Goto Section: 68.214 | 68.218 | Table of Contents
FCC 68.215
Revised as of October 1, 2007
Goto Year:2006 |
2008
Sec. 68.215 Installation of other than “fully protected” system premises wiring
that serves more than four subscriber access lines.
(a) Types of wiring authorized —(1) Between equipment entities. Unprotected
premises wiring, and protected premises wiring requiring acceptance testing
for imbalance, may be used to connect separately-housed equipment entities
to one another.
(2) Between an equipment entity and the public switched telephone network
interface(s). Fully-protected premises wiring shall be used to connect
equipment entities to the public switched telephone network interface unless
the provider of wireline telecommunications is unwilling or unable to locate
the interface within 7.6 meters (25 feet) of the equipment entity on
reasonable request. In any such case, other than fully-protected premises
wiring may be used if otherwise in accordance with these rules.
(3) Hardware protection as part of the facilities of the provider of
wireline telecommunications. In any case where the carrier chooses to
provide (and the customer chooses to accept, except as authorized under
paragraph (g) of this section), hardware protection on the network side of
the interface(s), the presence of such hardware protection will affect the
classification of premises wiring for the purposes of Sec. 68.215, as
appropriate.
(b) Installation personnel. Operations associated with the installation,
connection, reconfiguration and removal (other than final removal of the
entire premises communications system) of other than fully-protected
premises wiring shall be performed under the supervision and control of a
supervisor, as defined in paragraph (c) of this section. The supervisor and
installer may be the same person.
(c) Supervision. Operations by installation personnel shall be performed
under the responsible supervision and control of a person who:
(1) Has had at least six months of on-the-job experience in the installation
of telephone terminal equipment or of wiring used with such equipment;
(2) Has been trained by the registrant of the equipment to which the wiring
is to be connected in the proper performance of any operations by
installation personnel which could affect that equipment's continued
compliance with these rules;
(3) Has received written authority from the registrant to assure that the
operations by installation personnel will be performed in such a manner as
to comply with these rules.
(4) Or, in lieu of paragraphs (c) (1) through (3) of this section, is a
licensed professional engineer in the jurisdiction in which the installation
is performed.
(d) Workmanship and material requirements —(1) General. Wiring shall be
installed so as to assure that there is adequate insulation of telephone
wiring from commercial power wiring and grounded surfaces. Wiring is
required to be sheathed in an insulating jacket in addition to the
insulation enclosing individual conductors (see below) unless located in an
equipment enclosure or in an equipment room with restricted access; it shall
be assured that this physical and electrical protection is not damaged or
abraded during placement of the wiring. Any intentional removal of wiring
insulation (or a sheath) for connections or splices shall be accomplished by
removing the minimum amount of insulation necessary to make the connection
or splice, and insulation equivalent to that provided by the wire and its
sheath shall be suitably restored, either by placement of the splices or
connections in an appropriate enclosure, or equipment rooms with restricted
access, or by using adequately-insulated connectors or splicing means.
(2) Wire. Insulated conductors shall have a jacket or sheath with a 1500
volt rms minimum breakdown rating, except when located in an equipment
enclosure or an equipment room with restricted access. This rating shall be
established by covering the jacket or sheath with at least 15 cm (6 in)
(measured linearly on the cable) of conductive foil, and establishing a
potential difference between the foil and all of the individual conductors
connected together, such potential difference gradually increased over a 30
second time period to 1500 volts rms, 60 Hertz, then applied continuously
for one minute. At no time during this 90 second time interval shall the
current between these points exceed 10 milliamperes peak.
(3) Places where the jacket or sheath has been removed. Any point where the
jacket or sheath has been removed (or is not required) shall be accessible
for inspection. If such points are concealed, they shall be accessible
without disturbing permanent building finish (e.g., by removing a cover).
(4) Building and electrical codes. All building and electrical codes
applicable in the jurisdiction to telephone wiring shall be complied with.
If there are no such codes applicable to telephone wiring, Article 800 of
the 1978 National Electrical Code, entitled Communications Systems, and
other sections of that Code incorporated therein by reference shall be
complied with.
(5) Limitations on electrical signals. Only signal sources that emanate from
the provider of wireline telecommunications central office, or that are
generated in equipment at the customer's premises and are “non-hazardous
voltage sources” as defined in the technical criteria published by the
Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments, may be routed in premises
telephone wiring, except for voltages for network control signaling and
supervision that are consistent with standards employed by the provider of
wireline telecommunications. Current on individual wiring conductors shall
be limited to values which do not cause an excessive temperature rise, with
due regard to insulation materials and ambient temperatures. The following
table assumes a 45 ° C temperature rise for wire sizes 22 AWG or larger, and
a 40 ° C rise for wire sizes smaller than 22 AWG, for poly-vinyl chloride
insulating materials, and should be regarded as establishing maximum values
to be derated accordingly in specific installations where ambient
temperatures are in excess of 25 ° C:
Maximum Continuous Current Capacity of PVC Insulated Copper Wire, Confined
Wire size, AWG Circular mils Maximum current, amperes
32 63.2 0.32
30 100.5 0.52
28 159.8 0.83
26 254.1 1.3
24 404.0 2.1
22 642.4 5.0
20 1022 7.5
18 1624 10
Note: The total current in all conductors of multiple conductor cables may
not exceed 20% of the sum of the individual ratings of all such conductors.
