[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