[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36463-36465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17713]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 68

[CC Docket No. 88-57; FCC 97-209]


Connection of Simple Inside Wiring to the Telephone Network and 
Petition for Modification

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On June 17, 1997, the Commission released an Order on 
Reconsideration and Second Report and Order amending several rules 
concerning connection of inside wiring to the telephone network. The 
Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order is intended to 
clarify our demarcation point definition and other rules in part 68.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill von Alven, Senior Engineer (202) 
418-2342, or Marian Gordon, Special Counsel, Network Services Division, 
Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-2337.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This summarizes the Commission's Order on 
Reconsideration and Second Report and Order in the matter of Review of 
Secs. 68.104 and 68.213 of the Commission's Rules Concerning Connection 
of Simple Inside Wiring to the Telephone Network and Petition for 
Modification of Sec. 68.213 of the Commission's Rules filed by the 
Electronic Industries Association, FCC 97-209, adopted June 12, 1997, 
and released June 17, 1997. The Commission concurrently released a 
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the same docket. The 
file is available for inspection and copying during the weekday hours 
of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Commission's Reference Center, room 239, 
1919 M St., N.W., Washington, D.C. or copies may be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, ITS, Inc. 2100 M St., N.W., Suite 
140, Washington, D.C. 20037, phone (202) 857-3800.

Analysis of Proceeding

    1. In the Order on Reconsideration, and Second Report and Order, 
the Commission clarifies its demarcation point definition and addresses 
other part 68 rules regarding inside wiring. The Commission finds that, 
because there may be factors such as physical

[[Page 36464]]

conditions or safety considerations which make it difficult to place 
the demarcation point within twelve inches of the point at which the 
wiring enters a customer's premises, the demarcation point may be 
located within twelve inches of the customer's premise ``or as near 
thereto as practicable.'' The Commission also clarifies that only major 
additions or rearrangements of existing inside wiring are considered 
new installations under its rules. To address the concern that 
customers working on wiring outside their own individual unit in a 
multiunit building could pose risk of harm, the Commission concludes 
that in the case of multiunit premises, the premises owner may prohibit 
tenants from working on wiring located outside of the tenant's 
individual unit or on wiring that serves other customers. The 
Commission states that it did not intend that carriers establish new 
operating procedures to govern multiunit buildings existing on August 
13, 1990 that would automatically relocate those buildings' demarcation 
points, and clarifies that the standard operating practices are those 
practices in effect on August 13, 1990. Thus, our rules do not 
authorize changing the demarcation point for an existing building to 
the minimum point of entry. The Commission also requires telephone 
companies to give building owners, upon request, all available 
information regarding the wiring layout of their buildings including 
copies of existing schematic diagrams and service records. It also 
adopted a standard for determining whether a material meets the 
requirements for gold or gold equivalence under our rules. The 
Commission determined that customers may connect simple wiring 
installations of up to four access lines to the telephone network. It 
finds that this change will increase consumer options without 
presenting a significant risk of harm to the network. It also amends 
the definition of non-system premises wiring to state that such wiring 
includes wiring installations of up to four access lines.
    2. It is ordered that, pursuant to sections 1, 4, 201-205, 218, 
220, and 405 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
Secs. 151, 154, 201-205, 218, 220 and 405, and 5 U.S.C. Secs. 552 and 
553, the Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order is 
adopted.
    3. It is further ordered that the rule amendments set forth herein 
are effective on August 7, 1997. The collection of information 
contained within is contingent upon approval by the Office of 
Management and Budget.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 68

    Telephone.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.

Rule Changes

    Accordingly part 68 of title 47 is amended as follows:

PART 68--CONNECTION OF TERMINAL EQUIPMENT TO THE TELEPHONE NETWORK

    1. The authority citation for part 68 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 1, 4, 5, 201-5, 208, 215, 218, 226, 227, 303, 
313, 314, 403, 404, 410, 602 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 155, 201-5, 208, 215, 218, 226, 227, 
303, 313, 314, 403, 404, 410, 602.

    2. Section 68.3 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
the demarcation point definition, and by revising the introductory 
paragraph for the definition of non-system premises wiring, to read as 
follows:


