DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,284

CORNING CABLE SYSTEMS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS CABLE PLANT
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273) as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act
of 1988 (P. L. 100-418), the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
each of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the
Act must be met:
(1) that a significant number or proportion of the workers
in the workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision
thereof, have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;

(2) that sales or production, or both, of the firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the firm or
appropriate subdivision have contributed importantly to
the separations, or threat thereof, and to the absolute
decline in sales or production.

The investigation was initiated on April 4, 2002, in
response to a negative determination regarding eligibility for
workers of Corning Cable Systems, Telecommunications Cable Plant,
Hickory, North Carolina, to apply for NAFTA – Transitional
Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) under petition NAFTA-5735. The
workers produce fiber optic cable.
The investigation revealed declines in employment, sales and
production at the subject firm from 2000 to 2001. Company imports
of fiber optic cable declined during the same time period
The Department conducted a survey of the subject firm's
major declining customers regarding their purchases of fiber
optic cable in 2000 and 2001. The survey revealed that customers
purchased a negligible amount of fiber optic cable from foreign
sources in that time period.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Corning Cable Systems, Telecommunications Cable Plant, Hickory,
North Carolina, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 24th day of May, 2002

/s/ Linda G. Poole
_____________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance