[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19649]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 940559-4159]
RIN 0693-AB14

 

Approval of Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 187, 
Administration Standard for the Telecommunications Infrastructure of 
Federal Buildings

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce that the Secretary 
of Commerce (Secretary) has approved a new standard, which will be 
published as FIPS Publication 187. This newly approved standard adopts 
ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-1993
    On April 15, 1993 (58 FR 19663), a notice was published in the 
Federal Register that a proposed standard for Administrative Standard 
for the Telecommunication Infrastructure of Federal Buildings was being 
proposed for Federal use.
    The written comments submitted by interested parties and other 
material available to the Department relevant to this standard was 
reviewed by NIST and the National Communications System (NCS). On the 
basis of this review, NIST recommended that the Secretary approve the 
standard as a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), and 
prepared a detailed justification document for the Secretary's review 
in support of that recommendation.
    The detailed justification document which was presented to the 
Secretary, and which includes an analysis of the written comments 
received, is part of the public record and is available for inspection 
and copying in the Department's Central Reference and Records 
Inspection Facility, Room 6020, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th Street 
between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, NW, Washington, DC 
20230.
    This approved standard contains two sections: (1) An announcement 
section, which provides information concerning the applicability, 
implementation, and maintenance of the standard; and (2) a 
specifications section which deals with the technical requirements of 
the standard. Only the announcement section of this standard is 
provided in this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This standard becomes effective February 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may purchase copies of this new standard, 
including the technical specifications section, from the National 
Technical Information Service (NTIS). Specific ordering information 
from NTIS for this standard is set out in the Where to Obtain Copies 
Section of the announcement section of the standard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shirley M. Radack, Computer Systems Laboratory, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, telephone (301) 975-
2833.

    Dated: August 4, 1994.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 187

(Date)

Announcing the Standard for Administration Standard for the 
Telecommunications Infrastructure of Federal Buildings

    Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) 
are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
after approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 111(d) 
of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as 
amended by the Computer Security act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.
    1. Name of Standard. Administration Standard for the 
Telecommunications Infrastructure of Federal Buildings (FIPS PUB 187) 
(Former Draft Federal Standard 1094).
    2. Category of Standard. Telecommunications Standard; 
Telecommunications Administration.
    3. Explanation. This standard, by adoption of ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-
1993, Administration Standard for the Telecommunications Infrastructure 
of Commercial Buildings, specifies the administrative requirements of 
the telecommunications infrastructure within a new, existing, or 
renovated office building or campus. Telecommunications infrastructure 
can be thought of as the collection of those components 
(telecommunications equipment spaces, cable pathways, grounding, 
wiring, and termination hardware) that provide the basic support for 
the distribution of all information within a building or campus. 
Administration of telecommunications includes documentation 
(recordkeeping, drawings, labeling, etc.) of telecommunications outlet 
boxes, connectors, cables, termination hardware, patching and cross-
connect facilities, conduits, other cable pathways, telecommunications 
closets, and other spaces.

    Note: Development of ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-1993, which included 
Federal Government participation, was a joint Canadian/U.S. effort, 
resulting in the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) publication of 
the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. standard as CSA T528 at 
approximately the same time as publication of the American National 
Standard.