Sec. 68.3  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Demarcation point: * * *
    (a) Single unit installations. For single unit installations 
existing as of August 13, 1990, and installations installed after that 
date the demarcation point shall be a point within 30 cm (12 in) of the 
protector or, where there is no protector, within 30 cm (12 in) of 
where the telephone wire enters the customer's premises, or as close 
thereto as practicable.
    (b) Multiunit installations. (1) In multiunit premises existing as 
of August 13, 1990, the demarcation point shall be determined in 
accordance with the local carrier's reasonable and non-discriminatory 
standard operating practices. Provided, however, that where there are 
multiple demarcation points within the multiunit premises, a 
demarcation point for a customer shall not be further inside the 
customer's premises than a point twelve inches from where the wiring 
enters the customer's premises, or as close thereto as practicable.
    (2) In multiunit premises in which wiring is installed after August 
13, 1990, including major additions or rearrangements of wiring 
existing prior to that date, the telephone company may establish a 
reasonable and nondiscriminatory practice of placing the demarcation 
point at the minimum point of entry. If the telephone company does not 
elect to establish a practice of placing the demarcation point at the 
minimum point of entry, the multiunit premises owner shall determine 
the location of the demarcation point or points. The multiunit premises 
owner shall determine whether there shall be a single demarcation point 
location for all customers or separate such locations for each 
customer. Provided, however, that where there are multiple demarcation 
points within the multiunit premises, a demarcation point for a 
customer shall not be further inside the customer's premises than a 
point 30 cm (12 in) from where the wiring enters the customer's 
premises, or as close thereto as practicable.
    (3) In multiunit premises with more than one customer, the premises 
owner may adopt a policy restricting a customer's access to wiring on 
the premises to only that wiring located in the customer's individual 
unit that serves only that particular customer.
* * * * *
    Non-system premises wiring: Wiring that is used with up to four-
line business and residence services, located at the subscriber's 
premises.
* * * * *
    3. Section 68.110 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 68.110  Compatibility of the telephone network and terminal 
equipment.

* * * * *
    (c) Availability of inside wiring information. Any available 
technical information concerning wiring on the customer side of the 
demarcation point, including copies of existing schematic diagrams and 
service records, shall be provided by the telephone company upon 
request of the building owner or agent thereof. The telephone company 
may charge the building owner a reasonable fee for this service, which 
shall not exceed the cost involved in locating and copying the 
documents. In the alternative, the telephone company may make these 
documents available for review and copying by the building owner. In 
this case, the telephone company may charge a reasonable fee, which 
shall not exceed the cost involved in making the documents available, 
and may also require the building owner to pay a deposit to guarantee 
the documents' return.
    4. Section 68.213 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b), to 
read as follows:


Sec. 68.213  Installation of other than ``fully protected'' non-system 
simple customer premises wiring.

    (a) Scope of this rule. Provisions of this rule apply only to 
``unprotected'' premises wiring used with simple

[[Page 36465]]

installations of wiring for up to four line residential and business 
telephone service. More complex installations of wiring for multiple 
line services, for use with systems such as PBX and key telephone 
systems, are controlled by Sec. 68.215 of these rules.
    (b) Wiring authorized. Unprotected premises wiring may be used to 
connect units of terminal equipment or protective circuitry to one 
another, and to carrier-installed facilities if installed in accordance 
with these rules. The telephone company is not responsible, except 
pursuant to agreement between it and the customer or undertakings by 
it, otherwise consistent with Commission requirements, for installation 
and maintenance of wiring on the subscriber's side of the demarcation 
point, including any wire or jacks that may have been installed by the 
carrier. The subscriber and/or premises owner may install wiring on the 
subscriber's side of the demarcation point, and may remove, 
reconfigure, and rearrange wiring on that side of the demarcation point 
including wiring that may have been installed by the carrier. The 
customer or premises owner may not access carrier wiring and facilities 
on the carrier's side of the demarcation point. Customers may not 
access the telephone company-installed protector. All plugs and jacks 
used in connection with inside wiring shall conform to subpart F of 
this part. In multiunit premises with more than one customer, the 
premises owner may adopt a policy restricting a customer's access to 
wiring on the premises to only that wiring located in the customer's 
individual unit wiring that serves only that particular customer. See 
Demarcation point definition, Sec. 68.3(b)(3). The customer or premises 
owner may not access carrier wiring and facilities on the carrier's 
side of the demarcation point. Customers may not access the telephone 
company-installed protector. All plugs and jacks used in connection 
with inside wiring shall conform to subpart F of this part.
* * * * *
    5. Section 68.215 is amended by revising the subject heading to 
read as follows:


Sec. 68.215  Installation of other than ``fully protected'' system 
premises wiring that serves more than four subscriber access lines.

* * * * *
    6. Section 68.500 is amended by adding a new sentence at the end of 
the introductory paragraph, and prior to the specifications for a 6-
position plug, to read as follows:


Sec. 68.500  Specifications.

    General. * * * For the purposes of this section, hard gold and 
contact performance equivalent to gold shall be determined in 
accordance with the standards detailed in Appendix H of TIA 
Telecommunications Systems Bulletin No. 31 Part 68 Rationale and 
Measurement Guidelines (TSB.31), prepared by EIA/TIA TR-41 Committee on 
Telephone Terminals (1992). This publication may be obtained by 
contacting Global Engineering Documents, 7730 Carondelet Avenue, Suite 
# 407, St. Louis, Missouri, 63105. (Telephone number 1-800-854-7179).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-17713 Filed 7-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P