[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70456-70523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32207]



[[Page 70455]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part II





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Rural Utilities Service



_______________________________________________________________________



7 CFR Part 1755



RUS Standard for Service Installations at Customer Access Locations; 
Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 244, Monday, December 21, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 70456]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1755


RUS Standard for Service Installations at Customer Access 
Locations

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) proposes to amend its 
regulations on Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for 
Materials, Equipment and Construction, by rescinding RUS Bulletin 345-
52, RUS Standard for Service Entrance and Station Protector 
Installations, PC-5A, and codifying the revised standard in the Code of 
Federal Regulations as RUS Standard for Service Installations at 
Customer Access Locations. The revised standard will update the 
installation methods used for installing aerial and buried service 
drops, network interface devices, fused primary station protectors, and 
protected building entrance terminals at customer access locations as a 
result of technological advancements made in installation practices and 
materials over the past 17 years.

DATES: Comments concerning this proposed rule must be received by RUS 
or be postmarked no later February 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to the 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). 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.

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 and, 
therefore has not been reviewed by OMB.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this proposed rule meets 
the applicable standards provided in section 3 of that 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 section 212(c) of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6912(c)), administrative appeal procedures must be exhausted before an 
action against the Department or its agencies may be initiated.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    The Administrator 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 direct-short term costs to the RUS borrower. However, 
the long-term direct economic costs are reduced through greater 
durability and lower maintenance cost over time. Small entities are not 
subjected to any requirement which are not applied equally to large 
entities.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

    This proposed rule contains no information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).

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. 10.852, Rural Telephone 
Bank Loans. This catalog is available on a subscription basis from the 
Superintendent of Documents, the 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 Notice of Final rule titled 
Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order 12372 
(50 FR 47034) exempts RUS and RTB loans and loan guarantees, and RTB 
bank loans, to governmental and nongovernmental entities from coverage 
under this Order.

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 requirements of section 202 
and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

Background

    RUS issues publications titled ``Bulletin'' which serve to guide 
borrowers regarding already codified policy, procedures, and 
requirements needed to manage loans, loan guarantee programs, and the 
security instruments which provide for and secure RUS financing. RUS 
issues standards and specifications for the construction of 
telecommunications facilities financed with RUS loan funds. RUS is 
proposing to rescind Bulletin 345-52, RUS Standard for Service Entrance 
and Station Protector Installations, PC-5A, and to codify the revised 
standard at 7 CFR 1755.500 through 7 CFR 1755.510, RUS Standard for 
Service Installations at Customer Access Locations.
    RUS Bulletin 345-52 is used by borrowers and contractors as an 
outside plant construction standard for the installation of aerial and 
buried service drops and primary station protectors at customer 
residences. Because of technological advancements and national code 
changes made in customer drop and protector installation methods and 
materials over the past 17 years, the installation methods and 
materials specified in the current standard have become outdated. To 
allow borrowers and contractors to observe current codes and take 
advantage of these improved installation methods and materials which 
will reduce installation costs, the current standard will be revised to 
update the customer access location installation methods and materials 
to reflect these improved methods and materials.
    This action will allow borrowers and contractors an economical and 
efficient

[[Page 70457]]

means of reducing their construction costs through the use of improved 
customer access location installation methods and materials.
    While this proposed rule proposes to codify the full text of this 
contract, RUS is considering a new procedure under which we will no 
longer publish the full text of construction contracts such as this in 
the CFR. Consequently, it is contemplated that at the final rule stage, 
the full text of this contract will not appear in codified text.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1755

    Incorporation by reference, Loan programs--communications, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 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.


Sec. 1755.97  [Amended]

    2. Section 1755.97 is amended by removing the entry RUS Bulletin 
345-52 from the table.
    3. Section 1755.98 is amended by adding the entry 1755.500 through 
1755.510 to the table in numerical order to read as follows:


Sec. 1755.98  List of telephone standards and specifications included 
in other 7 CFR parts.

* * * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Section                         Issue date                               Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
1755.500 through 1755.510..........  [Effective date of final     RUS Standard for Service Installations at
                                      rule].                       Customer Access Locations.
 
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Sections 1755.500 through 1755.510 are added to read as follows:


Sec. 1755.500  RUS standard for service installations at customers 
access locations.

    (a) Sections 1755.501 through 1755.510 cover service installations 
at permanent or mobile home customer access locations. Sections 
1755.501 through 1755.510 do not cover service installations at 
customer access locations associated with boat yards or marinas.
    (b) Service installations for customer access locations in boat 
yards or marinas shall be performed in accordance with Article 800, 
Communications Circuits, of the American National Standards Institute/
National Fire Protection Association (ANSI/NFPA) 70-1996, National 
Electrical Code (NEC). The National Electrical 
Code and NEC are registered trademarks of the 
National Fire Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02269. The ANSI/
NFPA 70-1996, NEC is incorporated by reference in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies are available 
from NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, P. O. Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 
02269-9101, telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555. Copies of ANSI/NFPA 70-
1996, NEC, are available for inspection during normal 
business hours at Rural Utilities Service (RUS), room 2845, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, 
Washington, DC 20250-1598 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.


Sec. 1755.501  Definitions.

    (a) For the purpose of this section and Secs. 1755.502 through 
1755.510, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
    American National Standards Institute (ANSI). A private sector 
standards coordinating body which serves as the United States source 
and information center for all American National Standards.
    Ampacity. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC: The 
current in amperes that a conductor can carry continuously under the 
conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating. (Reprinted 
with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the National Electrical 
Code, Copyright 1995, National Fire 
Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is 
not the complete and official position of the National Fire Protection 
Association, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the 
standard in its entirety.). The National Electrical Code 
and NEC are registered trademarks of the National Fire 
Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02269. The ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies are available from NFPA, 1 
Batterymarch Park, P. O. Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101, 
telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555. Copies of ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, are available for inspection during normal business 
hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598 or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.
    Bonding. The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an 
electrically conductive path that will ensure electrical continuity and 
the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be imposed.
    Bonding harness wire. A reliable electrical conductor purposefully 
connected between metal parts which are required to be electrically 
connected (bonded) to one another to ensure the metal parts are at 
similar electrical potential.
    Building entrance terminal (BET). A BET is comprised of a housing 
suitable for indoor and outdoor installation which contains quick-
connect or binding post terminals for terminating both 
telecommunications service cable conductors and inside wiring cable 
conductors. The BET also includes primary station protectors and a 
means of terminating the metallic shields of service entrance cables.
    Demarcation point (DP). As defined in the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC) rules in 47 CFR Part 68: The point of demarcation or 
interconnection between telecommunications company communications 
facilities and terminal equipment, protective apparatus, or wiring at a 
subscriber's premises. Carrier-installed facilities at, or 
constituting, the demarcation point shall consist of wire or a jack 
conforming to subpart F of 47 CFR part 68. ``Premises'' as used herein 
generally

[[Page 70458]]

means a dwelling unit, other building or a legal unit of real property 
such as a lot on which a dwelling unit is located, as determined by the 
telecommunications company's reasonable and nondiscriminatory standard 
operating practices. The ``minimum point of entry'' as used herein 
shall be either the closest practicable point to where the wiring 
crosses a property line or the closest practicable point to where the 
wiring enters a multiunit building or buildings. The telecommunications 
company's reasonable and nondiscriminatory standard operating practices 
shall determine which shall apply. The telecommunications company is 
not precluded from establishing reasonable clarifications of multiunit 
premises for determining which shall apply. Multiunit premises include, 
but are not limited to, residential, commercial, shopping center, and 
campus situations.
    (1) 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 12 inches (in.) 
[305 millimeters (mm)] of the primary protector, where there is no 
protector, within 12 in. (305 mm) of where the telecommunications wire 
enters the customer's premises.
    (2) Multiunit installations. (i) In multiunit premises existing as 
of August 13, 1990, the demarcation point shall be determined in 
accordance with the local carrier's reasonable and nondiscriminatory 
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 12 in. (305 mm) from where the wiring 
enters the customer's premises.
    (ii) In multiunit premises in which wiring is installed after 
August 13, 1990, including additions, modifications, and rearrangements 
of wiring existing prior to that date, the telecommunications company 
may establish a reasonable and nondiscriminatory practice of placing 
the demarcation point at the minimum point of entry. If the 
telecommunications 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 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 12 in. (305 mm) 
from where the wiring enters the customer's premises.
    Fuse link. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC: A 
fine gauge section of wire or cable that serves as a fuse (that is, 
open-circuits to interrupt the current should it become excessive) that 
coordinates with the telecommunications cable and wire plant, and 
protective devices. (Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the 
National Electrical Code, Copyright 1995, 
National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted 
material is not the complete and official position of the National Fire 
Protection Association, on the referenced subject which is represented 
only by the standard in its entirety.)
    Grounding conductor. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC: A conductor used to connect equipment or the grounded 
circuit of a wiring system to a grounding electrode or electrodes. 
(Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the National Electrical 
Code, Copyright 1995, National Fire Protection 
Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the 
complete and official position of the National Fire Protection 
Association, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the 
standard in its entirety.)
    Listed. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC: 
Equipment or materials included in a list published by an organization 
acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with 
product evaluation, that maintains periodic inspection of production of 
listed equipment or materials, and whose listing states either that the 
equipment or material meets appropriate designated standards or has 
been tested and found suitable for use in a specified manner. 
(Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the National Electrical 
Code, Copyright 1995, National Fire Protection 
Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the 
complete and official position of the National Fire Protection 
Association, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the 
standard in its entirety.)
    Manufactured home. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC: A factory-assembled structure or structures 
transported in one or more sections, that is built on a permanent 
chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with a permanent 
foundation acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction where 
connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, 
heating, air conditioning, and electric systems contained therein. 
Unless otherwise indicated, the term ``mobile home'' includes 
manufactured homes. (Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the 
National Electrical Code, Copyright 1995, 
National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted 
material is not the complete and official position of the National Fire 
Protection Association, on the referenced subject which is represented 
only by the standard in its entirety.)
    Mobile home. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC: 
A factory-assembled structure or structures transportable in one or 
more sections, that is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be 
used as a dwelling without a permanent foundation where connected to 
the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air-
conditioning, and electric systems contained therein. Unless otherwise 
indicated, the term ``mobile home'' includes manufactured homes. 
(Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the National Electrical 
Code, Copyright 1995, National Fire Protection 
Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the 
complete and official position of the National Fire Protection 
Association, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the 
standard in its entirety.)
    Motor home. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC: A 
vehicular unit designed to provide temporary living quarters for 
recreational, camping, or travel use built on or permanently attached 
to a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis or on a chassis cab or van 
that is an integral part of the completed vehicle. (Reprinted with 
permission from NFPA 70-1996, the National Electrical Code, 
Copyright 1995, National Fire Protection Association, 
Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and 
official position of the National Fire Protection Association, on the 
referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its 
entirety.)
    Network interface device (NID). A NID is comprised of a housing 
suitable for outdoor installation which contains a compartment 
accessible by only telecommunications employees which includes a 
primary station protector and the means for terminating 
telecommunications service wire conductors and metallic shields, and a 
compartment accessible by customers which includes an RJ-11 plug and 
jack

