[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2107]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: February 3, 1994]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 2 and 68
[CC Docket No. 93-268, RM-7815, RM-6147; FCC 93-484]
Connection of Customer-Provided Terminal Equipment to the
Telephone Network
agency: Federal Communications Commission.
action: Proposed rules.
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summary: This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to amend
rules which regulate the terms and conditions under which customer-
provided terminal equipment may be connected to the telephone network.
The proceeding was initiated by petitions for rulemaking filed by
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (SWB) and Ameritech Operating
Companies (Ameritech) who ask that regulations governing switched
digital services be added. The effect of the proposed rules would be to
promote rapid exploitation of switched digital technology. We propose
also to provide for a registration revocation procedure which should
greatly enhance our ability to enforce applicable rules as well as the
Telecommunications Trade Act of 1988; and we take this opportunity to
propose clarifications to other rules.
dates: Comments were to be submitted on or before January 13, 1994, and
replies by January 28, 1994; however, those dates have been extended to
February 10, 1994 for comments and February 25, 1994 for replies.
addresses: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,
1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554, with copy to William H. von
Alven, FCC, Mail Stop 1600B2, Washington, DC 20554.
for further information contact: William H. von Alven, Domestic
Services Branch, Domestic Facilities Division, Common Carrier Bureau,
(202) 634-1833.
supplementary information: This summarizes the NPRM in CC Docket 93-
268, RM-7815, and RM-6147 (FCC 93-484) adopted October 22, 1993 and
released November 22, 1993, supplemented by an Errata, and Order
Extending Comment Period released January 12, 1994 (DA 94-46). Persons
affected by part 68 practice and procedure are urged to review the full
texts of both the NPRM and Errata, and the supporting file, which are
available for inspection and copying during the weekday hours of 9 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. in the FCC Reference Center, room 239, 1919 M St., NW.,
Washington, DC. Copies may be purchased from the Commission's
duplicating contractor, ITS, Inc., 2100 M St., NW., suite 140,
Washington, DC 20037, (202) 857-3800.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Reporting and recordkeeping activities needed to comply with the
proposed rules are usual and customary.
Analysis of Proceeding
1. By this NPRM we contemplate amending parts 2 and 68 of the
rules, 47 CFR parts 2 and 68. A purpose of part 68 is to maintain
uniform standards for the protection of the telephone network from
harms caused by the connection of terminal equipment and associated
wiring. This proceeding was initiated by two petitions for rulemaking,
one filed by SWB (RM-7815) and the other by Ameritech (RM-6147).
2. SWB requests that part 68 be amended to include the regulation
of terminal equipment connected to the two-wire Basic Rate Access (BRA)
interface and to the Primary Rate Access (PRA) interface provided by
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) access technology. BRA
consists of one or two 64 Kbps information channels with a 16 Kbps
channel for dialing and network access information. The 1.544 Mbps PRA
consists of 23 64 Kbps information channels and the 64 Kbps dialing and
network access channel. ISDN is in a developmental phase, being
deployed these last few years in an experimental mode. The Public
Notice of SWB's petition elicited comments from eight parties and reply
comments from three. There was overwhelming support for including this
service in part 68 in order to promote, on a nationwide and worldwide
basis, rapid exploitation of this technology with minimum mandatory
criteria for connection of CPE (customer premises equipment). Thus, we
propose for comment technical standards for including this service in
part 68 in supplement to the existing standards for non-switched
leased-line digital services which were added in 1985.
3. Commenting on SWB's petition, AT&T recommends (a) that part 68
rules covering PRA not be limited to the two-wire ISDN BRA service but
also authorize terminal equipment connected to the 4-wire ISDN PRA
(1.544 Mbps) interface pursuant to performance and compatibility
standards adopted by ANSI (American National Standards Institute); (b)
that amendments to part 68 provide equipment specifications for both
PRA and BRA interfaces; (c) that Sec. 68.308(h)(2) be amended to apply
its limitations on encoded analog content to PRA terminal equipment
comparable to the limitations suggested by SWB for BRA terminal
equipment; and (d) that the signaling interference requirements in
Sec. 68.314(d)(2) apply also to ISDN terminal equipment. The rules we
present for comment reflect those recommendations.
4. AT&T observes also that SWB's petition would add a new
Sec. 68.310(m) to introduce a ``longitudinal-to-metallic'' (L-M)
balance requirement for equipment connected to the ISDN interface. AT&T
notes that the L-M balance concept was rejected by the Commission in
previous rulemakings in favor of the ``metallic-to-longitudinal'' (M-L)
balance methodology currently in the rules. The L-M methodology is
considered to be a performance measure which is not a primary concern
of part 68, whereas the M-L balance requirement squarely addresses
crosstalk interference that terminal equipment may induce in cables
running to the central office, which is a harm to the network and thus
within part 68's purview. Thus, we propose adding to part 68
limitations on encoded analog content for equipment connected to the
ISDN interface.
