[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 212 (Tuesday, November 3, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59248-59252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29132]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Part 1755
RUS Specification for Telecommunications Conduit
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) proposes to amend its
regulations on Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for
Materials, Equipment, and Construction, by adding a new specification,
RUS Specification for Telecommunications Conduit. The specification
will provide the relevant engineering and technical requirements for
conduit.
DATES: Comments concerning this proposed rule must be received by RUS
or be postmarked no later than January 4, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Orren E. Cameron, III,
Director, Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598. RUS requests an original and
three copies of all comments (7 CFR part 1700.4). All comments received
will be made available for public inspection at room 2835, South
Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
STOP 1598 Washington, DC 20250-1598 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (7 CFR
1.27(b)).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie I. Harper, Jr., Chief, Outside
Plant Branch, Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598, telephone (202) 720-0667.
[[Page 59249]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This proposed rule is exempt from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) review for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 12988
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this rule meets the
applicable standards provided in section 3 of the Executive Order. In
addition, all state and local laws and regulations that are in conflict
with this rule will be preempted, no retroactive effort will be given
to this rule, and, in accordance with Sec. 212(c) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912(c)), appeal
procedures must be exhausted before an action against the Department or
its agencies may be initiated.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Administrator of RUS has determined that this proposed rule
will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small
entities, as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.). This proposed rule involves standards and specifications, which
may increase the short-term direct costs to the RUS borrower. However,
the long-term direct economic costs are reduced through greater
durability and lower maintenance cost over time.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
The information collection and recordkeeping requirements contained
in this proposed rule were approved by OMB pursuant to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended) under control
number 0572-0059. Comments concerning these requirements should be
directed to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Development and
Regulatory Analysis, USDA, RUS, Stop 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522.
National Environmental Policy Act Certification
The Administrator of RUS has determined that this proposed rule
will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment as
defined by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.). Therefore, this action does not require an environmental
impact statement or assessment.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The program described by this proposed rule is listed in the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance programs under No. 10.851, Rural
Telephone Loans and Loan Guarantees, and No. 10.582, Rural Telephone
Bank Loans. This catalog is available on a subscription basis from the
Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402.
Executive Order 12372
This proposed rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation
with State and local officials. A final rule related notice titled
``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order
12372'' (50 FR 47034) determined that RUS and RTB loans and loan
guarantees, were not covered by Executive Order 12372.
Unfunded Mandates
This proposed rule contains no federal mandates (under the
regulatory provision of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act)
for State, local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Thus
this proposed rule is not subject to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Background
Pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, (7
U.S.C. et seq.) (RE Act), RUS makes and guarantees loans to furnish and
improve telecommunications in rural areas. As a condition of financing,
borrowers are required to follow RUS standards and specifications for
the construction of RUS financed facilities.
The specification contains mechanical and environmental
requirements, desired design features, and test methods for evaluation
of conduit. The test method procedures described in the specification
are required to demonstrate the reliability of conduit for use in
telecommunications systems.
Conduit is fabricated from rigid and flexible plastic, concrete, or
fiberglass. Conduit comes in different sizes and configurations to suit
a variety of applications. The purpose of conduit is to provide
protection of telecommunications cable and provide ease of installation
in restrictive areas.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1755
Loan programs-telecommunications, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirement, Rural areas, Telephone.
For reasons set out in the preamble, RUS proposes to amend Chapter
XVII of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 1755--TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR
MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
1. The authority citation for part 1755 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 1921 et seq., 6941 et seq.
2. Section 1755.98 is amended by revising the section heading and
by adding the entry 1755.920 to the table in numerical order to read as
follows:
Sec. 1755.98 List of telephone standards and specifications included
in this chapter.
* * * * *
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Section Issue date Title
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* * * * * * *
1755.920.............................. [Effective date of final rule].............................. RUS Specification for Telecommunications Conduit.
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3. Section 1755.920 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 1755.920 RUS specification for telecommunications conduit.
