to as the ICT industry,” says John H. Daniels, CEO of BICSI. “We equip professionals with the skills and credentials to deliver reliable and future-ready systems, and we help define the standards and best practices that the entire industry relies on.” DEFINING THE STANDARDS OF A CONVERGED INDUSTRY BICSI’s origin story begins with the physical infrastructure that makes networks work—voice and data cabling. Over time, as technology and expectations evolved, so did the association’s mandate. Today, BICSI is an internationally recognized, ANSI-accredited standards development organization and a global authority on ICT design, installation, and integration. “What started back in the day with voice and data now includes audiovisual systems, smart buildings, advanced wireless such as 5G and eventually 6G, and the emerging demands of artificial intelligence,” Daniels explains. “BICSI became the professional home for the full ICT ecosystem.” At the heart of its standards leadership is a consensusbased process. BICSI convenes subject matter experts from across the industry—manufacturers, designers, architects, electricians, and other construction trades—to collaboratively define what “best practice” actually looks like in the field. “We bring together the practitioners who are working in the industry day in and day out,” Daniels notes.“They’re the ones dealing with policy changes, licensing changes, and code changes. We work with them to determine the standards and practices that we as a community agree to use and abide by.” In addition to developing its own manuals and standards, BICSI maintains active representation on code-making panels and within other standards bodies. Volunteers from BICSI participate in NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), IEEE, TIA, ISO, and IEC—to name a few—helping shape codes and standards such as the National Electrical Code and gaining early insight into changes that will impact ICT professionals worldwide. That insight feeds directly back into BICSI’s own standards and guidance, ensuring members are not just reacting to a fast-moving environment, but staying ahead of it. FROM CABLING TO INFRASTRUCTURE INTELLIGENCE The definition of “communications infrastructure” has expanded dramatically. It is no longer just cabling and connectors, but the interplay of physical, digital, and power systems that together enable intelligent connectivity. 149 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 12 BUILDING INDUSTRY CONSULTING SERVICE INTERNATIONAL
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