(6) Physical protection. In addition to the general requirements that wiring
insulation be adequate and not damaged during placement of the wiring,
wiring shall be protected from adverse effects of weather and the
environment in which it is used. Where wiring is attached to building finish
surfaces (surface wiring), it shall be suitably supported by means which do
not affect the integrity of the wiring insulation.
(e) Documentation requirements. A notarized affidavit and one copy thereof
shall be prepared by the installation supervisor in advance of each
operation associated with the installation, connection, reconfiguration and
removal of other than fully-protected premises wiring (except when
accomplished functionally using a cross-connect panel), except when involved
with removal of the entire premises communications system using such wiring.
This affidavit and its copy shall contain the following information:
(1) The responsible supervisor's full name, business address and business
telephone number.
(2) The name of the registrant(s) (or manufacturer(s), if grandfathered
equipment is involved) of any equipment to be used electrically between the
wiring and the telephone network interface, which does not contain inherent
protection against hazardous voltages and longitudinal imbalance.
(3) A statement as to whether the supervisor complies with Sec. 68.215(c).
Training and authority under Sec. 68.215(c)(2)–(3) is required from the
registrant (or manufacturer, if grandfathered equipment is involved) of the
first piece of equipment electrically connected to the telephone network
interface, other than passive equipments such as extensions, cross-connect
panels, or adapters. In general, this would be the registrant (or
manufacturer) of a system's common equipment.
(4) The date(s) when placement and connection of the wiring will take place.
(5) The business affiliation of the installation personnel.
(6) Identification of specific national and local codes which will be
adhered to.
(7) The manufacturer(s); a brief description of the wire which will be used
(model number or type); its conformance with recognized standards for wire
if any (e.g., Underwriters Laboratories listing, Rural Electrification
Administration listing, “KS-” specification, etc.); and a general
description of the attachment of the wiring to the structure (e.g., run in
conduit or ducts exclusively devoted to telephone wiring, “fished” through
walls, surface attachment, etc.).
(8) The date when acceptance testing for imbalance will take place.
(9) The supervisor's signature. The notarized original shall be submitted to
the provider of wireline telecommunications at least ten calendar days in
advance of the placement and connection of the wiring. This time period may
be changed by agreement of the provider of wireline telecommunications and
the supervisor. The copy shall be maintained at the premises, available for
inspection, so long as the wiring is used for telephone service.
(f) Acceptance testing for imbalance. Each telephone network interface that
is connected directly or indirectly to other than fully-protected premises
wiring shall be subjected to the acceptance test procedures specified in
this section whenever an operation associated with the installation,
connection, reconfiguration or removal of this wiring (other than final
removal) has been performed.
(1) Test procedure for two-way or outgoing lines or loops. A telephone
instrument may be associated directly or indirectly with the line or loop to
perform this test if one is not ordinarily available to it:
(i) Lift the handset of the telephone instrument to create the off-hook
state on the line or loop under test.
(ii) Listen for noise. Confirm that there is neither audible hum nor
excessive noise.
(iii) Listen for dial tone. Confirm that dial tone is present.
(iv) Break dial tone by dialing a digit. Confirm that dial tone is broken as
a result of dialing.
(v) With dial tone broken, listen for audible hum or excessive noise.
Confirm that there is neither audible hum nor excessive noise.
(2) Test procedure for incoming-only (non-originating) lines or loops. A
telephone instrument may be associated directly or indirectly with the line
or loop to perform this test if one is not ordinarily available to it:
(i) Terminate the line or loop under test in a telephone instrument in the
on-hook state.
(ii) Dial the number of the line or loop under test from another station,
blocking as necessary other lines or loops to cause the line or loop under
test to be reached.
(iii) On receipt of ringing on the line or loop under test, lift the handset
of the telephone instrument to create the off-hook state on that line or
loop.
(iv) Listen for audible hum or excessive noise. Confirm that there is
neither audible hum nor excessive noise.
(3) Failure of acceptance test procedures. Absence of dial tone before
dialing, inability to break dial tone, or presence of audible hum or
excessive noise (or any combination of these conditions) during test of
two-way or outgoing lines or loops indicates failure. Inability to receive
ringing, inability to break ringing by going off-hook, or presence of
audible hum or excessive noise (or any combination of these conditions)
during test of incoming-only lines or loops indicates failure. Upon any such
failure, the failing equipment or portion of the premises communications
system shall be disconnected from the network interface, and may not be
reconnected until the cause of the failure has been isolated or removed. Any
previously tested lines or loops shall be retested if they were in any way
involved in the isolation and removal of the cause of the failure.
(4) Monitoring or participation in acceptance testing by the provider of
wireline telecommunications. The provider of wireline telecommunications may
monitor or participate in the acceptance testing required under this
section, in accordance with Sec. 68.215(g) of this part, from its central office
test desk or otherwise.
