“Using the Force! Increasing Your Value With Field Services” is part of the Track Three: New Opportunities series to help companies boost and diversify their revenue stream by adding professional and managed services. Mazaris will join other industry experts to expose the added value of utilizing a field service organization for nationwide technology rollouts and global deployments. With VoIP and other IP technologies as the focus of service deployment at customer sites, the value added by field services to the telecom agent or VAR’s business can make or break the opportunity to win the business of the customer. Subjects covered will include:

• On-site project management
• Circuit testing and maintenance
• Demarc extensions
• Equipment de-installation
• Installation of IP technology
• Configuration of IP technology

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Commodity Service Viewpoint
Technology rollout services are sometimes incorrectly viewed as a commodity service. Some assume that most anyone who has any kind of deployment business model has the ability to manage and deploy a rollout on a nationwide scale to the quality and efficiency you desire. This rationale can be equated to that of the fast food industry in which you have a drive-thru providing the same level of service on every corner. However, the difference is that when you drive off after receiving your order, you find out that you didn’t get what you paid for. Now, compare this to a restaurant that specializes in not just food, but also the process of preparation and service experience. Not only are they able to provide rapid service, but it is accompanied with the highest quality of standards from the time you enter the establishment to the time you exit and if your order is not to your likings they are there to correct it immediately. The commodity service viewpoint is a huge risk in the industry because it assumes that technology rollouts do not require in-depth expertise, long-term established partnerships and a Technology Rollout System to ensure management of all aspects of the Rollout Life Cycle.

Applying the Technology Rollout System to a Multi-Site, Multi-Service Project
No two technology rollout projects are the same. As part of a Technology Rollout Company’s system of methodologies, a Rollout Services Model consisting of integrated components that are flexible and scalable to any project size and scope allows the Tehnology Rollout Company to provide multi-site, multi-service, multi-technology rollouts efficiently.

Multiple Sites:
The ideal system would work as effectively for a project consisting of thousands of sites as it would for one site. The Rollout Delivery Team varies from company to company, but always should define the essential roles relating to the execution of the project. With a defined management processes and an efficient communication channel, a Technology Rollout Company can take on a project of any size with the same quality of service- from one site to tens of thousands of sites.

Multiple Services:
The deployment method utilized will have an effect on the ability to meet site-specific requirements such as services, deployment technologies, technical support and communication specifications. Using local resources allows the Technology Rollout Company to get the job done no matter the technology or equipment required.

How is this Flexibility Possible?
The integrated components under the Rollout Services Model with Project Management as its cornerstone component, allows the Technology Rollout Company to apply their system of methodologies to any project size and scope. The Rollout Services Model is universal and technology independent allowing it to be applied to all types of projects no matter the technology, equipment or services required. Finally, the Project Manager, as part of the Rollout Delivery Team, manages the rollout process and serves as the customer’s single point of contact ensuring all project activities are completed to the customer’s specifications.

This program will provide select partners the opportunity to accelerate the growth of their business with an alternative revenue stream while providing value added solutions for customers both nationwide and internationally. Through Demarc Extension Nationwide’s Partner Program, agents will be able to expand their services to see the project through the installation phase, increasing customer satisfaction and taking the burden off the agent.

Through the program, agents can expand their services portfolio to include:

• Demarc Extensions
• CPE and Equipment Installation
• Technology Deployments (VoIP, WiFi, etc.)
• Testing and 24/7 Maintenance Services

“The Channel Partners Conference and Expo is a natural venue for Demarc Extension Nationwide to collaborate with agents,” commented Vice President of Sales, Joshua Shaw. “Helping agents grow their revenue stream while offering a value added solution to their customer through our Partner Program is an important step in expanding our support for the telecom agent and channel partner community.”

Additional information on the value of the demarc extension to telecom agents may be found in an article titled “Understanding the Role of Demarc Extension” published in the December 2010 issue of Channel Partners Magazine (formerly Phone+).

