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March 2026
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
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INDEX
Newsletter Sections
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on any link to jump to that section
Seen On The Street - Can Fiber Start Fires?
NEW Fiber U Self-Study Course - Broadband
"Ask Lennie" Intelligent Search Of FOA Website
What's New And Popular On FOA Website
Fiber Brings Comms To Amazon Basin
2026 Lightwavev Innovation Awards
Satellites: Bigger and More Numerous
VIAVI Support for Hollow Core Fiber
OFC Conference In Los Angeles This Year
Cleaning Fusion Splicers and Cleavers
SOCs for Most Splicers
Cat 6A For Longer Links
How Long Do Fiber Optic Cables Last?
TIA Guide To Newtworks
Worth
Reading Lots of interesting
articles to read, watch or listen to.
Q&A
Interesting questions from our readers
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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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
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Seen On The Street - This Month's Photo - Can Fiber Optics Cause Fires?
This month's Seen on the Street photo comes to us from our regular
contributor in Serbia, Vladimir Grozdanovic. This photo was sent to him
from one of his local contacts. He forwarded it to us with a question:
"
While I was working at my previous company, which offers CATV services
to its customers, during fiber-optic cable failures I had to shut down
the EDFA because the end of the broken cable was smoking. The optical
power was around 20 dBm per fiber. In a 144-fiber cable, about one third
of the fibers were under that optical power. Now they have sent me a
photo where the cable slack caught fire because the cable was cut at
that point. Firefighters had to intervene. Is it possible that the
EDFA caused such a fire?"
Can high power in singlemode fibers transmitting signals
amplified by fiber amplifiers carry sufficient energy to start a fire if
fibers in the cable break?
Several years ago (FOA Newsletter 11-21)
we wrote about the potential danger to technicians' eyes working on
links with fiber amplifiers where the amplifiers were not equipped with
devices that would sense a fiber break and shut down. The power in those
inks are high, but high enough to start fires?
FOA contacted technical people we knew at several fiber manufacturers and some of our technical advisors.
Dave Mazzarese at Lightera (the company previously known as OFS)
informed us that this was a concern at IEC way back in 2009. Dave
McCarthy of BT did a series of experiments in an IEC technical report
with G.652.D fibers around 2010 for IEC where he took a laser with about
1 watt of power and launched it into a singlemode fiber with a tight
bend and the loop of fiber quickly went up in flames. The key is that
with a 10 micron spot size the power density is very high and acrylate
fiber coatings are flammable. He was doing the tests to support his
recommendation that bend insensitive fibers be used in CO’s.
McCarthy's work was published by IEC as IEC TR 62547, Guidelines for
the measurement of high-power damage sensitivity of single-mode fibre to
bends - Guidance for interpretation of results. In Section 3, Background, it states: Tight
bends arising at system installation stage should generally be
identified and eliminated following provisioning by OTDR testing or from
link loss measurements. Experimental evidence shows that high-power
damage can occur relatively quickly at bends less than 15 mm diameter
using standard single-mode fibres (e.g. category B1.3). Damage occurs
when the coating temperature increases at tight bends as the coating
absorbs the light lost at the bend. Damage can take the form of coating
ageing, pyrolysis1 and burning and (if the temperature increases above
700 °C) catastrophic softening of the glass. Burning of the coating can
result in a fire.
According to Dave Mazzarese,
"I am not sure of the exact conditions of the cable in question or the
power being transmitted but the scenario is at least plausible. 0.5
watts of power with a very small bend or break could lead a
situation where the coating can catch fire. Not sure if it was a break
or a tight bend cased by poor cable installation practices but either
way the result is as you described."
Corning basically confirmed this possibility, noting that "Raman
amplifiers have interlocks and will not turn on unless there is a
continuous fiber before the Raman amp. So it is very unlikely with Raman
amp where powers are really high. With EDFAs is less clear if ALL
vendors have interlock but I am fairly confident that all leading
vendors have them. So … also unlikely. We can show study when we
launched 1W and higher. Other companies launched close to 10
W. It is possible (theoretically) to catch fire but …. That
is a very unlikely scenario when fiber with lots of power suddenly is
subject to a very sharp bend. We published a paper on that but I never
ever heard that something like happened in reality."
