REA Specification for Terminating Cables

Federal RegisterJun 14, 1994

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Electrification Administration

7 CFR Part 1755

REA Specification for Terminating Cables

AGENCY: Rural Electrification Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) amends its

regulations on telecommunications standards and specifications for

materials, equipment and construction. The revised specification will

require that terminating cables comply with Article 800-50 of the 1993

National Electrical Code regarding fire retardancy of these products,

include raw material requirements for insulating and jacketing

compounds, and update the end product requirements associated with

these type cables.

DATES: Effective date: July 14, 1994.

Compliance date: Manufacturers of terminating cables will be

allowed until March 14, 1995 to supply borrowers with products already

produced or currently in the process of manufacturing under previous

Bulletin 345-87.

Incorporation by reference: Incorporation by reference of certain

publications listed in this final rule is approved by the Director of

the Federal Register as of July 14, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garnett G. Adams, Chief, Outside Plant

Branch, Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Electrification

Administration, room 2844, South Building, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500, telephone number (202) 720-

0667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the

purposes of Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not been reviewed

by OMB.

Executive Order 12778

This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778,

Civil Justice Reform. If adopted, this final rule will not:

(1) Preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or policies;

(2) Have any retroactive effect; and

(3) Require administrative proceeding before parties may file suit

challenging the provisions of this rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

The Administrator of REA has determined that this final rule will

not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small

entities, as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et

seq.). This final rule involves standards and specifications, which may

increase the direct short term costs to REA borrowers. However, the

long-term direct economic costs are reduced through greater durability

and lower maintenance cost over time.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

In compliance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

regulations (5 CFR part 1320) which implements the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-511) and section 3504 of that Act, information

collection and recordkeeping requirements contained in this final rule

have been submitted to OMB. Comments concerning these requirements

should be directed to the office of Information and Regulator Affairs

of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for USDA, room 3201, New Executive

Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. When OMB has approved the

information collection and recordkeeping requirements contained in this

final rule, REA will publish an amendment to this final rule to add the

OMB control number and statement to the regulatory text.

National Environmental Policy Act Certification

The Administrator of REA has determined that this final 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 final 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 20402-9325.

Executive Order 12372

This final rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order

12372, Intergovernmental Consultation that requires intergovernmental

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 REA and RTB loans and loan guarantees, and

RTB bank loans, to governmental and nongovernmental entities from

coverage under this Order.

Background

REA issues publications titled ``Bulletins'' 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 REA financing. REA

issues standards and specifications for construction of telephone

facilities financed with REA loan funds. REA is rescinding Bulletin

345-87, REA Specification for Terminating (TIP) Cable, PE-87, and

codifying the revised specification at 7 CFR 1755.870, REA

Specification for Terminating Cables.

Terminating cables are used to connect the incoming outside plant

cables to the vertical side of the main distributing frame in a

telephone central office. Since these cables are installed inside of a

building, these cables are required to be listed in accordance with

Article 800-50 of the 1993 National Electrical Code (NEC). The current

specification does not require these cables to be listed in accordance

with Article 800-50 of the 1993 NEC. Therefore, REA is revising the

current specification to require these cables to be listed in

accordance with Article 800-50 of the 1993 NEC.

The current specification does not include insulation and jacketing

raw requirements, because these requirements were previously covered by

REA Bulletins 345-21, 345-51, and 345-58 which have since been

rescinded. Therefore, revision of the current specification is

necessary to incorporate essential jacketing and insulation raw

material requirements. By incorporating the raw material requirements

which were formerly found in REA Bulletins 345-21, 345-51, and 345-58

into 7 CFR 1755.870, a comprehensive document will be published for the

manufacture of terminating cable products.

The current specification contains end product performance

requirements that have become outdated for these type cables because of

the technological advancements made in the design of terminating cables

over the past ten years. Therefore, REA is revising the current

specification to update the end product performance requirements

associated with these cables to reflect the technological advancements

made in the design of these cables.

On November 17, 1993, REA published a proposed rule at 58 FR 220 to

rescind REA Bulletin 345-87, REA Specification for Terminating (TIP)

Cable, PE-87, and to codify the revised specification at 7 CFR

1755.870, REA Specification for Terminating Cables. Comments on this

proposed rule were due by December 17, 1993. Comments and

recommendations were received from one company by this due date. The

comments, recommendations, and responses are summarized as follows:

The first comment recommended that solid low density polyethylene

and expanded polyethylene insulating compounds should also be allowed

as an optional primary layer for the dual extruded insulated conductor.

Response: One reason REA 7 CFR 1755.870 requires dual insulated

conductors is to provide electrical stability and fire resistance of

the insulated conductors. The electrical stability of the insulated

conductor is provided by the primary layer which specifies the use of

either solid high density polyethylene or solid crystalline propylene/

ethylene copolymer insulating compounds. The fire resistance of the

insulated conductor is provided by the outer layer or skin which

specifies various types of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulating

compounds. REA chose to limit the primary layer of the dual insulated

conductor to either the solid high density polyethylene or the solid

crystalline propylene/ethylene copolymer insulating compounds because

these insulating compounds have proven histories of providing

satisfactory electrical stability of the dual insulated conductor over

time. Therefore, REA will not change 7 CFR 1755.870 to allow the use of

solid low density polyethylene and expanded polyethylene insulating

compounds as primary layers as recommended by the commenter.

The second comment recommended that 7 CFR 1755.870 should allow the

use of single insulated conductors using solid PVC insulating compounds

in addition to dual insulated conductors.

Response: Another reason REA requires the use of dual insulated

conductors for terminating cables is because these terminating cables

are presently being spliced to filled outside plant cables at REA

borrower construction projects. REA knows that the PVC outer skin of

the dual insulated conductor will degrade over time as a result of the

PVC's incompatibility with the filling compound used in filled cables.

