§ 68.213   Installation of other than “fully protected” non-system simple
customer premises wiring.

   (a)  Scope  of  this  rule.  Provisions  of  this  rule  apply only to
   “unprotected” premises wiring used with simple installations of wiring for
   up to four line residential and business telephone service. More complex
   installations of wiring for multiple line services, for use with systems
   such as PBX and key telephone systems, are controlled by § 68.215 of these
   rules.

   (b) Wiring authorized. Unprotected premises wiring may be used to connect
   units of terminal equipment or protective circuitry to one another, and to
   carrier-installed facilities if installed in accordance with these rules.
   The provider of wireline telecommunications is not responsible, except
   pursuant to agreement between it and the customer or undertakings by it,
   otherwise consistent with Commission requirements, for installation and
   maintenance of wiring on the subscriber's side of the demarcation point,
   including any wire or jacks that may have been installed by the carrier. The
   subscriber and/or premises owner may install wiring on the subscriber's side
   of the demarcation point, and may remove, reconfigure, and rearrange wiring
   on that side of the demarcation point including wiring and wiring that may
   have been installed by the carrier. The customer or premises owner may not
   access  carrier  wiring  and  facilities  on the carrier's side of the
   demarcation point. Customers may not access the protector installed by the
   provider  of  wireline telecommunications. All plugs and jacks used in
   connection with inside wiring shall conform to the published technical
   criteria  of  the  Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments. In
   multiunit premises with more than one customer, the premises owner may adopt
   a policy restricting a customer's access to wiring on the premises to only
   that wiring located in the customer's individual unit wiring that serves
   only that particular customer. See § 68.105 in this part. The customer or
   premises owner may not access carrier wiring and facilities on the carrier's
   side  of the demarcation point. Customers may not access the protector
   installed by the provider of wireline telecommunications. All plugs and
   jacks used in connection with inside wiring shall conform to the published
   technical criteria of the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments.

   (c) Material requirements. (1) For new installations and modifications to
   existing installations, copper conductors shall be, at a minimum, solid, 24
   gauge  or  larger,  twisted  pairs  that  comply  with  the electrical
   specifications for Category 3, as defined in the ANSI EIA/TIA Building
   Wiring Standards.

   (2) Conductors shall have insulation with a 1500 Volt rms minimum breakdown
   rating. This rating shall be established by covering the jacket or sheath
   with  at  least  15  cm (6 inches) (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) All wire and connectors meeting the requirements set forth in paragraphs
   (c)(1) and (c)(2) shall be marked, in a manner visible to the consumer, with
   the symbol “CAT 3” or a symbol consisting of a “C” with a “3” contained
   within the “C” character, at intervals not to exceed one foot (12 inches)
   along the length of the wire.

   (d) Attestation. Manufacturers (or distributors or retailers, whichever name
   appears on the packaging) of non-system telephone premises wire shall attest
   in a letter to the Commission that the wire conforms with part 68, FCC
   Rules.

   [ 49 FR 21734 , May 23, 1984, as amended at  50 FR 29392 , July 19, 1985;  50 FR 47548 , Nov. 19, 1985;  51 FR 944 , Jan. 9, 1986;  55 FR 28630 , July 12, 1990;
    58 FR 44907 , Aug. 25, 1993;  62 FR 36464 , July 8, 1997;  65 FR 4140 , Jan. 26,
   2000;  66 FR 7583 , Jan. 24, 2001]

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