Fiber Optic Association Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The Fiber Optic Association (FOA) was founded in 1995 by more than a dozen prominent fiber optics trainers and leaders from education, industry and government as a professional society for fiber optics and a source for independent certification. There is no FOA headquarters building or any “brick and mortar” presence; FOA exists on the internet and in the work of its people.
The Association was created by the instructors and participants at the 1995 Fiber U training conference in Boston. Fiber U was a week-long training event run by a company called FOTEC, Inc. FOTEC was launched in 1980 by Jim Hayes, with a purpose of manufacturing test equipment for fiber optics. By 1982, the company began hosting short fiber optics training courses across the U.S. Hayes is the founder, and current president, of FOA.
In 1992, it was suggested by Dan Silver, the fiber optics trainer for 3M Corp., that the courses be expanded to a full week conference. So, the first Fiber U was held in 1993 with over 200 attendees and 40 vendors. During the 1995 Fiber U, discussions focused on the need for a vendor-independent certification for fiber optic technicians, and in July of 1995, the Fiber Optic Association (FOA) was incorporated in Massachusetts.
USA North 811 Partners with the Oakland A’s
USA North 811 has partnered with the Oakland A’s major league baseball team to create a special promotion during this unusual baseball season where games are played without fans in attendance. The A’s are offering cardboard cutouts to fans who would like to see their images at home games, with the money being raised going to the Oakland A’s Community Fund.
Fans can purchase a regular cardboard cutout for $89 or a special “Foul Ball Zone” cutout for $129. The partnership with USA North 811 creates a “Call 811 Foul Ball Zone” in sections 125-129. For every foul ball that lands anywhere in those cutout filled sections, USA North 811 will donate $81.10 (up to a maximum of $10,000 for the season) to the Oakland A’s Community Fund.