FOA Instructor Ian Gordon Fudge of Fiber DK
agreed that there could be a problem. He noted: If you have a 144 core
cable and a third is with 20dBm then there is a lot of power, might be
able to catch fire. I have a 24dBm EDFA, the adapter is made
of metal, because of the problem with a dirty connecter. I have
seen splices melting (slightly) splice trays, because of heat from
the splice. I have seen smoke coming from the end of a cable from a
trainee, but was steam
Another FOA Instructor, Steve Harris,
comes from the CATV industry and his comments relate to that
application. An optical power of 20 dBm per fiber (100 mW) is standard
for many CATV distribution legs. In a 144-fiber cable where one-third
(48 fibers) carry such power, the total aggregate power at a break point
is approximately 4.8 Watts. For fiber optics, 4.8 Watts of localized
infrared energy is significant. When a cable is cut or crushed, the
glass cores fracture. If the laser remains active, this light is no
longer guided; it strikes the cable's internal materials (buffer tubes,
strength members, and the outer jacket). Heat trapped between
fiber loops, makes it very easy for a small smolder to erupt into a
sustained plastic fire.
The conclusions we have come to are:
- Yes, there is enough power in fiber amplified circuits to cause fires at tight bends or breaks
- Especially if the fiber amps do not have interlocks
- Not all fiber amps have interlocks, especially low cost ones
- This problem has been known for years but is not widely known, perhaps because
- Instances of fire are rare.
- The photo above is probably one of those rare instances
Techs should be especially careful installing cable plants where fibers
may use fiber amplification. Tight bends in splice closures or cracks in
fibers can be a big problem. Kinks in cable or tight service loops are
also potential problems. OTDR testing should find these problems, but
could be overlooked in some installations with very high fiber counts.
Every fiber needs to be installed properly.
How Often Are Fiber Amplifiers Used?
It's rare to see discussions of new fiber projects including amplification, but a recent article in ISE Magazine provides some insight into how common fiber amplifiers may be.
Light Source Communications is expanding its U.S. network with a
new long-haul fiber route connecting St. Louis and Tulsa data centers
Light Source Communications (LSC) announced plans to construct a new long-haul dark fiber route between St. Louis and Tulsa. The
500-mile route will include a hyperscale tenant and eight in-line
amplifiers (ILAs) to support signal strength across the network.
LSC designs, builds, and operates custom dark fiber infrastructure
intended to provide high capacity, low latency, and network diversity. The company states that its fiber networks are constructed entirely underground to support security and reliability requirements for hyperscale and neocloud environments.
Read the article in ISE Magazine
New Fiber U Broadband Self Study Program
Broadband has changed in the last few
years. Technology (and money
being spent or at least promised) has led to a lot of changes. Even the
term broadband has changed to encompass all types of Internet
connectivity, not just fiber, that offer substantial information
carrying capacity. One thing remains the same, all depend on a worldwide
network of fiber optic cables to handle the traffic.
When we published the FOA book The Fiber Optic Association Guide To Fiber Broadband, How Fiber Optics Revolutionized Communications And Made Broadband Possible,
broadband was available mainly by CATV cable modem or fiber to the home
(FTTH) from major service providers. Now we have hundreds of
smaller FTTH projects and thousands of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites,
with tens of thousands more planned, offering similar "broadband"
services.
Other wireless services (satellites are wireless too) have advanced in
technology also.
As we do continuously in our fast moving technology, FOA has been
updating our broadband technical web pages to reflect these changes. Like the FOA
book on broadband, we are also aiming for a broader audience, not just
fiber techs, but engineers, scientists and managers wanting to
understand today's world of communications. And we will do an update of
the book shortly also.
At the same time, we decided to add a new Fiber U self-study program
on Broadband. The course includes 10 lessons that cover the full scope
of broadband technologies:
- Introduction To Broadband
- Broadband Jargon
- Networks And Communications Technology
- Fiber Optic Telecommunications
- Wireless Networks
- Fiber To The Home.
