Continuing the Legacy to Help Light the World

Published: May 28, 2015

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Here at Fiber Optic Center we are continuing the legacy of New Bedford in helping bring light to the world. Follow me for a moment here….

New Bedford is commonly referred to as the ‘The Whaling City’ for its deep history in whaling. During this period it was one of the richest cities in the world.The reason was whale oil. Before petroleum oils, this whale oil lite the lanterns of old. Herman Melville once referred to New Bedford as, “the city that lit the word”. We don’t know if he coined the lesser known nickname for New Bedford, the ’City of Light’, but we know it’s in recognition, first, for the lamp oil generated by this industry, and then later on in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries for its local glass making companies. In fact one of these companies, Pairpoint Manufacturing Company, competed with Corning back in the day!

We started Fiber Optic Center in downtown New Bedford back in 1992 and have seen the city go thru a great transformation. In 1995 we moved to our current location, an historic ice house that once served the whaling industry in the cobblestone portion of New Bedford; an area that a year later would become a National Historic Park. The view from the top of our building overlooks the beautiful fishing harbor that reminds us of times past and once again brings in a bountiful yearly catch, one of the largest in the world, scallops instead of whale oil. If you’ve eaten scallops, there is a good chance they came off a boat we can see from our building.

Now in the 21^st century Fiber Optic Center is putting more emphasis on the ‘City of Light’ motto by working with companies across the globe that produce materials needed in supporting the massive increase in data delivery. In almost every case that data is converted to LIGHT and then sent along the glass fiber highway we are helping build.

We work with companies that make that happen. So here’s to modernizing the City of Light!

Additional resources from the FOC team include:

View the Glossary, Acronyms, Military Specifications for Connectors
Q&A Resource: email technical questions to AskFOC@focenter.com

Have questions about this article?

Contact FOC with questions at: (800) 473-4237 / 508-992-6464 or email:FiberOpticCenter@focenter.com and we will respond ASAP.

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About the Author

Ben Waite Ben Waite, President and CEO Ben Waite began his career at Fiber Optic Center (FOC) in 1995. Ben brings his extensive experience in technical field work, business strategy and engineering management to his position of President and CEO. His manufacturing knowledge and experience is invaluable to FOC customers’ worldwide operations. In addition to his responsibilities at FOC, Ben has been an active member of the New England Fiberoptic Council for many years, including NEFC board positions as Secretary, Treasurer, and President. He is also on the Board for the International Cable and Connectivity Symposium (IWCS). Ben graduated from Colby College with a BA in Physics, Math, and Science and Technology Studies. He and his wife reside outside New Bedford, with their three children, where they are deeply involved in their community and extended families. Outside of FOC, he can be found coaching youth Baseball and Soccer. Follow @BenWaite_FOC

About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.

Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

For further information contact:

Fiber Optic Center, Inc., 23 Centre Street, New Bedford, MA 02740-6322
Toll Free in US: 800-IS-FIBER or 800-473-4237 . Direct 508-992-6464. Email: sales@focenter.com or fiberopticcenter@focenter.com

For media contact:

Kathleen Skelton, Director of Strategic Marketing, C: 617-803-3014 . E: kskelton@focenter.com

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