CHAPTER 8 -

COMMUNICATION
SYSTEMS
 COMMUNICATION CIRCUITS

Wires and Cables Outside of the Building (Clearance):

On Poles and In-Span - Supply service drops of 0-750 volts

running above and parallel to communications service drops
shall have a minimum separation of 300 mm at any point in
the span, including the point of and at their attachment to the
building.
Above Roofs - Shall have a vertical clearance of not less than
2500 mm from all points of the roof which they pass.
Lighting Conductors - A separation of at least 1800 mm
shall be between communications wires and cables on
buildings and lightning conductors.
 RADIO AND TELEVISION EQUIPMENT

Clearances - Receiving Stations

a) Outside of Buildings - Lead-in conductors attached to buildings
shall be installed so that they cannot swing closer than 600 mm to
the conductors of circuits of 250V or less between conductors, or
3000 mm to the conductors of circuits of over 250V between
conductors, except that in the case of circuits not over 150V
between conductors, where all conductors involved are supported
so as to ensure permanent separation, the clearance shall be
permitted to be reduced but shall not be less than 100 mm.
b) From Lighting Rod Systems - The clearance shall not be less
than 1800 mm
c) Underground Conductors - Shall be separated at least 300 mm
from conductors of any light or power circuits or Class 1 circuits.
d) Antennas and Lead-ins (Indoors) - Shall not be run nearer
than 50 mm to conductors of other wiring systems in the premises.
 OPTICAL FIBER CABLES AND RACEWAYS

Abandoned Optical Fiber Cable. Installed optical fiber cable

that is not terminated at equipment other than a connector
and not identified for future use with a tag.
Cable Sheath. A covering over the optical fiber assembly that
includes one or more jackets and may include one or more
metallic members or strength members.
Exposed (to Accidental Contact). A conductive optical fiber
cable in such a position that, in case of failure of supports or
insulation, contact between the cable's noncurrent-carrying
conductive members and an electrical circuit may result to
short circuits.
 7.70.2 Cables Outside and Entering Buildings

7.70.2.1 Overhead (Aerial) Optical Fiber Cables.

Overhead optical fiber cables containing a non current-carrying
metallic member entering buildings shall comply with 8.40.2.
1(A) and (B).

(A) On Poles and In-Span.

Where outside plant optical fiber cables and electric light or
power conductors are supported by the same pole or are run
parallel to each other in-span, the conditions described in
7.70.2.1(A) (1) through (A)(4) shall be met.
(1) Relative Location. Where practicable, the outside plant
optical fiber cables shall be located below the electric light or
power conductors.
(2) Attachment to Cross-Arms. Attachment of outside plant
optical fiber cables to a cross-arm that carries electric light or
power conductors shall not be permitted.
(3) Climbing Space. The climbing space through outside
plant optical fiber cables shall comply with the requirements
of 2.25.1.14(D).
(4) Clearance. Supply service drops and sets of overhead
service conductors of 0 to 750 volts running above and
parallel to optical fiber cable service drops shall have a
minimum separation of 300 mm at any point in the span,
including the point of their attachment to the building.
Clearance of not less than 1000 mm shall be maintained
(B) Above Roofs. Outside plant optical fiber cables shall have
a vertical clearance of not less than 2500 mm from all points
of roofs above which they pass.
Exception No. 1: The requirement of 7.70.2.1 (B) shall not
apply to auxiliary buildings such as garages and the like.
Exception No. 2: 4 reduction in clearance above onlv the
overhanging portion of the roof to not less than 450 mm shall
be permitted if (a) not more than 1200 mm of optical fiber
cable service drop cable passes above the roof overhang, and
(b) the cable is terminated at a through- or above-the-roof
raceway or approved support.
Exception No. 3: Where the roof has a slope of not less than
100 mm in 300 mm, a reduction in clearance to not less than
900 mm shall be permitted.
7.70.2.4 Underground Optical Fiber Cables Entering
Buildings. Underground optical fiber cables entering buildings shall
comply with 7.70.2.4(A) and (B).

(A) Underground Systems with Electric Light, Power, Class 1,

or Non-Power-Limited Fire Alarm Circuit Conductors.
Underground conductive optical fiber cables entering buildings with
electric light, power, Class 1, or non- power-limited fire alarm circuit
conductors in a raceway, handhole enclosure, or manhole shall be
located in a section separated from such conductors by means of
brick, concrete, or tile partitions or by means of a suitable barrier.
(B) Direct-Buried Cables and Raceways. Direct-buried conductive
optical fiber cables shall be separated by at least 300 mm from
conductors of any electric light, power, or non power-limited fire
alarm circuit conductors or Class 1 circuit.
 NETWORK-POWERED BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS

Abandoned Network-Powered Broadband

Communications Cable.
Installed network-powered broadband communications cable
that is not terminated at equipment other than a connector
and not identified for future use with a tag.
Block. A square or portion of a city, town, or village enclosed
by streets, including the alleys so enclosed but not any street.
Exposed (to Accidental Contact).A circuit in such a position
that, in case of failure ofsupports or insulation, contact with
another circuit may result.
Fault Protection Device. An electronic device that is
intended for the protection of personnel and functions under
fault conditions, such as network-powered broadband
communications cable short or open circuit, to limit the current
or voltage, or both, for a low-power network-powered
broadband communications circuit and provide acceptable
protection from electric shock.
Network Interface Unit (NIU).A device that converts a
broadband signal into component voice, audio, video, data,
and interactive services signals and provides isolation between
the network power and the premises signal circuits. These
devices contain primary and secondary protectors.
Network-Powered Broadband Communications Circuit.
The circuit extending from the communications utility's serving
terminal or tap up to and including the NIU.
 PREMISES-POWERED BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS

Network Terminal. A device that converts network provided

signals (optical, electrical, or wireless) into component signals,
including voice, audio, video, data, wireless, optical, and
interactive services, and considered a network device on the
premises that is connected to a communications service
provided and is powered at the premises.
Premises Communications Circuit. The circuit that extends
voice, audio, video, data, interactive services, telegraph
(except radio), and outside wiring for fire alarm and burglar
alarm from the service provider's network terminal lo the
customer's communications equipment up to and including
terminal equipment, such as a telephone, a fax machine, or an
answering
machine.

Premises Community Antenna Television (CATV) Circuit.

The circuit that extends community antenna television (CATV)
systems for audio, video, data, and interactive services from
the service provider’s onto the appropriate customer
equipment.