- Data Communications Networks
- The Internet And Data Centers
- Fiber Makes It Smart
- Building Fiber Broadband Networks
Like all Fiber U courses, its 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.
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.
The New 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.
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.
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.
What Is An FOA Credential?
FOA has certified over 100,000 CFOT® Certified Fiber Optic Technicians,
introduced 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 these credentials. FOA has created a page to explain the differences in certifications, certificates and badges.
All FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technicians now have their certification
credentials online.
And now, introducing a new FOA credential: The "FOA Badge In Fiber Optics"
An industry-wide credential for all professionals working in fiber optics. Now available in Spanish - Ahora también disponible en español
Go here for more information on the FOA Badge in Fiber Optics
or watch the YouTube video.
New Fiber U Course: Fiber
Optic Safety Covers Construction And Installation
This
new Fiber U course focuses on safety in fiber optic installation. 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.
 
We bought one ourselves - it's well made and distinctive.
New/Updated Web Pages
FOA Credentials: the differences in certifications, certificates and badges.
Satellite Communications
OSP Aerial Construction Workmanship
Fiber Optic Safety - Installation and Construction.
Fiber Optic Network Troubleshooting.
Books
FOA Reference Guide To Network Design And Project Management, second edition.
FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics, Second Edition, second edition of the basic fiber textbook.
The Fiber Optic Association Guide To Fiber Broadband Is A Hit With Broadband Planners Paperback ($12.95) and Kindle ($9.95) versions available from Amazon or most booksellers. Kindle version is in color!
New In The FOA Guide
Introduction To Broadband
Guidelines For Fiber Optic Project Planners
FOA Guide To The Fiber Optic Workforce
- what we've learned in developing the fiber optic workforce over 30 years and more than 100,000 certified techs.
Cross Reference Guide to FOA Textbooks, Online Guide and Fiber U FOA Videos Guide.
FOA resources on fiber broadband and Index Of Articles On Fiber Broadband Networks
FOA Newsletter
Sections
News
Technical
Worth
Reading Q&A
Training/FiberU
Resoures
Safety About
|
|
News
Lots more news
in Worth Reading below
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TeleGeography's annual State of the Network report
Get comprehensive analysis of the global telecommunications landscape,
including infrastructure and critical market shifts you need to know
about for 2026. This year's report covers:
Cable talk - Highlight a massive surge in submarine cable investment,
projected to exceed $14 billion through 2027, to meet rising bandwidth
needs. Content and cloud providers like Google and Meta now dominate
international capacity, significantly outpacing traditional internet
backbone providers.
Price check - The report also notes that while bandwidth demand and
traffic continue to grow, market prices for capacity and IP transit are
steadily declining.
Behind the headlines - We address how geopolitical tensions and the rise
of artificial intelligence are reshaping network routing and data
center strategies.
Get a copy of the report here for everything you need to know about the current state of telecom.
Fiber Brings Communications To South America Along The Amazon River
From BlankWorldMap.
We've covered many news stories about how submarine cables provide the
communications between continents and to islands, but that's not all
submarine cables are used for. Large river systems like the Amazon River
provide pathways for installing fiber optic cables well into the
interior of continents. The Amazon is the second longest river on Earth
(the Nile is the longest) and extends almost all the way across South
America, connecting Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, (and almost Ecuador on the
West Coast) to the Atlantic Ocean through Brazil.
River systems like the Amazon Basin offer a unique opportunity to
install fiber more easily and with minimal disruption to the land, a
serious environmental concern in the Amazon Basin. Brazil has recently contributed detailed underwater surveys of the river to neighboring countries like Columbia looking to install fiber optic cables along the river bed.
Norte Conectado in Brizil is a major project in the region. When finished, the infrastructure of Norte Conectado (North Connected)
will have 13,2 thousand kilometers of optical cables, interconnecting
70 municipalities in six states of the Amazon region: Amazonas, Pará,
Acre, Roraima, Rondônia and Amapá, benefiting about 7.5 million
Brazilians with high quality and stable Internet. Each cable brings
together 24 pairs of fiber optics and transmission capacity of up to 96
Tbit/s.
