June 3, 2008

Hit the Books on Wireless

A New IEEE ComSoc Certification Demonstrates Wireless Knowledge

By Monta Monaco Hernon

Wireless is high on cable's radar lately, what with the buzz about Sprint Clearwire and Cablevision's decision to go metro Wi-Fi.  Cable operators wanting to bolster their staff with well-qualified wireless professionals soon will be able to scour resumes for a new designation. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Communications Society (IEEE ComSoc) recently launched a Wireless Communication Engineering Technologies Certification Program (IEEE WCET), designed to test both knowledge and skills.

"The exam itself is vendor-neutral and trans-national in scope and will provide employers with a valid tool for measuring an individual's ability to meet wireless challenges in numerous industry, business, corporate and organizational settings," said Rolf Frantz, the program's industry relations manager.

Cable operators seeking to offer the quad play or commercial services using wireless technologies will find the certification useful as it covers a wide body of knowledge, including the basic fundamentals of RF engineering, propagation and antennas, and network management and security, Rolf said.

"There are lots of certificates out there .... This (one) is very broad. It testifies to the fact that you know not just a narrow part of the business, but have some understanding of how it fits in," he added.

Candidates have to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and must have three years of wireless engineering experience. They will take an exam consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions.

"It is not an academic exam. It is put together by people in the industry, based on what people do on the job. People with no experience would have a devil of a time trying to pass it," Frantz said.

Outside training

IEEE ComSoc will not offer training. "For any certification program to be accredited, you can't teach to the exam. You can't be the teacher and the exam giver," Frantz said. However, he estimated that a dozen colleges and professional organizations already have inquired about establishing training programs.

There will be a Candidate Handbook available for free and a Wireless Engineering Body of Knowledge sourcebook available for purchase through the IEEE ComSoc Web site, http://www.comsoc.org/. The former will provide details related to the exam, and the second will cover the exam topics in more detail and could be used for "independent study."

The first three-week testing period will occur in late September, followed by a second in March 2009. IEEE ComSoc expects there to be at least two per year thereafter.

"We'd be delighted to have demand be such that we have to open another testing period," he said. The exam fee is $500. Practice exams will be available online for $75 for one exam and $125 for both.

SCTE's wireless opportunities

The SCTE also is looking to help members tackle wireless questions. The association currently offers a distance learning course, "Fixed Mobile Convergence," which focuses on "the integration of wireless networks with existing HFC network technology, network management systems and network infrastructures," according to the SCTE Web site, http://www.scte.org/. An onsite seminar with the same title will be available beginning in August.

- Monta Monaco Hernon