locales require a license as a contractor which may
require a fiber specialty. You need to investigate this with your local
authorities.
Updating FOA Courses And Reference Materials
Q: How often are FOA courses updated? And when they get updated, what happens to those who would have done a previous version?
A: The FOA certifications are updated as needed to stay current with
technology and applications. Updates are incremental and we do not
require current certification holders to retake courses or exams.
Past questions can be found on the FAQs page.
Fiber Optic Color Codes Reference Chart
Q: Has anyone made a fiber optic pocket reference chart that has cable
color orders, frequencies, or other commonly used info on it?
A: The FOA has a page on its Online Guide that covers color codes
(https://foa.org/tech/ColCodes.htm). It is the most popular page in the
FOA Guide! It works great with a smartphone.
The
word on the "Dig Once" program is getting out - FOA
is getting calls from cities asking us for
information and advice. Here are some links:
The DoT page on the administration’s Executive
Order: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/otps/exeorder.cfm
And the
one to download and hand out:
A “How To” Guide from The Global Connect Initiative:
https://share.america.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/6.-GCI-Dig-Once.pdf
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Training / FiberU
News and resources to help you learn more and stay
updated.
Learn about the fiber optic/ broadband workforce
Find a
listing of all the FOA-Approved schools here.
Free online
self-study programs on many fiber optics and
cabling topics are available at Fiber U, FOA's
online web-based training website.
Free online training at
Fiber U
The FOA has >100
videos on |
What Is A "Real" FOA Approved School
FOA certifications are so respected and recognized around the world
that we are continually chasing down fake FOA schools or schools
plagiarizing FOA intellectual property. In a way, we should be
flattered, that's the saying "imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery." But in order to protect the reputation and credibility of the
FOA we must expose these fakes and protect the 110,000+ FOA certified
techs from imitators.
If you see a school advertising FOA approved training, remember only "real" FOA approved schools can offer FOA certifications.
- Real FOA schools are listed on the FOA school page
-
Have FOA certified instructor(s)
-
Do not offer online certifications
-
Has access to FOA online certification tests
-
Every real FOA certified tech has an online credential
-
No FOA schools are authorized to certify FOA Instructors
What Is An FOA Credential?
As FOA celebrates our 100,000th CFOT® certified technician,
introduces the "FOA Badge In Fiber Optics" for others working in the
field and adds new courses at Fiber U which offer a "Certificate of
Completion," it's a good time to explain the differences between them. FOA has created a page to explain the differences in certifications, certificates and badges.
All FOA
Certification Credentials Are Now Online
All FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technicians now have their certification
credentials online.
if your FOA certification has not expired you should have been notified you have an
online credential. If you did not get notification it may be because
FOA did not have a valid email for you. Contact FOA to inquire about your certification credential.
More about FOA's network of approved training organizations.
The Types of Work Done By Fiber Techs And How It Affects Training
What is a fiber optic technician? What kinds of work
do they do? Those topics were the center of FOA discussions with the US
Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics that led to the new job
category of "Telecommunications Technician" on the BLS
website. The focus of this job category is primarily the
installation and operation of the fiber optic cable plant, but one
should not forget the cable plant must be designed also as part of a
more extensive communications network.
In our discussion with the BLS analysts, we pointed out the various
stages of a fiber optic communications network project and how techs
with various knowledge and skill sets are needed and involved in every
step. This web page on the fiber optic workforce describes how FOA defines these stages of a project and the skills
of the techs needed. This is not unique to FOA; it's what has been traditional
at telecom companies forever.
FOA Schools
FOA's roster of approved schools continues to grow as more organizations
recognize our expertise in workforce development and our comprehensive
support for getting new schools started. FOA has over 25 years
experience and over 100,000 certified fiber techs (with ~140,000
certifications). As a non-profit organization founded by the industry
specifically to develop a competent workforce, FOA provides the
consultation, curriculum and contacts to get schools started as a free
service to new schools.
Need A Fiber Optic Course Onsite? Invite an FOA School To Come To You
Complete listing of FOA Approved Training Organizations
Fiber U offers dozens of free online self-study programs.
Fiber U "Basic Fiber
Optics" Online Self-Study Course Now In Spanish
Curso Básico de Fibra Óptica
de Fibra U en español.
Here is the new Fiber U "Fiber Optic Safety" self-study program. Take the course and get your certificate of completion.
