SCTE Expands Smart Energy Management Program

The SCTE is broadening the scope of its cable telecommunications energy management program to include the industry’s need to ensure the availability of power under adverse conditions. At its semiannual SEMI (Smart Energy Management Initiative) Forum this week, program members agreed to broaden the focus of the program beyond its initial goal of reducing energy consumption and expense.

The expanded SEMI mission also will include emergency preparedness and disaster recovery planning that provide for continued operational readiness for both the network and its technical and operational workforces.

“As cable’s service portfolio has grown to include data, voice and now mobile services, it has become more important than ever for operators to have the resources in place to ensure both service continuity and revenue continuity when incidents occur," said Mark Dzuban, president and CEO of SCTE, in a statement.

SEMI will identify needs for such disasters as earthquakes, fire, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, as well as man-made events such as terror attacks and blackouts. In each case, benchmarks and strategies will be defined for preventing service interruption, rapid restoration of service and ensuring the availability and safety of the workforce in adverse conditions.

Held at the Bellingham, Wash., headquarters of Alpha Technologies, the spring SEMI Forum attracted engineering and operations professionals from the operator and vendor communities.

The next SEMI Forum will be held Sept. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.