About Channel Partners Conference & Expo

The Channel Partners Conference & Expo is the communications industry’s only event exclusively for indirect sales organizations — agents, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and consultants — focused on transforming their businesses to become the next-generation solutions providers. http://www.channelpartnersconference.com/2011/vegas/

About Demarc Extension Nationwide

Demarc Extension Nationwide is a brand of Concert Technologies and was developed as the telecommunications industry leader for nationwide installation services and education of demarc extensions. In addition to providing these nationwide installation and maintenance services, the brand sets the standards and supplies the necessary information to facilitate the understanding of specifications and installation practices for demarc extensions. Demarc Extension Nationwide supports the telecom agent, carrier and channel partners in ensuring complete operability of the circuit or technology at the customer’s site. Visit Demarc Extension Nationwide online at www.demarcextension.com

This informative article contains:

• Critical information on federal mandatory requirements for demarc extension business practices
• Strategies to add value for Telecom Agents and Channel Partners to expand business opportunities
• Service options for handling the demarc extension and tips to avoid any hassle for the Agent and their Customers
• Demarc Extension versus Inside Wiring – there is a big difference

“The demarc extension is something that all Telecom Agents and Channel Partners will encounter during the delivery of a circuit. Phone+ Magazine realizes the impact of this critical aspect of service delivery to the Telecom Agent’s and Channel Partner’s business as well as the impression it has on the customer and their perception of the Agent’s or Channel Partner’s capabilities. The customer does not care who has the responsibility for the demarc extension, they just want their circuit up and running without the finger pointing of who’s at fault. Cleaner and faster circuit deliveries mean better reputation for the Agent and Channel partner which, in return, means more business from referrals and staisfied customers,” commented founder of Demarc Extension Nationwide and President of Concert Technologies, Dennis Mazaris.

About Phone+ Magazine
For more than two decades, Phone+ has been the leader in providing news and analysis to indirect sales channels serving the communications industry. It is the unrivaled resource for resellers, aggregators, agents, brokers, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and dealers that provide network-based communications and computing services, associated CPE and applications as well as managed and professional services. Phone+ is the official media of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Effective January 1, 2011 Phone+ will be renamed to Channel Partners to create one brand for the resources that it provides to the communications technology indirect sales channel.

About Demarc Extension Nationwide
Demarc Extension Nationwide is a brand of Concert Technologies and was developed as the telecommunications industry leader for nationwide installation services and education of demarc extensions. In addition to providing these nationwide installation and maintenance services, the brand sets the standards and supplies the necessary information to facilitate the understanding of specifications and installation practices for demarc extensions. Demarc Extension Nationwide supports the telecom agent and carrier in ensuring complete operability of the circuit at the customer’s site. Visit Demarc Extension Nationwide online at www.demarcextension.com

Demarc Extension Nationwide had an overwhelmingly positive response by Channel Partners Fall 2010 Expo attendees. Hundreds of  leather-bound padfolios containing a pen were given out at the Demarc Extension Nationwide booth. The refillable padfolios were so popular, Channel Partners exhibitors and attendees voted Demarc Extension Nationwide runner-up as Best Trade Show Giveaway.

View the complete listing of Best in Show 2010 winners.

In addition to offering nationwide and international demarc extension services, the company also is committed to the education of the demarc extension. Free resources offered by Demarc Extension Nationwide include a white paper, video series, diagrams and terminology.

“I was quite impressed by the website’s diagrams and terminology used to clearly explain this critical aspect of a circuit, the demarc extension.  It was instrumental in developing a Premise Distribution System policy for use in our new Terminal, and distinguishing Tenant vs Airline support responsibilities.” commented James Caldwell, San Antonio Aviation Dept.

FCC part 68 regulation and federal law mandates every telecommunications circuit to have a demarc extension. This is the critical cabling and equipment that extends a circuit in the building from the local access provider’s demarcation point to the edge customer’s premises equipment.

