Commemorative Issue: Walker and Associates Celebrates 50th Year of Industry Leadership - Volume XIV Issue
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Volume XIV Issue 1 walkerfirst.com/skinny-wire Insights for ICT Professionals Commemorative Issue: Walker and Associates Celebrates 50th Year of Industry Leadership
2 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/
IN THIS ISSUE . . .
As Walker celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2020, becoming reflective
FEATURE ARTICLES of the company’s changes, milestones and accomplishments over the
years is an easy route to follow. While we do pay a tribute to those
4 Walker Celebrates 50th Anniversary in 2020 topics in this issue, we decided it most important to cast our vision
By Randy Turner, Walker forward toward the next stages of industry innovations, challenges
and opportunities. For at least the last decade, the industry has been
9 A Half Century of Industry Partnerships
focused on 2020 as the benchmark year for significant achievements,
By Randy Turner, Walker
including broad deployment of 5G, further entrenchment of software
10 Fiber Broadband and 5G: A Foundation of the 4th derived network solutions, and more. So, here we are at 2020, looking
Industrial Revolution ahead and asking, “What’s next?”
By Adam Zuckerman
Industry leaders responded to our call for their insight. Overwhelmingly,
15 Start Phasing in ATSC 3.0 Equipment Now the industry appears focused on rural broadband expansion.
By Steven S. Ross, Broadband Communities Specifically, the energy around this topic is heightened by launch of the
FCC’s Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The aggregated
16 50 Years and Still Innovating - Introducing Walker TAC USF funds used to create the program exceed $20B, and is intended
By Trey Hall, Walker and Associates to deliver broadband services to areas lacking fixed broadband. While
the FCC standard definition of broadband remains at 25/3, there is an
21 CBRS LTS: Something New for WISPs
expectation that a weighted system will award funding to providers
By Glen Knox, NC DIT
poised to offer Gigabit/low latency broadband services into their com-
22 The Decade Ahead: Customers, Commerce and Competition munities. Expectations are running high that this funding mechanism
By Chip Pickering, INCOMPAS will create spans in an ever-increasing digital divide in the US.
23 The Future of Broadband in the United States In concert with RDOF, is the industry’s new fascination with rural elec-
By John Scrivner, Live Oak Bank tric cooperatives, who are appearing on everyone’s dance card. From
practically every contributor for this issue of Skinny Wire, electric coop-
25 2020: A Broadband Odyssey eratives rise to the top as the bridge for rural community connectivity.
By Shirley Bloomfield, NTCA Much of that work, it is expected, will occur in partnership with other
entities, whether in the form of public/private or public/public. Headed
31 FCC Takes Steps to Close Digital Divide
forward, they deserve increased attention and focus. Even the banking
By Lisa, Youngers, Fiber Broadband Association
industry is taking note of this segment’s pending play in broadband
deployment, as noted in the article by Live Oak Bank on page 23.
32 The View of ICT In the Next Decade
By Heather Burnett Gold, HBG Strategies
Certainly, public policy will continue shaping and molding industry
35 Disrupting Legacy ICT Business Models opportunities headed beyond 2020. Making broadband services
By Alan Fitzpatrick, Open Broadband, LLC available through funding and sound public policy is only part of the
challenge, however. Increasing adoption rates in rural communities
36 The Future of ICT for Electric Utilities through digital inclusion efforts is another facet of the bigger picture.
By Bob Lockhart Grassroots efforts to minimize the digital divide include digital literacy
programs, creating new resources for affordable devices, establish-
41 Electric Co-op Broadband Business Models ing publicly available Wi-Fi hotspots, addressing the homework gap
By Cathy Cash, NRECA among students, and more. Rural community stability is at stake.
44 Making the Right Decision on Broadband for Your Co-op And, technology advancements in coming decades is simply a given.
By Cathy Cash, NRECA While portions of the ICT industry are still making the conversion to IP
networks, the future is clearly about big data. Whether you’re talking
49 Create A Meaningful, Relevant NEXT
about moving it, storing it, securing it or creating it, this industry faces
By Sam Horn, Author
enormous opportunity to solve business challenges in every sector
of the economy. Fiber deployment is a critical component of these
RESOURCE ARTICLES future-ready networks that deliver on the promises of 5G, AI, network
virtualization, automation and more. Any of these opportunities will
17 Migrating Power Utility Substations to IP Networks only be realized through technological breakthroughs.
By Jaime Jaramillo, ADVA
Just as it was in 1970, 2020 is a great year to be in this industry.
18 What’s Next for Network Functions Virtualization? Looking backward can feel indulgent; Looking ahead is a bigger
By Prayson Pate, ADVA responsibility. Beyond 2020 are opportunities not yet imagined, ques-
tions not yet asked, solutions too bold to even dream. The industry
19 The Power and Promise of Fiber Networks
joins in congratulating a company that has weathered the last 50 years
By Kara Mullaley, Corning Optical Communications
in an industry riddled with complex change. Here’s to the next genera-
28 5G Is Your Business tion of innovators, dreamers and industry disruptors!
By Francisco Sant’Anna, Ciena
39 It’s Going to Be an Electrifying Year of Broadband Growth
By Ravi Hickhkad, ADTRAN
Randy Turner
WALKER NEWS Editor, Skinny Wire
Director, Marketing Communications
46 In the Spotlight Walker and Associates
50 Upcoming Events 336-731-5246
randy.turner@walkerfirst.com
Letters to the editor may be sent to SWEditor@walkerfirst.com. SWEditor@walkerfirst.com
Skinny Wire is a bi-annual publication of Walker and Associates, Inc.
“Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer m/f/d/v”
Opinions expressed by contributors and commentators do not
necessarily reflect the views of Walker and Associates, Inc.
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 3
Walker Celebrates 50th
Anniversary in 2020!
By Randy Turner
Director, Marketing Communications
Walker and Associates
To understand the boldness required of
Chris and Virginia Walker, who opened
their family business in 1970, it is impor-
tant to place that decision in its proper
context. The 1970s was not a kind econ-
omy. The combination of wage and price
inflation, coupled with slow business
growth, created a new term to describe
a troubled economy: stagflation. As the
pace of change quickened, the ability of
large corporations and the US govern-
ment to adjust diminished. This combi-
nation created a ripe environment for
entrepreneurs: Enter Chris and Virginia
Walker.
SMALL BUSINESS, LARGE SACRIFICES
For the Walkers, making a decision like
this required making certain sacrific-
es. One of their first was selling their
Connecticut home and moving into the
basement of Virginia’s parents in Chester,
VA. With their four young children in tow,
Chris and Virginia mapped out a plan
for him to engage customers through
travel in the mid-Atlantic region while
she worked from the home office as
his inside salesperson, customer service Chris and Virginia Walker celebrate the holidays in the early 1980s with colleagues.
spcialist, inventory manager and book- to earn the trust and confidence of his that was poised to take advantage of the
keeper. As the children grew older, they customers. Going far beyond simply pro- biggest landmark change in the industry
pitched in to help, earning their stripes viding products, Chris kept an eye on since the dawn of telecommunications.
doing administrative and logistics tasks. solving customer problems, deepening
relationships, and expanding industry INDUSTRY CHANGE
Through the first decade, Chris Walker partnerships. As a team, Chris, Virginia As the AT&T divestiture was finalized
easily won a reputation for his ability and their children developed a brand in the early 1980s, the industry was
2000
1970 1998 Passing of
co-founder,
Walker and Associates Mark Walker Chris Walker
launches in Chester, VA,
1983 announced as new
home of co-founders, President of Virginia Walker
AT&T Divestiture
Chris and Virginia Walker Walker and Associates becomes new CEO
1978 1996 1999 20
Corporate offices Telecom Act of 96 Walker recognized Walke
relocate to Welcome, NC becomes law as one of NC’s fastest quality
growing companies with T
Evergood Fabrication Evergood Fabrication ISO 90
founded as manufacturing sold to Reltec st
division of Walker Group
4 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/
already responding to new opportuni- expanding its customer base, the com- customers, association leaders, manu-
ties brought about by new technologies. pany forged relationships with leading facturers and others, he was honored
The advent of a new age of competition, equipment manufacturers. As noted on and respected. In June 2000 I had the
birthed by advances in computer switch- page 9, Walker’s early partnerships with opportunity to drive Chris from his hotel
ing equipment, satellite communications ADC (now CommScope), and Telect (now to the Georgia World Conference Center
and fiber optic technologies, fell into full Amphenol Network Solutions), solidified in Atlanta for what industry veterans will
swing as the company known as the larg- the company’s ability to provide passive recall as the last great SUPERCOMM.
est employer in the world during most of and connectivity solutions to its grow- This industry flagship event spilled from
the 20th century was divided into seven ing base of rural and emerging regional every hall at the GWCC into the Georgia
smaller regional companies. competitors. By the time the Telecom Act Dome and surrounding parking lots with
of 1996 became law, the company added its expo. I accompanied Chris into the
Walker became a trusted volume sup- Corning Optical Communications as a hall headed to Walker’s booth. Dressed
plier to each of these regional carriers, partner, adding more value to customer in his signature cherry red sports coat,
which helped brand the Walker name engagement. Today, more than 400 sup- he was immediately recognized, drawing
nationally. The sales and logistics facili- pliers distribute products through Walker a steady stream of greetings from busi-
ties shifted to Welcome, NC, a great and Associates, making it a one-stop ness acquaintances who stepped out of
logistics location and home to a pro- shop for the communications network their booths and into the aisle to shake
gressive sales staff. Chris and Virginia’s among ICT professionals. his hand. What should have been a brief
philosophy of customer focus took shape walk to a tradeshow booth turned into a
in a staff that increased based upon one COMPANY LEADERSHIP marathon of networking, business card
simple question: “What’s in it for the cus- As the turn of the century drew close, sharing and affirmations. I felt like I was
tomer?” The strongest skillset required Chris and Virginia set the stage for their with a superstar. In hindsight, I know that
was figuring out how to help customers retirement years together. Their younger was the case.
solve their challenges. Wearing multiple son, Mark, took the lead as company
hats was a prerequisite for anyone join- president in 1998. His leadership as the The following month, as the dot com
ing the young company. president of Evergood, along with his bubble pinnacled, Chris Walker was diag-
experience in the field in outside sales for nosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed
North Carolina also brought the oppor- Walker and manufacturers, brought new the following October at the age of 77.
tunity to launch a second business to direction to the company as it responded The company he and Virginia founded
support telecom customers. From 1978 - to burgeoning industry growth brought had just marked its 30th year.
1996, Evergood Telecom Enclosures was about by the Telecom Act of 1996. Their
a manufacturing division of Walker. Their older son, Rick Walker, led the com- NEW CENTURY, NEW CHALLENGES
focus on aluminum telecom cabinets pany’s services department, and their As the company and the family grieved
for outdoor network hubs and power older daughter Laura served in a variety this loss, the market’s tide shifted nearly
transfer points earned Evergood as much of roles including HR, purchasing and as in unison as the telecom winter unfolded.
as 70% of the national telecom power a board member along with her siblings. Dramatic bankruptcies, business clos-
switch market in the mid 1990s.By the Chrystie, the youngest of the four, having ings, corporate scandals and finally the
time this division was sold to Reltec in supported the business since its earli- events of 9/11 rocked the industry along
the late 1990s, the product line had est days in her grandparents’ basement, with US and global economies. Walker
expanded into indoor central officce served on the board and took advantage was challenged in new ways to navigate
and data center equipment cabinets. of opportunities to learn about the busi- tough times through a series of down-
Walker served as the sole distributor of ness and the industry. sizing events, reorganization, inventory
Evergood products. reductions, belt tightening and adjust-
Chris Walker’s reputation as an indus- ing to a new normal of uncertainty. As
Along with growing internally and try giant was firmly fixed. Known by the industry itself dealt with supplier
Cont’d on page 6
2014 2020
2009 2016
Retirement of Walker launches
Walker acquires Virginia Walker Walker awarded Walker TAC Services
non-affiliate operating SPAWAR Atlantic’s C2 to provide optical switch
assets of Windstream Chrystie Brown Multiple Acquisition and router maintenance
Supply named as new CEO Contract (MAC) and support
008 2010 2015 2017
er initiates Walker joins Top 100 Mark Walker Walker expands broadband
programs Broadband Company list named TIA Board Chair deployment portfolio with
TL9000 / (Published in Broadband bulk fiber cable and custom
001:2008 Communities Magazine) Walker awarded length cutting at NC
tatus NASA SEWP Contract distribution center
and MHEC Contract
Walker opens Reno, NV
distribution center
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 5
Cont’d from page 5
consolidations and customer attrition, services. The service provides both basic
the Walker family’s resolve to not merely and advanced configurations, dramati-
survive but thrive was relentless. Virginia, cally reducing the cost of new service
accompanied by each of her children, turn-up for carriers.
once again made sacrifices, put in the
hard work and renewed their commit- Other advances of services include creat-
ment to creating and retaining custom- ing an outdoor fiber cable yard, adding
ers. Personal calls from the family, inno- bulk fiber and cutom-length cutting as
vation and a basic sense of entrepre- a service, turnkey EFI&T services, proj-
neurship once again fueled the company ect management, professional services,
as it emerged leaner, yet healthier and managed services, a fully functioning NFV
more resilient. lab, and more. Reflecting Chris Walker’s
original mantra, responding to customer
In the years following, Walker has been requirements is the foundation for each
marked by a steady growth in its supplier service added through the years.
base, attracting many of the best names
in the industry as partners. Recognition WHAT’S NEXT?
from them repeatedly tells the story of Rounding the bend of 50 years in this
a relationship that works. Walker’s deci- industry requires not only a celebration
sion to acquire the non-affiliate assets of of the past, but also crafting a vision
Windstream Supply in 2009 resulted in for the future. That future includes
deeper customer relationships, a richer additional services (reference article on
supplier base, and an increase in internal Chrystie Brown, left, and Virginia Walker, Walker’s new TAC services on page 17)
talent. Attracting experienced talent to fill right, collaborate together shortly after that expand the company’s ability to
ever increasing technical roles remains Chrystie assumed her new role as CEO. protect and secure customer networks. It
a strong focus. Likewise, retaining expe- a solid reputation for its leadership in includes reorganizations that create spe-
rienced talent continues to remain a important industry associations. Mark cific roles, generating better results for
key competency. It isn’t unusual to hear Walker’s leadership at TIA as a board customers and suppliers. Talent acquisi-
of associates who have been with the member and board chair provided new tion and retention must remain a core
company 20 years, 25 years, even 30, 35 perspectives and experience. In 2018, competency.
and higher. That kind of tenure speaks Juniper Networks recognized Walker as
volumes about this family-owned small the recipient of three significant award Planning for the next decade and beyond
business. categories: AMER Partner of the Year, requires new resources, new technology
AMER Telco Partner of the Year, and and new partnerships. A new ERP, now
Aquisition and grwoth demanded a high- AMER Partner of the Year EAST Awards. a significant active project, will bring
er commitment to quality, so in 2012, In January 2020, Walker was recognized stronger tool sets into the hands of those
daughter Chrystie Brown became VP of by ADTRAN for the 17th year running as servicing customer accounts, as well as
Quality and Contracts. in 2014, Virginia their #1 distribution partner. directly to customers who utilize the
passed the torch of CEO to Chrystie. company’s e-business suite of services.
This newest chapter for the company MORE THAN DISTRIBUTION Walker’s newly created CTO position puts
highlighted a commitment to quality and Adding to the company’s services through an eye on technology changes that gen-
to basic values and principles that have the years has always followed prompts erate requirements for new services and
served us well. As the company now cele- from its customers. Early on custom- new supplier relationships. Succession
brates its 50th anniversary, the thrid gen- ers expressed their need for customized planning for an aging workforce is also
eration of the Walker family, Christpher solutions that represented a variety of an important conversation, reflecting a
Walker, is earning his stripes as a leader products from a range of manufactur- trend across the industry.
in the Federal Sales organization. ers. Walker pulled together a team of
engineers who could scope the project, Chris Walker, when celebrating the com-
In recent years, Walker has earned indus- understand the business objective, and pany’s 20th anniversary in 1990, wrote “If
try awards for its performance in key then “shop” from the growing set of sup- we have learned anything over the past
markets, receiving numerous recogni- plier products to create solutions that twenty years, it is that survival means
tion from its supplier base, and earning saved customers time, money and man- change. We have learned that change is
power. Sometimes these solutions repre- not something to fear - change is oppor-
sented kits of materials that made onsite tunity!”
installation projects smoother and less
subject to misstep. Through the years In his memory and honor, the Walker
services like kitting, integration, installa- family is committed as much as ever to
tion and more have further entrenched the values that served them well for the
the company reputation as “more than past five decades: integrity, passion, cus-
distribution.” tomer focus, quality, collaboration and
innovation. Standing with them are their
Industry and technology advances cre- extended family of associates, many who
ated the need for device configuration have work at Walker nearly four decades.
Virginia Walker with grandson, services, which Walker established in They are joined by the industry’s finest
Christopher Walker, at the company’s 2005 the early 2000s. Now, Walker configures leaders, who are extending their con-
holiday dinner more than 55,000 units per year for a gratulations and best wishes during this
growing set of customers requiring these year of celebration.
6 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/
Most importantly, joining the company in
celebration are the customers across the
country who rely on the Walker brand to
build and maintain their networks, grow
their own family businesses, create com-
munities that thrive, and secure and pro-
tect our nation’s critical infrastructure.
