94-2107. Connection of Customer-Provided Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-2107]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: February 3, 1994]
    
    
    =======================================================================
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
    
    47 CFR Parts 2 and 68
    
    [CC Docket No. 93-268, RM-7815, RM-6147; FCC 93-484]
    
     
    
    Connection of Customer-Provided Terminal Equipment to the 
    Telephone Network
    
    agency: Federal Communications Commission.
    
    action: Proposed rules.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    summary: This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to amend 
    rules which regulate the terms and conditions under which customer-
    provided terminal equipment may be connected to the telephone network. 
    The proceeding was initiated by petitions for rulemaking filed by 
    Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (SWB) and Ameritech Operating 
    Companies (Ameritech) who ask that regulations governing switched 
    digital services be added. The effect of the proposed rules would be to 
    promote rapid exploitation of switched digital technology. We propose 
    also to provide for a registration revocation procedure which should 
    greatly enhance our ability to enforce applicable rules as well as the 
    Telecommunications Trade Act of 1988; and we take this opportunity to 
    propose clarifications to other rules.
    
    dates: Comments were to be submitted on or before January 13, 1994, and 
    replies by January 28, 1994; however, those dates have been extended to 
    February 10, 1994 for comments and February 25, 1994 for replies.
    
    addresses: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 
    1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554, with copy to William H. von 
    Alven, FCC, Mail Stop 1600B2, Washington, DC 20554.
    
    for further information contact: William H. von Alven, Domestic 
    Services Branch, Domestic Facilities Division, Common Carrier Bureau, 
    (202) 634-1833.
    
    supplementary information: This summarizes the NPRM in CC Docket 93-
    268, RM-7815, and RM-6147 (FCC 93-484) adopted October 22, 1993 and 
    released November 22, 1993, supplemented by an Errata, and Order 
    Extending Comment Period released January 12, 1994 (DA 94-46). Persons 
    affected by part 68 practice and procedure are urged to review the full 
    texts of both the NPRM and Errata, and the supporting file, which are 
    available for inspection and copying during the weekday hours of 9 a.m. 
    to 4:30 p.m. in the FCC Reference Center, room 239, 1919 M St., NW., 
    Washington, DC. Copies may be purchased from the Commission's 
    duplicating contractor, ITS, Inc., 2100 M St., NW., suite 140, 
    Washington, DC 20037, (202) 857-3800.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        Reporting and recordkeeping activities needed to comply with the 
    proposed rules are usual and customary.
    