REA also knows that the primary layer of the dual insulated conductor

will not degrade because the insulation materials used as the primary

layer of the dual insulated conductor are the same insulation materials

used as conductor insulations in filled cables which have been proven

to be compatible with the filling compound used in filled cables. Since

satisfactory signal transmission is dependent upon the integrity of the

primary layer of the dual insulated conductor in terminating cables

covered by 7 CFR 1755.870, REA must assure that the primary layer will

not degrade when these cables are spliced to filled outside plant

cables. If REA allowed the use of single insulated conductors using

solid PVC insulating compounds, signal transmission on these cables

would degrade as a result of the PVC's incompatibility with filling

compound when spliced to filled outside plant cables. Based on the

above reasons, REA will not allow the use of single insulated

conductors using PVC insulating compounds in 7 CFR 1755.870.

The next comment recommended that more restrictive volatile loss

requirements should be added to the PVC raw materials used as the outer

skin of the dual insulated conductors specified in 7 CFR 1755.870.

Response: The PVC raw materials used as the outer skin of the dual

insulated conductor presently specified in 7 CFR 1755.870 have been

used in these cables for a number of years with satisfactory results.

Since no problems with terminating cables using these PVC raw materials

have been encountered, REA will not add the more restrictive volatile

loss requirement to the PVC raw materials requirements specified in 7

CFR 1755.870 as recommended by the commenter.

The fourth comment recommended that test method for insulation

resistance (IR) specified in the American Society for Testing and

Materials (ASTM) D 4566-90 Standard be allowed as an alternative test

method for determining the insulation fault rate of the dual insulated

conductors.

Response: REA would like to point out that the IR test method for

determining the fault rate of the dual insulated conductors specified

in 7 CFR 1755.870 is same IR test method as specified in REA Bulletin

345-87. Since manufacturers have been using this IR test method for

determining the fault rate of the dual insulated conductors specified

in REA Bulletin 345-87 for more than eleven years without any reported

problems, REA will not change 7 CFR 1755.870 to allow the alternative

IR test method specified in ASTM D 4566-90 as a method for determining

the insulation fault of the dual insulated conductors.

The next comment recommended that the dual insulated conductor cold

bend test temperature specified in 7 CFR 1755.870 be changed from -40

1 deg.C to -20 1 deg.C.

Response: REA would like to point out that the -40 1

deg.C dual insulated cold bend test temperature specified in 7 CFR

1755.870 is same cold bend test temperature as specified in REA

Bulletin 345-87. Since manufacturers have been performing cold bend

tests on the dual insulated conductors using the -40 1

deg.C test temperature specified in REA Bulletin 345-87 for more than

eleven years without any reported problems, REA will not change the -40

1 deg.C cold bend test temperature specified in 7 CFR

1755.870 to the -20 1 deg.C cold bend test temperature

recommended by the commenter.

The sixth comment recommended that the PVC jacket raw material

requirements be eliminated from the specification.

Response: REA considers the PVC jacket raw material requirements

along with end product PVC jacket requirements to be critical

requirements to assure that the PVC jacket will withstand the rigors of

installation. Since REA considers PVC jacket raw material requirements

as one essential way of assuring that the PVC jacket will withstand the

rigors of installation, REA will not eliminate the PVC jacket raw

material requirements from 7 CFR 1755.870 as recommended by the

respondent.

The seventh comment from the respondent recommended that the

thicknesses of the outer jacket should be reduced to coincide with

other standards for these type cables.

Response: First, REA knows of no accepted American National

Standard for terminating cables. If REA was aware otherwise, REA would

reference the jacket thickness requirements of the national standard to

assist the industry in providing one cable design that could be used by

both REA and non-REA telephone operating companies. Since its REA's

knowledge, no accepted national standard exists, REA incorporated the

jacket thickness requirements presently specified in REA Bulletin 345-

87 into 7 CFR 1755.870 because these thickness requirements have been

used for REA terminating cables for over eleven years without any

reported field problems. Therefore, REA will not reduce the jacket

thickness requirements specified in 7 CFR 1755.870 to the

recommendation of the commenter.

The next comment recommended reducing the voice frequency

electrical requirements because the respondent feels that the voice

frequency electrical requirements specified in 7 CFR 1755.870 are too

stringent for voice frequency signal transmission.

Response: The voice frequency electrical requirements specified in

7 CFR 1755.870 were chosen to match voice frequency electrical

requirements of outside plant cables to provide satisfactory voice

frequency signal transmission. In addition the voice frequency

electrical requirements specified in 7 CFR 1755.870 are identical to

the voice frequency electrical requirements specified in REA Bulletin

345-87 which has been providing satisfactory voice frequency signal

transmission to REA borrowers for the past eleven years. Since REA

wanted the voice frequency electrical requirements of terminating

cables to match the voice frequency electrical requirements of outside

plant cables, REA will not reduce the voice frequency electrical

requirements of 7 CFR 1755.870 as recommended by the respondent.

The last comment from the respondent recommended that the test

voltages used to test dielectric strength between conductors and

dielectric strength between the cable core and shield be changed to

coincide with other industry specifications for these type cables.

Response: First, REA knows of no accepted American National

Standard for terminating cables. If such a standard did exist, REA

would reference the dielectric strength test voltages of the national

standard to assist the industry in providing one cable design that

could be used by both non-REA and REA telephone operating companies.

Since no accepted national standard exists, REA incorporated the

dielectric strength test voltages presently specified in REA Bulletin

345-87 into 7 CFR 1755.870 because these dielectric strength test

voltages have been used for REA terminating cables for over eleven

years without any reported problems. Therefore, REA will not change the

dielectric strength test voltages specified in 7 CFR 1755.870 to the

commenter's recommendation.

Although REA did not incorporate any of the respondent's

recommendations into 7 CFR 1755.870, REA did renumber paragraphs

(b)(3)(i) through (b)(12),(e)(2)(i) and (e)(2)(ii) to (b)(3) through

(b)(13),(e)(2), and (e)(3), respectively, to make these paragraph

numbers more user friendly to interested parties. No changes were made

to the technical requirements specified in the above mentioned

paragraphs.