[[Page 70459]]

of the type specified in part 68 of FCC rules and regulations.
    Primary station protector. An assembly which complies with RUS 
Bulletin 345-39, RUS Specification for Telephone Station Protectors. 
Copies of RUS Bulletin 345-39 are available upon request from RUS, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 
1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522, FAX (202) 690-2268.
    Recreational vehicle. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC: A vehicular-type unit designed to provide temporary 
living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, which either 
has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle. 
The basic entities are: travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper, 
and motor home. (Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the 
National Electrical Code, Copyright 1995, 
National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted 
material is not the complete and official position of the National Fire 
Protection Association, on the referenced subject which is represented 
only by the standard in its entirety.)
    RUS accepted (material and equipment). Equipment which RUS has 
reviewed and determined that:
    (1) Final assembly or manufacture of the equipment is completed in 
the United States, its territories and possessions, or in an eligible 
country;
    (2) The cost of components within the material or equipment 
manufactured in the United States, its territories and possessions, or 
in an eligible country is more than 50 percent of the total cost of all 
components used in the material or equipment; and
    (3) The material or equipment is suitable for use on systems of RUS 
telecommunications borrowers.
    RUS technically accepted (material and equipment). Equipment which 
RUS has reviewed and determined that:
    (1) Final assembly or manufacture of the equipment is not completed 
in the United States, its territories and possessions, or in an 
eligible country;
    (2) The cost of components within the material or equipment 
manufactured in the United States, its territories and possessions, or 
in an eligible country is 50 percent or less than the total cost of all 
components used in the material or equipment; and
    (3) The material or equipment is suitable for use on systems of RUS 
telecommunications borrowers.
    Travel trailer. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC: A vehicular unit mounted on wheels, designed to 
provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel 
use, of such size and weight as to not require special highway movement 
permits when towed by a motorized vehicle and of gross trailer area 
less than 320 square feet (29.77 square meters). (Reprinted with 
permission from NFPA 70-1996, the National Electrical Code, 
Copyright 1995, National Fire Protection Association, 
Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and 
official position of the National Fire Protection Association, on the 
referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its 
entirety.)
    Truck camper. As defined in the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC: 
A portable unit constructed to provide temporary living quarters for 
recreational, travel or camping use, consisting of a roof, floor, and 
sides, designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the bed of a pick-
up truck. (Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70-1996, the National 
Electrical Code, Copyright 1995, National Fire 
Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is 
not the complete and official position of the National Fire Protection 
Association, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the 
standard in its entirety.)


Sec. 1755.502  Scope.

    (a) Sections 1755.503 through 1755.510 cover approved methods of 
making service installations at customer access locations in 
telecommunications systems of RUS borrowers.
    (b) Requirements in Secs. 1755.503 through 1755.510 cover 
facilities of the type described in the FCC rules in 47 CFR part 68 for 
one and multi-party customer owned premises wiring.


Sec. 1755.503  General.

    (a) For the purposes of this section and Secs. 1755.504 through 
1755.510, a NID shall be as defined in Sec. 1755.501 and shall contain 
both a fuseless primary station protector and a modular plug and jack 
for each conductor pair, up to a maximum of eleven (11) pairs, and 
shall be provided by the telecommunications company and used by 
customers.
    (b) For the purposes of this section and Secs. 1755.504 through 
1755.510, a BET shall be as defined in Sec. 1755.501 and shall contain 
both primary station protectors and connector terminals for each 
conductor pair, of twelve (12) or more pairs, and shall be provided by 
the telecommunications company and used by customers. The primary 
station protectors may be either fuseless or fused.
    (c) The requirements provided in this section and Secs. 1755.504 
through 1755.510 have been designed to coordinate with the provisions 
of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, and the American National 
Standards Institute/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 
Inc. (ANSI/IEEE) C2-1997, National Electrical Safety Code (NESC). The 
National Electrical Code and NEC are registered 
trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, 
MA 02269. The ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, and the ANSI/IEEE C2-
1997, NESC, are incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, 
are available from NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, P. O. Box 9101, Quincy, 
Massachusetts 02269--9101, telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555. Copies of 
ANSI/IEEE C2--1997, NESC, are available from IEEE Service Center, 455 
Hoes Lane, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, telephone number 1 (800) 678-
4333. Copies of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, and the ANSI/
IEEE C2-1997, NESC, are available for inspection during normal business 
hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598 or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC. Most state and local authorities require 
that utility construction comply with either the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, and ANSI/IEEE C2-1997, NESC, or some earlier editions 
of the ANSI/NFPA 70, NEC, and ANSI/IEEE C2, NESC. Some 
authorities have their own more stringent codes which may or may not be 
embellishments of the ANSI/NFPA 70, NEC, and ANSI/IEEE C2, 
NESC.
    (d) RUS borrowers shall make certain that all construction financed 
with RUS loan funds comply with:
    (1) The provisions of this section and Secs. 1755.504 through 
1755.510 and the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, and ANSI/IEEE C2-
1997, NESC codes, or any more stringent local codes; or
    (2) The provisions of this section and Secs. 1755.504 through 
1755.510 with borrower added adjustments to bring construction into 
compliance with any more stringent local codes.
    (e) This section and Secs. 1755.504 through 1755.510 are intended 
primarily for the installer who will perform the work. It assumes that 
decisions regarding the selection of grounding electrodes, locations, 
and types of equipment have been made by the RUS borrower or the 
engineer delegated by the RUS borrower.
    (f) Only a qualified installer shall be assigned to make 
installations without advance planning and without direct

[[Page 70460]]

supervision. A qualified installer is one who has extensive 
installation experience, complete knowledge and understanding of RUS 
Bulletin 1751F-805, Electrical Protection At Customer Locations; RUS 
Bulletin 345-154 (RUS Form 515g), Specifications and Drawings for 
Service Entrance and Station Protector Installation, and applicable 
portions of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, and ANSI/IEEE C2-
1997, NESC. Copies of RUS Bulletins 1751F-805 and 345-154 are available 
upon request from RUS/USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522, FAX (202) 690-2268.
    (g) This section and Secs. 1755.504 through 1755.509 contain 
information which is normally not provided on the construction drawings 
which are included in Sec. 1755.510.
    (h) All work shall be conducted in a careful and professional 
manner. Service wire and cable shall not be trampled on, run over by 
vehicles, pulled over or around abrasive objects or otherwise subjected 
to abuse.
    (i) When situations not covered by this section and Secs. 1755.504 
through 1755.510 arise, the RUS borrower or the engineer delegated by 
the borrower, shall specify the installation procedure to be used. The 
requirements of paragraph (j) of this section shall be complied with in 
every installation.
    (j) NIDs, BETs, and fused primary station protectors shall be 
installed and grounded to meet the requirements of the ANSI/NFPA 70-
1996, NEC, or local laws or ordinances, whichever are more 
stringent.
    (k) Battery polarity and conductor identification shall be 
maintained throughout the system as indicated on construction drawings 
815 and 815-1 contained in Sec. 1755.510. Color codes and other means 
of conductor identification of buried and aerial service wires shall 
conform to the requirements of this section and Secs. 1755.504 through 
1755.510.
    (l) All materials for which RUS makes acceptance determinations, 
such as service wires and cables, ground rods, ground rod clamps, etc., 
used in service entrance installations shall be RUS accepted or RUS 
technically accepted. Borrowers shall require contractors to obtain the 
borrower's approval before RUS technically accepted materials are to be 
used in service entrance installations. Borrower's shall also ensure 
that the cost of the RUS technically accepted materials are at least 6 
percent less than the cost of equivalent RUS accepted materials, as 
specified in ``Buy American'' Requirement of the Rural Electrification 
Act of 1938, as amended. Materials used in service entrance 
installations which are of the type which RUS does not make acceptance 
determinations shall be of a suitable quality for their intended 
application as determined by the RUS borrower or the engineer delegated 
by the RUS borrower.
    (m) On completion of an installation, borrowers shall require the 
installer to make all applicable tests required by Secs. 1755.400 
through 1755.407, RUS standard for acceptance tests and measurements of 
telecommunications plant.


Sec. 1755.504  Demarcation point.

    (a) The demarcation point (DP) provides the physical and electrical 
interface between the telecommunications company's facilities and the 
customer's premises wiring.
    (b) The FCC rules in 47 CFR part 68 require telecommunications 
providers to establish a ``DP'' which marks a separation of the 
provider's facilities from the customer's (owned) premises wiring and 
equipment.
    (c) RUS borrowers shall observe the FCC DP requirement by 
installing NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors when 
required by Section 800-30(a)(2) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, at all new or significantly modified customer access 
locations which are financed with RUS loan funds. The National 
Electrical Code and NEC are registered 
trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, 
MA 02269. The ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, is incorporated by 
reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies 
are available from NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, 
Massachusetts 02269-9101, telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555. Copies of 
ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, are available for inspection during 
normal business hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, Washington, DC 
20250-1598 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (d) For all customer access locations of less than 12 pairs, RUS 
borrowers shall establish DPs by using either NIDs or fused primary 
station protectors when required by Section 800-30(a)(2) of the ANSI/
NFPA 70-1996, NEC. For customer access locations of 12 
pairs or greater, RUS borrowers shall establish DPs using either NIDs, 
BETs, or fused primary station protectors when required by Section 800-
30(a)(2) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC.


Sec. 1755.505  Buried services.

    (a) Buried services of two or three pairs shall consist of Service 
Entrance, Buried (SEB) assembly units, in accordance with RUS Bulletin 
345-154 (RUS Form 515g), Specifications and Drawings for Service 
Entrance and Station Protector Installations. The wire used for buried 
services shall conform to the requirements of Sec. 1755.860, RUS 
specification for filled buried wires, and shall be RUS accepted or RUS 
technically accepted. The conductor size for two and three pair buried 
service wires shall be 22 American Wire Gauge (AWG). Copies of RUS 
Bulletin 345-154 are available upon request from RUS/USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522, FAX 
(202) 690-2268.
    (b) Buried services of six or more pairs shall be RUS accepted or 
RUS technically accepted 22 AWG filled buried cable conforming to the 
requirements of Sec. 1755.390, RUS specification filled telephone 
cables.
    (c) Buried service wire or cable shall be terminated in buried 
plant housings using either splicing connectors or filled terminal 
blocks in accordance with the applicable paragraphs of Sec. 1755.200, 
RUS standard for splicing copper and fiber optic cables.
    (d) Buried service wire or cable shall be identified at buried 
plant housings in accordance with construction drawing 958 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510.
    (e) Buried service wire or cable shall be installed up to the 
building in the same general manner as buried exchange cable but in 
addition must meet the following requirements:
    (1) Light weight lawn plows or trenchers shall be used;
    (2) The shortest feasible route commensurate with the requirements 
of Sec. 1755.508 (i), (j), and (k) and paragraph (f)(1) of this section 
shall be followed;
    (3) Buried service wire or cable shall be plowed or trenched to a 
depth of 24 in. (610 mm) or greater where practicable in soil, 36 in. 
(914 mm) in ditches, or 3 in. (76 mm) in rock. Depths shall be measured 
from the top of the wire or cable to the surface of the ground or rock;
    (4) In the case of a layer of soil over rock either the minimum 
depth in rock measured to the surface of the rock, or the minimum depth 
in soil measured to the surface of the soil may be used; and
    (5) Where adequate advance planning has been done, burial of 
telecommunications services jointly with electric power services may be 
feasible. If a decision has been reached by management to provide joint 
occupancy services, the services may be installed using the 
recommendations in

[[Page 70461]]

RUS Bulletin 305-1, ``Joint Use of Facilities for Telephone and 
Electric Service.'' Copies of RUS Bulletin 305-1 are available upon 
request from RUS/USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522, FAX (202) 690-2268.
    (f) Buried service wire or cable shall be installed on or in 
buildings as follows:
    (1) Each buried service wire or cable shall contact the building as 
close to the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector as 
practicable. Service wire or cable runs on buildings shall normally 
consist of a single vertical run held to the minimum practical length. 
Horizontal and diagonal runs shall not be permitted.
    (2) Buried service wire or cable shall be located so as to avoid 
damage from lawn mowers, animals, gardening operations, etc.
    (3) Buried service wire or cable shall be installed against a 
foundation wall or pillar to provide adequate support and mechanical 
protection.
    (4) Where it is likely that the service wire or cable shall be 
subjected to mechanical damage, the wire or cable shall be enclosed in 
a guard in accordance with assembly unit drawing BM83 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510.
    (5) The first above-ground attachment for a buried service wire or 
cable, unless it is enclosed in a guard, shall not be more than 4 in. 
(100 mm) above final grade.
    (6) Uninsulated attachment devices may be used to attach buried 
service wire and cable to masonry and other types of noncombustible 
buildings and on any type of building if fuseless primary station 
protectors incorporated in NIDs or BETs are used and installations 
fully comply with Section 800-30(a)(1) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC. The National Electrical Code and 
NEC are registered trademarks of the National Fire 
Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02269. The ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies are available from NFPA, 1 
Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101, 
telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555. Copies of ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, are available for inspection during normal business 
hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598 or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (7) Insulated attachments shall be used to separate service wires 
or cables from woodwork where Section 800-30(a)(2) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-
1996, NEC, requiring the use of fused primary station 
protectors must be observed.
    (8) Minimum separation between buried service wire or cable and 
other facilities shall be as listed in Table 1, as follows:

 Table 1.--Minimum Separation for Telecommunications Wires and Cables On
                             or In Buildings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Minimum clearance in. [mm]1 2
     Foreign facility or obstruction       telecommunications company's
                                                  wires or cables
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric supply wire including neutral
 and grounding conductors.
    Open................................  4 [102]
    In conduit..........................  2 [50.8]
Radio and television antennas, lead-in    4 [102]
 and grounding conductors.
Lightning rods and lightning conductors.  72 [1830] \3\
All foreign grounding conductors except   2 [50.8]
 lightning rod ground conductors.
Neon signs and associated wiring........  6 [150]
Metallic objects--pipes (gas, cold        2 [50.8] \4\
 water, oil, sewer,) and structures.
Wires or cables of another                2 [50.8]
 communications system.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: \1\ If minimum separation cannot be obtained, nonshielded wire
  and cable facilities shall be protected with either porcelain tubes or
  flexible tubing as modified by Notes 3 and 4 of this table.
\2\ Separation applies to crossings and parallel runs.
\3\ If this separation cannot be obtained, bond the telecommunications
  grounding conductors or grounding electrode to the lightning rod
  grounding conductor or grounding electrode with at least a Number
  (No.) 6 AWG copper, insulated, ground wire. With this provision a
  minimum separation of 4 in. (100 mm) is acceptable but this provision
  must not be utilized if the separation cited in this table can be
  maintained.
\4\ Increase to a minimum of 3 in. (75 mm) separation from steam or hot
  water pipes, heating ducts, and other heat sources.

    (9) Wire and cable attachments to buildings for outside mounted 
NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors shall be in accordance 
with construction drawing 962 contained in Sec. 1755.510.
    (10) Appropriate devices for attaching service wire or cable on or 
in buildings vary with the type of building construction and the wire 
or cable size. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate various types of anchoring 
devices and their applications. The size and type of fastening device 
for the wire or cable size and type of surface shall be in accordance 
with the manufacturer's recommendation; Figures 1 and 2 are as follows:

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[[Page 70463]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP21DE98.001



    (11) Experience indicates that there are strenuous objections from 
many owners of buildings covered with aluminum or vinyl siding to the 
drilling of holes in the siding for the attachment of wires or cables, 
and NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors. It is, therefore, 
important to obtain permission from the owner before drilling holes in 
such siding.
    (12) If the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector must be 
mounted