2026 Lightwave Innovation Reviews Honorees
Every year Lightwave Magazine recognizes the most innovative and important new products of the year. It's always interesting - here is the link to see the full list. Below are a few of our choices.
Molex’s VersaBeam Expanded Beam Optical Connectors
and cables use lensed technology to deliver scalable fiber connectivity
to data centers. Expanded-beam connector options integrate 12, 16, or
144 fibers into a single connector
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s Quantum-Ultra Ribbon Splicer allows fiber technicians to splice up to 16-count ribbon fiber in 11 seconds.
M2 Optics’ OptiTether™ drone solutions
are designed for FPV drone, UAV, and UGV operators who require secure,
durable physical fiber cabling connections with their UAVs, for
low-latency control while providing extra resilience against wireless/RF
signal detection and interference. allows fiber technicians to splice
up to 16-count ribbon fiber in 11 seconds.
(Tethering drones with fiber allows control without worries about
interference or jamming, a technique used on FOGM missiles 40 years
ago.)
There are lots more to read about in the 2026 Lightwave Innovation Reviews Honorees.
Note: There is a
large amount of space news in communications this month, but since all
those satellites communicate with ground-based fiber networks, it should
be of interest to everybody interested in fiber.
The largest-ever satellite of its kind just unfurled its wings in low-Earth orbit
Courtesy of AST Mobile from Scientific American.
The largest-ever communications satellite of its kind took a major step
toward operation Tuesday: operator AST SpaceMobile announced the
record-breaking spacecraft, whimsically called BlueBird 6, has
successfully unfolded its humongous antenna.
Spanning some 2,400 square feet (223 square meters), it is the largest
commercial communications array antenna ever deployed in low-Earth
orbit. AST SpaceMobile hopes it will be the first of many: the
Texas-based public company has six smaller satellites already operating
in low-Earth orbit, with plans for scores more behemoths like BlueBird
6. Ultimately these will form a cellular broadband network aimed
specifically at smartphones.
Read More in Scientific American.
FCC clears Amazon Leo to launch 4,500 more satellites
The pristine night sky before the LEO satellite battles. (BBC Mag)
The recent FCC approvals bring Amazon’s planned constellation to 7,700 satellites.
This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given Amazon
Leo the green light to launch a second tranche of low Earth orbit (LEO)
communications satellites. The approval will allow the company to launch
4,504 additional satellites, bringing the burgeoning constellation’s
full complement to 7,727 devices. Of the newly approved satellites,
3,212 are the more advanced Gen 2 satellites, while 1,292 are Gen 1
satellites aimed at expanding coverage to polar regions, including the
northernmost parts of North America and Europe.
Amazon hopes to challenge Starlink. Amazon Leo (previously known as
Amazon’s Project Kuiper) has been in development since 2019, aiming to
challenge meteoric rise of SpaceX’s Starlink. Starlink already has
around 9,000 satellites in orbit, and recently secured approval to
increase this number to 15,000. As such, Amazon Leo has a lot of
catching up to do – a fact made more daunting by its slow deployment
rate since it began launching satellites in April last year.
Read more in BBC Magazine.
What to know about Elon Musk’s merger of SpaceX with his AI company (LA Times)
SpaceX merges with xAI in a $1.25 trillion deal
combining a profitable rocket firm with a cash-strapped AI startup
burning billions monthly.
The merger centers on launching up to one million satellites as AI data
centers in orbit, powered by solar energy for global computing. How does
SpaceX propose to getting all that data back to Earth? In a Federal
Communications Commission application, SpaceX describes how the centers
would transmit the data via optical, or laser, signals to the Starlink
network for transmission to the ground while the entire system is in a
low orbit roughly 300 miles to 1,200 miles above Earth.
Experts question the feasibility and timeline, citing technological
challenges including radiation-resistant chips, heat dissipation and
communication obstacles.
Read more in the LA Times
VIAVI Offers Support For Hollow Core Fiber Testing
Post-processing software is essential for fully characterizing hollow core fiber. The bidirectional
loss profile analysis for hollow core fiber is a must to be able to confirm the fiber has been installed in
accordance with the specifications and identify elements such as splices that require rework. VIAVI ReportPRO
aligns the OTDR traces measured from both ends — A to B and B to A — and calculates the difference at
each point removing inconsistencies caused by variations in HCF backscattering coefficient, providing the
“true” loss profile.