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, REA amends 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.

Sec. 1755.97 [Amended]

2. Section 1755.97 is amended by removing the entry REA Bulletin

345-87 from the table.

3. Section 1755.870 is added to read as follows:

Sec. 1755.870 REA specification for terminating cables.

(a) Scope. (1) This section establishes the requirements for

terminating cables used to connect incoming outside plant cables to the

vertical side of the main distributing frame in a telephone central

office.

(i) The conductors are solid tinned copper, individually insulated

with extruded solid dual insulating compounds.

(ii) The insulated conductors are twisted into pairs which are then

stranded or oscillated to form a cylindrical core.

(iii) The cable structure is completed by the application of a core

wrap, a shield, and a polyvinyl chloride jacket.

(2) The number of pairs and gauge size of conductors which are used

within the REA program are provided in the following table:

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

American Wire Gauge (AWG) D22 24

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

Number of Pairs........................................... 12 12

50 50

100 100

200 200

300 300

400 400

600 600

800 800

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

Note: Cables larger in pair sizes from those shown in this table shall

meet all the requirements of this section.

(3) All cables sold to REA borrowers for projects involving REA

loan funds under this section must be accepted by REA Technical

Standards Committee ``A'' (Telephone). For cables manufactured to the

specification of this section, all design changes to an accepted design

must be submitted for acceptance. REA will be the sole authority on

what constitutes a design change.

(4) Materials, manufacturing techniques, or cable designs not

specifically addressed by this section may be allowed if accepted by

REA. Justification for acceptance of modified materials, manufacturing

techniques, or cable designs shall be provided to substantiate product

utility and long term stability and endurance.

(5) The American National Standard Institute/Electronic Industries

Association (ANSI/EIA) 359-A-84, EIA Standard Colors for Color

Identification and Coding, referenced in this section is incorporated

by reference by REA. This incorporation by reference was approved by

the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of ANSI/EIA 359-A-84 are available for

inspection during normal business hours at REA, room 2845, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500 or at the Office

of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700,

Washington, DC. Copies are available from Global Engineering Documents,

15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112, telephone number (303) 792-

2181.

(6) American Society for Testing and Materials Specifications

(ASTM) B 33-91, Standard Specification for Tinned Soft or Annealed

Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes; ASTM B 736-92a Standard

Specification for Aluminum, Aluminum Alloy and Aluminum-Clad Steel

Cable Shielding Stock; ASTM D 1248-84 (1989), Standard Specification

for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials; ASTM D 1535-

89, Standard Test Method for Specifying Color by the Munsell System;

ASTM D 2287-81 (Reapproved 1988), Standard Specification for Nonrigid

Vinyl Chloride Polymer and Copolymer Molding and Extrusion Compounds;

ASTM D 2436-85, Standard Specification for Forced-Convection Laboratory

Ovens for Electrical Insulation; ASTM D 2633-82 (Reapproved 1989),

Standard Methods of Testing Thermoplastic Insulations and Jackets for

Wire and Cable; ASTM D 4101-82 (1988), Standard Specification for

Propylene Plastic Injection and Extrusion Materials; ASTM D 4565-90a,

Standard Test Methods for Physical and Environmental Performance

Properties of Insulations and Jackets for Telecommunications Wire and

Cable; ASTM D 4566-90, Standard Test Methods for Electrical Performance

Properties of Insulations and Jackets for Telecommunications Wire and

Cable; and ASTM E 29-90, Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits

in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications, referenced

in this section are incorporated by reference by REA. These

incorporations by references were approved by the Director of the

Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

Copies of the ASTM standards are available for inspection during normal

business hours at REA, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Washington, DC 20250-1500 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800

North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Copies are

available from ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19103-1187, telephone number (215) 299-5585.

(7) American National Standards Institute/National Fire Protection

Association (ANSI/NFPA), NFPA 70-1993 National Electrical Code

referenced in this section is incorporated by reference by REA. This

incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal

of the ANSI/NFPA standard is available for inspection during normal

business hours at REA, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Washington, DC 20250-1500 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800

North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Copies are

available from NFPA, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269,

telephone number 1 (800) 344-3555.

(8) Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) 1666, Standard Test for

Flame Propagation Height of Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables

Installed Vertically in Shafts, dated January 22, 1991, referenced in

this section is incorporated by reference by REA. This incorporation by

reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. A copy of the UL

standard is available for inspection during normal business hours at

REA, room 2845, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-

1500 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Copies are available from UL

Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-2096, telephone

number (708) 272-8800.

(b) Conductors and conductor insulation. (1) Each conductor shall

be a solid round wire of commercially pure annealed tin coated copper.

Conductors shall meet the requirements of the American Society for

Testing and Materials (ASTM) B 33-91 except that requirements for

Dimensions and Permissible Variations are waived.

(2) Joints made in conductors during the manufacturing process may

be brazed, using a silver alloy solder and nonacid flux, or they may be

welded using either an electrical or cold welding technique. In joints

made in uninsulated conductors, the two conductor ends shall be butted.

Splices made in insulated conductors need not be butted but may be

joined in a manner acceptable to REA.

(3) The tensile strength of any section of a conductor, containing

a factory joint, shall not be less than 85 percent of the tensile

strength of an adjacent section of the solid conductor of equal length

without a joint.

(4) Engineering Information: The sizes of wire used and their

nominal diameters shall be as shown in the following table:

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

Nominal diameter

AWG -------------------------

Millimeters (Inches)

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

22............................................ 0.643 (0.0253)

24............................................ 0.511 (0.0201)

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

(5) Each conductor shall be insulated with a primary layer of

natural or white solid, insulating grade, high density polyethylene or

crystalline propylene/ethylene copolymer and an outer skin of colored,

solid, insulating grade, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) using one of the

insulating materials listed in paragraphs (b)(5)(i) through (iii) of

this section.