[[Page 70464]]

inside (not recommended by RUS), the service entrance into the building 
shall be installed in accordance with Section 800-12(c) of the ANSI/
NFPA 70-1996, NEC. After pulling-in the wire or cable, the 
free space around the cable or wire shall be carefully sealed both 
outside and inside with a duct sealer that has RUS acceptance or RUS 
technical acceptance.
    (13) If the customer requests an all buried installation for an 
alarm system or objects to above-ground facilities because of 
appearance and one-party service is involved, the entrance hole shall 
be made below grade as shown in sketch C of construction drawing 510-2 
contained in Sec. 1755.510. Care shall be exercised to prevent damage 
to the building foundation. The hole shall be sealed as specified in 
paragraph (f)(12) of this section. The installation shall comply with 
all the requirements of Section 800-12(c) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC.
    (g) When the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector is to be 
installed inside the building, the installation shall comply with 
Section 800-12(c) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, and the 
outside plant wire or cable shall preferably be installed in a rigid 
metal or intermediate metal conduit that is grounded to an electrode in 
accordance with Section 800-40(b) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, as shown in sketch A of Figure 3 in paragraph (h)(2) 
of this section. The shield of the outside plant wire or cable shall be 
bonded to the grounding terminal of the NID, BET, or fused primary 
station protector which in turn shall be connected to the closest, 
existing, and accessible grounding electrode, of the electrodes cited 
in Section 800-40 of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC.
    (h) An inside NID, BET, or fused primary station protector 
installation may also be made without use of a rigid metal or 
intermediate metal conduit provided that the ingress of the outside 
plant wire or cable complies with Section 800-12(c) of the ANSI/NFPA 
70-1996, NEC, and provided either of the following are 
observed:
    (1) The NID, BET, or fused primary station protector is located as 
close as practicable to the point where the outside plant wire or cable 
emerges through an exterior wall. The length of outside plant wire or 
cable exposed within the building shall be as short as practicable but 
in no case shall it be longer than 50 feet (ft) [15.2 meters (m)] in 
accordance with the allowable exception No. 3 of Section 800-50 of the 
ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC. See sketch B of Figure 3 in 
paragraph (h)(2) of this section. The shield of the outside plant wire 
or cable shall be bonded to the grounding terminal of the NID, BET, or 
fused primary station protector which in turn shall be connected to the 
closest, existing and accessible grounding electrode, of the electrodes 
cited in Section 800-40 of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC (Fine 
print Note No. 2 of ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, Section 800-50, 
warns that the full 50 ft (15.2 m) may not be authorized for outside 
unlisted cable (not in a metal or intermediate metal conduit) within a 
building if it is practicable to place the NID, BET, or fused primary 
station protector closer than 50 ft (15.2 m) to the cable entrance 
point, e.g., if there is an acceptable and accessible grounding 
electrode of the type cited in Section 800-40 of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, anywhere along the proposed routing of the outside 
cable within the building); or
    (2) Where the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector must be 
located within the building remote from the entrance point and the 
entrance point of the outside plant wire or cable cannot be designed to 
be closer to the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector location, 
the outside plant wire or cable shall be spliced, as close as 
practicable to the point where the outside plant wire or cable emerges 
through an outside wall, to an inside wiring cable that is ``Listed'' 
as being suitable for the purpose in accordance with Part E of Article 
800 of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC. The length of outside 
plant wire or cable exposed within the building shall be as short as 
practicable but in no case shall it be longer than 50 ft (15.2 m) in 
accordance with the allowable exception No. 3 of Section 800-50 of the 
ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC. See sketch C of Figure 3. The 
shield of the outside plant wire or cable shall be bonded to the 
grounding terminal of the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector 
which in turn shall be connected to the closest, existing, and 
accessible grounding electrode, of the electrodes cited in Section 800-
40 of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC (Fine print Note No. 2 of 
the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, Section 800-50, warns that the 
full 50 ft (15.2 m) may not be authorized for outside unlisted cable 
(not in a metal or intermediate metal conduit) if it is practicable to 
place the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector closer than 50 
ft (15.2 m) to the cable entrance point, e.g., if there is an 
acceptable and accessible grounding electrode of the type cited in 
Section 800-40 of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, anywhere 
along the proposed routing of the outside cable within the building). 
Figure 3 is as follows:

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

[[Page 70465]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP21DE98.002



[[Page 70466]]

    (i) The polarity of buried wire or cable ``tip'' and ``ring'' 
conductors shall be maintained by making the connections in accordance 
with Table 2, as follows:

                                        Table 2.--Color Codes for Tip and Ring Connections of Inside Wiring Cable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Tip                                                      Ring
                Pair                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Color of insulation            Color of marking           Color of insulation            Color of marking
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1..................................  White......................  Blue.......................  Blue.......................  White
 2..................................  White......................  Orange.....................  Orange.....................  White
 3..................................  White......................  Green......................  Green......................  White
 4..................................  White......................  Brown......................  Brown......................  White
 5..................................  White......................  Slate......................  Slate......................  White
 6..................................  Red........................  Blue.......................  Blue.......................  Red
 7..................................  Red........................  Orange.....................  Orange.....................  Red
 8..................................  Red........................  Green......................  Green......................  Red
 9..................................  Red........................  Brown......................  Brown......................  Red
10..................................  Red........................  Slate......................  Slate......................  Red
11..................................  Black......................  Blue.......................  Blue.......................  Black
12..................................  Black......................  Orange.....................  Orange.....................  Black
13..................................  Black......................  Green......................  Green......................  Black
14..................................  Black......................  Brown......................  Brown......................  Black
15..................................  Black......................  Slate......................  Slate......................  Black
16..................................  Yellow.....................  Blue.......................  Blue.......................  Yellow
17..................................  Yellow.....................  Orange.....................  Orange.....................  Yellow
18..................................  Yellow.....................  Green......................  Green......................  Yellow
19..................................  Yellow.....................  Brown......................  Brown......................  Yellow
20..................................  Yellow.....................  Slate......................  Slate......................  Yellow
21..................................  Violet.....................  Blue.......................  Blue.......................  Violet
22..................................  Violet.....................  Orange.....................  Orange.....................  Violet
23..................................  Violet.....................  Green......................  Green......................  Violet
24..................................  Violet.....................  Brown......................  Brown......................  Violet
25..................................  Violet.....................  Slate......................  Slate......................  Violet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 1755.506  Aerial wire services.

    (a) Aerial services of one through six pairs shall consist of 
Service Entrance, Aerial (SEA) assembly units, in accordance with RUS 
Bulletin 345-154 (RUS Form 515g), Specifications and Drawings for 
Service Entrance and Station Protector Installations. The wire used for 
aerial services shall conform to the requirements of Secs. 1755.700 
through 7 CFR 1755.704, RUS specification for aerial service wires, and 
shall be RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted. Copies of RUS 
Bulletin 345-154 are available upon request from RUS/USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522, FAX 
(202) 690-2268.
    (b) If aerial wire services are to be connected to aerial cable 
pairs, the NIDs or fused primary station protectors and grounds shall 
be installed and connected before the aerial service wires are attached 
to the customer's structure.
    (c) Kinks or splices shall not be permitted in aerial service wire 
spans.
    (d) Aerial service wires shall be run in accordance with the 
construction drawings contained in Sec. 1755.510 and shall conform to 
all clearance requirements of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, 
and ANSI/IEEE C2-1997, NESC, or local laws or ordinances, whichever are 
the most stringent. The National Electrical Code and 
NEC are registered trademarks of the National Fire 
Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02269. The ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, and ANSI/IEEE C2-1997, NESC, are incorporated by 
reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies 
of ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, are available from NFPA, 1 
Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101, 
telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555. Copies of ANSI/IEEE C2-1997, NESC, 
are available from IEEE Service Center, 455 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, New 
Jersey 08854, telephone number 1 (800) 678--4333. Copies of ANSI/NFPA 
70-1996, NEC, and ANSI/IEEE C2-1997, NESC, are available 
for inspection during normal business hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, 
Washington, DC 20250-1598 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) Aerial service wire shall be installed using the maximum 
practicable sag consistent with the required ground clearance and good 
construction practices. In no event shall the minimum sags be less than 
the values shown on construction drawing 505 contained in Sec. 1755.510 
for various span lengths and loading areas provided. Span lengths shall 
not exceed 250 ft (76 m).
    (f) To reduce vibration and galloping, aerial service wire shall be 
twisted one complete turn for each 10 ft (3 m) of span length at the 
time of installation.
    (g) The methods of attaching aerial service wires at poles shall be 
as illustrated in construction drawings 503-2 and 504 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510.
    (h) A horizontal climbing space of 24 in. (610 mm) shall be 
provided on poles used jointly with power circuits that operate at 300 
volts or less, provided the telecommunications conductors are 
positioned below the power conductors; however, if the 
telecommunications conductors are installed above power conductors that 
operate at 300 volts or less (a practice which is highly discouraged 
and not practicable), a horizontal climbing space of 30 in. (762 mm) 
shall be provided as indicated on construction drawing 702 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510. A climbing space of 30 in. (762 mm) shall be provided on 
poles used jointly with power circuits that operate at voltages greater 
than 300 volts but less than 15 kilovolts (kV) as indicated on 
construction drawing 702 contained in Sec. 1755.510. On jointly used 
poles with power conductors operating at voltages greater than 15 kV, 
climbing space shall be provided in conformance

