With the “new norm” of the business environment, and the resulting comfort we’ve gained with being on camera and the technology of these various platforms for meetings such as Zoom, Teams, GoToMeeting, and WebEx, challenges still exist in not meeting in person.

There is simply no replacement for an in-person, face-to face meetings, whether it be one-on-one or a group conference. Who would have ever thought that these phases would be part of our everyday vocabulary: “Wow, look at your quarantined hair! Unmute yourself. Mute yourself. Repeat yourself. You broke up. You’re frozen. We lost Lisa. What’s that noise? Mute yourself (louder this time!) My internet is terrible! I can only see your ceiling!”

But yet we are pushing through and making the best of the situation. If you’ve thought its challenging for us in the business environment, think about an elementary school teacher trying to teach and keep the attention of 25 eight-year old’s on a zoom classroom conference. We have it so much easier in comparison!!!

This week, for the first time ever, the TIA-42 Telecommunication Cabling Systems Engineering committees’ 2^nd QTR 2020 conferences will be virtual, rather than in Denver, CO., the location originally scheduled.  All of the engineering sub-committees from the TR42.1, Premises Telecommunications Infrastructure, to the TR42.13, Pass Optical Devices and Fiber Metrology, will be conducting our business, standards and spec updating, development and debate, remotely.

For clarification, generally, our sub-committees are organized into three types of committees:

• • Copper media connectivity and systems (TR42.7)
  • Fiber media connectivity and systems (TR42.11, TR42.12 & TR42.13)
  • Premises and cross functional requirements (TR42.1, TR42.3, TR42.5, TR42.9)

So stay tuned for updates! There is a lot of standards work to accomplish this week, and although it will be challenging for approximately one hundred of the smartest minds in the industry virtually debating, I’m confident that we overcome the obstacle on not being in the same room.

Let’s just hope sunspots or the weather doesn’t affect the internet quality!!!! Now, don’t forget: Mute yourself!

For more updates on the TIA-942 standard and all things data center cabling, be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn - just click here.