(i) The polyethylene raw material selected to meet the requirements

of this section shall be Type III, Class A, Category 4 or 5, Grade E9,

in accordance with ASTM D 1248-84 (1989).

(ii) The crystalline propylene/ethylene raw material selected to

meet the requirements of this section shall be Class PP 200B 40003 E11

in accordance with ASTM D 4101-82 (1988).

(iii) The PVC raw material selected to meet the requirements of

this section shall be either Type PVC-64751E3XO, Type PVC-76751E3XO, or

Type PVC-77751E3XO in accordance with ASTM D 2287-81 (1988).

(iv) Raw materials intended as conductor insulation furnished to

these requirements shall be free from dirt, metallic particles, and

other foreign matter.

(v) All insulating raw materials shall be accepted by REA prior to

their use.

(6) All conductors in any single length of cable shall be insulated

with the same type of material.

(7) A permissible overall performance level of faults in conductor

insulation when using the test procedures in paragraph (b)(8) of this

section shall average not greater than one fault per 12,000 conductor

meters (40,000 conductor feet) for each gauge of conductor.

(8) The test used to determine compliance with paragraph (b)(7) of

this section shall be conducted as follows:

(i) Samples tested shall be taken from finished cables selected at

random from standard production cable. The samples tested shall contain

a minimum of 300 conductor meters (1,000 conductor feet) for cables

sizes less than 50 pairs and 1,500 conductor meters (5,000 conductor

feet) for cables sizes greater than or equal to 50 pairs. No further

sample need be taken from the same cable production run within 6,000

cable meters (20,000 cable feet) of the original test sample from that

run.

(ii) The cable sample shall have its jacket, shield, and core wrap

removed and its core shall be immersed in tap water for a minimum

period of 6 hours. In lieu of removing the jacket, shield, and core

wrap from the core, the entire cable may be tested. In this case, the

core shall be completely filled with tap water, under pressure; then

the cable assembly shall be immersed for a minimum period of 6 hours.

With the cable core still fully immersed, except for end connections,

the insulation resistance (IR) of all conductors to water shall be

measured using a direct current (dc) voltage of 100 volts to 550 volts.

(iii) An IR value of less than 500 megohms for any individual

insulated conductor tested at or corrected to a temperature of 23

deg.C is considered a failure. If the cable sample is more than 7.5

meters (25 feet) long, all failing conductors shall be retested and

reported in 7.5 meter (25 foot) segments.

(iv) The pair count, gauge, footage, and number of insulation

faults shall be recorded. This information shall be retained on a 6

month running basis for review by REA when requested.

(v) A fault rate, in a continuous length in any one reel, in excess

of one fault per 3,000 conductor meters (10,000 conductor feet) due to

manufacturing defects is cause for rejection. A minimum of 6,000

conductor meters (20,000 conductor feet) is required to develop a

noncompliance in a reel.

(9) Repairs to the conductor insulation during manufacturing are

permissible. The method of repair shall be accepted by REA prior to its

use. The repaired insulation shall be capable of meeting the relevant

electrical requirements of this section.

(10) All repaired sections of insulation shall be retested in the

same manner as originally tested for compliance with paragraph (b)(7)

of this section.

(11) The colored composite insulating material removed from or

tested on the conductor, from a finished cable, shall be capable of

meeting the following performance requirements:

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

Composite

Property insulation

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

Tensile Strength, Minimum Megapascals (MPa) (Pounds per

square inch (psi))........................................ 16.5 (2400)

Ultimate Elongation Percent, Minimum....................... 125

Cold Bend Failures, Maximum................................ 0/10

Shrinkback, Maximum Millimeter (mm) (Inches (in.))......... 9.5 (3/8)

Adhesion, Maximum Newtons (N) (Pound-force (lbf)).......... 13.3 (3)

Compression Minimum, N (lbf)............................... 1780 (400)

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

(12) Testing procedures. The procedures for testing the composite

insulation samples for compliance with paragraph (b)(11) of this

section shall be as follows:

(i) Tensile strength and ultimate elongation. Samples of the

insulation material, removed from the conductor, shall be tested in

accordance with ASTM D 2633-82(1989), except that the speed of jaw

separation shall be 50 millimeters/minute (50 mm/min) (2 inches/minute

(2 in./min)).

Note: Quality assurance testing at a jaw separation speed of 500

mm/min (20 in./min) is permissible. Failures at this rate shall be

retested at the 50 mm/min (2 in./min) rate to determine

specification compliance.

(ii) Cold bend. Samples of the insulation material on the conductor

shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D 4565-90a at a temperature of

-401 deg.C with a mandrel diameter of 6 mm (0.25 in.).

There shall be no cracks visible to normal or corrected-to-normal

vision.

(iii) Shrinkback. Samples of insulation shall be tested for four

hours at a temperature of 1151 deg.C in accordance with

ASTM D 4565-90a.

(iv) Adhesion. Samples of insulation material on the conductor

shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D 4565-90a with a crosshead

speed of 50 mm/min (2 in./min).

(v) Compression. Samples of the insulation material on the

conductor shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D 4565-90a with a

crosshead speed of 5 mm/min (0.2 in./min).

(13) Other methods of testing may be used if acceptable to REA.

shall be colored to identify:

(i) The tip and ring conductor of each pair; and

(ii) Each pair in the completed cable.

(2) The colors used to provide identification of the tip and ring

conductor of each pair shall be as shown in the following table:

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

Color

Pair No. ---------------------

Tip Ring

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

1................................................. White Blue

2................................................. White Orange

3................................................. White Green

4................................................. White Brown

5................................................. White Slate

6................................................. Red Blue

7................................................. Red Orange

8................................................. Red Green

9................................................. Red Brown

10................................................ Red Slate

11................................................ Black Blue

12................................................ Black Orange

13................................................ Black Green

14................................................ Black Brown

15................................................ Black Slate

16................................................ Yellow Blue

17................................................ Yellow Orange

18................................................ Yellow Green

19................................................ Yellow Brown

20................................................ Yellow Slate

21................................................ Violet Blue

22................................................ Violet Orange

23................................................ Violet Green

24................................................ Violet Brown

25................................................ Violet Slate

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

(3) Standards of color. The colors of the insulated conductors

supplied in accordance with this section are specified in terms of the

Munsell Color System (ASTM D 1535-89) and shall comply with the ``Table

of Wire and Cable Limit Chips'' as defined in ANSI/EIA-359-A-84.