Fiber U MiniCourses: Got An Hour Or Less?
Learn Something New About Fiber Optics.
All these free courses and many more
are available at Fiber U.
What Fiber Techs
Don't Know -
These are some of the topics that
we have noticed are answered incorrectly more often
in FOA and Fiber U tests.
Most of the questions missed are on testing.
1. OTDRs - particularly what information is in the
OTDR trace.
2. The difference between dB and dBm
3. Loss budgets - both the concepts and doing the
math
4. Insertion loss testing - single-ended or double
ended for testing patchcords or cable plants, how to
set 0dB references
5. Units of measure - fiber is measured in microns,
wavelengths in nanometers, etc.
At FOA, we're working to add Fiber
U MiniCourses on these topics and working with
our schools to emphasize these topics in their
classes.
If you are going to be taking a FOA certification
course or test in the near future, these topics
should be on your final exam study list.
What We Learn From Hands On Labs
We learn about students performance in hands-on labs
from the feedback of our instructors and our own
experiences too. One big problem is the use of hand
tools. Growing up today, you learn how to use
keyboards, mouses and touch screens, but decades
ago, you also learned how to use basic hand tools.
This is big enough of a problem that we're
considering adding some video lessons on basic hand
tools to prepare students for cable prep,
termination and splicing that require the use of
hand tools.
FOA offers free online self-study programs at Fiber U.
Many users are preparing for FOA certification
programs - taking courses at our schools or using
the Direct Certification program. Some of our
schools are requiring Fiber U programs as
prerequisites for their classroom courses so they
can spend more time on hands-on activities.
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Publications /
Resources
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Cross Reference To FOA Tech Materials
FOA has so much technical reference material, we created a cross reference guide to the textbooks,
Online Guide and Fiber U courses, all the FOA technical information.
Besides the textbooks, online Guide and Fiber U, each section of the
Guide also includes links to the 100+ FOA videos available.
Cross Reference Guide to Textbooks, Online Guide and Fiber U
FOA Guide To Fiber Optic Workforce Development
To help those new to fiber optic workforce development, FOA has created a web page we call "Fiber Optic Workforce Development."
In this page, we share what we have learned about the fiber optic
workforce, who they are and how they learn their trade. We discuss what
defines a fiber optic tech and how they should be certified.
Read the FOA Guide To Fiber Optic Workforce Development online.
New Edition Of FOA Textbook On Fiber Optic Testing
FOA has published the Second Edition of The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Testing. The textbook has been updated to include new technology, equipment and practices plus a more comprehensive index.
The FOA testing textbook is the reference for
FOA CFOS/T Specialist Certification In Fiber Optic Testing in classroom
training and online training at Fiber U.
The
FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Testing - Second Edition - 2026
320 pages
ISBN: 9798197159762
Independently published
List
Price: $35.95 paperback, $16.95 Kindle
Available in paperback and Kindle
versions from Amazon.com
and other booksellers.
Project Management Added To New Edition Of FOA Design Book And Fiber U Course
 FOA
has published a new edition of its textbook on fiber optic network
design, an expanded version with new material covering project
management. Fiber optic network design and network management are
closely related topics, both highly important in the success of a fiber
project.
The new book is available as a paperback or Kindle book. You can buy it from Amazon or local booksellers worldwide. (ISBN: 9798262274611)
The Fiber U Design self study program has also been updated for project management.
New Edition of FOA's Basic Fiber Optics Textbook
 It has been 5 years since we have updated the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics,
so it is certainly time for an update. The latest version is different
enough we call it a new edition. Many of the updates are for new
technologies which are reshaping the fiber optic industry like coherent
transmission, BI fibers, etc. We've also added a section on the fiber
optic workforce which has much relevance because this book is used to
train those entering the workforce.
We've also worked on making the book more readable, adding formatting that eases reading and a new comprehensive index.
The new edition of the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics is available from Amazon and booksellers worldwide.
Update - 2nd Edition: Fiber Broadband (Paperback and Kindle)
This book is not the typical FOA technical textbook - it is written for
anyone who wants to understand fiber broadband or fiber optics or the
Internet. It's also aimed at STEM teachers who want to include
communications technology in their classes. This book will try to
explain not only how fiber broadband works, but how
it was developed. It is intended to be an introduction to
communications technology
appropriate for a communications course at almost any level (junior
high, high school or
college,) for managers involved with broadband projects, or for anyone
who just wonders how all this stuff works.
