This textbook is the basic textbook for anyone learning about fiber optics and it is the official reference for the FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technician, CFOTÓ, training and certification. The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

(FOA) was founded in 1995 to help educate the workforce to build the fiber optic networks to support a rapid expansion in communications and the Internet. The charter of the FOA was to promote professionalism in fiber optics through education, certification, and standards.

Today the FOA is the international professional association for fiber optics and the most widely recognized certifying body for fiber optic technicians. Since its founding, the FOA has focused on education and certification.

The founders were instructors who were teaching fiber optics at Fiber U, the original fiber optic training conference. They represented educational institutions, manufacturers, government, contractors, and users of fiber optics.

Their collective knowledge and wisdom helped create this textbook. Today the FOA provides the world with sources of technically correct unbiased information on fiber optics in both print and online media.

The FOA has published more than a dozen textbooks on fiber optics in multiple languages. The FOA Online Reference Guide is the largest and most used reference site on fiber optics on the Internet.

FOA also offers Fiber U, a free online leaning site with dozens of self-study programs. .