    4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.
    5. Maintenance Agency. National Communications System, Office of 
Technology and Standards.
    6. Related Documents. a. Federal Information Resources Management 
Regulations subpart 201-20.303, Standards, and subpart 201-39.1002, 
Federal Standards.
    b. Federal Standard 1037B, Glossary of Telecommunications Terms.
    c. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 
174, Federal Building Telecommunications Wiring Standard (Former Draft 
Federal Standard 1090).
    d. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 
175, Federal Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and 
Spaces (Former Draft Federal Standard 1091).
    e. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 
176, Residential and Light Commercial Telecommunications Wiring 
Standard (Former Draft Federal Standard 1092).
    f. Future Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 
(FIPS PUB), Federal Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for 
Telecommunications (Draft Federal Standard 1093).
    At the time of publication of this standard, the editions indicated 
above were valid. All publications are subject to revision, and parties 
to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the 
possibility of applying the most recent editions of these publications.
    7. Objectives. The purpose of this standard is to facilitate 
interoperability and transportability among telecommunication 
facilities and systems of the Federal Government and compatibility of 
these facilities and systems at the computer-communications interface 
with data processing equipment (systems) of the Federal Government. 
This standard specifies a uniform telecommunications infrastructure 
administration scheme that is independent of applications, which may 
change several times throughout the life of a building. This standard 
establishes guidelines for end users, manufacturers, consultants, 
contractors, designers, installers, and facility administrators 
involved in the administration of telecommunications infrastructure.
    8. Applicability. This standard shall be used by all departments 
and agencies of the Federal Government in the administration of the 
telecommunications infrastructure for all new office buildings. Use of 
the FIPS is recommended for the administration of the 
telecommunications infrastructure within an existing or renovated 
office building or campus. Existing building wiring systems, especially 
those installed prior to the emergence of digital communications and 
voice/data integration, may not readily accept application of this 
standard. Modernization of the existing pathway, space, and wiring 
systems to meet the FIPS 174, FIPS 175, and FIPS 176 infrastructure 
standards may require a significant monetary expenditures. Agencies 
should conduct a thorough facility analysis of existing and renovated 
buildings to determine the cost of applying the standards, and develop 
a migration plan where cost savings can be achieved. This plan will 
help to ensure timely and efficient completion of the conversion 
process. The result of following this administration standard will be a 
telecommunications infrastructure that is well documented and easily 
managed by the administrator over the life cycle of the building. This 
standard is not intended to hasten the obsolescence of 
telecommunications administration procedures currently in use in 
Federal facilities; nor is it intended to provide systems engineering 
or applications guidelines.
    9. Specifications. This FIPS adopts ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-1993, 
Administration Standard for the Telecommunications Infrastructure of 
Commercial Buildings. The American National Standard specifies the 
administrative requirements for the telecommunications infrastructure 
within a new, existing, or renovated office building or campus. Areas 
of the infrastructure to be administered include:
    (a) Terminations for the telecommunications media located in work 
areas, telecommunications closets, equipment rooms, and entrance 
facilities;
    (b) Telecommunications media between terminations;
    (c) Pathways between terminations that contain the media;
    (d) Spaces where terminations are located; and
    (e) Bonding/grounding as it applies to telecommunications.
    This standard also specifies requirements for the collection, 
organization, and presentation of as-built data.
    10. Implementation. The use of this standard by Federal departments 
and agencies is compulsory and binding for the administration of the 
telecommunications infrastructure of new buildings, effective February 
10, 1995.
    Use of the standard is recommended for the administration of the 
telecommunications infrastructure of existing and renovated buildings.
    Anyone associated with telecommunications equipment, wiring 
systems, wire termination products, and pathway/space components will 
find this standard useful. By having one administration reference 
document, progress can be made toward building consistently 
administered telecommunications infrastructures. Administration in 
accordance with this standard can be accomplished by either paper- or 
computer-based systems. In today's increasingly complex 
telecommunications environment, effective administration is enhanced by 
the use of computer-based systems. This standard will also reduce the 
large number of incompatible and incomplete administrative approaches 
in existence. Over time, the end user should expect manufacturers to 
provide telecommunications systems that include administrative support 
complying with this standard. It is also expected that administrative 
products that comply with this standard will become available.
    11. Waivers. Under certain exceptional circumstances, the heads of 
Federal departments and agencies may approve waivers to Federal 
Information Processing Standards (FIPS). The head of such agency may 
redelegate such authority only to a senior official designated pursuant 
to section 3506(b) of Title 44, U.S. Code. Waivers shall be granted 
only when:
    a. Compliance with a standard would adversely affect the 
accomplishment of the mission of an operator of a Federal computer 
system or related telecommunications system, or
    b. Cause a major adverse financial impact on the operator which is 
not offset by Governmentwide savings.
    Agency heads may act upon a written waiver request containing the 
information detailed above. Agency heads may also act without a written 
waiver request when they determine that conditions for meeting the 
standard cannot be met. Agency heads may approve waivers only by a 
written decision which explains the basis on which the agency head made 
the required finding(s). A copy of each such decision, with procurement 
sensitive or classified portions clearly identified, shall be sent to: 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Attn: FIPS Waiver 
Decisions, Technology Building, room B-154, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
    In addition, notice of each waiver granted and each delegation of 
authority to approve waivers shall be sent promptly to the Committee on 
Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and shall be published promptly 
in the Federal Register.
    When the determination on a waiver applies to the procurement of 
equipment and/or services, a notice of the waiver determination must be 
published in the Commerce Business Daily as a part of the notice of 
solicitation for offers of an acquisition or, if the waiver 
determination is made after the notice is published, by amendment to 
such notice.
    A copy of the waiver, any supporting documents, the document 
approving the waiver and any supporting and accompanying documents, 
with such deletions as the agency is authorized and decides to make 
under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552(b), shall be part of the procurement 
documentation and retained by the agency.
    12. Where to Obtain Copies. Copies of this publication are for sale 
by the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. (Sale of the included specifications 
document is by arrangement with the Electronic Industries Association.) 
When ordering, refer to Federal Information Processing Standards 
Publication 187 (FIPSPUB187), and the title. Payment may be made by 
check, money order, purchase order, credit card, or deposit account.

Appendix

    By adoption of ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-1993, this document provides 
Federal departments and agencies with an approach for standardizing 
telecommunications administration for office buildings and building 
complexes. This standardization of documentation, in conjunction with 
FIPS 174 (Former Draft FED-STD-1090), which specifies 
telecommunications wiring, and FIPS 175 (Former Draft FED-STD-1091), 
which provides architectural specification of telecommunications 
pathways and spaces, will facilitate systems compatibility and 
transportability of terminals for Federal users.
    Another companion standard, ANSI/EIA/TIA-570-1991, Residential and 
Light Commercial Telecommunications Wiring Standard, has been adopted 
as Federal Information Processing Standard 176 (Former Draft FED-STD-
1092). This standard specifies telecommunications wiring for small 
buildings.
    During the development of this family of building 
telecommunications standards, significant concern was expressed, by 
both Government and industry, about the need for specification of 
electronic system grounding. This concern resulted in proposed ANSI/
TIA/EIA-607, Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications 
in Commercial Buildings, which will be proposed for adoption as a 
future Federal Information Processing Standard (Draft FED-STD-1093).

[FR Doc. 94-19649 Filed 8-10-94; 8:45 am]
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