(a) Scope. (1) The purpose of this specification is to inform
manufacturers and users of conduit of the engineering and technical
requirements that are considered necessary for satisfactory performance
in outside plant environments. Included are the relevant mechanical and
environmental requirements, desired design features, and test methods
for evaluation of conduit.
(2) The various types of conduit materials covered by this
specification include rigid plastic, flexible plastic, multi-duct
plastic, multi-duct concrete, and fiberglass.
(3) All conduit sold to RUS borrowers for projects involving RUS
loan funds under this specification must be
[[Page 59250]]
accepted by RUS Technical Standards Committee ``A''
(Telecommunications). For conduit manufactured to this specification,
all design changes to an accepted design must be submitted for
acceptance. RUS will be the sole authority on what constitutes a design
change.
(4) Materials, manufacturing techniques, or conduit designs not
specifically addressed by this specification may be allowed if accepted
by RUS. Justification for acceptance of modified materials,
manufacturing techniques, or conduit designs shall be provided to
substantiate product utility and long term stability and endurance.
(5) American Society for Testing and Materials Specifications
(ASTM) C 150-97, Standard Specification for Portland Cement; and ASTM F
1173-95, Standard Specification for Thermosetting Resin Fiberglass Pipe
and Fittings to be used for Marine Applications, referenced in this
section are pending approval of incorporation by reference by the
Office of the Federal Register. Copies are available from ASTM, 100
Barr Harbor Drive, W. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428-2959, telephone
number (610) 832-9585. Copies of ASTM standards are available for
inspection during normal business hours at RUS, room 2843, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20250-1598 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
(6) National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) TC-2,
Electrical Plastic Tubing (EPT) and Conduit (EPC-40 and EPC-80); NEMA
TC-5, Corrugated Polyolefin Coilable Plastic Utilities Duct; NEMA TC-6,
PVC and ABS Plastic Utilities Duct for Underground Installation; NEMA
TC-7, Smooth-Wall Coilable Polyethylene Electrical Plastic Duct; NEMA
TC-8, Extra-Strength PVC Plastic Utilities Duct for Underground
Installation; and NEMA TC-10, PVC Plastic Communications Duct and
Fittings for Underground Installation, referenced in this section are
pending approval of incorporation by reference by the Office of the
Federal Register. Copies are available from Global Engineering
Documents, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood CO 80112, telephone number
(303) 792-2181. Copies of NEMA standards are available for inspection
during normal business hours at RUS, room 2843, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1598
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street,
NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
(b) Performance criteria and test procedures for rigid plastic
conduit. (1) Type B, Type C, and Type D round plastic conduit are
available in 1 inch (in.) (25 millimeters (mm)), 1\1/2\ in. (38 mm), 2
in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm), and 4 in. (102 mm)
diameters, and are normally supplied in 20 foot lengths. The three
types are as follows:
(i) Type B or Encased Buried (EB) is a thin-wall, round plastic
conduit designed to always be encased in concrete;
(ii) Type C or Direct Buried (DB) is a thick wall, round plastic
conduit designed to be placed with or without encasement; and
(iii) Type D is a round plastic conduit designed for exposed
installation, as on bridges.
(2) Plastic telecommunications duct and fittings shall be made from
Polyvinyl-Chloride (PVC) compound or Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene
(ABS) compound. Materials other than PVC or ABS may be used provided
that the materials are accepted by RUS prior to their use.
(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit that are to
be considered for RUS acceptance (1 in. (25 mm), 1\1/2\ in. (38 mm), 2
in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm), and 4 in. (102 mm)
diameters).
(4) All plastic telecommunications duct and fittings shall be
manufactured and tested in accordance with the specifications listed in
Table 1. Test results shall be submitted for all sizes of conduit to be
considered for RUS acceptance. Table 1 is as follows:
Table 1.--Plastic Conduit Criteria
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Type of plastic Conduit sizes in. (mm) Performance specification
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PVC................................ 1 (25), 1\1/2\ (38) NEMA TC-2 or TC-8.
