contents 28 Extended-Reach Structured Cabling: Applying Engineered Guidance Beyond the 100- Meter Channel Structured cabling has long provided the foundation for predictable, interoperable communications infrastructure. For decades, the 100 meter (m) horizontal channel defined by ANSI/TIA-568.1 has balanced performance, power delivery, and administrative simplicity across commercial buildings and campus environments. However, facilities are increasingly requiring connectivity in locations that challenge traditional topology assumptions. By Diane Forbes 34 Optical Fiber Connectivity Trends: Practical Termination Choices for High Bandwidth, Low Loss Networks Across the optical fiber market, networks continue to grow more complex as they support an expanding range of devices and data-intensive applications across security, industrial, and enterprise environments. This article examines cabling trends and their effect on approaches used today, including mechanical connectors, splice-on connectors, fusion-splice pigtail cassettes, and pre-terminated solutions. By Megan Wolfe, Katherine Asbeck, Elizabeth Pezeu
April/May/June 2026 Volume 47, Issue 2
FROM THE BICSI BOARD CHAIR 05 Message from the Board Chair By William "Bill" Foy COVER ARTICLE 06 How FMP and PoE are Rewiring the Modern World The hum of the modern building is changing. For more than a century, that hum was the literal 60Hz vibration of AC power pushing through steel conduits filled with copper wire. Now one can walk into a cutting-edge data center, a high-tech hospital, or a "smart" skyscraper today, and they will find a different pulse. It is the silent, efficient, and intelligent flow of DC power delivered through the very same cables that carry our data. By Bob Voss 12 The Weakest Link: Exposing the Dangers of Non-Compliant 8P8C (RJ45) Connectivity The 8-position, 8-contact (8P8C) modular connector, more commonly known as the RJ45, is a highly engineered interconnection system of jacks and plugs with eight equally spaced contacts. Though its history began in the 1960s for telephony, it achieved widespread adoption with the rise of Ethernet networking over twisted-pair cabling. By David Jeskey and Betsy Conroy 20 The Role of Ongoing Optical Fiber Testing in Maintaining Reliable Networks Modern networks run on a simple promise: fast, reliable services that scale on demand. Behind every AI query, cloud storage request, and virtual workload sits a physical layer that must deliver clean, predictable performance – optical fiber. These optical fiber links connect switches, routers, and firewalls to servers and storage arrays. By Chris Porter
INSIDE FRONT COVER AD COMING SOON. 8.375” X 10.875”
Permanent, On-Site Terminations With the Q502S Active Clad Splicer and Lynx-CustomFit™ Splice-On Connectors
SUBMISSION POLICY ICT TODAY is published quarterly by BICSI, Inc. and is sent in digital format to BICSI members and credential holders. ICT TODAY welcomes and encourages submissions and suggestions from its readers. Articles of a technical, vendor-neutral nature are gladly accepted for publication with approval from the Editorial Review Board. However, BICSI, Inc., reserves the right to edit and alter such material for space or other considerations and to publish or otherwise use such material. The articles, opinions, and ideas expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of BICSI, its members, or its staff. BICSI is not liable in any way, manner, or form for the articles’ opinions and ideas. Readers are urged to exercise professional caution in undertaking any of the recommendations or suggestions made by authors. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission from BICSI, Inc. ADVERTISING: Advertising rates and information are provided upon request. Contact our team for information about advertising: Courtney Best Nalls at +1 813.352.0660 or cnalls@bicsi.org; Brian Dailey at +1 813.769.1854 or bdailey@bicsi.org. Publication of advertising should not be deemed as endorsement by BICSI, Inc. BICSI reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to reject any advertisement at any time by any party. © Copyright BICSI, 2026. All rights reserved. BICSI and all other registered trademarks within are property of BICSI, Inc.
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