Interested in learning more about Walker’s
co-founder, Chris Walker? Click here to view
a 1995 interview with him, retelling the story
behind the famous red jacket, or visit https://
youtu.be/kge-K_bTD80
Rick Walker, Chrystie Brown and Mark Walker are pictured at the
2020 Annual Commercial Sales & Marketing Kick-off Meeting.
Pictured below: Standing l - r: Chrystie
Brown, CEO, Mark Walker, President,
Rick Walker, Board Member,
Laura Walker (deceased);
seated: Virginia Walker, Board Chair,
Co-Founder of Walker and Associates, Inc.
Above: Chris and Virginia Walker
Below: Mark Walker, Virginia Walker, Rick Walker and Chrystie Brown together
during the company’s 2004 annual meeting
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 7
Build Your
Best Network
At ADTRAN, we understand no two networks
are the same. By providing the industry’s
most comprehensive portfolio of broadband
access solutions, we enable operators to
tailor their service delivery based on
individual market opportunities, topology and
infrastructure considerations. Our unique
approach, unmatched domain expertise and
innovative platforms make anything possible.
adtran.com/broadband
8 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/
AD11006A Copyright © 2020 ADTRAN Inc. All rights reserved.
A Half Century of
Industry Partnerships
By Randy Turner
Director, Marketing Communications
Walker and Associates
Summarizing 50 years of industry partnerships and achievements is no small
task, particularly when the list of current supplier partners exceeds 400 names
of prominent industry players. Represented here, however, are some of the
highlights of Walker and Associates’ longest standing relationships, most sig-
nificant achievements, and partners with whom Walker still enjoys the greatest
levels of shared vision for the future.
1984 2011
Walker begins distribution partnership with ADC Walker earns Elite Partner status with Brocade (now Extreme
Telecommunications (currently CommScope) Networks)
1987 2012
Walker begins distribution partnership with Telect (now Walker earns Elite Partner status with Juniper Networks
known as Amphenol Network Solutions)
2014
1988 Walker recognized as Juniper Networks Telco Partner of the
Walker signs a distribution agreement with Tellabs (now Year
Infinera) Walker signs distribution agreement with Ciena
1993 2015
Distribution partner agreement begins with Corning Cable Walker awarded NASA SEWP Contract
Walker awarded MHEC Contract status
1997 Walker recognized as Juniper Networks Telco Partner of the
Walker signs a distribution contract with Telecom Solutions Year
(Later Symmetricom, later Microsemi, now Microchip Ciena recognizes Walker as a Diamond Business Partner
Technology)
Walker signs a distribution agreement with Telco Systems 2016
Walker awarded SPAWAR Atlantic’s C2 Multiple Acquisition
1998 Contract (MAC)
Walker announces distribution contract with Emerson Walker Software Networking Lab launch
Network Power (now Vertiv)
Walker enters into a distribution agreement with ADTRAN 2017
Walker expands its fiber cable offerings to include a fiber
1999 cable yard with custom cutting and spooling facilities
Walker recognized as one of NC’s fastest growing companies Walker opens its Reno, NV Distribution Center
Walker earns Star Team status from VIAVI
2003
Walker named as ADTRAN’s #1 Service Provider Distributor 2018
Gold Partnership status with Fortinet awarded to Walker
2004 Walker earns Federal Master Distribution Partner status with
Distribution contract signed with Fujitsu Network VIAVI
Communications Walker recognized as Juniper AMER Partner of the Year, AMER
Telco Partner of the Year, and AMER Partner of the Year EAST
2008 Awards
Walker initiates quality programs with TL9000/ISO 9001:2008 Ciena recognizes Walker as an Elite Business Partner
status
Launch of Fujitsu STAR Partner status with Walker 2019
ADVA recognizes Walker as their Top Tier Value Added
2009 Partner for the 9th consecutive year
Walker enters into distribution agreement with ADVA Optical
Networking (currently ADVA) 2020
Walker recognized with Gold Status by Corning Optical
2010 Communications
ADVA recognizes Walker as their Top Tier Value Added Walker recognized by ADTRAN as their Top Service Provider
Partner Distributor for the 17th consecutive year
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 9
Fiber Broadband and 5G: By Adam Zuckerman
A Foundation of the 4th Corporate Strategy & Innovation,
Entrepreneur, & 4th Industrial
Industrial Revolution
Revolution Keynote Speaker
Looking back over the past century, tech- Industrial Revolution will lead to a dys-
nology has played a major role in chang- topian future where governments, busi-
ing nearly all aspects of society. Today, nesses, and individuals more concerned
with more internet-connected devices on with maintaining their social and eco-
the planet than people and more people nomic positions in than overall societal
on track to have cell phones than electric- good wield god like power over others.
ity in 2020, humanity is in the midst of a
technological revolution that will alter life While it’s unclear how the above scenari-
as we know it in unprecedented ways. os will play out, one constant will remain
true. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is
Just as generations before us have expe- dependent on a foundation of unprec-
rienced systematic societal changes dur- edented amounts of data, and thus, the
ing the first three industrial revolutions, need for reliable and fast internet will
we are now experiencing another funda- remain a necessity.
mental shift on a global scale.
