SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 -- Jim Hansen, senior vice president of Network Services at Embarq (search for Embarq), received the 2008 FTTXcellence Award during yesterday's opening general session of the 2008 FTTH Conference & Exposition in Nashville, TN.
Co-sponsored by Lightwave and Corning Inc. (search for Corning), the FTTXcellence Award recognizes an individual who has significantly advanced the deployment of optical communications technology in North American access networks. Hansen is the fifth winner of the award, which is presented annually.
To be eligible for the award, an individual must be nominated by a peer. Hansen was nominated by Embarq director Greg Edmoundson, who lauded Hansen's work in improving the economics of the carrier's FTTH efforts.
"Under Mr. Hansen's leadership, his Network Services organization constructed a unique network of partnerships to ensure his team was equipped with a consistent supply of diverse and innovative perspectives on elements and considerations associated with FTThome," the nomination read. "The result was an organization-level paradigm shift to embrace FTThome deployment for new service addresses and selective over-build locations. Embarq's adoption of FTThome is a direct result of the efforts and unique approach established by Mr. Hansen's organization, deploying FTThome solutions in a way that maximizes value for both Embarq and its customers."
In a panel discussion held later in the day, Hansen described Embarq's FTTH efforts, which emphasize greenfield deployments in bulk new-growth developments. The carrier currently serves more than 22,000 homes with a centralized GPON-based FTTH approach. Hansen's GreenLight Initiative helped reduce deployment costs for FTTH to near parity with less capable copper-based connections.
Clark Kinlin, president and CEO of Corning Cable Systems, and Lightwave editorial director and associate publisher Stephen Hardy made the award announcement. "Jim Hansen is a visionary and knowledgeable advocate for the advantages that FTTx networks will continue to bring consumers and service providers," said Kinlin in a press release issued shortly after the ceremony. "We congratulate Jim Hansen on this honor."
As the 2008 FTTXcellence Award winner, Hansen received a Steuben glass statuette entitled "Innovation." A $7,500 donation in his name was also made to One Economy Corp., a national non-profit organization created to maximize the potential of technology to help low-income families build assets and raise their standard of living. Nichol Turner-Lee, One Economy's vice president of digital inclusion, accepted the check on behalf of her organization during the ceremony.
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