(Visual color standards meeting these requirements may be obtained

directly from the Munsell Color Company, Inc., 2441 North Calvert

Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218).

(4) Positive identification of the tip and ring conductors of each

pair by marking each conductor of a pair with the color of its mate is

permissible. The method of marking shall be accepted by REA prior to

its use.

(5) Other methods of providing positive identification of the tip

and ring conductors of each pair may be employed if accepted by REA

prior to its use.

(6) The insulated conductors shall be twisted into pairs.

(7) In order to provide sufficiently high crosstalk isolation, the

pair twists shall be designed to enable the cable to meet the

capacitance unbalance and the crosstalk loss requirements of paragraphs

(h)(2), (h)(3), and (h)(4) of this section.

(8) The average length of pair twists in any pair in the finished

cable, when measured on any 3 meter (m) (10 foot (ft)) length, shall

not exceed 152 mm (6 in.).

(d) Forming of the cable core. (1) Twisted pairs shall be assembled

in such a way as to form a substantially cylindrical group.

(2) When desired for lay-up reasons, the basic group may be divided

into two or more subgroups called units.

(3) Each group, or unit in a particular group, shall be enclosed in

bindings of the colors indicated for its particular pair count. The

pair count, indicated by the color of insulation, shall be consecutive

as indicated in paragraph (d)(5) of this section through units in a

group.

(4) Threads or tapes used as binders shall be nonhygroscopic and

nonwicking. The threads shall consists of a suitable number of ends of

each color arranged as color bands. When tapes are used as binders,

they shall be colored. Binders shall be applied with a lay of not more

than 100 mm (4 in.). The colored binders shall be readily recognizable

as the basic intended color and shall be distinguishable from all other

colors.

(5) The colors of the bindings and their significance with respect

to pair count shall be as shown in the following table:

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

Group pair

Group No. Color of bindings count

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

1............ White-Blue................................ 1-25

2............ White-Orange.............................. 26-50

3............ White-Green............................... 51-75

4............ White-Brown............................... 76-100

5............ White-Slate............................... 101-125

6............ Red-Blue.................................. 126-150

7............ Red-Orange................................ 151-175

8............ Red-Green................................. 176-200

9............ Red-Brown................................. 201-225

10........... Red-Slate................................. 226-250

11........... Black-Blue................................ 251-275

12........... Black-Orange.............................. 276-300

13........... Black-Green............................... 301-325

14........... Black-Brown............................... 326-350

15........... Black-Slate............................... 351-375

16........... Yellow-Blue............................... 376-400

17........... Yellow-Orange............................. 401-425

18........... Yellow-Green.............................. 426-450

19........... Yellow-Brown.............................. 451-475

20........... Yellow-Slate.............................. 476-500

21........... Violet-Blue............................... 501-525

22........... Violet-Orange............................. 526-550

23........... Violet-Green.............................. 551-575

24........... Violet-Brown.............................. 576-600

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

(6) The use of the white unit binder in cables of 100 pair or less

is optional.

(7) When desired for manufacturing reasons, two or more 25 pair

groups may be bound together with nonhygroscopic and nonwicking threads

or tapes into super-units. The group binders and the super-unit binders

shall be colored such that the combination of the two binders shall

positively identify each 25 pair group from every other 25 pair group

in the cable.

(8) Super-unit binders shall be of the colors shown in the

following table:

Super-Unit Binder Colors

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

Pair No. Binder color

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

1-600.................................................. White

601-1200............................................... Red

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

(e) Core wrap. (1) The core shall be completely covered with a

layer of nonhygroscopic and nonwicking dielectric material. The core

wrap shall be applied with an overlap.

(2) The core wrap shall provide a sufficient heat barrier to

prevent visible evidence of conductor insulation deformation or

adhesion between conductors, caused by adverse heat transfer during the

jacketing operation.

(3) Engineering Information: If required for manufacturing reasons,

white or uncolored binders of nonhygroscopic and nonwicking material

may be applied over the core and/or core wrap.

(f) Shield. (1) An aluminum shield, plastic coated on one side,

shall be applied longitudinally over the core wrap.

(2) The shield may be applied over the core wrap with or without

corrugations (smooth) and shall be bonded to the outer jacket.

(3) The shield overlap shall be a minimum of 3 mm (0.125 in.) for

cables with core diameters of 15 mm (0.625 in.) or less and a minimum

of 6 mm (0.25 in.) for cables with core diameters greater than 15 mm

(0.625 in.). The core diameter is defined as the diameter under the

core wrap and binding.

(4) General requirements for application of the shielding material

shall be as follows:

(i) Successive lengths of shielding tapes may be joined during the

manufacturing process by means of cold weld, electric weld, soldering

with a nonacid flux, or other acceptable means;

(ii) The metal shield with the plastic coating shall have the

coating removed prior to joining the metal ends together. After

joining, the plastic coating shall be restored without voids using good

manufacturing techniques;

(iii) The shields of each length of cable shall be tested for

continuity. A one meter (3 ft) section of shield containing a factory

joint shall exhibit not more than 110 percent of the resistance of a

shield of equal length without a joint;

(iv) The breaking strength of any section of a shield tape

containing a factory joint shall not be less than 80 percent of the

breaking strength of an adjacent section of the shield of equal length

without a joint;

(v) The reduction in thickness of the shielding material due to the

corrugating or application process shall be kept to a minimum and shall

not exceed 10 percent at any spot; and

(vi) The shielding material shall be applied in such a manner as to

enable the cable to pass the bend test as specified in paragraph (i)(1)

of this section.