Read more about HCF testing in the VIAVI application note.
Biggest Fiber Conference Is In LA This March
The world's largest fiber conference OFC comes to Los Angeles March
15-19 this year. OFC with a large conference program and exhibition. OFC
has been the fiber optic conference and exhibition to attend since 1975.
For more information and registration go here.
Quote Of The Month/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®
|
Cleaning Fusion Splicers, Fiber Cleavers and Thermal Strippers
By Vladimir Grozdanovic
Regular cleaning of fiber cleaver and the fusion splicer is essential
for a longer equipment lifespan, proper fiber preparation, and
high-quality splicing. Choosing the right cleaning equipment is very
important and special attention should be paid to the selection of
cleaning liquids and cleaning materials such as wipes and swabs.
Cleaning most tools is straightforward and can be done using IPA or
special chemical liquid (hereinafter referred to as the chemical) and
wipes. Cleaning the fiber cleaver is slightly more complex and requires
lint-free swabs with the chemical to wipe all blade surfaces and the
rubber pads on the cleave tool and blade.
Fusion splicer cleaning includes large surfaces, the splicing area, and the heater oven.
Cleaning large surfaces on the fusion splicer is done using the chemical
and wipes without opening the wind protector or heater oven. For
cleaning the heater, dry swabs or swabs lightly moistened with the
chemical can be used.
The splicing area requires cleaning of the LED light source, fiber
holders and clamps, V-grooves, and lenses. The chemical and swabs can be
used for all these components. It is best to use specially designed
lint-free swabs.
V-grooves should be cleaned only with a special soft or medium brushes.
Some splicers have V-groove tray which is coated with a Teflon-like
material that can be damaged by hard or metal brushes. When cleaning the
grooves, care must be taken not to touch the electrodes. Thorough
cleaning also includes running a prepared glass fiber back and forth
through the V-groove to remove debris. In some ribbon splicers, the
V-groove tray can be removed, allowing easier access for more thorough
cleaning and for cleaning the lenses.
After cleaning, inspect the area with and without a loupe to ensure that all debris has
been removed. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Read the complete application note on cleaning fusion splicers, cleavers and strippers in the FOA Guide.
Splice On Connectors Work With Most Fusion Splicers
OmniSplice is Panduit’s entry into the fusion-spliced fiber optic
connectors market. The pre-polished, pre-cleaved connector subassembly
is placed into the OmniHolder, spliced directly to fiber cable, and the
connector is assembled around the splice point. This is a familiar
process in the fusion-spliced
fiber optic connectors market. What is unusual is the OmniHolder works
with most current fusion splice machines from Sumitomo, AFL (Fujikura),
Fiber Fox, and UCL Swift. This enables termination of OmniSplice
connectors on the most common splice machines in the field.
OmniSplice connectors are designed to work with 900μm tight-buffered
fiber, 250μm loose-tube fiber, and 250μm fibers with 900μm build-up
tubing (e.g. fanout kits) OmniSplice connectors can be terminated in two
minutes or less and have an average insertion loss (IL) well below
0.10dB IL.
Read the Panduit OmniSplice datasheet for more information.
Cat 6A For Extended Length Ethernet Cable
TIA 568 structured cabling standards specifies a 100 meter channel
length for structured cabling using UTP cable. Recognizing that some
applications may exceed this 100 meter distance, the TIA TR-42.7 Copper Cabling Systems Subcommittee is
currently developing TSB-5073, tentatively entitled, “Guidelines for
supporting Extended Distance over 4-pair Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling.” You can download a copy of the TIA white paper discussing the project here.
It did not take long for a vendor to offer a product aimed at this new
proposal. Aginode, a century-old company headquartered in Paris, has
introduced LANMARK 6A ULTIM EXTP, a Cat 6A shielded twisted pair cable
rated for 1 Gb/s up to 160 meters and 90W POE++ power delivery. When
combined with the LANmark ULTIM connector, PoE and Ethernet data
transmission exceed normative barriers - without compromise.