[[Page 70467]]

with the requirements of Rule 236 of the ANSI/IEEE C2-1997, NESC. 
Climbing space shall be projected vertically 40 in. (1.02 m) above and 
below the bounding telecommunications conductors on jointly used poles 
with power conductors unless the telecommunications conductors are 
installed above the power conductors (a practice which is highly 
discouraged and not practicable) and the power conductors operate at 
voltages greater than 8.7 kV line-to-ground or 15 kV line-to-line, in 
which case the projected vertical space shall be increased to 60 in. 
(1.5 m).
    (i) Not more than four aerial service wires shall be distributed 
from any one in \7/16\ in. (10 mm) drive hook, or more than two aerial 
service wires from any one \5/16\ in. (8 mm) drive hook. Aerial service 
wires and drive hooks shall be arranged so that the load does not pull 
the drive hook out of the pole. When more than one drive hook is 
required, the drive hooks shall be staggered with a minimum separation 
of 1 in. (25.4 mm) horizontally on centers and 1.5 in. (40 mm) 
vertically on centers. If drive hooks are placed within 3 in. (76 mm) 
of the top of the pole and on the opposite side of the pole's 
circumference, a vertical separation of at least 3 in. (76 mm) shall be 
provided. A drive hook shall not be placed on the top of a pole or stub 
pole.
    (j) When connecting aerial service wires to cable pairs at 
terminals, sufficient slack shall be provided so that each aerial 
service wire shall reach any binding post position as shown on 
construction drawing 312-1 contained in Sec. 1755.510.
    (k) Aerial service wire attachments on utility poles and the manner 
of placing bridle rings and entering cable terminals shall be as shown 
on construction drawing 503-2 contained in Sec. 1755.510.
    (l) Not more than two conductors shall be connected to any terminal 
binding post. Where it is necessary to bridge more than two aerial 
service wires at the same closure, the aerial service wires shall be 
terminated in aerial service wire terminals connected in parallel with 
a No. 20 AWG bridle wire which shall be terminated on the binding posts 
of the filled terminal block.
    (m) Where aerial service wire is attached to aerial plastic cable, 
it shall be brought directly into a ready-access closure and shall be 
terminated on the binding posts of the filled terminal block as shown 
on construction drawing 503-2 contained in Sec. 1755.510.
    (n) The conductor of copper coated steel reinforced aerial service 
wires identified by tracer ridges shall be used as the ring (negative 
battery) conductor of the pair, and shall normally be connected to the 
right or lower binding post of a pair on filled terminal blocks and 
NIDs or fused primary station protectors.
    (o)(1) The tip and ring conductors of nonmetallic reinforced aerial 
service wires shall be identified in accordance with Table 3, as 
follows:

     Table 3.--Nonmetallic Reinforced Aerial Service Wire Color Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Conductor color
           Pair No           -------------------------------------------
                                       Tip                  Ring
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  White/Blue or White.  Blue.
2...........................  White/Orange or       Orange.
                               White.
3...........................  White/Green or White  Green.
4...........................  White/Brown or White  Brown.
5...........................  White/Slate or White  Slate.
6...........................  Red/Blue or Red.....  Blue.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) The ring (negative battery) conductor of the pair shall 
normally be connected to the right or lower binding post of a pair on 
filled terminal blocks and NIDs or fused primary station protectors.
    (p) When it is necessary to avoid intervening obstacles between a 
pole and a building, span clamp attachments shall be used to support 
the aerial service wires at points between the poles that are 
supporting the cable on the suspension strand as indicated by 
construction drawings 501-1 and 501-2 contained in Sec. 1755.510.
    (q) Aerial service wire strung from pole to pole shall be placed 
entirely below or entirely above any existing wire or cable. When 
adequate ground clearance can be obtained, preference shall be given to 
placing aerial service wire below wire and cable.
    (r) When more than one aerial service wire is installed from pole 
to pole, the first aerial service wire shall be sagged in accordance 
with construction drawing 505 contained in Sec. 1755.510. Succeeding 
aerial service wires shall be sagged with 2 in. (50.8 mm) more sag for 
each aerial service wire.
    (s) Aerial service wire spans from pole lines to buildings shall 
follow the shortest feasible route commensurate with the requirements 
of paragraph (t) of this section and shall be sagged in accordance with 
construction drawing 505 contained in Sec. 1755.510. The route shall 
avoid trees and other obstructions to the extent practicable. Where 
trees cannot be avoided, tree trimming permission shall be obtained 
from the owner or the owner's representative, and all limbs and foliage 
within 2 ft (600 mm) of the finally sagged wire shall be removed. If 
tree trimming permission cannot be obtained, the matter shall be 
referred to the borrower for resolution before proceeding with the 
installation.
    (t) Aerial service wires shall contact buildings as closely as 
practicable at a point directly above the NID, or fused primary station 
protector. Generally, horizontal drop wire runs on buildings shall not 
exceed 20 ft (6 m). The warning given in Sec. 1755.505(f)(11) regarding 
drilling holes in aluminum and vinyl siding applies also to attaching 
aerial service wires.
    (u) The point of the first building attachment shall be located so 
that the aerial service wire will be clear of roof drainage points.
    (v) Where practicable, aerial service wires shall pass under 
electrical guys, power distribution secondaries and services, tree 
limbs, etc.
    (w) Aerial service wire shall not pass in front of windows or 
immediately above doors.
    (x) Aerial service wires shall be routed so as to have a minimum 
clearance of 2 ft (600 mm) from any part of a short wave, ham radio, 
etc. antenna mast and a television antenna mast in its normal vertical 
position and of the possible region through which it sweeps when being 
lowered to a horizontal position.
    (y) Aerial service wires shall be installed such that all 
clearances and separations comply with either Section 237 of the ANSI/
IEEE C2-1997, NESC, or ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, or local

[[Page 70468]]

laws or ordinances, whichever is the most stringent.
    (z) Aerial service wire attachments to buildings shall be as 
follows:
    (1) First attachments on buildings shall be made in accordance with 
construction drawings 506, 507, or 508-1 contained in Sec. 1755.510, as 
applicable;
    (2) Intermediate attachments on buildings shall be made in 
accordance with construction drawings 510 or 510-1 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510; and
    (3) Uninsulated attachments shall be permitted to be used as 
follows:
    (i) Wherever NIDS are used as permitted by Section 800-30(a)(1) of 
the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC; and
    (ii) On masonry and other types of nonflammable buildings.
    (aa) Insulated attachments shall be used on wooden frame, metallic 
siding and other types of combustible buildings where fused primary 
station protectors are used, as required by Section 800-30(a)(2) of the 
ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC.
    (bb) Aerial service wire runs on buildings shall be attached 
vertically and/or horizontally in a neat and most inconspicuous 
possible manner. See construction drawing 513 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510. Horizontal runs on buildings are undesirable and shall 
be kept to a minimum. Diagonal runs shall not be made.
    (cc) Aerial service wire runs on buildings shall be located so as 
not to be subjected to damage from passing vehicles, pedestrians, or 
livestock.
    (dd) Minimum separation between aerial service wires and other 
facilities on or in buildings shall be in accordance with 
Sec. 1755.505(f)(8),
Table 1.
    (ee) Appropriate devices for attaching aerial service wires to 
buildings vary with the type of building construction and with the type 
of customer access location equipment. Table 4 lists various types of 
attachments and their application with respect to construction, 
customer access location equipment, and proper mounting devices. 
Construction drawings 506 through 513 contained in Sec. 1755.510 
illustrate requirements with respect to various angles of service wire 
contacts and uses of various attachments. Table 4 is as follows:

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[[Page 70469]]

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[[Page 70470]]

    Notes: \1\ Screw dimensions are minimum. Where appropriate, 
either or both dimensions shall be increased. All wood screws for 
exterior use shall be stainless steel. All other exterior metal 
devices shall be stainless steel, zinc coated steel, silicon bronze, 
or corrosion resistant aluminum alloy.
    \2\ Toggle bolt dimensions are minimum. Where appropriate, 
either or both dimensions shall be increased.
    \3\ All devices should be attached to studding.
    \4\ Screw-type devices shall be secured by means of expansion-
type anchors. Equivalent manual or machine-driven devices may be 
used. Where toggle bolts are specified equivalent devices may be 
used.
    \5\ Pilot holes shall be provided for screws and bridle rings in 
shingles and dropsiding.
    \6\ Attachment device not applicable.
    \7\ Attachment device applicable but no separate fastening 
device required.
    \8\ To convert English units to Metric units use 1 in. = 25.4 
mm.

    (ff) Fastener spacings for vertical and horizontal runs on frame or 
masonry buildings shall not be more than 6 ft (2 m) apart. Fasteners 
should be spaced close enough to prevent the aerial service wire from 
``slapping'' against the building during windy conditions.
    (gg) When it is necessary to pass behind or around obstructions 
such as downspouts and vertical conduits, the aerial service wire shall 
be supported firmly with attachment devices placed not more than 6 in. 
(152 mm) from the obstruction as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of 
paragraph (hh) of this section. Preferably, the aerial service wire 
should be routed behind obstructions to minimize the possibility of 
mechanical damage to the aerial service wire in the event repair work 
to the obstruction is required.
    (hh) When passing around building projections of masonry or wood or 
around corners, aerial service wires shall be installed as illustrated 
in Figures 5 and 6. Figures 4, 5, and 6 are as follows:

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[[Page 70474]]

    (ii) In areas where ice and snow conditions are severe, aerial 
service wires shall be located so that ice and snow falling from the 
roof will not strike the wires. However, where aerial service wires 
must pass under the sloping part of the roof, first attachments shall 
be made as close as practicable to the eaves.
    (jj) If two aerial service wire spans are required to the same 
building, the first attachment shall be such that both aerial service 
wires can be attached at the same attachment device. Refer to 
construction drawing 508-1 contained in Sec. 1755.510. Where more than 
two aerial service wires are required, additional attachment devices in 
the same general location on the building shall be used.
    (kk) When two or more aerial service wire runs are required on the 
same building they shall share the same type of attachment devices.
    (ll) Aerial service wire entrances to buildings shall conform to 
sketch B of construction drawing 510-2 contained in Sec. 1755.510, 
unless the entrance is made through a conduit.
    (mm) When the aerial service wire approaches the entrance hole from 
above, a 1.5 in. (40 mm) minimum drip loop shall be formed in 
accordance with sketch B of construction drawing 510-2 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510.
    (nn) If an entrance conduit which slopes upward from outside to 
inside is available and suitably located, it shall be used for the 
aerial service wire entrance.