(5) The dimensions of the uncoated aluminum tape shall be

0.20300.0254 mm (0.00800.0010 in.).

(6) The aluminum tape shall conform to either Alloy AA-1100-0, AA-

1145-0, or AA-1235-0 as covered in the latest edition of Aluminum

Standards and Data, issued by the Aluminum Association, except that

requirements for tensile strength are waived.

(7) The single-sided plastic coated aluminum shield shall conform

to the requirements of ASTM B 736-92a, Type I Coating, Class 1 or 2, or

Type II Coating, Class 1. The minimum thickness of the Type I Coating

shall be 0.038 mm (0.0015 in.). The minimum thickness of the Type II

Coating shall be 0.008 mm (0.0003 in.).

(8) The plastic coated aluminum shield shall be tested for

resistance to water migration by immersing a one meter (3 ft) length of

tape under a one meter (3 ft) head of water containing a soluble dye

plus 0.25 percent (%) wetting agent.

(i) After a minimum of 5 minutes, no dye shall appear between the

interface of the shield tape and the plastic coating.

(ii) The actual test method shall be acceptable to REA.

(9) The bond between the plastic coated shield and the jacket shall

conform to the following requirements:

(i) Prepare test strips approximately 200 mm (8 in.) in length.

Slit the jacket and shield longitudinally to produce 4 strips evenly

spaced and centered in 4 quadrants on the jacket circumference. One of

the strips shall be centered over the overlapped edge of the shielding

tape. The strips shall be 13 mm (0.5 in.) wide. For cable diameters

less than 19 mm (0.75 in.) make two strips evenly spaced.

(ii) Separate the shield and jacket for a sufficient distance to

allow the shield and jacket to be fitted in the upper and lower jaws of

a tensile machine. Record the maximum force required to separate the

shield and jacket to the nearest newton (pound-force). Repeat this

action for each test strip.

(iii) The force required to separate the jacket from the shield

shall not be less than 9 N (2 lbf) for any individual strip when tested

in accordance with paragraph (f)(9)(ii) of this section. The average

force for all strips of any cable shall not be less than 18 N (4 lbf).

(g) Cable jacket and extraneous material. (1) The jacket shall

provide the cable with a tough, flexible, protective covering which can

withstand stresses reasonably expected in normal installation and

service.

(2) The jacket shall be free from holes, splits, blisters, or other

imperfections and shall be as smooth and concentric as is consistent

with the best commercial practice.

(3) The raw material used for the cable jacket shall be one of the

following four types:

(i) Type PVC-55554EOXO in accordance with ASTM D 2287-81(1988);

(ii) Type PVC-65554EOXO in accordance with ASTM D 2287-81(1988);

(iii) Type PVC-55556EOXO in accordance with ASTM D 2287-81(1988);

(iv) Type PVC-66554EOXO in accordance with ASTM D 2287-81(1988).

(4) The jacketing material removed from or tested on the cable

shall be capable of meeting the following performance requirements:

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

Jacket

Property performance

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

Tensile Strength-Unaged Minimum, MPa (psi)................ 13.8 (2000)

Ultimate Elongation-Unaged Minimum, Percent (%)........... 200

Tensile Strength-Aged Minimum, % of original value........ 80

Ultimate Elongation-Aged Minimum, % of original value..... 50

Impact Failures, Maximum.................................. 2/10

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

(5) Testing procedures. The procedures for testing the jacket

samples for compliance with paragraph (g)(4) of this section shall be

as follows:

(i) Tensile strength and ultimate elongation-unaged. The test shall

be performed in accordance with ASTM D 2633-82(1989), using a jaw

separation speed of 50 mm/min (2 in./min).

Note: Quality assurance testing at a jaw separation speed of 500

mm/min (20 in./min) is permissible. Failures at this rate shall be

retested at the 50 mm/min (2 in./min) rate to determine

specification compliance.

(ii) Tensile strength and ultimate elongation-aged. The test shall

be performed in accordance with paragraph (g)(5)(i) of this section

after being aged for 7 days at a temperature of 1001 deg.C

in a circulating air oven conforming to ASTM D 2436-85.

(iii) Impact. The test shall be performed in accordance with ASTM D

4565-90a using an impact force of 4 newton-meter (3 pound force-foot)

at a temperature of -101 deg.C. The cylinder shall strike

the sample at the shield overlap. A crack or split in the jacket

constitutes failure.

(6) Jacket thickness. The nominal jacket thickness shall be as

specified in the following table. The test method used shall be either

the End Sample Method (paragraph (g)(6)(i) of this section) or the

Continuous Uniformity Thickness Gauge Method (paragraph (g)(6)(ii) of

this section):

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

Nominal jacket

No. of pairs thickness mm

(in.)

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

25 or less............................................ 1.4 (0.055)

50.................................................... 1.5 (0.060)

100................................................... 1.7 (0.065)

200................................................... 1.9 (0.075)

300................................................... 2.2 (0.085)

400................................................... 2.4 (0.095)

600................................................... 2.9 (0.115)

800 and over.......................................... 3.3 (0.130)

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

(i) End sample method. The jacket shall be capable of meeting the

following requirements:

Minimum Average Thickness--90% of nominal thickness

Minimum Thickness--70% of nominal thickness

(ii) Continuous uniformity thickness gauge method. (A) The jacket

shall be capable of meeting the following requirements:

Minimum Average Thickness--90% of nominal thickness

Minimum (Min.) Thickness--70 % of nominal thickness

Maximum (Max.) Eccentricity--55%

Eccentricity=Max. Thickness--Min. Thickness (Average Thickness) x 100

(B) Maximum and minimum thickness values. The maximum and minimum

thickness values shall be based on the average of each axial section.

(7) The color of the jacket shall be either black or dark grey in

conformance with the Munsell Color System specified in ASTM D 1535-89.

(8) There shall be no water or other contaminants in the finished

cable which would have a detrimental effect on its performance or its

useful life.