In particularly over the last 20 years,
Defined as a merging of physical and we have seen technology more tightly
biologic systems, The Fourth Industrial interwoven into every aspect of life. How
Revolution, has arrived. much more integrated can we really
become with technology, and what are machines, desktop computers, and desk
It’s now more important than ever to the inherent risks of becoming a society phones are often now replaced by a sin-
examine and understand how technol- even more dependent on technology? gle laptop computer and a smartphone.
ogy will impact your life and business. With more information at our disposal
We’re talking about ever-present artificial There’s little we can do to slow the inte- via the internet and nearly 2.5 million
intelligence, asteroid mining, flying-cars, gration of technology in to our daily lives, apps available in the Android app store
humans supplemented by (and argu- and there is no reason to expect that (compared with 1.8 million in the Apple
ably integrated with) computers, human- the pace of change going forward will store), there appears to be a technology
robotic interfaces, custom gene therapy, slow down. Though, in a neat twist of based offering for nearly anything you
smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and appearance, technology often becomes can imagine.
much, much more. less apparent (and at many times invis-
ible) as it integrates in our lives. Not only do people maintain a “rela-
As the Fourth Industrial Revolution is tionship” with their devices (think about
largely driven by data, fiber broadband Take your home stereo system as an it… how do you feel when you leave
and the end points it connects will con- example. Twenty years ago, a high-end your house and realize you forgot your
tinue to play an instrumental role in this stereo system was comprised of multiple phone?), but an international team of
evolutionary step for decades to come. components, often including a receiver, a researchers recently published that “the
CD player, a record player, and of course, Internet can produce both acute and
What is the Fourth Industrial speakers. Today, taking advantage of sustained alterations in specific areas
Revolution? internet connectivity, many modern ste- of cognition, which may reflect changes
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (fre- reo systems are standalone. Unbox a in the brain, affecting our attentional
quently abbreviated as “4IR” or referred Sonos speaker, load up an app on your capacities, memory processes, and social
to as “Industry 4.0”) is characterized by phone, connect the devices to your wifi, interactions.” (source)
the convergence of physical and biologic and you’re set up.
systems. Put differently, technology is literally
Many believe the Fourth Industrial Today, less is more. changing how our brains function.
Revolution will continue to break down
global barriers by building sustainable Our desks at work have also undergone Yet, what’s strange about this phenom-
interlinked economies around the world. a shift in footprint. Calendars, pens, pads enon is that while many people may
However, others believe that the Fourth of paper, business card rolodexes, fax implicitly agree that technology is chang-
10 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ing their lives, they often are unaware of nity is tremendous. Thermostats and aggressive innovation agenda to remain
the nuances of the impact. lighting can be adjusted remotely, farms competitive.
can more efficiently grow crops, toilets
Try asking a group of people if they and showerheads are now “smart”, and Will the Fourth Industrial Revolution
regularly use artificial intelligence in their streetlights often help monitor traf- Leave Developing and Rural Nations
daily lives and most will respond, “no.” fic density and air quality. While these Behind?
However, if you ask if they unlock their examples are just a few examples, it
phone via a fingerprint or face ID, auto- should come as little surprise that the It’s important to note that the Fourth
matically let Google or Apple catalog global smart city market size (which is Industrial Revolution is on nearly every
photos they’ve taken, whether searched largely fueled by IoT) is expected to reach nation’s radar. A recent internet search
for something on the internet, or even $252 billion dollars by the end of 2025. linking the Fourth Industrial Revolution
let Google Maps or Waze automatically (Source) with 195 specific countries around the
route you to your destination, they will world found that 87.18% of the nations
quickly realize they do. Eventually, the “Internet of Things” were mentioned in content related to
moniker will become so ubiquitous that the Fourth Industrial Revolution. (Source)
The more technology weaves in to the the it will transition to the “Internet Viewed through an optimists’ lens, devel-
daily routine of our lives, the less we may of Everything” or the “Internet of oping and rural nations have an oppor-
realize that it is there. Intelligence”, at which point the acronym tunity to catch up and even potential-
will begin to lose meaning. ly leapfrog developed nations when it
Eventually, the “singularity” may However, for such a shift to happen, the comes to the deployment of future facing
take place, when artificial intelligence successful deployment of robust wide- infrastructure projects.
becomes smarter than humans and spread internet connectivity becomes
human-machine interfaces are also like- increasingly important. Foremost, a lack of legacy systems can
ly a reality (Google Neuralink, BrainCo, position leadership to aggressively pur-
Kernel, or Paradromics for examples). At Is the Fourth Industrial Revolution a sue development goals with a fresh per-
such time, the divide between humans global phenomenon? spective and the lessons learned from
with resources will widen exponentially others. The approach to a build out is
from those without, as the former will Yes. frequently different than when you have
likely disproportionately take advantage to account for and integrate with existing
of the benefits inherent to the new world On an international level, leaders of legacy systems and infrastructure.
order. the most powerful nations on earth are
If this happens, what it means to be actively prioritizing technology agen- Further, while the developing nations
“human” will be radically challenged, but das that drive the Fourth Industrial may move quickly, developed nations
one thing is certain… we’ll need a lot of Revolution. may not move at all. One reason is that
bandwidth to sustain the shifts. the legacy infrastructure already in place
Speaking to students in 2017, Vladimir in developed nations may be viewed
What role will the Internet of Putin stated that “Artificial intelligence as “good enough” by decision makers,
Things play in the Fourth Industrial is the future, not only for Russia, but which may lead to delayed action or pri-
Revolution? for all humankind,” and that “whoever oritization of competing projects.
The Internet of Things (or “IoT”) is best becomes the leader in this sphere will
explained as a collection of interconnect- become the ruler of the world.” A year Lastly, due to end-of-use device upgrade
ed objects or devices that are embedded later, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged cycles, legacy systems are often main-
with sensors, software, and network con- that China must focus on the develop- tained for years after newer systems are
nectivity. ment, control, and use of artificial intel- deployed, often at significant cost. This
ligence to secure the country’s future, means that developing nations will have
In 2019, 26.66 billion IoT devices were and in 2019, President Trump released a a lower overall cost to maintain a sys-
active globally, and by 2025, there will statement that “continued America lead- tem than developing nations, while also
be 75 Billion IoT devices in the world. It ership in Artificial Intelligence is of para- potentially freeing additional funds for
is estimated that 127 new devices are mount importance to maintaining the further deployment.
connected every second to the internet. economic and national security of the
(Source) United States.” While the optimistic view is promising,
the stark reality is that competing in with-
in the context of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution is far more complicated than
whether infrastructure such as a fiber
broadband and next generation cellular
network can be deployed. Drawing an
analogy to a highway system, simply
because roads are built does not mean
that they will be used effectively.
