The Great Infrastructure Challenge of the Early 21st century – Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan

The National Broadband Plan lays out a bold road-map to America’s future. These initiatives will stimulate economic growth, spur job creation, and boost our capabilities in education, healthcare, homeland security and more.

THE OMNIBUS BROADBAND INITIATIVE (OBI) – Executive Summary

Broadband is the great infrastructure challenge of the early 21st century.

Like electricity a century ago, broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life. It is enabling entire new industries and unlocking vast new possibilities for existing ones. It is changing how we educate children, deliver health care, manage energy, ensure public safety, engage government, and access, organize and disseminate knowledge.

Fueled primarily by private sector investment and innovation, the American broadband ecosystem has evolved rapidly. The number of Americans who have broadband at home has grown from eight million in 2000 to nearly 200 million last year. Increasingly capable fixed and mobile networks allow Americans to access a growing number of valuable applications through innovative devices.

But broadband in America is not all it needs to be. Approximately 100 million Americans do not have broadband at home. Broadband-enabled health information technology (IT) can improve care and lower costs by hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming decades, yet the United States is behind many advanced countries in the adoption of such technology.

Broadband can provide teachers with tools that allow students to learn the same course material in half the time, but there is a dearth of easily accessible digital educational content required for such opportunities. A broadband-enabled Smart Grid could increase energy independence and efficiency, but much of the data required to capture these benefits are inaccessible to consumers, businesses and entrepreneurs. And nearly a decade after 9/11, our first responders still lack a nationwide public safety mobile broadband communications network, even though such a network could improve emergency response and homeland security.

Fulfilling the Congressional Mandate

In early 2009, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop a National Broadband Plan to ensure every American has “access to broadband capability.” Congress also required that this plan include a detailed strategy for achieving affordability and maximizing use of broadband to advance “consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, employee training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth, and other national purposes.”

Broadband networks only create value to consumers and businesses when they are used in conjunction with broadband-capable devices to deliver useful applications and content.

To fulfill Congress’s mandate, the plan seeks to ensure that the entire broadband ecosystem—networks, devices, content and applications— is healthy. It makes recommendations to the FCC, the Executive Branch, Congress and state and local governments.

The Plan Government can influence the broadband ecosystem in four ways:

1. Design policies to ensure robust competition and, as a result maximize consumer welfare, innovation and investment.
2. Ensure efficient allocation and management of assets government controls or influences, such as spectrum, poles, and rights-of-way, to encourage network upgrades and competitive entry.
3. Reform current universal service mechanisms to support deployment of broadband and voice in high-cost areas; and ensure that low-income Americans can afford broadband; and in addition, support efforts to boost adoption and utilization.
4. Reform laws, policies, standards and incentives to maximize the benefits of broadband in sectors government influences significantly, such as public education, health care and government operations.

1. Establishing competition policies. Policymakers, including the FCC, have a broad set of tools to protect and encourage competition in the markets that make up the broadband ecosystem: network services, devices, applications and content. The plan contains multiple recommendations that will foster competition across the ecosystem. They include the following:

• Collect, analyze, benchmark and publish detailed, market-by-market information on broadband pricing and competition, which will likely have direct impact on competitive behavior (e.g., through benchmarking of pricing across geographic markets). This will also enable the FCC and other agencies to apply appropriate remedies when competition is lacking in specific geographies or market segments.
• Develop disclosure requirements for broadband service providers to ensure consumers have the pricing and performance information they need to choose the best broadband offers in the market. Increased transparency will incent service providers to compete for customers on the basis of actual performance.
• Undertake a comprehensive review of wholesale competition rules to help ensure competition in fixed and mobile broadband services.
• Free up and allocate additional spectrum for unlicensed use, fostering ongoing innovation and competitive entry.
• Update rules for wireless backhaul spectrum to increase capacity in urban areas and range in rural areas.
• Expedite action on data roaming to determine how best to achieve wide, seamless and competitive coverage, encourage mobile broadband providers to construct and build networks, and promote entry and competition.
• Change rules to ensure a competitive and innovative video set-top box market, to be consistent with Section 629 of the Telecommunications Act. The Act says that the FCC should ensure that its rules achieve a competitive market in video “navigation devices,” or set-top boxes—the devices consumers use to access much of the video they watch today.
• Clarify the Congressional mandate allowing state and local entities to provide broadband in their communities and do so in ways that use public resources more effectively.
• Clarify the relationship between users and their online profiles to enable continued innovation and competition in applications and ensure consumer privacy, including the obligations of firms collecting personal information to allow consumers to know what information is being collected, consent to such collection, correct it if necessary, and control disclosure of such personal information to third parties.

2. Ensuring efficient allocation and use of government-owned and government-influenced assets. Government establishes policies for the use of spectrum and oversees access to poles, conduits, rooftops and rights-of-way, which are used in the deployment of broadband networks. Government also finances a large number of infrastructure projects. Ensuring these assets and resources are allocated and managed efficiently can encourage deployment of broadband infrastructure and lower barriers to competitive entry. The plan contains a number of recommendations to accomplish these goals. They include the following:

• Spectrum is a major input for providers of broadband service. Currently, the FCC has only 50 megahertz in inventory, just a fraction of the amount that will be necessary to match growing demand. More efficient allocation and assignment of spectrum will reduce deployment costs, drive investment and benefit consumers through better performance and lower prices. The recommendations on spectrum policy include the following:
• Make 500 megahertz of spectrum newly available for broadband within 10 years, of which 300 megahertz should be made available for mobile use within five years.
• Enable incentives and mechanisms to repurpose spectrum to more flexible uses. Mechanisms include incentive auctions, which allow auction proceeds to be shared in an equitable manner with current licensees as market demands change. These would benefit both spectrum holders and the American public. The public could benefit from additional spectrum for high-demand uses and from new auction revenues. Incumbents, meanwhile, could recognize a portion of the value of enabling new uses of spectrum. For example, this would allow the FCC to share auction proceeds with broadcasters who voluntarily agree to use technology to continue traditional broadcast services with less spectrum.
• Ensure greater transparency of spectrum allocation, assignment and use through an FCC-created spectrum dashboard to foster an efficient secondary market.
• Expand opportunities for innovative spectrum access models by creating new avenues for opportunistic and unlicensed use of spectrum and increasing research into new spectrum technologies.
• Infrastructure such as poles, conduits, rooftops and rights-of-way play an important role in the economics of broadband networks. Ensuring service providers can access these resources efficiently and at fair prices can drive upgrades and facilitate competitive entry. In addition, testbeds can drive innovation of next-generation applications and, ultimately, may promote infrastructure deployment. Recommendations to optimize infrastructure use include:
• Establish low and more uniform rental rates for access to poles, and simplify and expedite the process for service providers to attach facilities to poles.
• Improve rights-of-way management for cost and time savings, promote use of federal facilities for broadband, expedite resolution of disputes and identify and establish “best practices” guidelines for rights-of-way policies and fee practices that are consistent with broadband deployment.
• Facilitate efficient new infrastructure construction, including through “dig-once” policies that would make federal financing of highway, road and bridge projects contingent on states and localities allowing joint deployment of broadband infrastructure.
• Provide ultra-high-speed broadband connectivity to select U.S. Department of Defense installations to enable the development of next-generation broadband applications for military personnel and their families living on base.