5. AT&T states also that though-gain limitations in
Sec. 68.308(b)(5) should be established for ISDN services. We
understand that this is a current project for the Telecommunication
Industry Association's (TIA's) TR-41 Committee, whom we anticipate will
provide appropriate recommendations.
6. The types of plug-jack connectors to be used for ISDN services
engendered comment. Ameritech says that the ANSI standard for BRA
proposes an eight-position non-keyed jack in which two positions are
for the tip and ring connections to the service itself, and the
remaining six positions are reserved. Ameritech offers ISDN BRA via the
standard RJ11C jack which provides connections for two wires, although
the jack itself can accommodate up to six wires. Most ISDN compatible
equipment can accommodate such a connection, so there is no need to
require the eight-position jack, states Ameritech, who believes that
manufacturers who ``build-to'' the eight-position interface could
provide connection to the type RJ11C through a simple six-position to
eight-position double-male adapter. US West recommends that the jack
type SJA-11 (8-position) proposed by ECSA (the Exchange Carriers
Standards Association's T1E1 Technical Subcommittee) be approved by the
Commission's tariff implementation procedure. We solicit comments on
these proposals for ISDN BRA and PRA interface connectors and for
suitable connectors for the Public Switched Digital Services (PSDS). It
would be helpful also if interested parties would, as requested in n.7
of the NPRM, offer comments on the recommendations of ECSA for network
connectors for ISDN BRA and PSDS.
7. The Public Notice of Ameritech's petition produced two comments
and two reply comments. Ameritech petitions for amendment of part 68 to
include terminal equipment that connects to PSDS. We request comment.
As the result of joint comments by Mountain States Telephone Company,
Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and Pacific Northwestern Bell
Telephone Company, equipment standards for a four-wire 56 Kbps service
are also included for comment. It is important to recognize that all
three technologies (56 and 64 Kbps time compression and four-wire 56
Kbps switched services) are call-compatible, and a performance and
compatibility standard for the three has recently been published by
TIA. Not discussed in the pleadings is the fact that a new technology
known as ``inverse multiplexing'' or ``bandwidth on demand'' is being
used which permits customers to utilize PSDS and ISDN BRA technologies
to order wider bandwidths in multiples of 56 or 64 Kbps. Commenters
should address whether inverse multiplexing utilizing such channels and
other bandwidths require consideration under part 68.
8. In outlining the intent of newly-proposed part 68, the
Commission stated in its First Supplemental Notice, released April 3,
1973, 40 F.C.C.2d 315, 316 (1973) that ``[r]egistration would
constitute authorization for the equipment to be directly connected to
the switched telephone network. However, in appropriate cases,
registration could be revoked.'' But the rules do not include part 68
equipment authorization revocation procedures which can be relied upon;
therefore, we propose adoption of rules which detail the circumstances
under which equipment registrations may be revoked and which define
equipment revocation procedures, including automatic denial of
equipment authorization of the same product for a period of six months
from the date of revocation. The proposed revocation procedure tracks
closely established Commission procedure for Notice of Apparent
Liability (NAL) for assessment of a monetary penalty (47 CFR 1.80 and
1.89). Revocation of an equipment registration may be imposed in
addition to or in lieu of an amount in forfeiture pursuant to section
1.80 of the rules. Therefore, we propose that a Notice of Intent to
Revoke may be served concurrently with and as part of a NAL. In the
case of joint NAL and Intent to Revoke, Sec. 1.80 of the rules would
govern all procedural issues. In those cases where a material dispute
of fact is involved, the Commission would, if appropriate, designate
the proceeding for hearing before an administrative law judge. The
registration revocation procedure is expected to greatly enhance our
ability to enforce part 68, as well as the Telecommunications Trade Act
of 1988 which requires that all telecommunications equipment imported
into the United States meet the requirements of the Commission's rules
and regulations. We seek comment on these procedures which are set
forth in detail in the NPRM and proposed rules.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
No significant impact.
Ex Parte Presentations
This is a nonrestricted notice and comment rulemaking proceeding.
Ex Parte presentations are permitted, except during the Sunshine Agenda
period, provided they are disclosed as required by Commission rules.
See generally 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203 and 1.1206(a).
Legal Basis
Authority for this action is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i),
154(j), 201-205, 225 and 403.
List of Subjects
47 CFR Part 2
Communications equipment.
47 CFR Part 68
Communications equipment, Integrated Services Digital Network,
Public Switched Digital Services, Telephone.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-2107 Filed 2-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M