(h) Electrical requirements--(1) Mutual capacitance and

conductance. (i) The average mutual capacitance (corrected for length)

of all pairs in any reel shall not exceed the following when tested in

accordance with ASTM D 4566-90 at a frequency of 1.0 0.1

kilohertz (kHz) and a temperature of 233 deg.C:

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

Mutual capacitance

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

Number of cable pairs Nanofarad/ (Nanofarad/

kilometer mile)

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

12............................................ 520.1 kHz and a temperature of

233 deg.C.

(2) Pair-to-pair capacitance unbalance. The capacitance unbalance

as measured on the completed cable shall not exceed 45.3 picofarad/

kilometer (pF/km) (25 picofarad/1000 ft (pF/1000 ft)) rms when tested

in accordance with ASTM D 4566-90 at a frequency of 1.00.1

kHz and a temperature of 233 deg.C.

(3) Pair-to-ground capacitance unbalance. (i) The average

capacitance unbalance as measured on the completed cable shall not

exceed 574 pF/km (175 pF/1000 ft) when tested in accordance with ASTM D

4566-90 at a frequency of 1 0.1 kHz and a temperature of

233 deg.C.

(ii) When measuring pair-to-ground capacitance unbalance all pairs

except the pair under test are grounded to the shield except when

measuring cable containing super-units in which case all other pairs in

the same super-unit shall be grounded to the shield.

(iii) Pair-to-ground capacitance unbalance may vary directly with

the length of the cable.

(4) Crosstalk loss. (i) The rms output-to-output far-end crosstalk

loss (FEXT) measured on the completed cable in accordance with ASTM D

4566-90 at a test frequency of 150 kHz shall not be less than 68

decibel/kilometer (dB/km) (73 decibel/1000 ft (dB/1000 ft)). The rms

calculation shall be based on the combined total of all adjacent and

alternate pair combinations within the same layer and center to first

layer pair combinations.

(ii) The FEXT crosstalk loss between any pair combination of a

cable shall not be less than 58 dB/km (63 dB/1000 ft) at a frequency of

150 kHz. If the loss Ko at a frequency Fo for length Lo

is known, then Kx can be determined for any other frequency

Fx or length Lx by:

TR14JN94.000

(iii) The near-end crosstalk loss (NEXT) as measured within and

between units of a completed cable in accordance with ASTM D 4566-90 at

a frequency of 772 kHz shall not be less than the following mean minus

sigma (M-S) crosstalk requirement for any unit within the cable:

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

M-S

Unit size decibel

(dB)

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

Within Unit:

12 and 13 pairs............................................. 56

18 and 25 pairs............................................. 60

Between Unit:

Adjacent 13 pairs........................................... 65

Adjacent 25 pairs........................................... 66

Nonadjacent (all)........................................... 81

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

Where M-S is the Mean near-end coupling loss based on the combined

total of all pair combinations, less one Standard Deviation, Sigma, of

the mean value.

(5) Insulation resistance. Each insulated conductor in each length

of completed cable, when measured with all other insulated conductors

and the shield grounded, shall have an insulation resistance of not

less than 152 megohm-kilometer (500 megohm-mile) at

201 deg.C. The measurement shall be made in accordance with

the procedures of ASTM D 4566-90.

(6) High voltage test. (i) In each length of completed cable, the

dielectric strength of the insulation between conductors shall be

tested in accordance with ASTM D 4566-90 and shall withstand, for 3

seconds, a direct current (dc) potential whose value is not less than:

(A) 3.6 kilovolts for 22-gauge conductors; or

(B) 3.0 kilovolts for 24-gauge conductors.

(ii) In each length of completed cable, the dielectric strength

between the shield and all conductors in the core shall be tested in

accordance with ASTM D 4566-90 and shall withstand, for 3 seconds, a dc

potential whose value is not less than 10 kilovolts.

(7) Conductor resistance. The dc resistance of any conductor shall

be measured in the completed cable in accordance with ASTM D 4566-90

and shall not exceed the following values when measured at or corrected

to a temperature of 201 deg.C:

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

Maximum resistance

AWG ---------------------------------------------------------------

ohms/kilometer (ohms/1000 ft)

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

22...... 60.7 (18.5)

24...... 95.1 (29.0)

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

(8) Resistance unbalance. (i) The difference in dc resistance

between the two conductors of a pair in the completed cable shall not

exceed the values listed in this paragraph when measured in accordance

with the procedures of ASTM D 4566-90:

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

Resistance unbalance Maximum for any reel

AWG ---------------------------------------------------------------

Average percent Individual pair percent

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

22...... 1.5 4.0

24...... 1.5 5.0

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

(ii) The resistance unbalance between tip and ring conductors shall

be random with respect to the direction of unbalance. That is, the

resistance of the tip conductors shall not be consistently higher with

respect to the ring conductors and vice versa.

(9) Electrical variations. (i) Pairs in each length of cable having

either a ground, cross, short, or open circuit condition shall not be

permitted.

(ii) The maximum number of pairs in a cable which may vary as

specified in paragraph (h)(9)(iii) of this section from the electrical

parameters given in this section are listed in this paragraph. These

pairs may be excluded from the arithmetic calculation:

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

Maximum No.

of pairs

with

Nominal pair count allowable

electrical

variation

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

12-100..................................................... 1

101-300.................................................... 2

301-400.................................................... 3

401-600.................................................... 4

601 and above.............................................. 6

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

(iii) Parameter variations--(A) Capacitance unbalance-to-ground. If

the cable fails either the maximum individual pair or average

capacitance unbalance-to-ground requirement and all individual pairs

are 3280 pF/km (1000 pF/1000 ft) or less the number of pairs specified

in paragraph (h)(9)(ii) of this section may be eliminated from the

average and maximum individual calculations.

(B) Resistance unbalance. Individual pair of not more than 7

percent for all gauges.

52 dB/km (57 dB/1000 ft).