“Offering demarc extension services is supplemental to the services the telecom agents provide for their customer. This value-added service provided on a nationwide scale supports the efforts of the agent in circuit delivery and the rapid resolution of an issue, ultimately resulting in a positive experience for the Agent’s customer,” commented founder of Demarc Extension Nationwide and President of Concert Technologies, Dennis Mazaris.

About Demarc Extension Nationwide
Demarc Extension Nationwide is a brand of Concert Technologies and was developed as the telecommunications industry leader for nationwide installation services and education of demarc extensions. In addition to providing these nationwide installation and maintenance services, the brand sets the standards and supplies the necessary information to facilitate the understanding of specifications and installation practices for demarc extensions. Demarc Extension Nationwide supports the telecom agent and carrier in ensuring complete operability of the circuit at the customer’s site. Visit Demarc Extension Nationwide online at www.demarcextension.com

Demarc Extension Nationwide has produced a set of tips and advice for cabling professionals dealing with the often complicated process of extending a facility’s demarcation point. It aims its advice and services at telecom agents, and in this advice, the organization indicates it feels these agent’s pain. “As a telecom agent, you have dealt with demarc extensions before,” the company says. “Even though the demarc extension is often trivialized, it is an important part of the service provided to your customer.”

Several factors can delay circuit delivery, Demarc Extension Nationwide explains, and offers help to avoid such delays. “If the local access provider or the carrier is going to extend the service, confirm the conditions surrounding the agreement. Some requirements that may cause these issues are ceiling height, the need to use tall ladders or lifts, and installations involving core-hole drilling between riser closets. Many times the carrier or local access provider follows certain policies regarding these construction restrictions that can lead to a refusal to install the demarc extension.”

Other pitfalls to watch out for include the following.

• The local access provider may not tag the POTS line with the phone number, leading to issues with future installations and a delay in circuit delivery.
• Access to multiple telecom rooms and other tenant spaces
• Coordination with the many parties involved – Carrier, local access provider, end user, solution provider, master agent or agent and demarc extension contractor
• Congested pathways and other challenges that the technician may face at the site
• The use of unmanaged and unskilled field technicians to install and test demarc extensions and circuits

In addition to tips and advice, Demarc Extension Nationwide offers free resources including definitions of terminology and diagrams of demarc extension types. (Click each term to access the resource from the Demarc Extension Web site.)

Demarc Extension Nationwide is a brand of Concert Technologies. It was developed as a provider of nationwide installation services and education of the demarc extension.

Read original article on Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Problem:
Everyone depends on reliable internet connectivity to connect to the network and the outside world. In an office building, there are numerous employees that rely on their connection to remain productive and to drive business forward. If one computer goes down, that single employee can’t connect and productivity is lost until the issue is identified and resolved. If the whole building goes down, which will happen with an improperly installed or maintained demarc extension, nobody in the company can get a connection and business comes to a crashing halt.

Solution:
Often trivialized and overlooked before the installation of network services, a dependable demarc extension is essential to business operations and productivity. When a telecom circuit goes down, it can take much finger pointing to finally figure out that in the end, it was the fault of bad cabling. To save time, money and frustrations, it is essential to have the demarc extension installed reliably.

Circuit Down- It’s an Inside Wiring Problem:
To resolve circuit problems that are directed at the demarc extension the onsite field technician must come prepared to test not only the cabling and equipment (repeaters, media converters, etc.) that make up the demarc extension, but the circuit as well. This will expedite the diagnosis of the problem and, if the demarc extension is at fault, resolve the customer’s connection. Otherwise, without circuit testing, another dispatch may be required by the carrier or local access provider and will consequently increase the time to resolve the problem.

Telecom Circuit Isolation is required when demarc extension testing indicates no issues, which may be extensive depending on distances, connection points and equipment used. After the demarc extension is determined not to be at fault, then an onsite technician must go to the local access provider’s circuit demarcation point and separate the demarc extension. Then, the circuit must be tested with high level test equipment or a low level testing device at the demarcation point to determine if the circuit is at fault.

