About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Our mission: Bringing practical business and technical intelligence to today's structured cabling professionals

For more than 30 years, Cabling Installation & Maintenance has provided useful, practical information to professionals responsible for the specification, design, installation and management of structured cabling systems serving enterprise, data center and other environments. These professionals are challenged to stay informed of constantly evolving standards, system-design and installation approaches, product and system capabilities, technologies, as well as applications that rely on high-performance structured cabling systems. Our editors synthesize these complex issues into multiple information products. This portfolio of information products provides concrete detail that improves the efficiency of day-to-day operations, and equips cabling professionals with the perspective that enables strategic planning for networks’ optimum long-term performance.

Throughout our annual magazine, weekly email newsletters and 24/7/365 website, Cabling Installation & Maintenance digs into the essential topics our audience focuses on.

  • Design, Installation and Testing: We explain the bottom-up design of cabling systems, from case histories of actual projects to solutions for specific problems or aspects of the design process. We also look at specific installations using a case-history approach to highlight challenging problems, solutions and unique features. Additionally, we examine evolving test-and-measurement technologies and techniques designed to address the standards-governed and practical-use performance requirements of cabling systems.
  • Technology: We evaluate product innovations and technology trends as they impact a particular product class through interviews with manufacturers, installers and users, as well as contributed articles from subject-matter experts.
  • Data Center: Cabling Installation & Maintenance takes an in-depth look at design and installation workmanship issues as well as the unique technology being deployed specifically for data centers.
  • Physical Security: Focusing on the areas in which security and IT—and the infrastructure for both—interlock and overlap, we pay specific attention to Internet Protocol’s influence over the development of security applications.
  • Standards: Tracking the activities of North American and international standards-making organizations, we provide updates on specifications that are in-progress, looking forward to how they will affect cabling-system design and installation. We also produce articles explaining the practical aspects of designing and installing cabling systems in accordance with the specifications of established standards.

Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published by Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

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Simona Ballard Calls for Greater Transit Worker Safety and Public Awareness

By: Get News
NYC Train Operator Urges New Yorkers to Support Safety Measures for the People Who Keep the City Moving

Veteran MTA Train Operator Simona Ballard, a Brooklyn native with over a decade of experience keeping New York’s subway system running, is speaking out about the urgent need for better safety protections for transit workers and increased public awareness of the challenges they face.

“Every day, thousands of MTA employees step into a fast-paced, unpredictable environment to move millions of people across the city,” Ballard says. “We do it because we believe in this city. But we also need this city to believe in keeping us safe.”

The Numbers Behind the Concern

According to the MTA, New York City’s subway system moves over 3.6 million riders per weekday. Yet, transit workers continue to face rising incidents of harassment, assaults, and hazardous conditions. In 2023, reported assaults against transit workers increased by 39% compared to the previous year.

Ballard, who began her career as a conductor before becoming a train operator, says the statistics reflect what many in the industry already know: the pressure and risks have been growing. “We’re not just operating trains,” she explains. “We’re de-escalating conflicts, responding to emergencies, and navigating unpredictable situations — all while making sure the system keeps moving.”

Advocating for Practical, Immediate Solutions

Ballard is urging the city, the MTA, and the public to take simple but effective steps:

  • Increase staffing at key stations during peak hours.

  • Improve training for responding to on-board incidents.

  • Encourage public participation in maintaining respectful, safe environments.

“Not all safety improvements need to cost millions,” Ballard notes. “A rider who chooses patience over confrontation is already helping make the subway safer for everyone.”

The Human Side of the Job

Ballard’s message is rooted in her own experiences on the tracks. She recalls a time when her train lost power in a tunnel, leaving passengers anxious and frustrated. “People were scared, and my job was to keep them calm,” she says. “That’s when you realize — the work is as much about people as it is about trains.”

She also emphasizes the mental load of the role. “Operating a train for hours at a time isn’t just physically demanding — it’s mentally exhausting. You’re constantly scanning for safety risks.”

How the Public Can Help

Ballard is encouraging New Yorkers to take small, immediate steps:

  • Report unsafe or suspicious behavior to MTA staff or via the MTA app.

  • Keep station platforms and train doors clear during boarding.

  • Treat transit workers with respect and patience, especially during delays.

“These are everyday choices that anyone can make,” she says. “They may seem small, but together they create a safer environment for riders and workers.”

About Simona Ballard

Simona Ballard is an MTA Train Operator and graduate of the NYC Transit’s Rail Control Training Program. She has more than a decade of service in the New York City subway system and is an active advocate for transit worker safety through her local union.

Media Contact
Contact Person: Simona Ballard
Email: Send Email
City: Brooklyn
State: New York
Country: United States
Website: https://www.simonaballard.com/

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