    Analysis of Proceeding
    
        1. By this NPRM we contemplate amending parts 2 and 68 of the 
    rules, 47 CFR parts 2 and 68. A purpose of part 68 is to maintain 
    uniform standards for the protection of the telephone network from 
    harms caused by the connection of terminal equipment and associated 
    wiring. This proceeding was initiated by two petitions for rulemaking, 
    one filed by SWB (RM-7815) and the other by Ameritech (RM-6147).
        2. SWB requests that part 68 be amended to include the regulation 
    of terminal equipment connected to the two-wire Basic Rate Access (BRA) 
    interface and to the Primary Rate Access (PRA) interface provided by 
    Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) access technology. BRA 
    consists of one or two 64 Kbps information channels with a 16 Kbps 
    channel for dialing and network access information. The 1.544 Mbps PRA 
    consists of 23 64 Kbps information channels and the 64 Kbps dialing and 
    network access channel. ISDN is in a developmental phase, being 
    deployed these last few years in an experimental mode. The Public 
    Notice of SWB's petition elicited comments from eight parties and reply 
    comments from three. There was overwhelming support for including this 
    service in part 68 in order to promote, on a nationwide and worldwide 
    basis, rapid exploitation of this technology with minimum mandatory 
    criteria for connection of CPE (customer premises equipment). Thus, we 
    propose for comment technical standards for including this service in 
    part 68 in supplement to the existing standards for non-switched 
    leased-line digital services which were added in 1985.
        3. Commenting on SWB's petition, AT&T recommends (a) that part 68 
    rules covering PRA not be limited to the two-wire ISDN BRA service but 
    also authorize terminal equipment connected to the 4-wire ISDN PRA 
    (1.544 Mbps) interface pursuant to performance and compatibility 
    standards adopted by ANSI (American National Standards Institute); (b) 
    that amendments to part 68 provide equipment specifications for both 
    PRA and BRA interfaces; (c) that Sec. 68.308(h)(2) be amended to apply 
    its limitations on encoded analog content to PRA terminal equipment 
    comparable to the limitations suggested by SWB for BRA terminal 
    equipment; and (d) that the signaling interference requirements in 
    Sec. 68.314(d)(2) apply also to ISDN terminal equipment. The rules we 
    present for comment reflect those recommendations.
        4. AT&T observes also that SWB's petition would add a new 
    Sec. 68.310(m) to introduce a ``longitudinal-to-metallic'' (L-M) 
    balance requirement for equipment connected to the ISDN interface. AT&T 
    notes that the L-M balance concept was rejected by the Commission in 
    previous rulemakings in favor of the ``metallic-to-longitudinal'' (M-L) 
    balance methodology currently in the rules. The L-M methodology is 
    considered to be a performance measure which is not a primary concern 
    of part 68, whereas the M-L balance requirement squarely addresses 
    crosstalk interference that terminal equipment may induce in cables 
    running to the central office, which is a harm to the network and thus 
    within part 68's purview. Thus, we propose adding to part 68 
    limitations on encoded analog content for equipment connected to the 
    ISDN interface.
        5. AT&T states also that though-gain limitations in 
    Sec. 68.308(b)(5) should be established for ISDN services. We 
    understand that this is a current project for the Telecommunication 
    Industry Association's (TIA's) TR-41 Committee, whom we anticipate will 
    provide appropriate recommendations.
        6. The types of plug-jack connectors to be used for ISDN services 
    engendered comment. Ameritech says that the ANSI standard for BRA 
    proposes an eight-position non-keyed jack in which two positions are 
    for the tip and ring connections to the service itself, and the 
    remaining six positions are reserved. Ameritech offers ISDN BRA via the 
    standard RJ11C jack which provides connections for two wires, although 
    the jack itself can accommodate up to six wires. Most ISDN compatible 
    equipment can accommodate such a connection, so there is no need to 
    require the eight-position jack, states Ameritech, who believes that 
    manufacturers who ``build-to'' the eight-position interface could 
    provide connection to the type RJ11C through a simple six-position to 
    eight-position double-male adapter. US West recommends that the jack 
    type SJA-11 (8-position) proposed by ECSA (the Exchange Carriers 
    Standards Association's T1E1 Technical Subcommittee) be approved by the 
    Commission's tariff implementation procedure. We solicit comments on 
    these proposals for ISDN BRA and PRA interface connectors and for 
    suitable connectors for the Public Switched Digital Services (PSDS). It 
    would be helpful also if interested parties would, as requested in n.7 
    of the NPRM, offer comments on the recommendations of ECSA for network 
    connectors for ISDN BRA and PSDS.
        7. The Public Notice of Ameritech's petition produced two comments 
    and two reply comments. Ameritech petitions for amendment of part 68 to 
    include terminal equipment that connects to PSDS. We request comment. 
    As the result of joint comments by Mountain States Telephone Company, 
    Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and Pacific Northwestern Bell 
    Telephone Company, equipment standards for a four-wire 56 Kbps service 
    are also included for comment. It is important to recognize that all 
    three technologies (56 and 64 Kbps time compression and four-wire 56 
    Kbps switched services) are call-compatible, and a performance and 
    compatibility standard for the three has recently been published by 
    TIA. Not discussed in the pleadings is the fact that a new technology 
    known as ``inverse multiplexing'' or ``bandwidth on demand'' is being 
    used which permits customers to utilize PSDS and ISDN BRA technologies 
    to order wider bandwidths in multiples of 56 or 64 Kbps. Commenters 
    should address whether inverse multiplexing utilizing such channels and 
    other bandwidths require consideration under part 68.
        8. In outlining the intent of newly-proposed part 68, the 
    Commission stated in its First Supplemental Notice, released April 3, 
    1973, 40 F.C.C.2d 315, 316 (1973) that ``[r]egistration would 
    constitute authorization for the equipment to be directly connected to 
    the switched telephone network. However, in appropriate cases, 
    registration could be revoked.'' But the rules do not include part 68 
    equipment authorization revocation procedures which can be relied upon; 
    therefore, we propose adoption of rules which detail the circumstances 
    under which equipment registrations may be revoked and which define 
    equipment revocation procedures, including automatic denial of 
    equipment authorization of the same product for a period of six months 
    from the date of revocation. The proposed revocation procedure tracks 
    closely established Commission procedure for Notice of Apparent 
    Liability (NAL) for assessment of a monetary penalty (47 CFR 1.80 and 
    1.89). Revocation of an equipment registration may be imposed in 
    addition to or in lieu of an amount in forfeiture pursuant to section 
    1.80 of the rules. Therefore, we propose that a Notice of Intent to 
    Revoke may be served concurrently with and as part of a NAL. In the 
    case of joint NAL and Intent to Revoke, Sec. 1.80 of the rules would 
    govern all procedural issues. In those cases where a material dispute 
    of fact is involved, the Commission would, if appropriate, designate 
    the proceeding for hearing before an administrative law judge. The 
    registration revocation procedure is expected to greatly enhance our 
    ability to enforce part 68, as well as the Telecommunications Trade Act 
    of 1988 which requires that all telecommunications equipment imported 
    into the United States meet the requirements of the Commission's rules 
    and regulations. We seek comment on these procedures which are set 
    forth in detail in the NPRM and proposed rules.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        No significant impact.
    
    Ex Parte Presentations
    
        This is a nonrestricted notice and comment rulemaking proceeding. 
    Ex Parte presentations are permitted, except during the Sunshine Agenda 
    period, provided they are disclosed as required by Commission rules. 
    See generally 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203 and 1.1206(a).
    
    Legal Basis
    
        Authority for this action is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 
    154(j), 201-205, 225 and 403.
    
    List of Subjects
    
    47 CFR Part 2
    
        Communications equipment.
    
    47 CFR Part 68
    
        Communications equipment, Integrated Services Digital Network, 
    Public Switched Digital Services, Telephone.
    
    Federal Communications Commission.
    William F. Caton,
    Acting Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 94-2107 Filed 2-2-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/03/1994
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Proposed rules.
Document Number:
94-2107
Dates:
Comments were to be submitted on or before January 13, 1994, and replies by January 28, 1994; however, those dates have been extended to February 10, 1994 for comments and February 25, 1994 for replies.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: February 3, 1994, CC Docket No. 93-268, RM-7815, RM-6147, FCC 93-484
CFR: (3)
47 CFR 68.308(b)(5)
47 CFR 68.314(d)(2)
47 CFR 68.310(m)