The Fiber Optic Association Guide To Fiber Broadband
Paperback and Kindle versions available from Amazon or most booksellers.
Translations of FOA Textbooks
 FOA is a very international organization and it works hard to
accommodate the language needs of everyone. We have been translating our
books and website into the languages most requested, and this month, we
add two more textbook translations. We also want to thank Jerry Morla,
FOA CFOS/I instructor and Director who has been doing the recent
translations into Spanish, his native language.
Here is a listing of all the FOA textbook Translations
Spanish Editions:
Guía de Referencia de la Asociación de Fibra Óptica (FOA) Sobre Fibra
Óptica: Guía de estudio para la certificación de la FOA Amazon
La Referencia de Cableado para Predios de la FOA: Guía para Certificación de la FOA Amazon
La Asociación de Fibra Óptica Manual de Fibra Hasta el Hogar : Para
Planificadores, Gestores, Diseñadores, Instaladores y Operadores De
FTTH Amazon
Guía de Referencia de la FOA sobre Diseño de la red de fibra óptica: Guía de Estudio para la Certificación de la FOA Amazon
And the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics:
French Edition: Le
Guide de référence de la FOA pour la fibre optique et et
guide d'étude pour la certification FOA: Guide d'étude pour
la certification FOA Amazon
Portuguese Edition: Guia de Referência sobre Fibra Óptica da FOA : Guia de Estudo para a Certificação da FOA Amazon
The subject matter of these books is also translated in the FOA Guide online.
FOA Video
Lectures On YouTube
Did
you know YouTube will close caption videos in many
languages?
Sign in with Google to get translations for closed
captioning. Click on the settings icon (red arrow.)
Choose "Subtitles". English is the default
language. Click on the arrow after "English
(auto-generated) >". In the new window click on
"Auto-translate" and choose the language you
want.
FOA Loss Budget
Calculator On A Web Page 5/2020
FOA
has written many articles about loss budgets,
something everyone involved in fiber optics needs to
know and needs to know how to calculate. We recently
discovered how to get a spreadsheet ported to a Web
page, so we created this web page that calculates
loss budgets. We have an iOS loss budget app, but
with this web page, you can calculate loss budgets
from any device, smart phone, tablet, laptop, or
desktop computer that has web browsing capability.
Bookmark this page (especially on your
smartphone): FOA Loss Budget Calculator
Online
We are continually updating the Online Reference
Guide to keep up with changes in the industry and
adding lots of new pages of technical information.
When you go to the FOA
Guide Table of Contents to see the latest
updates - look for  .
FOA Books
Fiber Optics (4 languages), Premises Cabling, OSP
fiber and construction, Network Design, Testing,
FTTH Handbook and our latest - FIber Broadband
The FOA has it's own
reference books for everyone working in fiber
optics - contractors, installers and end users as
well as for use as textbooks in classes at
educational institutions. They are available as
printed books or Kindle at much lower prices than
most textbooks since we self-publish and sell
online, cutting out the middlemen. Click on the
book images for more information. The Reference
Guide To Fiber Optics is also available in
Spanish, French and Portuguese. The Design book is available in English
and Spanish.
Click on any book for more information
about it.
FOA
has reprinted
"Lennie Lightwave's Guide"
on its 25th anniversary in a special print
edition.
Lennie
and Uncle Ted's
Guides are online.
Click on any of
the books to learn more.
- Fiber
Optic Safety Poster to download and
print
Resources For
Teachers In K-12 And Technical Schools
Teachers in all grades can introduce their
students to fiber optic technology with some
simple demonstrations. FOA has created a page for
STEM or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts
and math) teachers with materials appropriate to
their classes. Fiber Optic Resources For
Teachers.
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Safety
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On Safety
New Fiber U Course: Fiber
Optic Safety
Safety
must be the first concern of everyone involved in a fiber optic
project, including those planning, designing, managing or supervising
and of course those doing the installation.
FOA is often asked about safety for fiber optics. Some
inquiries ask where it's covered in the FOA Online Guide or textbooks or
if we have a course on safety at Fiber U. Almost all Fiber
U Courses have lessons covering safety, because
safety is important in every aspect of a fiber optic project.