3. Creating incentives for universal availability and adoption of broadband. Three elements must be in place to ensure all Americans have the opportunity to reap the benefits of broadband. All Americans should have access to broadband service with sufficient capabilities, all should be able to afford broadband and all should have the opportunity to develop digital literacy skills to take advantage of broadband. Recommendations to promote universal broadband deployment and adoption include the following:

• Ensure universal access to broadband network services.
• Create the Connect America Fund (CAF) to support the provision of affordable broadband and voice with at least 4 Mbps actual download speeds and shift up to $15.5 billion over the next decade from the existing Universal Service Fund (USF) program to support broadband. If Congress wishes to accelerate the deployment of broadband to unserved areas and otherwise smooth the transition of the Fund, it could make available public funds of a few billion dollars per year over two to three years.
• Create a Mobility Fund to provide targeted funding to ensure no states are lagging significantly behind the national average for 3G wireless coverage. Such 3G coverage is widely expected to be the basis for the future footprint of 4G mobile broadband networks.
• Transition the “legacy” High-Cost component of the USF over the next 10 years and shift all resources to the new funds. The $4.6 billion per year High Cost component of the USF was designed to support primarily voice services. It will be replaced over time by the CAF.
• Reform intercarrier compensation, which provides implicit subsidies to telephone companies by eliminating per-minute charges over the next 10 years and enabling adequate cost recovery through the CAF.
• Design the new Connect America Fund and Mobility Fund in a tax-efficient manner to minimize the size of the broadband availability gap and thereby reduce contributions borne by consumers.
• Broaden the USF contribution base to ensure USF remains sustainable over time.
• Create mechanisms to ensure affordability to low-income Americans.
• Expand the Lifeline and Link-Up programs by allowing subsidies provided to low-income Americans to be used for broadband.
• Consider licensing a block of spectrum with a condition to offer free or low-cost service that would create affordable alternatives for consumers, reducing the burden on USF.
• Ensure every American has the opportunity to become digitally literate.
• Launch a National Digital Literacy Corps to organize and train youth and adults to teach digital literacy skills and enable private sector programs addressed at breaking adoption barriers.

4. Updating policies, setting standards and aligning incentives to maximize use for national priorities. Federal, Tribal, state and local governments play an important role in many sectors of our economy. Government is the largest health care payor in the country, operates the public education system, regulates many aspects of the energy industry, provides multiple services to its citizens and has primary responsibility for homeland security. The plan includes recommendations designed to unleash increased use, private sector investment and innovation in these areas. They include the following:

• Health care. Broadband can help improve the quality and lower the cost of health care through health IT and improved data capture and use, which will enable clearer understanding of the most effective treatments and processes. To achieve these objectives, the plan has recommendations that will:
• Help ensure health care providers have access to affordable broadband by transforming the FCC’s Rural Health Care Program.
• Create incentives for adoption by expanding reimbursement for e-care.
• Remove barriers to e-care by modernizing regulations like device approval, credentialing, privileging and licensing.
• Drive innovative applications and advanced analytics by ensuring patients have control over their health data and ensuring interoperability of data.
• Education. Broadband can enable improvements in public education through e-learning and online content, which can provide more personalized learning opportunities for students. Broadband can also facilitate the flow of information, helping teachers, parents, schools and other organizations to make better decisions tied to each student’s needs and abilities. To those ends, the plan includes recommendations to:
• Improve the connectivity to schools and libraries by upgrading the FCC’s E-Rate program to increase flexibility, improve program efficiency and foster innovation by promoting the most promising solutions and funding wireless connectivity to learning devices that go home with students.
• Accelerate online learning by enabling the creation of digital content and learning systems, removing regulatory barriers and promoting digital literacy.
• Personalize learning and improve decision–making by fostering adoption of electronic educational records and improving financial data transparency in education.
• Energy and the environment. Broadband can play a major role in the transition to a clean energy economy. America can use these innovations to reduce carbon pollution, improve our energy efficiency and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. To achieve these objectives, the plan has recommendations that will:
• Modernize the electric grid with broadband, making it more reliable and efficient.
• Unleash energy innovation in homes and buildings by making energy data readily accessible to consumers.
• Improve the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the ICT sector.
• Economic opportunity. Broadband can expand access to jobs and training, support entrepreneurship and small business growth and strengthen community development efforts.

The plan includes recommendations to:

• Support broadband choice and small businesses’ use of broadband services and applications to drive job creation, growth and productivity gains.
• Expand opportunities for job training and placement through an online platform.
• Integrate broadband assessment and planning into economic development efforts.
• Government performance and civic engagement. Within government, broadband can drive greater efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery and internal operations. It can also improve the quantity and quality of civic engagement by providing a platform for meaningful engagement with representatives and agencies. Through its own use of broadband, government can support local efforts to deploy broadband, particularly in unserved communities. To achieve these goals, the plan includes recommendations to:
• Allow state and local governments to purchase broadband from federal contracts such as Networx.
• Improve government performance and operations through cloud computing, cybersecurity, secure authentication and online service delivery.
• Increase civic engagement by making government more open and transparent, creating a robust public media ecosystem and modernizing the democratic process.
• Public safety and homeland security. Broadband can bolster efforts to improve public safety and homeland security by allowing first responders to send and receive video and data, by ensuring all Americans can access emergency services and improving the way Americans are notified about emergencies. To achieve these objectives, the plan makes recommendations to:
• Support deployment of a nationwide, interoperable public safety mobile broadband network, with funding of up to $6.5 billion in capital expenditures over 10 years, which could be reduced through cost efficiency measures and other programs. Additional funding will be required for operating expenses.
• Promote innovation in the development and deployment of next-generation 911 and emergency alert systems.
• Promote cybersecurity and critical infrastructure survivability to increase user confidence, trust and adoption of broadband communications.

Long-Term Goals

In addition to the recommendations above, the plan recommends that the country adopt and track the following six goals to serve as a compass over the next decade.

Goal No. 1: At least 100 million U.S. homes should have affordable access to actual download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and actual upload speeds of at least 50 megabits per second.

Goal No. 2: The United States should lead the world in mobile innovation, with the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation.

Goal No. 3: Every American should have affordable access to robust broadband service, and the means and skills to subscribe if they so choose.

Goal No. 4: Every American community should have affordable access to at least 1 gigabit per second broadband service to anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals and government buildings.

Goal No. 5: To ensure the safety of the American people, every first responder should have access to a nationwide, wireless, interoperable broadband public safety network.

Goal No. 6: To ensure that America leads in the clean energy economy, every American should be able to use broadband to track and manage their real-time energy consumption.

Meeting these six goals will help achieve the Congressional mandate of using broadband to achieve national purposes, while improving the economics of deployment and adoption.

In particular, the first two goals will create the world’s most attractive market for broadband applications, devices and infrastructure and ensure America has the infrastructure to attract the leading communications and IT applications, devices and technologies. The third goal, meanwhile, will ensure every American has the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits broadband offers, including improved health care, better education, access to a greater number of economic opportunities and greater civic participation.

Budget Impact of Plan

Given the plan’s goal of freeing 500 megahertz of spectrum, future wireless auctions mean the overall plan will be revenue neutral, if not revenue positive. The vast majority of recommendations do not require new government funding; rather, they seek to drive improvements in government efficiency, streamline processes and encourage private activity to promote consumer welfare and national priorities. The funding requests relate to public safety, deployment to unserved areas and adoption efforts. If the spectrum auction recommendations are implemented, the plan is likely to offset the potential costs.

Implementation

The plan is in beta, and always will be. Like the Internet itself, the plan will always be changing—adjusting to new developments in technologies and markets, reflecting new realities, and evolving to realize the unforeseen opportunities of a particular time. As such, implementation requires a long-term commitment to measuring progress and adjusting programs and policies to improve performance.

Half of the recommendations in this plan are offered to the FCC. To begin implementation, the FCC will:

• Quickly publish a timetable of proceedings to implement plan recommendations within its authority.
• Publish an evaluation of plan progress and effectiveness as part of its annual 706 Advanced Services Inquiry.
• Create a Broadband Data Depository as a public resource for broadband information.

The remaining half of the recommendations are offered to the Executive Branch, Congress and state and local governments. Policymakers alone, though, cannot ensure success.

Industry, non-profits, and government together with the American people, must now act and rise to our era’s infrastructure challenge. (source www.broadband.gov)

Download All Chapters of the Plan:

English – http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf

Spanish – http://download.broadband.gov/plan/creando-un-estados-unidos-conectado-plan-nacional-de-banda-ancha.pdf

In Braille – http://www.broadband.gov/plan/accessible/#braille

Aviation Week Brings Three MRO Events to Miami, Including the World’s Biggest Aviation Maintenance Show – MRO Americas 2011

MRO Americas, MRO Military and MRO Latin America take place April 12-14

March 23, 2011 – Aviation Week will present the MRO Americas Conference & Exhibition, MRO Military and MRO Latin America on April 12-14, 2011 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida. Leading executives, officials and professionals from all areas of the aviation and defense (A&D) maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry will attend to connect with existing and prospective customers, close business deals, learn about new technologies and services, and find out what the latest trends and developments are in this rapidly changing sector.

Now in its 16th year, MRO Americas and its co-located events offer unmatched editorial content and unique networking opportunities to the 6,000+ attendees. Last year, 91% of MRO exhibitors connected with prospects they hoped to meet, and three out of every four attendees agreed that the information gained at the conference is not available anywhere else. MRO Americas has a proven position as THE show continuously leading the airline and MRO industry forward, and MRO Military and MRO Latin America provide a deep-dive into topics relevant to these specific sectors. A sold-out, joint exhibition hall will host over 550 A&D product and services suppliers.

Keynote speakers at MRO Americas include J. Randolph Babbitt, administrator, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Barry Eccleston, president and CEO, Airbus Americas Inc.; and Wolfgang Mayrhuber, chairman of the Executive Board and CEO (retired), Deutsche Lufthansa AG. At MRO Military, the featured speakers are General Donald Hoffman, commander, US Air Force Materiel Command; John Johns, Dep. Under Sec Defense Materiel Readiness; and Rear Adm. Timothy Matthews, commander-Fleet Readiness Centers/NAVAIR, U.S. Navy. MRO Latin America attendees have the option to attend the MRO Americas keynotes, as well as specialized workshops and presentations from key executives like Ruy Amparo, vice president-MRO at Brazil’s TAM Airlines. Additional information and online registration are available at http://www.aviationweek.com/events or by calling +1-212-904-4682. On Twitter, follow @aviationweek or search for #MROAM. Discounted rates apply for MRO providers, airlines, government, military, media, and groups of three or more.

MRO Americas is produced by Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance, in association with the Air Transport Association and TeamSAI. Gold sponsors include AAR Corp., Delta TechOps, Goodrich Corp., and Pratt & Whitney. The silver sponsors are Aerotech Holdings, AeroTurbine, Aviation Technical Services, Avio-Diepen, AvMat Aviation Materials Management, Inc., Barfield, Chromalloy, Fokker Services, HEICO Corp., PlaneTechs, Safran, Spirit AeroSystems, Triumph Group, Inc., and United Technical Operations. Bronze sponsors include Airbus, Associated Painters, Inc., Aveos, Bombardier, GA Telesis, GE Aviation, Lufthansa Technik, Oracle, Rockwell Collins, TIMCO Aviation Services, TRAX, TTF Aerospace, Turkish Technic Inc., and VAS Aero Services. Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies and SR Technics are the titanium sponsors. MRO Americas is supported by the Association of European Airlines, the International Air Transport Association, and the Miami Maintenance Management Council. Media sponsors include Airliners, Aviation Week & Space Technology, Cargo Facts, and Low Fare & Regional Airlines. MRO Military is produced by Aviation Week, with media support from Aviation Week & Space Technology and Defense Technology International. The charter sponsor is Deloitte. Lockheed Martin is the gold sponsor. Siemens is the bronze sponsor. Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky Aerospace Services are the premier sponsors. MRO Latin America is produced by Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance with assistance from media sponsors Airliners, AeroLatinNews, Aviation Week & Space Technology and Revista Aerea. (source Aviation Week)

OSHA Safety Standards

What do a printer, copier, desktop computer, telephone, employee alarm, water cooler, string of Christmas lights, electric heater, air conditioner, electric generator, surveillance camera, fire door, exit component, fire extinguisher, electrical conduit, conductor, electric motor, powered industrial truck, acetylene torch, and liquefied petroleum gas oven have in common?

In accordance with OSHA Safety Standards, any of these products used in a workplace must be approved (i.e., tested and certified) by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to help ensure that they can be used safely in the workplace. OSHA requires NRTL approval for 37 different types of products, which are described at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/prodcatg.html. Electric equipment is the largest of these product categories.

The requirements for NRTL approval apply where these products are used in workplaces subject to OSHA’s jurisdiction. These include the vast majority of private employers in the United States and its territories, and most Federal Government places of employment. The requirements also apply to State and local government places of employment in States that have received OSHA approval to administer their own occupational safety and health program (referred to as “State Plan States”).

Not Just Testing Labs
NRTLs are qualified private organizations that meet the requirements in OSHA regulations under 29 CFR section 1910.7 to perform independent safety testing and product certification. OSHA makes this determination under its NRTL Program, which is part of OSHA’s Directorate of Science, Technology, and Medicine.

NRTLs may be based in the United States or in other countries. Currently, 16 NRTLs are established in the United States, and 2 NRTLs are foreign-based. A listing of current NRTLs is at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtllist.html. The recognition process (described under section 1910.7) is the same for all organizations; however, if an applicant is foreign-based, OSHA must consider the policy of the foreign government concerning its acceptance or recognition of test labs and NRTLs based in the United States. Such acceptance is not a prerequisite for OSHA to grant the applicant recognition.

The term “NRTL” may be a little misleading. It not only means that an organization must be a test lab that performs product safety testing. In addition, OSHA requires the same organization to operate a product-certification program that includes listing and labeling and follow-up inspection programs. For a particular product, safety testing activities involve the NRTL ensuring that a representative unit of that product has necessary safety features.

The related certification activities involve the NRTL ensuring, again for that particular product, that all manufactured units of the product have the necessary safety features. Proper product testing and certification require a great deal of special expertise, effort, and resources. OSHA does not perform any product approvals; OSHA relies on third parties, NRTLs, to do this work.

Product Approval Requirements Predate OSHA
Even before OSHA came into existence in 1971, national consensus organizations and other code developers recognized the need to test and certify products to meet the safety requirements of their voluntary standards. For example, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has long required safety testing of electric equipment to meet various provisions of the National Electrical Code (NEC). The NEC is the dominant electrical safety code in use in the United States.

During OSHA’s first two years, the Agency adopted many established Federal standards and national consensus standards as OSHA standards under section 6(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), 29 U.S.C. 655(a). Many of these standards contained requirements for equipment to be “approved,” “listed,” or “labeled.” In 1988, OSHA established regulations for the NRTL Program. These regulations imposed no additional regulatory burden on employers but clarified what approval meant and formally established a process by which organizations would be recognized as NRTLs. OSHA established the regulations, in part, as a result of a successful lawsuit by an organization alleging that the “approval” requirements essentially had designated only two organizations as acceptable to OSHA.

Most of OSHA’s standards that require NRTL approval are found in the Agency’s General Industry standards, in 29 CFR Part 1910. For example, 29 CFR 1910.303(a) (read together with the definitions of “approved” and “acceptable” in §1910.399) imposes a general requirement for electric equipment or products to be approved by NRTLs. The term most often used in the standards to require NRTL approval is the term approved. Terms in those standards having similar meaning include certified, listed, and listed and labeled. A comprehensive listing of NRTL approval requirements can be found on OSHA’s web site at http://www.osha.gov.

Similar provisions for third party approval of products exist to varying degrees in other OSHA standards. OSHA’s Construction Standards, 29 CFR Part 1926, requires that approval of electric equipment be provided by a “qualified testing laboratory” (QTL). OSHA’s definitions for NRTLs and QTLs are essentially equivalent.

The NRTL’s Mark is on the Product
NRTLs generally work with product manufacturers to test and certify (i.e. approve) products. In approving a product for the manufacturer, the NRTL issues a certification document and permits the manufacturer to apply the NRTL’s registered certification mark or symbol on all units of the product manufactured. This certification mark on a product is important in that it assures the user that a particular NRTL has tested and certified that specific product. If it is not feasible to apply the certification mark directly on an NRTL-approved product, the mark should appear on the smallest packaging of the product. OSHA’s web page shows the certification marks generally used by each NRTL. The certification mark(s) used by each NRTL is shown at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtlmrk.html.

OSHA does not require the use of certification marks containing the initials “NRTL”. Also, OSHA does not own such a certification mark. However, a few NRTLs have voluntarily included these initials in their regular certification marks. With or without the use of the “NRTL” initials, the product marking of NRTLs recognized for the same product safety standard is equivalent in designating product conformance to that standard.

Each NRTL Has a Scope of Recognition
The NRTL’s scope of recognition specifies the types of products it can approve through a listing of the “appropriate test standards” the NRTL may use in approving products. To see each NRTL’s scope, go to http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html and click the name of one of the NRTLs. As required by Section 1910.7, an appropriate test standard must be a U.S. consensus-based test standard that is developed and maintained by a U.S. standards developing organization (SDO). International test standards used in European and other countries may be applied if they have been harmonized to U.S. requirements by a U.S. SDO, thus making them “appropriate.”

NRTLs have been recognized for more than 600 individual product safety standards, which cover thousands of individual types of products and, in actual usage, cover literally billions of certified products. A list of these standards is available at OSHA’s web site, which provides an informational web page for each NRTL that details its scope of recognition. That scope also includes “sites,” the facilities where certain key activities can be performed, and “programs,” under which the NRTL can use other parties in performing activities necessary for product testing and certification. These other parties include other NRTLs, other non-NRTL independent testing labs, and product manufacturers.

Minor Exceptions
In general, under 29 CFR Part 1910, products required to be approved must be NRTL approved. However, there are a few exceptions. Most notably, for electric products, there are two exceptions. If the electric products are of a kind that no NRTL approves, then OSHA allows approval of the products by a Federal agency or by a State or local code authority that enforces NEC workplace safety provisions. The other exception concerns “custom-made equipment,” which designates equipment designed, made for, and used by a particular customer (i.e., unique or one-of-a-kind items). In this case, the employer must demonstrate safety based on test data provided by the manufacturer. As can be seen, these exceptions are very narrow.

As indicated earlier, NRTLs can use testing done by other parties under certain programs allowed by OSHA. These other parties include product manufacturers and can be located anywhere in the world. While using these programs can minimize the work that the NRTL must accomplish itself, the NRTL must exercise adequate control to ensure that other parties are doing the activities appropriately. Nonetheless, these programs can reduce the time and cost necessary for product certification.

“CE” Mark and Foreign Testing Organizations
The CE mark is a generic marking allowed by the European Union (EU) to indicate that a product meets requirements in the EU for product safety and is unrelated to the requirements for product safety in the United States. In the United States, a product used in the workplace that is required to be NRTL approved must have the specific mark of one of the NRTLs that is recognized to test and certify this type of product. For this reason, OSHA must recognize a foreign testing and certification organization as an NRTL before its product certifications will be considered acceptable to OSHA.

More information Is Available

The OSHA website at www.osha.gov provides more information on the various aspects of OSHA’s requirements for approval of products by NRTLs. Once on the OSHA home page, choose “N” from the site index at the top and select “Nationally Recognized Testing Labs (NRTL)” from the subject listing or go to http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html. If clarification or further information is needed, call (202) 693-2110 and request to speak with a member of the NRTL Program staff.

Organizations Recognized by OSHA

The following organizations have been recognized by OSHA in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.7 to test and certify equipment or materials (products) requiring approval by certain OSHA safety standards:

Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(also known as CSA International)
416-747-4000
178 Rexdale Boulevard
Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario M9W 1R3
Canada

Communication Certification Laboratory, Inc. (CCL)
801-972-6146
1940 West Alexander Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84119

Curtis-Straus LLC (CSL)
978-486-8880
Littleton Distribution Center
One Distribution Center Circle, Suite #1
Littleton, MA 01460

FM Approvals LLC (FM)
(formerly Factory Mutual Research Corporation)
781-762-4300
1151 Boston-Providence Turnpike
P.O. Box 9102
Norwood, Massachusetts 02062

Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. (ITSNA)
(formerly ETL, Inchcape)
800-345-3851
3933 U.S. Route 11
Cortland, New York 13045

MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET)
800-638-6057
914 West Patapsco Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21230

National Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS)
978-263-2933
1146 Massachusetts Avenue
Boxborough, Massachusetts 01719

NSF International (NSF)
800-673-6275
789 Dixboro Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105

QPS Evaluation Services Inc. (QPS)
81 Kelfield Street, Unit 8
Toronto, Ontario, M9W 5A3
Canada

SGS U. S. Testing Company, Inc. (SGSUS)
(formerly U.S. Testing/California Division)
973-575-5252
291 Fairfield Avenue
Fairfield, New Jersey 07004

Southwest Research Institute (SWRI)
210-684-5111
6220 Culebra Road
Post Office Drawer 28510
San Antonio, Texas 78228

TÜV SÜD America, Inc. (TUVAM)
978-739-7000
5 Cherry Hill Drive
Danvers, Massachusetts 01923

TÜV SÜD Product Services GmbH (TUVPSG)
49-89-5008-4335
Ridlerstrasse 65, D-80339
Munich, Germany

TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (TUV)
203-426-0888
12 Commerce Road
Newtown, Connecticut 06470

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
847-272-8800
333 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062

Wyle Laboratories, Inc. (WL)
256-837-4411
7800 Highway 20 West
P.O. Box 077777
Huntsville, Alabama 35807

LeCroy WaveAce Oscilloscopes

Learn More about the LeCroy WaveAce Line

Debug with Confidence

• 40 MHz, 60 MHz, 100 MHz, 200 MHz and 300 MHz bandwidths
• 2 and 4 channel models available
• Sample rates up to 2 GS/s
• Longest memory in class – up to 10 kpts/Ch (20 kpts interleaved)
• 5.7″ bright color display on all models
• 32 automatic measurements
• 4 math functions plus FFT
• Large internal waveform and setup storage
• Multi-language user interface and context sensitive help
• USB connections for memory sticks, printers and PCs

Starting at $695

Smart Capabilities

Pass Fail Mask Testing

The Pass/Fail test will quickly identify waveforms that fail the customizable mask test.

Using the FFT

The FFT displays the frequency content of a signal for in-depth analysis and can be viewed in linear or logarithmic scale.

Tools for Improved Debugging

Long Capture – 10 kpts/Ch and 20 kpts interleaved to capture more time and show more waveform details

Pass/Fail Testing – quickly identify failing devices and when failures occur

Math and Measure – 4 basic math functions plus FFT and 32 automatic measurement parameters

Large Internal Storage – save 20 waveforms and 20 setups to the internal WaveAce memory Connectivity – USB for mass storage, printing and PC control plus LAN for fast data  transfer

Waveform Sequence Recorder – record and play back up to 2,500 waveforms

Key Specifications

Bandwidth – 40 MHz, 60 MHz, 100 MHz, 200 MHz, 300 MHz
Channels – 2 or 4
Memory – up to 10 kpts/Ch, 20 kpts interleaved
Sample Rate – up to 2 GS/s
Display – 5.7″ Color QVGA Display
Connectivity – USB Host, USB Device, RS-232, LAN

Huawei Awarded Contract to Build 40G National Backbone Network for China Mobile

[Shenzhen, China, 30 November, 2010] Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, today announced that it has been selected as the provider to build an 80×40G WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) national backbone network for China Mobile. Upon its completion, the network wavelength capacity will be upgraded from 10G to 40G, which will enable China Mobile to offer more ultra-broadband services and bring an enriched service experience to its subscribers.

China Mobile’s significant investments in 3G and broadband have resulted in an increase in service traffic that has strained its legacy 10G backbone network nearly to the point of capacity. In response to this, China Mobile issued a call for bids in June 2010 for its Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou 40G national backbone network project. This project is the first trial of an OTN (optical transport network) national backbone network in China and it covers core areas in the Yangtze River delta, including Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou.

“Huawei’s industry-leading 40G solution and our experience in deploying 40G networks have enabled us to become the leader in the global optical transport industry and the global 40G industry,” said Christian Chua, president, Transport Network Product Line, Huawei. “Our 40G OTN solution will enable China Mobile to meet the growing service demands on its network so that its subscribers can enjoy an unmatched service experience.”

Huawei’s 40G OTN solution incorporates industry-leading technologies, such as ultra-high 40G bandwidth per wavelength, an ultra-large OTN capacity, and an OTN bandwidth pool, which enables the quick deployment of networks and the flexible and efficient provisioning of services. Huawei’s solution features an ODUk-SNCP protection mechanism that works at the electrical layer to dramatically enhance network reliability.

Huawei provides operators around the world with premium WDM/OTN, MSTP (multi-service transport platform)/Hybrid MSTP, microwave series products, as well as end-to-end transport solutions. According to a report released last month by the consulting firm Ovum, Huawei currently holds the top position in the global optical transport market and is also ranked number one in the global WDM/OTN and 40G market segments. (source www.huawei.com)

About Huawei:

Huawei is a leading telecom solutions provider. Through continuous customer-centric innovation, they have established end-to-end advantages in Telecom Network Infrastructure, Application & Software, Professional Services and Devices. With comprehensive strengths in wireline, wireless and IP technologies, Huawei has gained a leading position in the All-IP convergence age. Their products and solutions have been deployed in over 100 countries and have served 45 of the world’s top 50 telecom operators, as well as one third of the world’s population

Bluelight Technology Introduces Handheld, Lightweight All-In-One Network Test Solution

BlueScope BL6000A is The First Handheld With Ethernet, SONET/SDH, OTN, and Fibre-Channel Testing in a Single Device

San Jose, Calif. — Bluelight Technology, the leading developer and manufacturer of innovative, handheld network test and measurement devices for the telecommunications industry, today announced the availability of the BlueScope  BL6000A all-in-one, multiprotocol network test and measurement solution. The BL6000A is the industry’s most versatile, lightweight, handheld device that combines Ethernet (1GE and 10GE), SONET/SDH (up to 10G), Optical Transport Network (OTN) (up to ODU-2F), and Fibre Channel (up to 10x) testing in a single ultra- lightweight, handheld platform.

The easy-to-use and compact BL6000A features a productivity-enhancing user interface architecture that includes both an intuitive, touch-screen-enabled graphical user interface (GUI) in addition to an integrated keypad for data entry. The comprehensive array of network types that can be analyzed with the BL6000A eliminates the need for multiple devices, reducing overall costs, saving valuable space, and providing convenience and valuable time savings and flexibility for technicians in the field. Based on open architectures for both software and hardware that enable future expansion, the newest BlueScope is updateable as industry test and measurement needs change.

“We’re very excited to offer the test and measurement industry a multiprotocol test instrument that’s as technologically advanced and simple-to-use as the BlueScope BL6000A,” said James Jeong, Bluelight Technology’s CEO and co-founder. “The fact that a field technician now only needs to carry one testing device to ensure network performance saves our clients money and makes their technicians significantly more efficient and productive. This is a must-own for any network operator.”

Using the same form factor that has proven popular in previous BlueScope models, the BL6000A includes a host of standard connections to support many different media interfaces such as 10GbE (XFP), optic1000 BASE-SX/LX/ZX, and 100 FX and copper 10/100/1000 BASE-T. Results and analysis are easily accessible via an integrated file management system that enables the saving of data such as test results, log files, screen captures, and packet captures directly to a portable memory device using the USB port. The USB port also provides an ideal mechanism for future software changes and/or upgrades, which can also be performed via an FTP connection.

The powerful BL6000A carries out an impressive array of network performance tests, over any type of network. The truly unique benefit is the addition of testing for SONET/SDH networks, which can be analyzed for frequency offset generation, frequency power measurements, round-trip delay measurements, and more. Users can also select unframed rates to perform physical layer testing for OTN (OTU-2 to OTU-2F), Fibre Channel (1x to 10x), Ethernet (1GE to 10GE), and SONET/SDH (STM-1 to STM-64/OC3 to OC-192). SONET/SDH testing is additionally enhanced by a multichannel view capability, which allows users to view activities on as many as 48 channels simultaneously.

Up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks can be tested for throughput on up to 32 independent streams, packet flooding, packet capture and analysis, network discovery, and autonegotiation capture. IP application tests such as Ping, DNS, and DHCP can be run and cables can be checked for faults or irregular impedance. Combine all this with analysis of Fibre Channel networks and the BL6000A can analyze nearly any network architecture or element a telecom, cable, or private network technician may encounter.

“Our goal has always been to be a trendsetter for the test and measurement space,” continued Jeong. “This new product represents years of innovation based on listening to what our customers and partners needed and mapping our development plans to those needs.” (source www.bluelighttec.com)

Key Features and Benefits

• Anytime, anywhere Ethernet/SONET/SDH/OTN/Fiber Channel testing
• Compact, ultra lightweight form factor
• Intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) – Reduces training time
• Eliminates the need for multiple test instruments – Reduces cost of ownership
• Open architecture H/W and S/W platforms – Capabilities to Support the Expansion of Your T&M Needs on a Higher Scale
• SONET/SDH – Tx Overhead Byte Sequence Generation Up to 256 bytes – Rx Overhead Byte Capture Up to 256 events  K1/K2 bytes are captured together – Multi-Channel Monitoring Concurrent real time monitoring function up to 48 x AU3 and 28 x TU11/12
• 1G/10G Ethernet -32 Multi-stream Traffic Generation & Analysis Layer 1/2/3/4 packets & fully customized packets  – Powerful built-in Packet Capture/Decode Dual ports or Single port  -Packet Jitter Test in RFC2544  -Real Time Traffic Monitoring -Packet Flooding -Wireless LAN (WiFi) -VoIP / IPTV -100FX optical

General Specifications

• Hybrid user interface (UI) with graphical color touch-screen and also keypad at the same time, user-friendly
• Supports multi-physical ports such as 1 10GbE (XFP), fiber 1000 BASE-SX/LX/ZX, 100FX, and copper 10/100/1000 BASE-T on one platform
• Be able to upgrade a new software version via USB or FTP.
• File Manager: Be able to copy testing results, log files, screen capture and packet capture files to USB memory card
• Simplifies the troubleshooting of VoIP and IPTV services at the residential gateway
• Optical power measurement
• Customizable test profiles for quick and efficient test set configuration

Orbital Technologies and RSC Energia to Launch World’s First Commercial Space Station

Private Russian company and lead contractor for the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation collaborate to commercialize space.

Moscow – Orbital Technologies and Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia) announced today their intentions to build, launch, and operate the world’s first Commercial Space Station (CSS). The station will be utilized by private citizens, professional crews as well as corporate researchers interested in conducting their scientific programs onboard the world’s first commercially available human spaceflight platform.

The CEO of Orbital Technologies, Sergey Kostenko said, “I am pleased to announce our intention to provide the global marketplace a commercially available orbital outpost. Once launched and operational, the CSS will provide a unique destination for commercial, state and private spaceflight exploration missions.” Mr. Kostenko continued, “The CSS will be a valuable addition to the global base of orbital assets. We look forward to working with corporate entities, state governments and private individuals from around the world.”

The CSS will be man-tended, with a crew capability of up to seven people. Space-certified elements, modules and technologies of the highest quality and reliability will be used in the construction of the station. The CSS will be serviced by the Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, as well other transportation systems available in the global marketplace. Such arrangements are enabled through the station’s unified docking system that will allow any commercial crew and cargo capability developed in the Unites States, Europe and China.

The CSS’s use will fall under three broad areas:

First, it will be hub for commercial activity, scientific research and development in low Earth orbit. Orbital Technologies has several customers already under contract from different segments of industry and the scientific community, representing such areas as medical research and protein crystallization, materials processing, and the geographic imaging and remote sensing industry. Kostenko commented, “We also have proposals for the implementation of media projects. And, of course, some parties are interested in short duration stays on the station for enjoyment.”

“We consider the Commercial Space Station a very interesting project, encouraging private participation. It will attract private investment for the Russian space industry,” said Vitaly Davydov, Deputy Head of Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation.

Second, because of the design and its orbital inclination, the CSS will serve as an emergency refuge for the ISS crew, should it become necessary.

“There is a possibility for the ISS crew to leave their station for several days. For example, if a required maintenance procedure or a real emergency were to occur, without the return of the ISS crew to Earth, habitants could use the CSS as a safe haven,” said Alexey Krasnov, Head of Manned Spaceflight Department, Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation.

“We are pleased to be the general contractor of this ambitious project. For over a decade, RSC Energia’s engineers have outlined and planned for the production of the CSS. Having 40 years of experience in building orbiting space platforms, RSC Energia has the technical resources and expertise; and is poised to build the CSS in a short period of time,” said V. Lopota, President, RSC Energia.

“Finally, the CSS will be a true gateway to the rest of the solar system. A short stop-over at our station will be the perfect beginning of a manned circumlunar flight. Deep space manned exploration missions planned in the next decade are also welcome to use the CSS as a waypoint and a supply station,” continued Mr. Kostenko.

Details about the project are located at www.orbitaltechnologies.ru. Updates will be made regularly. Prospective customers, partners, and suppliers are encouraged to contact Orbital Technologies regarding potential involvement with the Commercial Space Station project. (source orbitaltechnologies.ru)

Megger Demo Equipment Blowout Sale

Deep Discounts on Megger Demo Electrical Test and Measurement Equipment* (90-Day Warranty on all Demo Equipment – Valid for U.S. residents only – While They Last)

PFL20M1500-2 – Power Fault Locator 120V
$24,500 List Price | $21,683 Selling Price Quote Request

PFL40A2000-18 – Power Fault Locator
$43,405 List Price | $40,975 Selling Price
PFL 40-2000 w/wheels Quote Request

Delta 2000 – Automatic Insulation Power Factor Test Set 120 VAC, 60 Hz
$36,660 List Price | $34,607 Selling Price Quote Request

Delta 3000 – Automatic Insulation Power Factor Test Set with “PowerDB Onboard” software 120V/60 Hz
$41,595 List Price | $39,266 Selling Price Quote Request

MPRT 8430H4T6A0 – Relay Test Set 4 Voltage/4 Current Channels
$59,345 List Price | $52,521 Selling Price Quote Request

MPRT 8430H3T6A0 – Relay Test Set 3 Voltage/3 Current Channels
$48,645 List Price | $43,051 Selling Price Quote Request

MCT1600 – Current Transformer Saturation, Ratio/Polarity Tester
$13,500 List Price | $12,744 Selling Price Quote Request

PA-9 PLUS – Power Analyser
$7,872 List Price | $7,431 Selling Price
PA-9 Plus with 12 MG of Memory Quote Request

SK-SLM-8-01 -  8 Channel Recording Volt-Ammeter
$4,785 List Price | $4,235 Selling Price Quote Request

TTR25 – Hand-held Transformer Turns Ratio Tester
$2,550 List Price | $2,258 Selling Price Quote Request

TTR100 – Hand-held Transformer Turns Ratio Tester
$3,590 List Price | $3,178 Selling Price Quote Request

S1-552 – 5KV Insulation Tester
$4,435 List Price | $3,926 Selling Price Quote Request

S1-1052 – 10KV Insulation Tester
$5,340 List Price | $4,726 Selling Price Quote Request

S1-554 – 5KV Insulation Tester with High Noise Immunity
$6,030 List Price | $5,337 Selling Price Quote Request

METS6100-163 – 3-Phase Watthour Meter Test Set
$22,750 List Price | $16,514 Selling Price Quote Request

OPTIMA – 3-Phase Watthour Meter Test Set
$24,255 List Price | $21,467 Selling Price Quote Request

MDP1 – Megger Data Profiler
$1,200 List Price | $1,062 Selling Price Quote Request

TTR330 – 3-Phase Transformer Ratio Test Set
$11,900 List Price | $10,532 Selling Price Quote Request

TORKEL820 – Battery Load Unit
$17,350 List Price | $13,356 Selling Price Quote Request

TXL870 – Extra Load Unit
$6,800 List Price | $6,018 Selling Price Quote Request

FRAX101 – Sweep Frequency Analyzer
$16,400 List Price | $15,482 Selling Price Quote Request

IDAX300 – Insulation Diagnostic Analyzer
$30,640 List Price | $28,924 Selling Price Quote Request

PULSAR – 3-Phase Relay Test Set with 3 Current & 3 Voltage Modules
$48,060 List Price | $29,152 Selling Price Quote Request

SVERKER 760 – Relay Test Set
$10,050 List Price | $8,894 Selling Price Quote Request

S1-5010-(MN4886) – Insulation Testers
$8,000 List Price | $7,080 Selling Price Quote Request

PMM-1 (MN4022,MN4023 & MN4232) – Power Multi-meter Multifunction Measuring Instrument
$8,025 List Price | $7,103 Selling Price Quote Request

EGIL (MN5607,MN5608 & MN5609) – Circuit Breaker Analyzer
$16,575 List Price | $14,670 Selling Price Quote Request

BITE 2P – Battery Tester with Printer
$7,410 List Price | $6,559 Selling Price Quote Request

BITE 3 – Battery Tester
$6,188 List Price | $5,477 Selling Price Quote Request

BGFT -  Battery Ground Fault Tracer, 110/220V, 50/60 Hz
$9,280 List Price | $8,213 Selling Price

VIDAR – Vacuum Bottle Tester 115V/230V, 50/60Hz. 10-60kV DC Test Voltage
$7,575 List Price | $6,705 Selling Price Quote Request

B10E – B10E SoftStart, power supply unit includes cable set and transport case
$9,200 List Price | $8,142 Selling Price Quote Request

MJOLNER 200 – Microhmeter without accessories
$8,350 List Price | $7,390 Selling Price Quote Request

TM1800 – Circuit Breaker Analyzer System
$36,575 List Price | $32,370 Selling Price
TM1800 Standard unit includes (1) basic unit, (1) control module, (1) timing m/r module and (1) analog module. Includes CABA Win software. Quote Request

MTDR1 – Cable Analysis System
$8,900 List Price | $7,877 Selling Price
Stand-Alone MTDR Cable Analysis System with colored 8.4 inch full VGA, with QWERTY keypad, with COMLINK Application Software Quote Request

ODEN AT-3X – Primary Current Injection Test Set
$35,425 List Price | $31,352 Selling Price
ODEN AT/3X 240V, 50/60Hz. Primary current injection test set with timer, ammeter and three current units with additional 30/60V output. Includes two wheel cart. Cable set are not included and must be ordered separately. See listing of cable sets under optional accessories. Quote Request

S1-1054 – 10kV Insulation Resistance Tester
$7,265 List Price | $6,430 Selling Price
10kV Insulation Resistance Tester. Analogue/digital, battery or line-powered with auto IR, PI, Step voltage, Dielectric discharge,and Dielectric Absorbtion tests, 4mA noise rejection; RS232 or USB download and storage capabilities. Quote Request

US Customers – Are You Taking Advantage of Section 179?

A tax break called “Section 179″ that lets small businesses treat qualifying property purchases as expenses and deduct them from their taxable income.

Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment purchased or financed during the tax year. That means that if you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income. It’s an incentive created by the U.S. Government to encourage businesses to buy equipment and invest in themselves.  “be sure to consult your tax adviser”

Tax Section 179

What is the Section 179 Deduction?

Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment purchased or financed during the tax year. That means that if you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income. It’s an incentive created by the U.S. Government to encourage businesses to buy equipment and invest in themselves.

How Does Section 179 Work?

When your business buys certain pieces of equipment, it typically gets to write them off a little at a time through depreciation. In other words, if your company spends $50,000 on a equipment, it gets to write off at $10,000 a year for five years.

Now, while it’s true that this is better than no write off at all, most business owners would really prefer to write off the entire equipment purchase price for the year they buy it.

In fact, if a business could write off the entire amount, they might add more equipment this year instead of waiting. This is the purpose behind Section 179… to motivate the American economy (and your business) to move in a positive direction. For most small businesses adding total equipment, software etc totaling less than $500,000 in 2010, the entire cost can be written-off on the 2010 tax return.

Who Qualifies for Section 179?

All businesses that purchase or finance less than $2,000,000 in business equipment during tax year 2010 should qualify for the Section 179 Deduction.

Electing the Section 179 Deduction | Form 4562

If you are a small or medium-sized business owner who has purchased or leased equipment in 2010 and placed it into service during the calendar year, then you need to elect to take the Section 179 Deduction to ensure that your business captures the available tax savings.

Leasing and Section 179

Did you know that your company can lease equipment and still take full advantage of the Section 179 deduction? In fact, leasing equipment and/or software with the Section 179 deduction in mind is a preferred financial strategy for many businesses, as it can significantly help with not only cash flow, but with profits as well.

Non-Tax | Capital Lease

The main benefit of a non-tax capital lease is that you can still take full advantage of the Section 179 Deduction, yet make smaller payments.

With a non-tax capital lease you can acquire and write off up to $500,000 worth of equipment this year, without actually spending $500,000 this year. A small business that is managing cash flow can leverage a non-tax capital lease and still take the Section 179 Deduction.

Examples of non-tax capital leases include a ‘$1 Buyout Lease’ and a ’10% Purchase Upon Termination (PUT) Lease’. In many cases, the amount you save in taxes will be MORE than the total of your first year’s payments.

Equipment Financing

You may also obtain an equipment loan using an Equipment Finance Agreement (EFA) and still take the Section 179 Deduction.

Advantages of Leasing and Financing

The obvious advantage to leasing or financing equipment and then taking the Section 179 Deduction is the fact that you can deduct the full amount of the equipment, without paying the full amount this year. The amount you save in taxes can actually exceed the payments, making this a very bottom-line friendly deduction.