PVC................................ 2 (51), 3 (76) NEMA TC-2, TC-6, or TC-8.
PVC................................ 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-2, TC-6, TC-8, or TC-10.
ABS................................ 2 (51), 3 (76), 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-6.
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(c) Performance criteria and test procedures for flexible plastic
conduit. (1) Flexible plastic conduit is available in both smooth wall
and corrugated types.
(2) Smoothwall flexible plastic conduit and fittings shall be made
from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or Medium-density Polyethylene
(MDPE). Corrugated flexible plastic conduit and fittings shall be made
from HDPE or Copolymer Polypropylene. Materials other than HDPE, MDPE,
or Copolymer Polypropylene may be used provided that the materials are
accepted by RUS prior to their use.
(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit that are to
be considered for RUS acceptance (1 in. (25 mm), 1\1/2\ in. (38 mm), 2
in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm), and 4 in. (102 mm)
diameters).
(4) All flexible plastic telecommunications duct and fittings shall
be manufactured and tested in accordance with the specifications listed
in Table 2. Test results shall be submitted for all sizes of conduit to
be considered for RUS acceptance. Table 2 is as follows:
Table 2.--Flexible Plastic Conduit Criteria
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Type of flexible conduit Conduit sizes in. (mm) Performance specification
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Smooth-wall, HDPE and MDPE......... 1 (25), 1\1/2\ (38), 2 (51), 3 (76), 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-7.
Corrugated, HDPE and Copolymer 1 (25), 1\1/2\ (38), 2 (51), 3 (76), 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-5.
Polypropylene.
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[[Page 59251]]
(d) Performance criteria and test procedures for multi-duct plastic
conduit. (1) Multi-duct plastic conduit usually consists 3, 4, or 6
inner ducts contained within a larger plastic duct.
(2) Multi-duct plastic conduit and fittings shall be made from PVC
or HDPE. Materials other than PVC or HDPE may be used provided that the
materials are accepted by RUS prior to their use.
(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit and number
chambers that are to be considered for RUS acceptance (3, 4, or 6
chambers).
(4) All multi-duct plastic conduit and fittings shall meet the
requirements shown in Table 3. Test results showing conformance to
these requirements shall be submitted for each size of conduit to be
considered for RUS acceptance. Table 3 is as follows:
Table 3.--Multi-Duct Plastic Conduit Criteria
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Material Performance specification
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PVC............................... NEMA TC-2, TC-6, TC-8, or TC-10.
HDPE.............................. NEMA TC-7.
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(e) Performance criteria and test procedures for multi-duct
concrete conduit. (1) Multi-duct concrete conduit is available in 4, 6,
and 9 way configurations with bore sizes of 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm) or 4
(102 mm) in. in diameter.
(2) Multi-duct concrete conduit shall consist of a homogeneous
mixture of portland cement, aggregates, and water. Portland Cement
shall be type I, II, or III conforming to ASTM C150-97, ``Standard
Specification for Portland Cement.''
(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit that are to
be considered for RUS acceptance (4, 6, or 9 chambers).
(4) Physical tests.--(i) Permeability. No conduit shall be
permeable to water in excess of 38.5 cubic in. (63.1*E+04 cubic mm) per
hour as determined in an outside corner chamber of the multi-duct. The
test specimens for this test shall be in units of conduit at least 36
in. (914 mm) in nominal length which have been dried at a temperature
of approximately 70 deg.F (21 deg.C) for a period of not less than 24
hours. A total of 5 test specimens shall be prepared in this manner. A
rubber duct plug or equivalent shall then be used to seal the chamber
to be tested. Water at a temperature of approximately 70 deg.F
(21 deg.C) shall be poured into the sealed chamber to a height of 34
in. (864 mm) from the sealed end of the chamber. The water level shall
not fall more than 2 in. (51 mm) in 30 minutes for each of the tested
specimens.
(ii) Compressive strength. Compressive strength tests shall be made
on a total of 5 specimens of 12 in. (305 mm) in nominal length cut from
full length units of conduit but not including any formed end.