Q&A: 5G promises AI, an always-
connected experience, lower latency
Within the context of the Fourth Industrial An international digital arms race is in and greater bandwidth. What are the
Revolution, IoT devices are necessary full swing, and while the United States is implications for rural America if we
components of an integrated and intel- a leading entity in the high-stakes nation- delay taking steps to bridge the digi-
ligent future, and the market opportu- state level competition, it must pursue an tal divide?
Cont’d on page 13
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 11Is Your Network Ready For His
Next Big Idea?
His imagination knows no limits, and neither should his network.
Invest in next-generation services that will help transform his next “what if?” Evolve your network.
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Wherever you are with your network transformation, we can help. Our flexible, Discover how we can help
best-in-class performance and quality solutions address your current needs corning.com/
and easily evolve to meet future network challenges. community-broadband
© 2019 Corning Optical Communications. All rights reserved. CRR-1090-AEN / March 2019
12 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/Cont’d from page 11
It’s interesting that so many people turn workforce’s shift from full-time employ- nation’s innovators can compete in the
to the example of a remote surgery pow- ment to contract status is surprising new economy.
ered by 5G technology to demonstrate to many and alarming to some. Today,
the efficacy of how faster, more reliable one in ten workers in America is a con- With a landmass similar in size to all of
internet is going to open up possibili- tract worker (source) and many com- Europe, the United States has a lot of
ties for remote communities. While this panies are on a steady march toward a ground to cover, and fortunately, prog-
example is no longer theoretical as China majority of part-time workers. Google, ress is being made. Fifteen years ago,
recently demonstrated several surgeries for example, has more contract workers only 50,000 U.S. homes had access to
powered by 5G from traversing a dis- than full time employees (source). Within all-fiber connectivity and while today it’s
tance of several thousand kilometers, the a decade up to half of the American nearly one thousand times that, there is
reality is that many of the areas which workforce could be temporary workers still significant progress to be made.
would benefit most from a 5G powered (source), and as such, many will seek out
remote surgery are also the least likely areas with lower costs of living and flex-
places to deploy such a network without ibility to work remotely. Accordingly, we should focus on three
significant government subsidy. items. First, we need to bring down the
When the benefits of fast reliable broad- cost of deployment and identify fund-
In the United States, the stark reality is band (aka: connectivity) combines with ing sources for deployment throughout
that many rural Americans are frequently the benefits of future facing technologies the nation. Second, we need to allo-
forced to travel from their homes to pub- such as autonomous vehicles (allowing cate significant resources to upskill and
lic or retail spaces to access the internet, for longer commutes), remote and flex- train the workforce required for such
and as a result, they are often excluded ible working arrangements, tele-medi- deployment and system maintenance.
from educational and economic oppor- cine, remote collaboration, and more, Third, we must endeavor to streamline
tunities. However, change is possible. non-urban communities become increas- the processes which currently delay the
With the rise of smart manufacturing, ingly appealing to than their pricier urban speed of deployment, including policy
intelligent farming, remote workforces, alternatives. Optimistically, millenials will and regulatory hurdles at the local, state,
and autonomous vehicles, rural America be able to save and afford houses again. and federal levels.
can find a renewed renaissance if we can However, while the impending shift to
manage to link it more effectively with the future of work is something to pre-
the rest of the nation. pare for, it is not yet time for societal
panic. Just as car mechanics significantly
While the economics for deployment reduced the need for farriers (those who ADAM ZUCKERMAN
and fiber broadband, 5G, and artificial specialized in equine hoof care), new jobs As an entrepreneur,
intelligence are often more economically will find their place in the new economy. attorney, and MBA,
viable in urban areas due to customer It’s true that globalization and technology Adam is a sub-
density, these technologies have the abil- has made the world a smaller place, but ject matter expert
ity to transform and reenergize strug- in doing so, it’s also opened up significant focused on the
gling rural communities via a sustained opportunity for those willing to embrace impact and imple-
“if you build it they will come approach.” change. mentation of future-
And, the timing could not be better. With facing technologies
the increase in cost of living over the past How can the United States retain its and the fourth
several decades, many individuals are competitive edge as it relates to the industrial revolution, often at the intersection
struggling to afford the true cost of living Fourth Industrial Revolution? of enterprise growth and startups.
in urban markets, especially millennials. Put bluntly, we need to invest heav-
ily in our infrastructure and accelerate With a diverse background that spans many
In parallel, a massive shift in how widespread strategic deployment fiber industry verticals (including finance, non-
Americans are working has begun and broadband throughout the country to profits, startups, and Fortune 500 compa-
recent statistics about the American create the foundation upon which our nies) he serves as advisor to several organi-
zations, keynotes events around the world,
have been hired to present on the future of
Fiber Broadband Has Moved U.S.Into
FTTHSecond
MarketPlace
ShareFor Home
Has Internet
Dipped marketing and technology to leading global
Slightly
Broadband Type Market Share With
Based On RVAStrong Construction
Consumer Research 2006-2019 agencies (e.g.; Carat, Havas, MediaCom,
1995-2005 Based On Other Published Studies (with estimates between points)
Mindshare, Ogilvy, Publicis, Zenith, and oth-
ers). He is also an Eisenhower Fellow, adjunct
professor at the University of Maryland,
and has been a guest analyst on the topic
of business and technology on CNBC nearly
two dozen times.
Note: Other comparisons based only major carrier subscribers. This RVA research is based on consumers (includes small providers).
