Goto Section: 76.505 | 76.602 | Table of Contents
FCC 76.601
Revised as of October 2, 2015
Goto Year:2014 |
2016
§ 76.601 Performance tests.
(a) The operator of each cable television system shall be responsible for
insuring that each such system is designed, installed, and operated in a
manner that fully complies with the provisions of this subpart.
(b) The operator of each cable television system shall conduct complete
performance tests of that system at least twice each calendar year (at
intervals not to exceed seven months), unless otherwise noted below. The
performance tests shall be directed at determining the extent to which the
system complies with all the technical standards set forth in § 76.605(a) and
shall be as follows:
(1) For cable television systems with 1000 or more subscribers but with
12,500 or fewer subscribers, proof-of-performance tests conducted pursuant
to this section shall include measurements taken at six (6) widely separated
points. However, within each cable system, one additional test point shall
be added for every additional 12,500 subscribers or fraction thereof (e.g.,
7 test points if 12,501 to 25,000 subscribers; 8 test points if 25,001 to
37,500 subscribers, etc.). In addition, for technically integrated portions
of cable systems that are not mechanically continuous (i.e., employing
microwave connections), at least one test point will be required for each
portion of the cable system served by a technically integrated microwave
hub. The proof-of-performance test points chosen shall be balanced to
represent all geographic areas served by the cable system. At least
one-third of the test points shall be representative of subscriber terminals
most distant from the system input and from each microwave receiver (if
microwave transmissions are employed), in terms of cable length. The
measurements may be taken at convenient monitoring points in the cable
network: Provided, that data shall be included to relate the measured
performance of the system as would be viewed from a nearby subscriber
terminal. An identification of the instruments, including the makes, model
numbers, and the most recent date of calibration, a description of the
procedures utilized, and a statement of the qualifications of the person
performing the tests shall also be included.
(2) Proof-of-performance tests to determine the extent to which a cable
television system complies with the standards set forth in § 76.605(a) (3),
(4), and (5) shall be made on each of the NTSC or similar video channels of
that system. Unless otherwise as noted, proof-of-performance tests for all
other standards in § 76.605(a) shall be made on a minimum of four (4)
channels plus one additional channel for every 100 MHz, or fraction thereof,
of cable distribution system upper frequency limit (e.g., 5 channels for
cable television systems with a cable distribution system upper frequency
limit of 101 to 216 MHz; 6 channels for cable television systems with a
cable distribution system upper frequency limit of 217-300 MHz; 7 channels
for cable television systems with a cable distribution upper frequency limit
to 300 to 400 MHz, etc.). The channels selected for testing must be
representative of all the channels within the cable television system.
(3) The operator of each cable television system shall conduct semi-annual
proof-of-performance tests of that system, to determine the extent to which
the system complies with the technical standards set forth in § 76.605(a)(4)
as follows. The visual signal level on each channel shall be measured and
recorded, along with the date and time of the measurement, once every six
hours (at intervals of not less than five hours or no more than seven hours
after the previous measurement), to include the warmest and the coldest
times, during a 24-hour period in January or February and in July or August.
(4) The operator of each cable television system shall conduct triennial
proof-of-performance tests of its system to determine the extent to which
the system complies with the technical standards set forth in
§ 76.605(a)(11).
(c) Successful completion of the performance tests required by paragraph (b)
of this section does not relieve the system of the obligation to comply with
all pertinent technical standards at all subscriber terminals. Additional
tests, repeat tests, or tests involving specified subscriber terminals may
be required by the Commission or the local franchiser to secure compliance
with the technical standards.
(d) The provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply
to any cable television system having fewer than 1,000 subscribers:
Provided, however, that any cable television system using any frequency
spectrum other than that allocated to over-the-air television and FM
broadcasting (as described in § § 73.603 and 73.210 of this chapter) is
required to conduct all tests, measurements and monitoring of signal leakage
that are required by this subpart. A cable television system operator
complying with the monitoring, logging and the leakage repair requirements
of § 76.614, shall be considered to have met the requirements of this
paragraph. However, the leakage log shall be retained for five years rather
than the two years prescribed in § 76.1706.
Note 1 to § 76.601: Prior to requiring any additional testing pursuant to
§ 76.601(c), the local franchising authority shall notify the cable operator
who will be allowed thirty days to come into compliance with any perceived
signal quality problems which need to be corrected. The Commission may
request cable operators to test their systems at any time.
Note 2 to § 76.601: Section 76.1717 contains recordkeeping requirements for
each system operator in order to show compliance with the technical rules of
this subpart.
Note 3 to § 76.601: Section 76.1704 contains recordkeeping requirements for
proof of performance tests.
[ 65 FR 53615 , Sept. 5, 2000]
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Goto Section: 76.505 | 76.602
Goto Year: 2014 |
2016
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