The SCTE President's Message

President's Message Welcome, our Diamond Anniversary year is no more and the Society now enters its 61^st year. It is amazing to look back over the last 60 years to see how the industry has moved from ‘Radio Relay’ to interactive ‘Broadband’. Some of these changes were highlighted in the Anniversary brochure published last year but perhaps a more detailed history of technological advancement can be gleaned from the archives of our Journal. Volumes 1 to 10 (1945 to 1977) are already available for download on this website together with the latter years from 1999 to date. We hope to complete the missing years soon and the complete archive will then also be made available on CD. Following the CTE readership survey and a well attended Strategy Review meeting held in November we felt the need to change our image to reflect the reality of the current industry that we are involved in. Whilst retaining SCTE as our acronym, there will be less emphasis on the full name and our logo will carry the strapline ‘Excellence in Broadband’. From the March issue or quarterly Journal will also have a name change; CTE will disappear and ‘Broadband’ will take its place. The Society continues to be affected by the industry’s dormancy both in terms of membership numbers, (the dreaded ‘churn’) and advertising in the Journal. We are fortunate that our involvement in the International Broadcasting Convention Partnership, which organises the IBC Show in Amsterdam, has left us with some cash reserves. The income from IBC is used to invest in new ventures e.g. preparation of new training courses, and to fund our activities associated with the IBC itself. IBC2005 was record year and the 2006 event is already ‘full’ and looks like being another great success. The recruitment of new members still, however, remains a matter of priority. Initiatives in The Netherlands, to promote a separate group of members there, have been very successful and the Benelux group is now organising regular Spring and Autumn European Lectures, the latter being held at IBC. We are currently looking at possibilities of closer liaison with other European organisations to spread the SCTE gospel. The Society continues to address the training needs of the industry through its lecture programme. The last year has seen a successful series of London lectures, covering a wide range of topics. The Society has also continued to provide the majority of input to BSI, CENELEC and IEC standards groups on broadband cable issues. The Gala Diamond Anniversary Dinner was held at Woburn Abbey with over 200 guests from across the world. A report with photographs appears in the Social Events section of this website. An excellent turn out, with great food and entertainment and with the evening culminating with a presentation of Honorary Fellowships to John Clark, President of the US SCTE, David Hodges Chairman of the CAI and our long suffering National Secretary, Beverly Allgood. I was extremely honoured personally to receive the Tom Hall Award, which presented by Mac Hall, son of our much-revered founding member Tom. The 2006 event is being held at the Old Palace, Hatfield House and will include the re-introduction of Technician and Member of the Year Awards together with a Technology Award. The website continues to be a popular and enjoyable experience; this last year has seen the introduction of a closed members area and an ‘SCTE shop’ with a secure payments system now allows online purchases of Society goods and renewal of fees etc. In closing, I would just like to remind you that whilst there may be light at the end of the tunnel, we are still living in difficult times for the Cable Industry. Membership numbers are difficult to maintain and I implore everyone of you to encourage colleagues and associates to join the Society and ensure its continued success. DR ROGER BLAKEWAY President


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