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 1314 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/
Start Phasing in ATSC 3.0
Equipment Now
By Steven S. Ross
Editor-at-Large SOME SCENARIOS FOR
Broadband Communities ATSC 3.0 REVENUE
The FCC-mandated transition period for American The IP standard is all-inclusive and accommo-
dates heterogeneous network deployments.
broadcasters is seven years, but new content forms (games, Judging by use of Broadband Communities’
especially) or advertising opportunities may emerge to specific free financial modeling tool for such
networks, the option is increasingly popular.
speed the transition. Look ahead at ATSC 3.0 capabilities
when replacing audio, video transmitter and set-top boxes. Cooperation among cellular and wireless
broadband providers
With 5G cellular alone, microcells would have
to be spaced every 200 to 500 feet without
NextGen TV – the latest branding for new ATSC 3.0 signals along with exist- fiber backhaul. There’s room in each 6-MHz
ATSC 3.0 – has clear technical and mon- ing ATSC 1.0? The FCC is considering channel if broadcasters don’t use all ATSC 3.0
eymaking advantages over ATSC 1.0, that issue now. Some big players, such features. That bandwidth could theoretically
the current broadcast standard. It is as Microsoft, say the extra spectrum be rented or swapped with broadband pro-
viders to reliably increase spacing. Likewise,
IP-based and Ethernet-friendly. But (roughly an extra 6-MHz TV channel for
content providers could switch between cel-
although the technology it requires is each current broadcast licensee that has lular and ATSC 3.0 seamlessly for secure over-
proven and not wildly expensive, the a channel now) for simulcasting in ATSC the-air delivery to phones equipped with ATSC
business case is not yet mature. 3.0 is not necessary. Most broadcasters chips. There have been experiments with the
commenting to the FCC seem to agree. idea in the United States and South Korea.
The standard, which has been used by After all, the first ATSC 3.0-capable TV Cooperation between satellite and cable/
Korean broadcasters since 2017, allows sets won’t even be on the market in broadband deployers also is possible.
broadcasters to transmit data that can the United States until later this year.
New revenue opportunities for broadcast-
enhance the TV experience to deliver Urban stations would likely find unused
ers
content optimized for everything from spectrum and willing simulcast partner ATSC 3.0 allows new video formats as well as
4K Ultra HD to mobile phones. It low- stations anyway. more flexible audio, new signal redundancy
ers the potential for broadcast chan- tricks, advertising zoning, and even customer
nel-splitting, but that revenue game is But what happens as the penetration of geotargeting.
beginning to fade anyway. new TV sets increases? And what about
customers who do most of their TV New help for hearing impaired
The International Telecommunication viewing on a computer, tablet or smart- Almost 40 million adults have hearing issues,
and the number is increasing as the popu-
Union (ITU) has endorsed ATSC 3.0 as a phone and can receive digital TV content
lation ages. ATSC 3.0’s many more audio
“recommended” digital broadcast stan- now, through a broadband connection? streams could allow consumers to, for
dard. It therefore is likely that ATSC 3.0 Simulcasting would mildly broaden the instance, separate dialog and background
will be used worldwide – subject to revi- number of potential customers in the audio for easier hearing. Broadcasters could
sions but not a complete overhaul – until transition. eventually tag content with specific metadata
3D broadcasting evolves. That said, only that automatically adjusts specific customers’
60 TV stations in the United States (out The biggest barrier? ATSC 3.0 threat- equipment to make it happen.
of 1,700, of which about 900 are full- ens existing revenue streams, especially
Driverless vehicles
power) are expected to broadcast an fees paid by broadband deployers for
Automakers, especially for operation in con-
ATSC 3.0 signal by the end of 2020. And mandatory carriage of local full-power gested urban areas, want system upgrades
ITU still has to update its digital hand- broadcast TV signals. In this case, the and massive data-sharing among the cars. But
book for ATSC 3.0. long-term benefits far outweigh the 5G currently takes too long to establish a com-
annoyance of transition. munication session. ATSC 3.0 could broadcast
There is also a wild card. During the data and software updates to all vehicles in
transition, would existing broadcasters Steve Ross can be reached at steve@bbc- an area at once – even millions of them. That
be required or even allowed to simulcast mag.com. frees up the cellular system to handle main-
ly data uploaded from vehicles that would
be aggregated for broadcast. Detroit-based
broadcasters are collaborating in an early
ATSC 3.0 deployment that automakers may
use as a testbed.
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 1550 Years and Still Innovating -
Introducing Walker TAC
By Trey Hall
CTO
Walker and Associates
Walker is expanding to deliver unparal-
leled Juniper network maintenance and
“Now, . . . customers can turn to the
TAC support. same company that helped design
During the past 50 years, Walker and
Associates, Inc. has grown to support
and implement their network for post-
every aspect of your telecommunication
networks. As a logistics and professional
installation support. “
services provider, Walker prides itself on burden from our customers by allowing work for post-installation support.
being the expert that broadband provid- on-demand access to the expertise need-
ers seek to provide consultative, hard- ed at just the right time. Our professional Since partnering with Juniper Networks®
ware, and logistical solutions. services are optimized for smaller tele- in 2011, Walker has consistently enjoyed
communications companies and include Elite Partner status and was awarded
Like many of our clients, Walker and fiber pre-qualification, network audits, North American Partner of the Year in
Associates grew up in the telecommu- and security audits. 2019. In 2017, Walker and Associates,
nications space as a family-owned and Inc. proudly accepted Juniper Networks'
operated company. As a robust national To ensure every customer receives the invitation to join as a Partner Specialized
distributor, Walker and Associates han- right combination of services and prod- Service (PSS) Juniper partner, giving
dles an extensive range of products to ucts, Walker has developed a consulta- Walker the ability to deliver superior sup-
support the delivery of high-speed inter- tive sales process across all technical port to our clients in every way.
net, video, data, and voice services to domains in the network, including power,
residential, business, and mobile users. optical, cable, router switches, software, After accepting this invitation, we quickly
and security. got to work to determine how to best
In addition to products, Walker's profes- implement this new offering without
sional services has evolved into a set of This deep technical expertise allows our compromising our commitment to supe-
tools and resources that sustain full life- customers to buy with confidence as we rior service. We evaluated our in-house
cycle network support, including: design an ideal solution for each project ability to deliver on the enhanced sup-
• inside and outside plant and maintain open lines of communica- port model of Juniper J-Care and deter-
• cabling tion to answer any questions that arise mined that providing the highest levels of
• kitting during design, installation, turn up, test- service under the program could result in
• virtual warehousing ing, circuit migration, and troubleshoot- increased costs for our clients.
