Goto Section: 76.505 | 76.602 | Table of Contents
FCC 76.601
Revised as of October 1, 2019
Goto Year:2018 |
2020
§ 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 that operates NTSC or
similar channels shall conduct performance tests of the analog channels
on 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 and
shall be as follows:
(1) For cable television systems with 1,000 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 (e.g., employing microwave
connections), at least one test point will be required for each portion
of the cable system served by a technically integrated 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(b)(3), (4), and (5) shall be made on each of the NTSC or
similar video channels of that system. Unless otherwise noted,
proof-of-performance tests for all other standards in § 76.605(b) shall
be made on a minimum of five (5) channels for systems operating a total
activated channel capacity of less than 550 MHz, and ten (10) channels
for systems operating a total activated channel capacity of 550 MHz or
greater. The channels selected for testing must be representative of
all the channels within the cable television system.
(i) The operator of each cable television system that operates NTSC or
similar channels 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(b)(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.
(ii) The operator of each cable television system that operates NTSC or
similar channels 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(b)(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, as amended at 83 FR 7627 , Feb. 22, 2018]
Effective Date Note: At 83 FR 7627 , Feb. 22, 2018, § 76.601 was amended
by revising paragraph (b). Paragraph (b)(1) contains information
collection and recordkeeping requirements and will not become effective
until approval has been given by the Office of Management and Budget.
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Goto Section: 76.505 | 76.602
Goto Year: 2018 |
2020
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