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 network interface(s). Fully-
protected premises wiring shall be used to connect equipment entities to 
the telephone network interface unless the local telephone company 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 telephone company's 
facilities. 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

[[Page 268]]

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.

    Note:  This requirement is patterned after Sec. 68.304.

    (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 which 
emanate from the local telephone company central office, or which are 
generated in equipment at the customer's premises and are ``non-
hazardous voltage sources'' (see Sec. 68.306(b)(4)) may be routed in 
premises telephone wiring, except for voltages for network control 
signaling and supervision which are consistent with standards employed 
by the local telephone company. 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 deg. C temperature rise for wire sizes 
22 AWG or larger, and a 40 deg. 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 deg. C:

    Maximum Continuous Current Capacity of PVC Insulated Copper Wire,   
                                Confined                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Maximum  
                Wire size, AWG                    Circular     current, 
                                                    mils       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

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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 local telephone company 
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 
telephone company 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.

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    (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 local 
telephone company. The local telephone company 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 local telephone company is hereby 
authorized to limit the subscriber's right of connecting FCC-registered 
terminal equipment or protective circuitry with other than fully-
protected premises wiring, but solely in accordance with this subsection 
and Sec. 68.108 of these rules.
    (1) Conditions which may invoke these procedures. The extraordinary 
procedures authorized herein may only be invoked where one or more of 
the following conditions is present:
    (i) Information provided in the supervisor's affidavit gives reason 
to believe that a violation of part 68 of the FCC's rules is likely.
    (ii) A failure has occurred during acceptance testing for imbalance.
    (iii) Harm has occurred, and there is reason to believe that this 
harm was a result of wiring operations performed under this section.

The extraordinary procedures authorized in the following sub-sections 
shall not be used so as to discriminate between installations by local 
telephone company personnel and installations by others. In general, 
this would require that any charges for these procedures be levied in 
accordance with, or analgous 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 local telephone company 
may monitor or particapate 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, one 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 
local telephone company 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 
telephone company 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:

The telephone company 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.
    (ii) After failure of acceptance testing or after harm has resulted 
from installed wiring:

The telephone company may require withdrawal of all wiring run concealed 
in ducts, conduit or wall spaces which reasonably could have caused the 
failure of harm, to determine conformance of the wiring to the 
information furnished in the affidavit.

[[Page 271]]


In the course of any such inspection, the telephone company 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 
telephone company may require the use of protective apparatus which 
either protects solely against hazardous voltages, or which protects 
both against hazardous voltages and imbalance. Such apparatus may be 
furnished either by the telephone company or by the customer. This right 
is in addition to the telephone company's rights under Sec. 68.108.
    (5) Notice of the right to bring a complaint. In any case where the 
telephone company invokes the extraordinary procedures of 
Sec. 68.215(g), it shall afford the customer the opportunity to correct 
the situation which 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]