• cabinet integration ing.
• rack and stack To prevent an increase in costs and
• distribution Taking the Next Step ensure delivery of the highest level of
At Walker, we are always looking ahead. TAC service, we sought out the expertise
In addition to all of these services, Walker We strive to be at the forefront of innova- of an independent provider. We consult-
is now offering post-installation network tion in our industry so that when our cus- ed with several firms and evaluated the
support. With this new service Walker tomers come to us with questions about capabilities of each candidate to meet
becomes your one-stop-shop for all the latest technology, we are ready with our strict service standards. After much
hardware, logistics, and professional ser- reliable, accurate solutions. research, we have partnered with Arch
vice network needs. Technology Solutions. This U.S. company
As part of this passion for innovation and and market leader of independent main-
Expertise You Trust full-lifecycle network support, Walker tenance solutions will deliver superior
As many of our clients are painfully aware has recently added a robust and highly Juniper support and maintain SLA driv-
of, maintaining the certifications and advanced technical assistance center en escalation pathways to Juniper ATAC
technical depth required for every net- (TAC) to its professional services offer- (Advanced Technical Support Center) and
working possibility is cost-prohibitive to ings. A TAC that is endorsed, vetted and Juniper Parts Logistics.
many telecommunication network devel- assisted by Juniper. Now, our custom-
opers. As a full-service, comprehensive ers can turn to the same company that Our new TAC team comes with a prov-
logistics provider, Walker removes that helped design and implement their net- en track record of providing support to
16 Skinny Wire | Winter 2020 | http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/regional and global telecommunications
companies and enterprises, including
AT&T, T-Mobile, BT, EE, Verizon, Orange
Migrating Power Utility
and many others. The team is also vetted
and championed by Juniper as a partici- Substations to IP
Networking
pant in this program and is the only pro-
vider permitted by Juniper to participate
in this model with PSS partners. The best
part about this new addition is that it
comes without any additional costs for
Walker clients and provides drastically By Jaime Jaramillo
improved support, response times, and Product Line Manager
SLA’s. Fiber Assurance Solutions
ADVA
Supported by Juniper Certified Engineers,
the new Walker TAC provides:
• Certified JNCA - JNCIE Tier 1 to Tier 3
troubleshooting We’ve all heard about the migration of highly reliable centralized time-of-day,
• Software updates, patches, and power utility communication networks frequency and phase information. This
fixes to IP, but now that it’s a full-force trend, centralized strategy can be leveraged
• Lab Testing it’s important to point out a critical for adjacent substations when planned
• Dedicated support engineers component of the transition. The plan- correctly, thus lowering the overall cost
• Streamlined access to Juniper ning and delivery of timing services of providing synchronization to all cur-
Certified Engineers to both legacy and next-generation rent and next-generation equipment.
• Efficient tier assignment and tier power utility equipment in substations What’s more, it enables the automation
skipping is essential. All equipment that moni- of substation functions and sensors,
• Case monitoring and management tors and controls the distribution of further reducing operating costs.
• Guaranteed support power in the “grid” must itself be tightly
• Quality control monitored and controlled. Next-generation timing equipment pro-
• Proven TAC with an average vides a highly reliable modular timing
response across all severity levels of Configuration and performance data source that can be configured based on
6m50s and first call resolution rate have traditionally been sent over requirements at each substation. They
of over 85 percent point-to-point connections that use support legacy timing signals such as
• 24/7 support provided by U.S.- serial communications. As substations T1/DS1 or E1 frequency signals as well
based engineers migrate to IP networking to realize as composite clock and IRIG signals so
• Escalation of all engineering, soft- the benefits of automation, audio and that current elements in the telecom
ware, and RMA deliverables directly video communications for security, network are supported as well as sub-
to Juniper maintenance and other activities, a crit- station equipment. The advantage of
• All J-Care SLA’s available: 12x5xNBD, ical aspect of the migration tends to these new timing sources is that they
24x7x4, etc. be left unconsidered: How do all these also support NTP, PTP and SyncE, which
systems synchronize with each other are IP-based timing signals so that, as
More to Come to accomplish their intended activities? substations migrate to IP, all systems
Building out a full-service TAC allows will synchronize when needed. Since
Walker to achieve complete lifecycle sup- From merging units to data collectors, these signals are IP-based, they can be
port for our Juniper clients. In the future, from protection relays to environmen- used in the substation and also distrib-
we plan to expand with more OEM cer- tal sensors and synchro phasors for uted over IP networks to provide sync
tified engineers with the goal of sup- measuring power and faults in the services to multiple substations. Thus,
porting all pre- and post-sale aspects of grid, all these systems and many more one clock investment can support all
our complex products. Our passion for have traditionally used simple GPS- current timing requirements and, when
innovation demands that we continue to referenced clocks that connect directly new timing protocols are needed, the
increase our ability to build, support, and to each piece of equipment so they can same device can be used to provide
sustain telecommunication networks perform their functions on time and in new timing services. This lowers the
through an unshakeable dedication to coordination with each other. overall cost of providing timing during
our client's success. the migration to IP and enables cost
Now that substations are migrating reduction via automation. Oscilloquartz
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, it to IP-based communications – rather has a solution portfolio to meet any
is with a great sense of satisfaction that than having a dedicated timing device requirement in the migration to IP,
we look back on all that we have accom- for each system (creating isolated, low- including the most compact, SFP-based
plished, from supporting the introduc- reliability references) – Precision Time time servers designed for the edge as
tion of high-speed internet across rural Protocol (PTP) deployed at the sub- well as highly resilient cesium atomic
America to continuing to increase our station and in the telecom network clocks for the core.
logistical reach to include full lifecycle can be used to provide redundant,
network support. We look forward to
continuing to partner with our clients to
bring network innovation and excellence
to every aspect of broadband network
development.
Skinny Wire | Winter 2020| http://www.walkerfirst.com/literature/skinny-wire/ 17You can also read
