State of Maryland

A Data Communications Technician I is the intermediate level of work planning, laying out, installing and maintaining data communications network lines and devices.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Data Communications Technician Supervisor or other designated administrator.  The work is performed in normal office settings and at users' work sites throughout the State.  The work performed at users' sites involves running cable in basements, through ceilings and floors, exposure to dust, dirt and insulation, which may include asbestos and fiberglass, and requires moving computer terminals and printers weighing up to eighty pounds. Employees at users’ work sites are required to use specialized safety equipment such as hard hats, goggles and masks, and follow strict safety procedures.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Data Communications Technician I and Data Communications Technician II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Data Communications Technician I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed while and the Data Communications Technician II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Reviews requests from users to install data communications lines and devices such as modems, routers, switches, digital service units, multi-station access units, controllers, gateways, multiplexors, computer terminals, printers, disk drives, tape drives, network cards and emulators;

Surveys users' sites to determine where and how to install data communications lines and devices;

Recommends modifications to floor plans and wiring necessary for network installation;

Determines the circuits of new data communications lines by examining data bases of the network and selecting a circuit in the correct location with available drops;

Orders data communications lines and other hardware from the telephone company or other vendor by specifying the desired circuit and type of lines and jacks for compatibility with existing lines and devices;

Coordinates the installation, maintenance and repair of lines and devices with vendors, users and computer center staff;

Contacts the technical support unit of the computer center to provide information about new data lines and to verify that the data lines can be accessed by users;

Configures controllers or modifies gateways using a program supplied by the vendor and information obtained from the technical support unit of the computer center;

Instructs users in the use of the system and how to contact the Help Desk;

Responds to and resolves Help Desk calls from users who cannot access the system by asking diagnostic questions and having users follow procedures from device manuals and procedural guidelines;

Performs trouble-shooting on-line and device problems that cannot be resolved through Help Desk procedures;

Performs preventive maintenance by cleaning and adjusting data communications devices;

Maintains records of Help Desk calls, line and device malfunctions and system downtime;

Assigns data communication identification numbers to data communications devices;

May plan, install and maintain computer lines and devices;

May review users' proposals for data communications lines and devices for efficiency, compatibility with existing lines and devices, reliability and cost effectiveness and recommend modifications;

May write technical specifications for data communications lines and devices and evaluate vendor bids;

May make minor bench repairs to data communications devices;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of data communications networks, modems, routers, switches, digital service units, controllers, multiplexors, gateways, multi-station access units, computer terminals, printers, disk drives, tape drives, network cards and emulators;

Knowledge of the structure of data communications networks;

Knowledge of agency policies and procedures relating to the installation and maintenance of data communications lines and devices;

Knowledge of the diagnostic procedures used to restore users' access to the data communications system;

Skill in planning, installing, maintaining and performing trouble-shooting on data communications networks;

Skill in configuring controllers;

Skill in determining the source of line and device malfunctions;

Skill in following directions in device manuals and procedural guidelines;

Skill in using hand tools such as screw drivers, wire cutters, wire strippers and wrenches;

Skill in using data communications diagnostic equipment;

Skill in maintaining records of Help Desk calls, line and device malfunctions and system downtime;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with users, vendors, computer operators, professional programmers and technical support staff.

Education:  Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One year of experience planning, laying out, installing and maintaining data communications network lines and devices.

Note: Candidates may substitute additional experience operating computer equipment for maintaining information or installing, repairing or bench assembling electronic equipment or components on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B, Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions      Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.