Specimens shall be air dried at a temperature of approximately 70 deg.F
(21 deg.C) for a period of not less than 24 hours immediately prior to
the test. Samples shall be tested, 6-duct resting on the wide side, as
follows. A suitable container, having interior dimensions of not less
than 14 in. (356 mm) in length and 14 in. (356 mm) in width, shall be
filled to a depth of not less than 2 in. (51 mm) nor more than 4 in.
(102 mm) with dry, tightly packed sand and placed on the lower platen
of the testing machine. The test specimen shall be bedded on the sand
so that its upper surface is parallel with the crosshead of the test
machine. The upper bearing block shall consist of a rigid steel plate
14 in. (356 mm) square and not less than \1/2\ in. (13 mm) thick and
shall be positioned so that it overhangs the flat portion of the upper
surface of the sample on all sides. A sheet of sponge rubber 1 in. (25
mm) thick and 14 in. (356 mm) square, or equivalent, shall be inserted
between the bearing block and the specimen. The load shall then be
applied at a uniform rate such that the minimum compressive value set
forth in Table 4 is reached in not less than 1 minute. No sample shall
fail at a load less than that shown in Table 4. A sample shall be
considered to have failed upon the first evidence that cracking has
occurred. Table 4 is as follows:
Table 4.--Minimum Breaking Loads
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Minimum breaking load (lbs)
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Conduit size 3\1/2\ in. (89 4 in. (102 mm)
mm) diameter duct diameter duct
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4-Duct............................ 15,000 11,250
6-Duct............................ 20,000 15,000
9-Duct............................ 20,000 15,000
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(f) Performance criteria and test procedures for epoxy resin
fiberglass conduit. (1) Epoxy Resin Fiberglass conduit is available in
2 in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 4 in. (102 mm), and 6 in. (152 mm) bore
sizes.
(2) All Epoxy Resin Fiberglass conduit and fittings shall be
manufactured and tested in accordance with ASTM F 1173-95, ``Standard
Specification for Thermosetting Resin Fiberglass Pipe and Fittings to
be used for Marine Applications''. Test results shall be submitted for
all sizes of conduit to be considered for RUS acceptance.
(g) RUS Acceptance Procedure. (1) The tests described in this
specification are required for acceptance of product designs and major
modifications of accepted designs. All modifications shall be
considered major unless otherwise declared by RUS. These tests are
intended to demonstrate the capability of the manufacturer to produce
conduit which meets service requirements of RUS Telecommunications
borrowers.
(2) For initial acceptance the manufacturer shall:
(i) Certify that the product fully complies with each paragraph of
this specification, and submit supporting test data;
(ii) Submit quality assurance data which is representative of
several production lots and which demonstrate the reliability of an
ongoing quality assurance program;
(iii) Certify whether the product complies with the domestic origin
manufacturing provisions of the ``Buy American'' Requirement of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 903 note), as amended (the
REA ``Buy American'' Provision);
(iv) Submit at least three user testimonials concerning field
performance of the product;
(v) Submit product identification information;
(vi) Submit one three inch production sample of each size of
conduit to be considered for acceptance;
(vii) Agree to provide plant inspections by RUS; and
(viii) Provide any other nonproprietary data deemed necessary
[[Page 59252]]
by the Chief, Outside Plant Branch (Telecommunications).
(3) Requalification of a manufacturer's product shall be required
every 2 years after initial acceptance of that product. In order for
RUS to consider a manufacturer's request that a product be requalified,
the manufacturer shall certify, that the product:
(i) Fully complies with each paragraph of this specification; and
(ii) Does or does not comply with the domestic origin manufacturing
provisions of the REA ``Buy American'' provisions. The required
certifications shall be dated within 90 days of the submission.
(4) Initial and requalification acceptance requests should be
addressed to: Chairman, Technical Standards Committee ``A''
(Telecommunications), Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural
Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, STOP 1598, Washington, DC
20250-1598.
Dated: October 23, 1998.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 98-29132 Filed 11-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P