LANMARK 6A ULTIM EXTP uses AWG22
copper conductors and an innovative aluminium foil design combining
global and individual pair shielding for Alien Crosstalk immunity.
For more information download the datasheet here.
How Long Do Fiber Optic Cables Last?
That's a question FOA was asked recently. Read our reply in the Q&A section.
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,
AFL Video Covers 16 Fiber Splicing
Watch AFL's latest webinar on the tools, techniques, and
real-world challenges of hyperscale fiber installation. This video
covers hyperscale data center growth, splicing i16 fiber cables, and
best practices for ribbon fiber prep and cleaning. Gain valuable
insights on using the Fujikura 90R, industry ribbon structures, and
achieving optimal splice results.
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.
Aerial Cable Plant Workmanship
Read the recently updated FOA Guide sections Aerial Cable Installation and Aerial Cable Plant Workmanship. and see FOA Guidelines for Aerial Cable Installation.
Is It Just The OTDR Or Is Singlemode Loss Really Directional?
Read the explanation of OTDR directional differences in the FOA Guide page on OTDRs.
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.
Cleaning Fusion Splicers and Cleavers.
Fiber Optic Color Codes.
The Differences Between Conventional and PON Optical Power Meters
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
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.
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Worth Reading (And
Watching Or Listening)
TeleGeography's annual State of the Network report.
How Fiber Optics Power the Grid: SCADA, Private Networks and Utility Communications - AFL Application Note But
as it turns out, fiber optics is an integral part of the modern
electric grid. And the internet is highly dependent on the electric
grid, too!
Etisalat & and ZTT complete (Middle East) region’s first hollow-core fibre field trial - Etisalat And
Emtelle Concludes Deal to Produce Fibre in Indonesia - FCCCMENA
Many of our modern marvels are rooted in the legacy of Bell Labs, an innovation powerhouse in suburban New Jersey. - NY Times
Recent And Worth Repeating
TIA's Cabling Systems Dictionary.
Listen and learn about AI and data centers at Marketplace, January 26-30, 2026. Wherever you get your podcasts.
Meet the Municipal Networks that Launched in 2025 - ILSR
ISE Magazine: Opportunity Cost - FOA President Jim Hayes
examines how BEAD’s slow rollout, high costs, and fiber-first design
create hidden opportunity costs for providers, communities, and the
nation’s broadband future.
Dig Once: How Federal, State, and Local Governments Can Reduce the Cost of Broadband Deployment - Vanderbilt University Policy Accelerator.
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
Clearances For Underground Fiber
Q: I was hoping to get in contact with someone about the recommended
distance(s) when installing fiber near curb valves. More promptly, we
are hoping to add fiber optic regulations to our city-wide standard
modifications
A: From Joe Botha, Triple Play Fiber SA: On this topic, we generally share the following with students on our OSP course.
Horizontal Separation: A minimum horizontal distance of 500 mm is
required between fibre cables and water services, with up to 1000 mm or
more separation required for large trunk mains i.e. >450mm in
diameter. Vertical Clearance: At crossings, fibre optic cables must be
separated from water pipes by at least 300 mm to 500 mm.
Fibre optic cables within water pipe servitudes often require protection with concrete or pre-cast slabs.
Tools For Self Study Hands-on Practice
Q: I’m currently taking the Basic FO self study class. Currently on
chapter 6 and want to do the VHO. Having a hard time finding the tools
to participate in the VHO. Is there anyway to get a list of tools I need
to participate or can you point me in the direction on the site to
finding a reference to the info I’m searching for. Also where is a good
place to look for cables for terminations and splicing?
A: Did you find this page on Fiber U’s Basic Skills Lab:
https://fiberu.org/Basic%20Skills%20Lab/Remote/LP-remote.html It shows
some basic tools you can buy on Amazon quite inexpensively. Amazon and
eBay are aways sources of fiber tools, cables, patchcords, mechanical
splices, connectors, etc.
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 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.
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.
Best Seller: 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 ($12.95) and Kindle ($9.95) versions available from Amazon or most booksellers. Kindle version is in color!
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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