The SCTE/ISBE has launched a VirtuLearn Critical Facilities course intended to prepare technical workforces to support the changing role of headends and data centers in cable networks.
The course, which is available online at https://www.scte.org/criticalfacilities or via an instructor-led onsite boot camp, provides instruction for current and prospective engineering and technical operations professionals across six disciplines: Critical Facilities; Critical Infrastructure; Cooling; Powering; Disaster Recovery; and Greener Facilities.
"As we evolve our networks to serve the growing needs of our customers, we're continuously looking for ways to make our network facilities smarter, faster and more efficient," said Sherita Ceasar, senior vice president, technology environments and strategy, for Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA). "This Critical Facilities curriculum is a valuable tool for current and future workforce professionals seeking to support that evolution and achieve the highest possible levels of operational readiness."
"FTTx/xPON technologies, Distributed Access Architectures, DOCSIS 3.1 and the rise in broadband traffic are creating unprecedented demands for capacity and reliability on operator networks," said Steve Harris, executive director, technical sales, learning and development, for the SCTE/ISBE. "Upwards of 80% of unplanned downtime is caused by people or process issues; we've designed this course to reduce those possibilities and to provide the decision-making structures and processes that can address unpredictable events such as power outages, natural disasters and manmade disasters."
Enrollment in the Critical Facilities course includes: access to interactive VirtuLearn eBook modules; interactive VirtuLearn LightningMod microlessons; and confirmation of learning of the course of discipline. Those who complete the full course will receive a completion certificate and four recertification units toward SCTE/ISBE recertification renewal. Learners also can take individual modules and earn course completion certificates and recertification units for them.