Sec. 1755.507  Aerial cable services.

    (a) Where more than six pairs are needed initially, and where an 
aerial service is necessary, the service shall consist of 22 AWG filled 
aerial cable of a pair size adequate for the ultimate anticipated 
service needs of the building. The cable shall comply with the 
requirements of Sec. 1755.390, RUS Specification for Filled Telephone 
Cables, and shall be RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted.
    (b) Aerial cable services shall be constructed in accordance with 
specific installation specifications prepared by the RUS borrower or 
the engineer delegated by the borrower.
    (c) Unless otherwise specified in the installation specifications, 
aerial cable service installations shall meet the following 
requirements:
    (1) Strand supported lashed construction shall be used.
    (2) Where practicable a \5/16\ in. (8 mm) utility grade strand and 
automatic clamps shall be used in slack spans to avoid damage to the 
building.
    (3) Construction on poles shall comply with applicable construction 
drawings for regular line construction. Aerial service cable shall be 
spliced to the main cable in accordance with Sec. 1755.200, RUS 
standard for splicing copper and fiber optic cables.
    (4) Where practicable, aerial cable shall pass under electrical 
guys, distribution secondaries, and services.
    (5) The suspension strand shall be attached to the building by wall 
brackets as indicated in Figure 7 as follows:

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BILLING CODE 3410-15-C

[[Page 70476]]

    (i) If taut spans are necessary, appropriate size strand may be 
used if the pull is in line with one wall of the building, or within 20 
degrees of being in line as illustrated in sketch A of Figure 7. If the 
angle of pull is greater than 20 degrees from the building, the wall 
bracket shall be reinforced against pullout by an arrangement 
equivalent to sketch B of Figure 7. Taut spans may be strung using the 
recommendations in RUS Bulletin 1751F-630, Design of Aerial Plant. The 
same tension as would be used in normal line construction so as not to 
exceed 60 percent of the breaking strength of the strand under maximum 
loading shall be used. Taut spans shall not exceed 100 ft (30.5 m) in 
length and the cable weight shall not exceed 1 pound/foot (lb/ft) [1.5 
kilogram/meter (kg/m)] except when equivalent combinations of greater 
span lengths with cable weight less than 1 lb/ft (1.5 kg/m) are 
permissible. Copies of RUS Bulletin 1751F-630 are available upon 
request from RUS/USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522, FAX (202) 690-2268.
    (ii) When an attachment must be made to the face of a building wall 
away from a corner, a ``U'' type wall bracket shall be used as 
indicated in sketch C of Figure 7 of this paragraph (c)(5). Only slack 
span construction with \5/16\ in. (8 mm) utility grade strand shall be 
permitted in this situation. The bail of the automatic clamp shall be 
protected by a wire rope thimble.
    (6) Aerial cable shall be located on the rear or side of the 
building and shall be run only in a horizontal or a vertical direction. 
The cable route shall be selected so as to avoid building projections 
and obstructions to the extent practicable.
    (7) Cable attachment devices shall be located in solid masonry or 
in studs of wood frame buildings. Sheet surface materials may be used 
only where they are reinforced by substantial backing material which 
the attachment services can penetrate.
    (8) The minimum separation on or in buildings between cable and 
other facilities shall be as indicated in Sec. 1755.505(f)(8), Table 1.
    (9) On horizontal runs, place cable clamps so that the attachment 
shall be made below the cable. On vertical runs place the cable clamps 
so that the attachment shall be made on the same side as horizontal 
runs. Cable clamps shall be placed on the inside of cable bends.
    (10) On horizontal runs, cable clamps shall be placed not more than 
16 in. (400 mm) apart for cable diameters equal to or greater than 1 
in. (25.4 mm) and 24 in. (600 mm) apart for cable diameters less than 1 
in. (25.4 mm).
    (11) On vertical runs, cable clamps shall be approximately 24 in. 
(600 mm) apart for all sizes of cable.
    (12) For the cable entrance, holes shall be bored slightly larger 
in diameter than the cable and shall slope upward from outside to 
inside. A duct sealer having RUS acceptance or RUS technical acceptance 
shall be applied to both ends of the hole after the cable is pulled in.
    (13) Section 1755.505 (g) and (h) shall also apply to aerial cable 
services.


Sec. 1755.508  Customer access location protection.

    (a) All customer access locations shall be protected.
    (b) Customer access location protection shall consist of installing 
the telecommunications facilities with proper clearances and insulation 
from other facilities, providing primary voltage limiting protection, 
fuse links, NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors, if 
required, and adequate bonding and grounding.
    (c) All NIDs shall be RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted or 
the RUS borrower shall obtain RUS regional office approval on a case by 
case basis as applicable.
    (d) All BETs shall be RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted.
    (e) All fused primary station protectors shall be RUS accepted or 
RUS technically accepted.
    (f) NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors shall be 
mounted outside for all applications except for those described in 
paragraphs (g) introductory text through (g)(3) of this section.
    (g) NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors may be mounted 
inside when:
    (1) Large buildings are to be served and the customer requests an 
inside installation;
    (2) Buried alarm circuits are requested by the subscriber; or
    (3) The customer requests an all buried installation for appearance 
or to prevent the drilling of holes in aluminum or vinyl siding.
    (h) Outside mounted NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors 
shall be easily accessible and shall be located between 3 to 5 ft (1 to 
1.5 m) above final grade.
    (i) The locations of NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station 
protectors shall be selected with emphasis on utilizing the shortest 
primary station protector grounding conductor practicable and on 
grounding of the telecommunications primary station protector to the 
electric service grounding system established at the building served 
utilizing electrodes (3) through (7) cited in Section 800-40(b)(1) of 
the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC. The National Electrical 
Code and NEC are registered trademarks of the 
National Fire Protection Association, Inc., Quincy, MA 02269. The ANSI/
NFPA 70-1996, NEC, is incorporated by reference in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies are available 
from NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 
02269-9101, telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555. Copies of ANSI/NFPA 70-
1996, NEC, are available for inspection during normal 
business hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598 or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (j) If access to the building electric service grounding system, as 
referenced in paragraph (i) of this section, is not possible or is not 
reasonable [telecommunications primary station protector grounding 
conductor will be longer than 10 ft (3 m)], the NID, BET, or fused 
primary station protector shall be located as close as practicable to 
electrodes (1) or (2) cited in Section 800-40(b)(1) of the ANSI/NFPA 
70-1996, NEC.
    (k) In addition, the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector 
shall be located in, on, or immediately adjacent to the structure or 
building to be served as close as practicable to the point at which the 
telecommunications service wire attaches to the building, making sure 
that the telecommunications primary station protector grounding 
conductor is connected to the closest, existing, and accessible 
electrode, of the electrodes cited in paragraphs (i) or (j) of this 
section.
    (l) For the preferred customer access location installation, the 
ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, permits the telecommunications 
grounding conductor to be connected to the metallic conduit, service 
equipment closure, or electric grounding conductor as shown in Figure 8 
of paragraph (l)(2) of this section.
    (1) Connections to metallic conduits shall be made by ground straps 
clamped over a portion of the conduit that has been cleaned by sanding 
down to bare metal.
    (2) Connections to metallic service equipment closures shall be 
made by attaching a connector which is listed for the purpose by some 
organization acceptable to the local authority (State, county, etc.) 
per Article 100 of the

[[Page 70477]]

ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, definition for ``Listed'' [for 
example connectors listed for the purpose by Underwriters Laboratories 
(UL)]. Figure 8 is as follows:

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BILLING CODE 3410-15-C

[[Page 70479]]

    (m) Where it is not possible to accomplish the objective of 
paragraphs (i), (j), and (k) of this section, interior metallic pipes 
may be used to the maximum practicable extent to gain access to the 
electric service ground as shown in Figure 9. Note that the water pipe 
in Figure 9 is electrically continuous between electric and 
telecommunications bonds to the cold water pipe and it is used only as 
a portion of a bonding conductor and, therefore, does not have to be 
``acceptable'' as a ground electrode but may be floating (isolated from 
ground by a plastic pipe section). ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, 
requires that metal piping be used as a bonding conductor in this 
manner only when the connectors to the pipe are within 1.5 m (5 ft) of 
where the pipe enters the premises. This is not the preferred 
installation. The RUS preferred installation has the telecommunications 
primary station protector grounded directly to an accessible location 
near the power grounding system. See paragraph (l) of this section. 
Figure 9 is as follows:

