STEP: Sustainability in Telecom: Energy and Protection Committee

Leadership

Chair
Jim Jackson, Southwire

Vice Chair
Ernie Gallo, NEBScore

STEP: Sustainability in Telecom: Energy and Protection Committee

STEP helps reduce information and communications technologies’ environmental impact as well as operators’ energy costs and addresses industry power and protection issues by delivering industry-developed solutions. STEP deliverables are enabling vendors, operators and their customers to deploy and operate more reliable, environmentally sustainable, and energy efficient communications technologies.

Highlights

  • STEP is developing a standard on Ethernet Radio Deployment.
  • STEP is developing a standard on the intrusion of Outside Plant (OSP) by various elements (i.e., insects, water, dust, etc.).

Subgroups

Network Power Systems (NPS)

Mission: STEP NPS develops standards and technical reports relating to power systems and power systems interfaces with telecommunications load equipment. In addition STEP NPS recommends positions on matters within its scope of expertise, under consideration by other national, regional and international standards development organizations.

Scope: The scope of STEP NPS includes, but is not limited to, work on the interconnection of power systems, the components of power systems, the characteristics of power system interfaces used with telecommunications load equipment, and the aspects of power systems related to physical system integrity, grounding and reliability.

Chair
Ernie Gallo, NEBScore

Vice Chair
Jim Jackson, Southwire

Network Electrical Protection (NEP)

Mission: STEP NEP develops system-level Standards and Technical Reports relating to the electrical protection of telecommunications networks.

Scope: The scope of STEP NEP includes, but is not limited to, system-level electrical protection of telecommunications networks, including wireline, optical and wireless networks. Electrical stresses may include system-level electrostatic discharge (ESD) criteria for central office equipment, lightning and ac power influences, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and electro-magnetic pulse (EMP). Electrical protection methods may include equipotential bonding, grounding, and the application of electrical protection devices. Network facilities covered include telecommunications central offices, switching centers and similar type facilities, outside plant such as aerial, buried and underground wire and cable, and network plant at entrances to customer structures or buildings.

Chair
Ernie Gallo, NEBScore

Vice Chair
Vacant

Network Physical Protection (NPP)

Mission: STEP NPP, proposes, develops and recommends Standards and Technical Reports relating to the physical protection and physical design of telecommunications network equipment and the facilities in which they are housed. In addition, the group recommends positions on matters, within its scope of expertise, under consideration by other national, regional and international standards development organizations.

Scope: The subjects of the STEP NPP’s Standards and Technical Reports include, but are not limited to, temperature, humidity, ignitability, fire spread, earthquake, vibration and shock resistance, contamination, acoustic noise, and naturally occurring phenomena. The subjects also include the mechanical design of telecommunications network equipment and the structures in which they are housed.

Chair
Chris Von Hagel, Intertek

Vice Chair
Ernie Gallo, NEBScore

Telecommunications Energy Efficiency (TEE)

Mission: The STEP Telecommunications Energy Efficiency (TEE) subcommittee develops and recommends standards and technical reports related to the energy efficiency of telecommunication equipment. In addition, STEP TEE recommends positions on matters within its scope of expertise, under consideration by other national, regional and international standards development organizations.

Scope: The scope of work undertaken by STEP TEE includes the development of standards and technical reports which define energy efficiency metrics, measurement techniques and new technologies, as well as operational practices for telecommunications components, systems and facilities. This includes the definition of metrics and measurement procedures as related to the energy efficiency of mobile wireless networks and their elements. Further, STEP TEE will promote the adoption of these energy efficiency standards, technologies and practices. STEP TEE will maintain close and coordinated liaisons within STEP, and through STEP towards other ATIS Committees and external standards setting bodies.

Chair
Leo Rabinovich, Cisco

Vice Chair
Steve Martin, AT&T