This
new Fiber U course will focus on safety alone. There are two lessons in this course,
fiber optic construction and fiber optic installation. The dividing
line between the two courses is the installation of the fiber optic
cables. Construction leads up to and/or is completed when the cables are
installed. Installation begins when the fiber tech installs the cable,
then completes the splicing, termination testing and documentation. The
overlap between the two is the installation of the cables where both
construction personnel and fiber optic techs are involved.
Here is the new Fiber U "Fiber Optic Safety" self-study program. Take the course and get your certificate of completion.
Enhance your safety with the FOA Safety Vest.
The FOA is concerned about safety!
FOA
considers safety an integral part of all our
programs, curriculum materials and technical
materials. We start all our textbooks and their
online versions with a section on safety in the
first chapter, like this: Before
we get started - Safety First!
There are pages on the FOA Guide on Safety
procedures Including Eye Safety and. Digging
Safely
And a YouTube lecture: FOA Lecture 2: Safety When Working
With Fiber Optics
In our OSP Construction Section, these pages cover
many safety issues including those related to the
construction of the cable plant: Project Preparation And Guidelines,
Underground Cable Construction,
Underground Cable Installation
and Aerial Cable Installation.
There is even a safety poster for the fiber
activities: PDF Safety Rules For Fiber Optics
Other Safety Resources:
There is a toll-free
"call before you dig" number in the USA: Dial 811. See www.call811.com
for more information in the US. Here is their map of resources by states.
In Canada, it's "Click Before You Dig.com" They also have a page of resources by US states and Canadian provinces.
The Common Ground
Alliance has an excellent "Best Practices Guide"
online
- The US Department
of Transportation has a website called "National
Pipeline Mapping System" that allows one
to search for buried pipelines.
Why We Warn You To
Be Careful About Fiber Shards
Photo courtesy Brian Brandstetter,
Mississauga Training Consultantcy
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About The FOA
About The FOA
- Contact
Us: http://www.foa.org
or email <info@foa.org>
FOA has a company page
and four LinkedIn Groups
FOA
- official company page on LinkedIn
FOA
- covers FOA, technology and jobs in the fiber optic
marketplace
FOA
Fiber Optic Training - open to all, covers
fiber optic technology and training topics
Grupo de La Asociación de
Fibra Óptica FOA (Español)
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What is The FOA?
The FOA is a, international non-profit
educational association chartered to promote
professionalism in fiber optics through education,
certification and standards.
Founded in 1995 by a dozen prominent fiber optics
trainers and leaders from education, industry and government as a professional society for fiber
optics and a source of independent certification,
the FOA has grown to now being involved in numerous
activities to educate the world about fiber optics
and certify the workers who design, build and
operate the world's fiber optic networks.
Read More
FOA History
FOA Timeline of Fiber Optics
Contact
Us
The Fiber Optic Association Inc.
https://www.foa.org or email
<info@foa.org>
Use the Contact
Form
Want to know more about fiber optics? Study
for FOA certifications? Free
Self-Study Programs are on "Fiber U®."
Looking for specific information? Here's the largest
technical reference on the web: The
FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide.
Free online self-study programs
on many fiber optics and cabling topics are
available at Fiber U,
FOA's online web-based training website.
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-
Contact Us
The Fiber Optic Association Inc.
The FOA Home Page
Fiber Optic Timeline
(C)1999-2026, The Fiber Optic Association Inc.
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FOA Logo
Merchandise
New FOA Swag! Shirts,
Caps, Stickers, Cups, etc.
The
FOA has created a store on Zazzle.com offering lots
of new logo merchandise. It has lots of versions of
shirts and other merchandise with "FOA," "Fiber U,"
"Lennie Lightwave" designs and more so you should
find something just for you! See FOA on Zazzle.
-
Privacy Policy (for
the EU GDPR): The FOA does not
use cookies or any other web tricks to gather
information on visitors to our website, nor do
we allow commercial advertising. Our website
hosts may gather traffic statistics for the
visitors to our website and our online testing
service, ClassMarker, maintains statistics of
test results. We do not release or misuse any
information on any of our members except we will
confirm FOA certifications and Fiber U
certificates of completion when requested by
appropriate persons such as employers or
personnel services.
Read
the complete FOA Privacy Policy here.
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