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BILLING CODE 3410-15-C

[[Page 70481]]

    (n) Where the telecommunications premises system at a customer's 
access location is grounded to a separate electrode (of any type) this 
telecommunications grounding electrode must be bonded to the electric 
grounding system with a No. 6 AWG or larger copper insulated grounding 
conductor. Bonding of separate electrodes is a requirement of the ANSI/
NFPA 70-1996, NEC.
    (o) The NID, BET, or fused primary station protector pair size 
shall be adequate for the number of lines anticipated within five 
years.
    (p) When lightning damage is considered probable or customer access 
locations are remote from the borrower's headquarters, use of maximum 
duty gas tube primary station protectors incorporated in NIDs, BETs, or 
fused primary station protectors shall be considered. (See RUS TE&CM 
823, Electrical Protection by Use of Gas Tube Arresters). Copies of RUS 
TE&CM 823 are available upon request from RUS/USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522, FAX (202) 690-2268.
    (q) NIDs or BETs incorporating fuseless station protectors shall 
always be used in preference to fused station protectors or BETs 
incorporating fused protectors, when in the judgment of the RUS 
borrower or the engineer delegated by the RUS borrower, the 
requirements of the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, for fuseless 
station protectors can be met.
    (r) A fuse link consisting of a copper conductor two gauges (AWG) 
finer (numerically higher) conductivity than the aerial service wire 
shall be provided between the cable and aerial service wire where NIDs 
or BETs incorporating fuseless station protectors are used. Thus for a 
22 AWG drop, a fuse link of No. 24 AWG or finer copper wire shall be 
provided. If the cable circuit is No. 24 gauge or finer, the cable 
conductors serve as the fuse link for the 22 AWG aerial service wire 
and no separate fuse link is necessary. (Note: The fuse link or the 
facilities serving as the fuse link must be located between the 
telecommunications facilities that are exposed to possible power cross 
and the customer drop where there is no exposure to possible power 
cross.)
    (s) RUS's buried plant practices require buried main line plant to 
be protected against power contacts to aerial plant extensions and 
aerial inserts by No. 24 AWG fuse links at every buried-aerial 
junction.
    (t) In aerial cable plant, fuse links are usually provided by 24 
AWG leads on filled terminal blocks regardless of the gauge of the 
cable conductors. This practice is acceptable if the ampacity of the 
aerial service wire is sufficiently higher than the fuse link's 
ampacity.
    (u) The grounding and bonding of each NID, BET, or fused primary 
station protector shall be selected by consulting paragraphs (i) 
through (n) of this section. The ``first choice'' assembly unit shall 
be selected whenever the prevailing conditions make its use 
practicable. The NID, BET, or fused primary station protector assembly 
unit selected shall be installed in accordance with the appropriate 
construction drawing specified in RUS Bulletin 345-154 (RUS Form 515g), 
Specifications and Drawings for Service Entrance and Station Protector 
Installation. Copies of RUS Bulletin 345-154 are available upon request 
from RUS/USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1522, Washington, DC 
20250-1522, FAX (202) 690-2268.
    (v) The minimum size grounding conductor that can be used with a 
single NID; a group of NIDS; a multipair NID; fused protector; or BET 
shall be in accordance Table 5, as follows:

                          Table 5.--Grounding Conductor Size Versus Number of Circuits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of circuits
     Minimum Grounding Conductor Size     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Fuseless (carbon or gas tube)                   Fused
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#12 AWG, copper, insulated...............  1 to 2.................................  1 to 3.
#10 AWG, copper, insulated...............  3 to 5.................................  4 to 7.
#6 AWG, copper, insulated................  6 or more..............................  8 or more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (w) Grounding conductor runs between the NID, BET, or fused station 
protector and the ground electrode shall conform to the following:
    (1) The shortest, most direct route practicable shall be used;
    (2) Sharp bends in the grounding conductor shall be avoided during 
installation;
    (3) No splices shall be made in the grounding conductor;
    (4) Grounding conductors shall not be fished through walls, under 
floors, or placed in bridle rings or any metal conduit unless the 
grounding conductor is bonded to the conductor at both ends of the 
metallic conduit;
    (5) Grounding conductor runs from an outside mounted NID, BET, or 
fused station protector to an inside ground electrode shall use the 
same entrance as the station wire; and
    (6) Grounding conductor runs from an outside mounted NID, BET, or 
fused station protector to an outside ground electrode at the building 
shall be attached to the exterior surface of the building or buried. If 
buried, the grounding conductor shall be either plowed or trenched to a 
minimum depth of 12 in. (300 mm). When trenched, the trenches shall be 
as close to the side of the building as practicable, backfilled, and 
tamped to restore the earth to its original condition.
    (x) Telecommunications grounding connectors shall be RUS accepted 
or RUS technically accepted. Grounding and bonding conductors shall be 
made of copper. Where the grounding and bonding conductors must be 
connected to aluminum electric service grounding conductors, bimetal 
grounding connectors shall be used.
    (y) Grounding conductor attachments shall conform to the following:
    (1) Galvanized nails or clamps, or nickel-copper alloy staples 
shall be used for grounding conductor attachments in accordance with 
Table 6 in paragraph (y)(3) of this section.
    (2) Grounding conductors, station or buried service wires in 
parallel runs may share the same fastening device when the device is 
specifically designed for two wires. See Table 6 in paragraph (y)(3) of 
this section for station wire and grounding conductor fasteners; and
    (3) Grounding conductor fasteners shall be placed 12 to 18 in. (300 
to 450 mm) apart on straight runs and 2 to 4 in. (50.8 to 100 mm) apart 
at corners and at bends. Table 6 is as follows:
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[[Page 70483]]

    Notes: \1\ Screw dimensions are minimum. Where appropriate, 
either or both dimensions shall be increased. All wood screws for 
exterior use shall be stainless steel. All other exterior metal 
devices shall be stainless steel, zinc coated steel, silicon bronze, 
or corrosion resistant aluminum alloy.
    \2\ Toggle bolt dimensions are minimum. Where appropriate, 
either or both dimensions shall be increased.
    \3\ Wall screw anchors may be used in wall board, plaster or 
tile walls. Screws and nails in masonry shall be secured by means of 
expansions type anchors. Equivalent manual or machine-driven devices 
may be used. Where toggle bolts are specified, equivalent devices 
may be used.
    \4\ Lead holes shall be drilled for screws, nails, and bridle 
rings in shingles and drop siding.
    \5\ Sheet metal screws shall be used except where toggle bolts 
are required. Where wood sheathing under sheet metal siding is 
encountered, the sheet metal may be drilled or punched and a wood 
screw used.
    \6\ Machine-driven staples of nickel-copper composition may be 
used for exterior wiring.
    \7\ Galvanized clamps and wiring nails may be used for exterior 
and interior wiring. Enameled clamps shall be used for interior 
wiring only. Where toggle bolts or equivalent devices require holes 
in the structure larger than the clamp being fastened, a suitable 
washer of sufficient size to cover the hole must be used under the 
clamp.
    \8\ Double clamp may be used where two #22 AWG station wires, 
two #12 AWG grounding conductors, or one #22 AWG station wire and 
one #12 grounding conductor parallels one another.
    \9\ For converting English units to Metric units use 1 in. = 
25.4 mm.

