EXTON, Pa. -- The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) today announced that it will offer a record 50 virtual classes in 2013, including nine new or revised courses, in a wide variety of technical topic areas.The virtual lineup—a 35 percent increase over the 37 classes held in 2012 and a doubling of the 2011 total of 25—is part of an increased focus on training and career development by SCTE and the cable telecommunications industry. Total yearly SCTE professional development registrations increased from 164 in 2009 to more than 600 last year. Total registrations over the past three years exceeded 1,100.In 2013, SCTE is introducing a variety of new courses, including: Business Class Service Specialist (BCSS); Broadband Distribution Specialist (BDS); Broadband Transport Specialist (BTS); Home Networking with Wi-Fi; DOCSIS® Systems; and Wi-Fi Hotspots (CWTS). In addition, SCTE classes on Ethernet Transport, IPv6: Impact on Cable Networks, and DOCSIS® Channel Bonding have been revised to capture new thinking in those areas. Many SCTE courses are designed to prepare students for industry certifications and qualify for college credits.“Cable’s commitment to preparing today’s workforce for the networks of tomorrow has created tremendous demand for more efficient training, including an increased emphasis on distance learning,” said Daniel Howard, senior vice president, engineering, and CTO for SCTE. “SCTE is working directly with operators and vendors to create an expanded portfolio of virtual courses that provide high-quality training, are aligned with the industry needs, and can be easily accessed by the student.”Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE)