(a) Conductors. (1) Each conductor shall comply with the requirements specified in the American National Standard Institute/Insulated Cable Engineers Association, Inc. (ANSI/ICEA) S-89-648-1993, paragraphs 2.1 through 2.1.5. The ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993 Standard For Telecommunications Aerial Service Wire, Technical Requirements (approved by ANSI July 11, 1994) is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993 are available for inspection during normal business hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Copies are available from ICEA, P. O. Box 440, South Yarmouth, MA 02664, telephone number (508) 394-4424.

(2) Factory joints in conductors shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 2.1.6.

(b) Conductor insulation. (1) The raw materials used for the conductor insulation shall comply with the requirements specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 3.1.1.

(2) The raw materials shall be accepted by RUS prior to their use.

(3) The finished conductor insulation shall be free from holes, splits, blisters, or other imperfections and shall be as smooth as is consistent with best commercial practice.

(4) The finished conductor insulation shall comply with the requirements specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraphs 3.1.5 through 3.1.5.4.

(5) The insulation shall have a minimum spot thickness of not less than 0.9 millimeters (mm) (0.03 inches (in.)) at any point.

(c) Wire assembly. (1) The two conductors shall be insulated in parallel to form an integral configuration.

(2) The finished wire assembly shall be either a flat or a notched oval. Other finished wire assemblies may be used provided that they are accepted by RUS prior to their use.

(3) The overall dimensions of the finished wire assembly shall be in accordance with the following requirements:

(d) Conductor marking. The insulated conductors of a finished wire shall be marked in accordance with the requirements specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 3.1.4.

(e) Electrical requirements—(1) Conductor resistance. The direct current (dc) resistance of each conductor in a completed CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.2.

(2) Wet mutual capacitance. The wet mutual capacitance of the completed CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.3.

(3) Wet attenuation. The wet attenuation of the completed CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.4.

(4) Wet insulation resistance. The wet insulation resistance of the completed CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.5.

(5) Dielectric strength. (i) The wet dielectric strength between conductors and between each conductor of the completed CCSR aerial service wire and the surrounding water shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.6.

(ii) The dry dielectric strength between conductors of the completed CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.7.

(6) Fusing coordination. The completed CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the fusing coordination requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.8.

(7) Insulation imperfections. Each length of completed CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the requirement specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 7.1.9.

(f) Mechanical requirements—(1) Impact test. (i) All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the unaged impact test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.1.2.

(ii) All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the aged impact test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.1.3.

(2) Abrasion resistance test. All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the abrasion resistance test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.1.4.

(3) Static load test. All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the static load test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.1.5.

(4) Plasticizer compatibility test. All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the plasticizer compatibility test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.1.8.

(g) Environmental requirements—(1) Cold temperature handling test. (i) All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the unaged cold temperature handling test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.2.1.

(ii) All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the aged cold temperature handling test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.2.2.

(2) Light absorption test. All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the light absorption test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.2.3.

(3) Low temperature separation test. All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the low temperature separation test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.2.4.

(4) Flammability test. All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the flammability test specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.3.

(5) Wire listing. All CCSR aerial service wires manufactured in accordance with this section shall comply with the listing requirements specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 8.4.

(h) Identification marker. Each length of CCSR aerial service wire shall be identified in accordance with ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 9.1.4. When surface marking is employed, the color of the initial marking shall be either white or silver.

(i) Length marking (optional). (1) Sequentially numbered length marking of the completed CCSR aerial service wire may be used at the option of the manufacturer unless specified by the end user.

(2) When sequentially numbered length markings are used, the length markings shall be in accordance with ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 9.1.5. The color of the initial marking shall be either white or silver.

(j) Durability of marking. The durability of the marking of the CCSR aerial service wire shall comply with the requirements specified in ANSI/ICEA S-89-648-1993, paragraph 9.1.6.