    (z) Grounding conductors shall be separated from non-telephone 
company wires in accordance with Section 800-12(b) of the ANSI/NFPA 70-
1996, NEC.
    (aa) Grounding conductors run through metal conduits shall be 
bonded to the conduit at each end. RUS accepted and RUS technically 
accepted pipe type ground clamps and grounding connectors shall be used 
for bonding.
    (bb) Where NID, BET, or fused station protector assembly units 
require grounding conductor connections to pipe systems, the following 
apply:
    (1) The connection shall be made to a cold water pipe of an 
operating water system;
    (2) The connection point shall be preferably inside the building;
    (3) Allow a minimum of 6 in. (152 mm) between the last fastener and 
the point where the grounding conductor first touches the water pipe;
    (4) Leave 2 in. (50.8 mm) of slack in the grounding conductor to 
avoid breaking the conductor at the terminating point. Tape the 
grounding conductor to the pipe where possible to avoid movement. In no 
case, shall the grounding conductor be coiled or wrapped around the 
pipe;
    (5) The pipe shall be cleaned with fine sand paper to make a good 
electrical connection. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the pipe 
while cleaning it;
    (6) Attach the pipe grounding conductor connector to the cleaned 
area of pipe and tighten. Care shall be exercised to avoid deforming, 
crushing, or otherwise damaging the pipe. A simple continuity check 
with an ohmmeter between the connector and the pipe will indicate 
whether or not a good electrical contact has been made. Set the 
ohmmeter to ``R x 1'' scale to ensure that a low resistance contact is 
made;
    (7) A warning tag shall be attached to the ground clamp with the 
following or equivalent statement: ``Call the telecommunications 
company if this connector or grounding conductor is loose or must be 
removed''; and
    (8) When the water pipe is used, the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, requires that metal piping be used as a bonding 
conductor in this manner only when the connections to the pipe are 
within 5 ft (1.5 m) of where the pipe enters the premises.
    (cc) Bonding conductors shall consist of either copper or tinned 
copper insulated wires of appropriate sizes.
    (1) Bonding conductors shall be run and attached in the same manner 
as grounding conductors.
    (2) Attaching and terminating devices for bonding conductors shall 
be adequate for the size of wire involved. The No. 6 AWG copper 
insulated conductor or larger shall not be terminated by bending it 
around a threaded stud.
    (dd) Where NID, BET, or fused station protector assembly units 
require a driven ground rod the following shall apply to the ground rod 
installation:
    (1) Locate the ground rod at least 1 ft (300 mm) from buildings, 
poles, trees and other obstruction;
    (2) Ground rods shall not be installed within 6 ft (2 m) of 
electric service ground rods (Note: This minimum separation is provided 
to avoid mutual impedance effects of multiple grounding electrodes that 
will deleteriously degrade the effective impedance-to-earth if 
grounding electrodes are installed any closer than 6 ft (2 m) to one 
another. This requirement is included for special cases where the 
telecommunications company is not allowed, for some reason, to observe 
the RUS preferred grounding method of attaching the primary protector 
grounding conductor directly to an accessible point on the building 
electric service grounding system. RUS believes that if the primary 
protector location can be sited within 6 ft (2 m) of the electric 
service ground rod then the electric service ground rod could be used 
as the preferred telecommunications grounding electrode and a separate 
telecommunications ground rod is unnecessary);
    (3) A hole, 15 in. (350 mm) deep and 6 in. (150 mm) in diameter, 
shall be dug at the location where the ground rod is to be driven;
    (4) Where ``slip-on'' type ground rod clamps are used instead of 
``clamp-around'' type clamps, the ground rod clamps shall be placed 
onto the rod prior to driving the rod into the ground (Note there 
should be one clamp for the NID, BET, or fused station protector 
grounding conductor and one clamp for the conductor required to bond 
the telecommunications ground rod to the electric grounding system). 
However, the clamp shall not be tightened until the rod is completely 
driven. The end of the rod shall be placed in the bottom of the hole 
and the rod shall be aligned vertically adjacent to one wall of the 
hole prior to driving. The rod shall be driven until its tip is 12 in. 
(300 mm) below final grade. The grounding conductor shall then be 
attached, the clamp shall be tightened, and hole backfilled. Clamps 
employed in this manner shall be suitable for direct burial and shall 
be RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted; and
    (5) Where rods are manually driven, a large number of blows from a 
light hammer (4 lbs [1.8 kg]) shall be used instead of heavy 
sledgehammer type blows. This should keep the rod from bending.
    (ee) Terminations on fuseless primary station protectors 
incorporated in NIDs and on fused primary station protectors shall be 
as shown in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of paragraph (ee)(1) of 
this section. The inner jackets of buried service wires and outer 
jackets of cables used as service drops shall be extended into the NID 
or the fused primary station protector. A 10 in. (250 mm) length of 
each spare wire shall be left in NIDs or fused primary station 
protectors. The spare wires shall be coiled up neatly and stored in the 
NID

[[Page 70484]]

or fused primary station protector housing.
    (1) The shields of buried service wires may be connected to the 
ground binding post using RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted 
buried service shield bond connectors as shown in Figure 10 for NIDs 
and Figure 11 for fused primary station protectors. RUS accepted or RUS 
technically accepted buried service wire harness wires designed for 
customer access location installations may also be used for terminating 
buried service wire shields to the ground binding post of the NID as 
shown in Figure 12 and Figure 13 for fused primary station protectors. 
Figures 10 through 13 are as follows:

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[[Page 70486]]

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[[Page 70489]]

    (2) On buried service drops and aerial service drops of more than 6 
pairs using RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted cables, the 
shields shall be terminated with a RUS accepted or RUS technically 
accepted cable shield bonding connector and extended to the ground 
binding post of the NID, BET, or fused primary station protector with a 
RUS accepted or RUS technically accepted bonding harness wire. The 
installation of the shield bond connector and bonding harness wire 
shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
    (3) The shield and other conductors at the fuseless primary station 
protector incorporated in the NID shall be terminated as shown on 
Figure 14 in paragraph (ee)(4) of this section. The pronged or cupped 
washer shall be placed above the shield. The grounding conductor shall 
be placed around the post on top of the pronged or cupped washer. A 
flat washer shall be placed above the grounding conductor.
    (4) The station wire signaling ground conductor, if required, shall 
be placed above the first flat washer and beneath the second flat 
washer as indicated in Figure 14 as follows:

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BILLING CODE 3410-15-C

[[Page 70491]]

    (5) The shield and other conductors at the fused primary station 
protector shall be terminated as shown on Figure 15 in paragraph 
(ee)(6) of this section. The pronged or cupped washer shall be placed 
above the shield. The grounding conductor shall be placed around the 
post on top of the pronged or cupped washer. A flat washer shall be 
placed above the grounding conductor.
    (6) The station wire signaling ground conductor, if required, shall 
be placed above the first flat washer and beneath the second flat 
washer as indicated in Figure 15 as follows:

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BILLING CODE 3410-15-C

[[Page 70493]]

    (7) Indoor NIDs or BETs that are equipped with ``Quick Connect'' 
type terminals shall not have more than one wire connected per clip. 
No. 19 AWG copper and No. 18 AWG copper covered-steel reinforced aerial 
service wire conductors shall not be connected to quick connect 
terminals. Nonmetallic reinforced aerial service wire using No. 22 AWG 
copper conductors may be connected to the quick connect terminals.
    (8) Tip and ring connections and other connections in multipair 
NIDs or BETs shall be as indicated in Figure 16 as follows:

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BILLING CODE 3410-15-C

[[Page 70495]]

    (ff) System polarity and conductor identification shall be 
maintained in NIDs, BETs, or fused primary station protectors in 
accordance with construction drawings 815 and 815-1 contained in 
Sec. 1755.510.


Sec. 1755.509  Mobile homes.

    (a) Customer access location installations at mobile homes shall be 
treated the same whether the homes are mounted on permanent foundations 
or temporary foundations and shall be installed as specified in 
Secs. 1755.500 through 1755.510. For the purpose of this section, 
mobile homes include motor homes, truck campers, travel trailers, and 
all forms of recreational vehicles. Customer access location 
installations at mobile homes can be considerably different than 
customer access location installations at regular homes and borrowers 
shall be certain that the two types of installations are properly 
applied.
    (b) The method of customer access location installation prescribed 
by the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC for a mobile home depends on 
how the electric power is installed at the mobile home and it can 
involve considerable judgment on the part of the telecommunications 
installer. The National Electrical Code and NEC 
are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, 
Inc., Quincy, MA 02269. The ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, is 
incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies are available from NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, P. O. Box 
9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101, telephone number 1 (800) 344-
3555. Copies of ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, are available for 
inspection during normal business hours at RUS, room 2845, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1598, 
Washington, DC 20250-1598 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Essentially, the 
ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, requires primary station protectors 
to be located where specific acceptable grounding electrodes exist. The 
ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC, allows station protector 
installations to be at the location of the power meter or the electric 
disconnecting means apparatus serving the mobile home providing these 
electric facilities are installed in the manner specifically defined by 
the ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, NEC. The ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, requires the station protectors to be installed at the 
nearest of a number of other meticulously defined ANSI/NFPA 70-1996, 
NEC, acceptable electrodes where the protector cannot be 
installed at the power meter or the electric disconnecting means 
apparatus serving the mobile home. The provisions can be confusing.
    (c) To avoid the need for significant telecommunications installer 
judgment, NIDs shall be installed at mobile homes in either of the 
following situations:
    (1) Where the mobile home electric service equipment (power meter, 
etc.) or the electric service disconnecting means associated with the 
mobile home is located within 35 ft (10.7 m) of the exterior wall of 
the mobile homes it serves, the NID shall be installed in accordance 
with Figure 17 as follows:

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    (2) Where the mobile home electric service equipment (power meter, 
etc.) or the electric service disconnecting means associated with the 
mobile home is located more than 35 ft (10.7 m) from the exterior wall 
of the mobile homes it serves, the NID shall be installed in accordance 
with Figure 18 as follows:

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    (d) The service wire and station wire shall be terminated in the 
NID in accordance with Figure 19 in paragraph (e) of this section.
    (e) Installation of the station wire and grounding conductor at the 
mobile home shall be in accordance with Figure 20. Figures 19 and 20 
are as follows:

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Sec. 1755.510  Construction and assembly unit drawings.

    (a) The construction and assembly unit drawings in this section 
shall be used by borrowers to assist the installer in making the 
customer access location installations.
    (b) The asterisks appearing on the construction drawings indicate 
that the items are no longer listed in the RUS Informational 
Publication (IP) 344-2, ``List of Materials Acceptable for Use on 
Telecommunications Systems of RUS Borrowers.'' RUS IP 344-2 can be 
obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, P. O. Box 371954, 
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954, telephone number (202) 512-1800.
    (c) Drawings BM83, 312-1, 501-1, 501-2, 503-2, 504, 505, 506, 507, 
508-1, 510, 510-1, 510-2, 513, 702, 815, 815-1, 912, 958, and 962 are 
as follows:

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    Dated: November 20, 1998.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary Rural Development.

[FR Doc. 98-32207 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]
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