Thoughts from the SCTE
Dave Hodges Membership to me means keeping up with and enjoying the common interests I have with fellow engineers and the broadband industry. Being on the Society’s Executive Committee is a great privilege and allows me the opportunity to help policy, and at the same time give something back.
Keith Bail In 1999, following a broadcast career at the BBC, I changed direction and joined a small Installation Company in South Wales to head up the restructure of the installation department in preparation for the Digital Revolution. Sky Digital and On Digital Services had just launched. This was when I first became aware of the SCTE. I did go to a few events in the early days, but it wasn’t until 2010 when I became the Operations Manager for Fracarro UK that I eventually joined as a member and experienced the true SCTE. Two years later, I upgraded to a Fellow of the SCTE. Since 2010, I have attended many brilliant lectures, notably the one in April 2011 that coincided with the launch of my teaching career. I won a bursary to attend ANGA in the same year and I would encourage anyone to apply for these bursaries as the experience is amazing and supported fully financially. The SCTE event days have been incredibly informative and entertaining. I have taken part in various activities such as off roading, archery, clay pigeon shooting, the skid pan and reverse driving, wow that was tricky. At these events, I have met new contacts who have since become friends, what a bonus. I was very proud to be voted onto the Executive Committee in October last year and further selected as Chair of the Training Sub Committee. Dr Roger Blakeway My association with the SCTE began in the late 1980’s at the start of the broadband revolution in the UK. After hosting a SCTE Executive Meeting at Westminster Cable, I was impressed by the energy and plans of the Committee and subsequently became a member. I became a Committee Member myself in 1991 at the time when Broadband was set for enormous growth, but with a shortage of skilled engineers and technicians. Through its newly introduced training programmes and expanded lecture series, the SCTE was a significant factor in the growth of broadband. This influence expanded into Europe and the Middle East during the 2000’s. For the young, unqualified technician and engineer the Society provided a stepping stone in their career path, allowing them to move through the professional grades with appropriate letters after their name as a statement of their competence. I am proud to have been a member for some 35 years and in its 80th year, the SCTE is still providing relevant support to the industry.
May 2025 Volume 47 No.2
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