1. High Level Testing requires expensive test gear and trained personnel to operate the test equipment, this is typically not particle or cost effective for the contractor unless they install hundreds or thousands of demarc extensions yearly.

1. Low Level Loop-Back Testing requiring patch cables or specially configured connectors, plugs and/or devices to loop back the transmission path from access provider’s local loop is a particle solution for contractors not equipped with high level test gear.

NOTE #1: It is important to understand that firms providing demarc extensions be well versed in circuit testing and eCPE to expedite the fault resolution for a telecom circuit.

NOTE #2: eCPE may also be used for testing at the local access provider’s handoff if eCPE is in question.

• “Understanding the Demarc Extension – A Facility’s Most Critical Cabling Channel” Runtime: 3:52
• “The Loss of Standardization and Current Mandates of the Demarc Extension” Runtime: 3:16
• “The Critical Role of the Demarc Extension and its Impact on Business Operations” Runtime: 4:12

“Previously an area of uncertainty and blame, the demarc extension has always been a challenging area of service for telecom agents and carriers. The purpose of this short video series is to educate telecom agents and industry professionals on the most important cabling channel and transmission path in a facility, so as to be better prepared when a telecom circuit goes down and fingers start pointing,” commented founder of Demarc Extension Nationwide and President of Concert Technologies, Dennis Mazaris.

The videos in the series provide guidance with regards to the demarc extension. Key topics discussed include:

• Terminology and history
• Standards
• Installation
• Responsibility
• Connectivity issues
• The importance of the demarc extension to a business

Many of the topics discussed in this series were addressed at the information technology systems association 2010 winter conference held by BICSI in Orlando, Florida.

About Demarc Extension Nationwide
Demarc Extension Nationwide is a brand of Concert Technologies and was developed as the telecommunications industry leader for nationwide installation services and education of demarc extensions. In addition to providing these nationwide installation and maintenance services, the brand sets the standards and supplies the necessary information to facilitate the understanding of specifications and installation practices for demarc extensions. Demarc Extension Nationwide supports the telecom agent and carrier in ensuring complete operability of the circuit at the customer’s site. Visit Demarc Extension Nationwide online at www.demarcextension.com

Read the full article on TMCnet.com

The white paper entitled “The Demarc Extension and its Critical Role in Enterprise Network Telecommunications Infrastructure,” authored by Concert Technologies exposes the fact that the loss of standardization for this important piece of cabling has led to poor installation practices. Addressing the information needs of telecommunications agents and carriers, the paper arms these professionals with the knowledge to ensure the circuit’s complete operability at the time of delivery.

The demarc extension is defined as: The transmission path originating from the interface of the access provider’s side of a telecommunications circuit demarcation point within a premises, and ending at the termination point prior to the interface of the edge customer premises equipment. This may include in-segment equipment, media converters and patch cords as required to complete the circuit’s transmission path to the edge customer premises equipment.

“This white paper sets industry standards and guidance for the most important transmission path in commercial buildings,” said Dennis Mazaris, developer of Demarc Extension Nationwide and president of Concert Technologies. “Without standards and guidelines, the potential to install the demarc extension incorrectly increases and can threaten business and affect productivity. This issue is important for the telecom agent and the carrier to address in order to increase customer satisfaction and ensure future business.”

The paper also emphasizes the impact that this piece of cabling – the demarc extension – has on businesses and buildings across the U.S. and internationally.

The white paper highlights the following, as well as other information.

• The importance of the demarc extension to essential circuit delivery and customer satisfaction
• Isolating circuit versus inside-wiring problems quickly
• The correlation between the loss of standardization and poor installation practices
• Clarification regarding who is responsible for the installation
• Installer survey data for demarc extensions
• Demarc extension standards and resources

Download the Free White Paper

Read the Original Article as Published by Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine