48
FUN FIBER FACTS:
Gordon Caverly Pegs His Landing
I
f you have been in the telecom business for
a long time, you have learned enough not to
kill yourself. Well, for some of us, it takes a
little longer.
After my four years in the Navy, a Vietnam
tour and passing my UDT PT test, I opted
to get out and go to
college to expand
my knowledge from
Sonar Technician into
electronics technology.
Upon graduation
3½ years later, I
was hired directly
into the engineering
department (engineer
trainee) for the Michigan Bell Telephone
Company in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
As a new engineer, I had to learn telecom
design in the copper world for 26, 24, 22 and 19
gauge cables, followed by digital transmission
systems using the powerful Anaconda system
for 8 line multiplexing, and fnally, state-of-the-
art SLC-96 systems. We used AML (Additional
Main Line) for single unit lines into homes and
business for second line voice circuits.
Now, given that this was my frst outside
plant job, I was excited to prove my worth.
Back in those days, as a new rookie and young
engineer – at that time the youngest engineer in
the company in the state of Michigan – I was
looked down on from the old Salts with 20-30
years of experience.
Tey all wondered
what the hell this
company was coming
too. Te young bucks
have arrived!
My frst outside
plant job was to
extend a 26 gauge
self-support cable
(BKTS-25) down a new subdivision road
extension to meet the held order demands for
several new homes under construction.
I engineered the job, got it past my
supervisors and it was issued to the feld for
construction. I made sure I was available to go
out and supervise my project. After all, I was
the engineer and no one knew the project better
than me.
On that beautiful day, I drove to that
Above:
Gordon Caverly is
always smiling at the
Summit. You will, too.
At the Summit, Gordon
advises how to fnance fber
without outside help.
Register Now
www.bbcmag.com
BBC_SummitPromo_Feb14.indd 48 2/12/14 5:54 PM