§ 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 § 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 § 68.215(c).
   Training  and  authority  under § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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
   § 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 § 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, § 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]

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