(g) Extraordinary procedures. The provider of wireline communications is
hereby authorized to limit the subscriber's right of connecting approved
terminal equipment or protective circuitry with other than fully-protected
premises wiring, but solely in accordance with this paragraph and Sec. 68.108 of
these rules.
(1)(i) Conditions that may invoke these procedures. The extraordinary
procedures authorized herein may only be invoked where one or more of the
following conditions is present:
(A) Information provided in the supervisor's affidavit gives reason to
believe that a violation of part 68 of the FCC's rules is likely.
(B) A failure has occurred during acceptance testing for imbalance.
(C) Harm has occurred, and there is reason to believe that this harm was a
result of wiring operations performed under this section.
(ii) The extraordinary procedures authorized in the following subsections
shall not be used so as to discriminate between installations by provider of
wireline telecommunications personnel and installations by others. In
general, this requires that any charges for these procedures be levied in
accordance with, or analogous to, the “maintenance of service” tariff
provisions: If the installation proves satisfactory, no charge should be
levied.
(2) Monitoring or participation in acceptance testing for imbalance.
Notwithstanding the previous sub-section, the provider of wireline
telecommunications may monitor or participate in acceptance testing for
imbalance at the time of the initial installation of wiring in the absence
of the conditions listed therein; at any other time, on or more of the
listed conditions shall be present. Such monitoring or participation in
acceptance testing should be performed from the central office test desk
where possible to minimize costs.
(3) Inspection. Subject to paragraph (g)(1) of this section, the provider of
wireline telecommunications may inspect wiring installed pursuant to this
section, and all of the splicing and connection points required to be
accessible by Sec. 68.215(d)(3) to determine compliance with this section. The
user or installation supervisor shall either authorize the provider of
wireline telecommunications to render the splicing and inspection points
visible (e.g., by removing covers), or perform this action prior to the
inspection. To minimize disruption of the premises communications system,
the right of inspecting is limited as follows:
(i) During initial installation of wiring:
(A) The provider of wireline telecommunications may require withdrawal of up
to 5 percent (measured linearly) of wiring run concealed in ducts, conduit
or wall spaces, to determine conformance of the wiring to the information
furnished in the affidavit.
(B) In the course of any such inspection, the provider of wireline
telecommunications shall have the right to inspect documentation required to
be maintained at the premises under Sec. 68.215(e).
(ii) After failure of acceptance testing or after harm has resulted from
installed wiring: The provider of wireline telecommunications may require
withdrawal of all wiring run concealed in ducts, conduit or wall spaces
which reasonably could have caused the failure or harm, to determine
conformance of the wiring to the information furnished in the affidavit.
(iii) In the course of any such inspection, the provider of wireline
telecommunications shall have the right to inspect documentation required to
be maintained at the premises under Sec. 68.215(e).
(4) Requiring the use of protective apparatus. In the event that any of the
conditions listed in paragraph (g)(1) of this section, arises, and is not
permanently remedied within a reasonable time period, the provider of
wireline telecommunications may require the use of protective apparatus that
either protects solely against hazardous voltages, or that protects both
against hazardous voltages and imbalance. Such apparatus may be furnished
either by the provider of wireline telecommunications or by the customer.
This right is in addition to the rights of the provider of wireline
telecommunications under Sec. 68.108.
(5) Notice of the right to bring a complaint. In any case where the provider
of wireline telecommunications invokes the extraordinary procedures of
Sec. 68.215(g), it shall afford the customer the opportunity to correct the
situation that gave rise to invoking these procedures, and inform the
customer of the right to bring a complaint to the Commission pursuant to the
procedures set forth in subpart E of this part. On complaint, the Commission
reserves the right to perform any of the inspections authorized under this
section, and to require the performance of acceptance tests.
(h) Limitations on the foregoing if protected wiring requiring acceptance
testing is used. If protected wiring is used which required acceptance
testing, the requirements in the foregoing paragraphs of Sec. 68.215 are hereby
limited, as follows:
(1) Supervision. Section 68.215(c)(2)–(3) are hereby waived. The supervisor
is only required to have had at least six months of on-the-job experience in
the installation of telephone terminal equipment or of wiring used with such
equipment.
(2) Extraordinary procedures. Section 68.215(g)(3) is hereby limited to
allow for inspection of exposed wiring and connection and splicing points,
but not for requiring the withdrawal of wiring from wiring run concealed in
ducts, conduit or wall spaces unless actual harm has occurred, or a failure
of acceptance testing has not been corrected within a reasonable time. In
addition, Sec. 68.215(g)(4) is hereby waived.
[ 43 FR 16499 , Apr. 19, 1978, as amended at 44 FR 7958 , Feb. 8, 1979; 47 FR 37896 , Aug. 27, 1982; 49 FR 21735 , May 23, 1984; 58 FR 44907 , Aug. 25, 1993;
66 FR 7584 , Jan. 24, 2001]
Goto Section: 68.214 | 68.218
Goto Year: 2006 |
2008
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