NC School of Telecommunications

NC School of Telecommunications

The North Carolina School of Telecommunications on the campus of Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, is an integral part of employee training and technology updates for many NCTIA member companies.

Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting for new NC School of Telecommunications to be held April 13, 2005.

The North Carolina School of Telecommunications was established on the campus of Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, North Carolina on January 22, 1969. It was the first program in North Carolina to be sponsored and given a facility by a private association: The North Carolina Association of Independent Telephone Companies, now the North Carolina Telecommunications Industry Association. Since its inception, the school has trained and re-trained thousands of prospective employees and current employees of the telecommunications industry.

In addition to the North Carolina Telecommunications Industry Association’s initial donation of the building and grounds, individual telecommunications companies have continuously supported the school by making donations of equipment and supplies such as copper cable, fiber cable, test equipment, fault location equipment, splice case terminals, key systems, cable TV systems, LAN equipment and a complete DMS 10 switch. These donations have been made by a wide variety of companies including Nortel, 3M, Armstrong Telecommunications, Power & Tel, Raychem, Hubbel, Homaco, Alltel, Star TMC, Lucent Technology, Skyline TMC, BCI, Comdial, Ellerbe Telephone, Verizon, Quabbin, Molex, Chatsworth, Anixter, Hilti, Harger, Unique Firestop, Electric Motion Company, Crescent Electric Supply, Comscope, Erico Caddy, Weyerhaeuser, Siemon Company, Wilkes Telecommunications, Surrey Telecommunications, Communication Supply Corporation, and DCS.

The college could not have met the training needs of the telecommunications industry without the advice and support of the NCTIA. Also, without the North Carolina School of Telecommunications, the small telephone companies, many of whom are without teaching facilities and training officers, could not have kept their employees trained and updated in the rapidly changing technology of the industry.

The school offers a wide range of telecommunications courses for its full-time curriculum students and for telecommunications company employees who need upgrade training. These courses cover such topics as telecommunications basic electricity, fiber optics, LAN, station installation and repair, BICSI, cable splicing, OSP, fault location, comdial systems, DMS-10 operations, T-1 span lines, transmission fundamentals, pole climbing, OTDR operation, and ADSL installation.

In 1999, CCCC and its School of Telecommunications became one of the first community colleges in the country to become a BICSI authorized training center. All curriculum students are now taught BICSI classes and are eligible to test for BICSI certification. The college also offers special BICSI class sections (Installer Level 1, Installer Level 2, and Technician) for telecommunications companies.

In Fall 2001, the college began offering telecommunications classes at its newly opened West Harnett Site. Also in Fall 2001, Lee County Senior High School began enrolling students in three special telecommunications classes at CCCC in a joint effort between the college and the Lee County Public School System designed to increase the vocational/technical course offerings available to high school seniors.

In Fall 2002, these special telecommunications courses were opened to Harnett County High School students as well.

In Spring 2003, the college began construction on its new 20,000 square foot telecommunications building, with completion projected for Summer 2004. This new building will include eight regular classrooms, two BICSI classrooms, a telephone switch classroom, a student lounge, administrative offices, faculty offices, a general purpose meeting room, a conference room, a library, and a distance education classroom. Historical artifacts depicting the evolution of telephony are on display. The building is designed and furnished with a distinctive telephony decor.

Central Carolina Community College is located in the geographic center of the state, is easily accessible, and has economical living accommodations for employees who are sent to the college for initial training and retraining sessions of one to two weeks in length.

NCTIA's Advisory Committee provides curriculum oversight ensuring technology program updates. For additional information on the school visit www.cccc.edu .

View the architect's drawings of the new school below...