Note: REA recognizes that in large pair count cables (600 pair

and above) a cross, short, or open circuit condition occasionally

may develop in a pair which does not affect the performance of the

other cable pairs. In these circumstances rejection of the entire

cable may be economically unsound or repairs may be impractical. In

such circumstances the manufacturer may desire to negotiate with the

customer for acceptance of the cable. No more than 0.5 percent of

the pairs may be involved.

(i) Mechanical requirements--(1) Cable cold bend test. The

completed cable shall be capable of meeting the requirements of ASTM D

4565-90a after conditioning at -20 2 deg.C except the

mandrel diameters shall be as specified below:

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

Mandrel

Cable outside diameter diameter

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

40 mm (1.5 in.).................................. 20x

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

(2) Cable flame test. The completed cable shall be capable of

meeting a maximum flame height of 3.7 m (12.0 ft) when tested in

accordance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1666 dated January 22,

1991.

(3) Cable listing. All cables manufactured to the specification of

this section at a minimum shall be listed as Communication Riser Cable

(Type CMR) in accordance with Sections 800-50 and 800-51(b) of the 1993

National Electrical Code.

(j) Sheath slitting cord (optional). (1) Sheath slitting cords may

be used in the cable structure at the option of the manufacturer.

(2) When a sheath slitting cord is used it shall be nonhygroscopic

and nonwicking, continuous throughout a length of cable, and of

sufficient strength to open the sheath without breaking the cord.

(3) Sheath slitting cords shall be capable of consistently slitting

the jacket and/or shield for a continuous length of 0.6 m (2 ft) when

tested in accordance with the procedure specified in Appendix B of this

section.

(k) Identification marker and length marker. (1) Each length of

cable shall be permanently identified as to manufacturer and year of

manufacture.

(2) The number of conductor pairs and their gauge size shall be

marked on the jacket.

(3) The marking shall be printed on the jacket at regular intervals

of not more than 1.5 m (5 ft).

(4) An alternative method of marking may be used if accepted by REA

prior to its use.

(5) The completed cable shall have sequentially numbered length

markers in FEET OR METERS at regular intervals of not more than 1.5 m

(5 ft) along the outside of the jacket.

(6) The method of length marking shall be such that for any single

length of cable, continuous sequential numbering shall be employed.

(7) The numbers shall be dimensioned and spaced to produce good

legibility and shall be approximately 3 mm (0.125 in.) in height. An

occasional illegible marking is permissible if there is a legible

marking located not more than 1.5 m (5 ft) from it.

(8) The method of marking shall be by means of suitable surface

markings producing a clear, distinguishable, contrasting marking

acceptable to REA. Where direct or transverse printing is employed, the

characters should be indented to produce greater durability of marking.

Any other method of length marking shall be acceptable to REA as

producing a marker suitable for the field. Size, shape and spacing of

numbers, durability, and overall legibility of the marker shall be

considered in acceptance of the method.

(9) The accuracy of the length marking shall be such that the

actual length of any cable section is never less than the length

indicated by the marking and never more than one percent greater than

the length indicated by the marking.

(10) The color of the initial marking for a black colored jacket

shall be either white or silver. The color of the initial marking for a

dark grey colored jacket shall be either red or black. If the initial

marking of the black colored jacket fails to meet the requirements of

the preceding paragraphs, it will be permissible to either remove the

defective marking and re-mark with the white or silver color or leave

the defective marking on the cable and re-mark with yellow. If the

initial marking of the dark grey colored jacket fails to meet the

requirements of the preceding paragraphs, it will be permissible to

either remove the defective marking and re-mark with the red or black

color or leave the defective marking on the cable and re-mark with

yellow. No further re-marking is permitted. Any re-marking shall be on

a different portion of the cable circumference than any existing

marking when possible and have a numbering sequence differing from any

other existing marking by at least 5,000.

(11) Any reel of cable which contains more than one set of

sequential markings shall be labeled to indicate the color and sequence

of marking to be used. The labeling shall be applied to the reel and

also to the cable.

(l) Preconnectorized cable (optional). (1) At the option of the

manufacturer and upon request by the purchaser, cables 100 pairs and

larger may be factory terminated in 25 pair splicing modules.

(2) The splicing modules shall meet the requirements of REA

Bulletin 345-54, PE-52, REA Specification for Telephone Cable Splicing

Connectors (Incorporated by Reference at Sec. 1755.97), and be accepted

by REA prior to their use.

(m) Acceptance testing and extent of testing. (1) The tests

described in Appendix A of this section are intended for acceptance of

cable designs and major modifications of accepted designs. REA decides

what constitutes a major modification. These tests are intended to show

the inherent capability of the manufacturer to produce cable products

having long life and stability.

(2) For initial acceptance, the manufacturer shall submit:

(i) An original signature certification that the product fully

complies with each section of the specification;

(ii) Qualification Test Data, per Appendix A of this section;

(iii) To periodic plant inspections;

(iv) A certification that the product does or does not comply with

the domestic origin manufacturing provisions of the ``Buy American''

requirements of the Rural Electrification Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 901 et

seq.);

(v) Written user testimonials concerning performance of the

product; and

(vi) Other nonproprietary data deemed necessary by the Chief,

Outside Plant Branch (Telephone).

(3) For requalification acceptance, the manufacturer shall submit

an original signature certification that the product fully complies

with each section of the specification, excluding the Qualification

Section, and a certification that the product does or does not comply

with the domestic origin manufacturing provisions of the ``Buy

American'' requirements of the Rural Electrification Act of 1938 (7

U.S.C. 901 et seq.) for acceptance by June 30 every three years. The

required data and certification shall have been gathered within 90 days

of the submission.

(4) Initial and requalification acceptance requests should be

addressed to: Chairman, Technical Standards Committee ``A''

(Telephone), Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural

Electrification Administration, Washington, DC 20250-1500.

(5) Tests on 100 percent of completed cable. (i) The shield of each

length of cable shall be tested for continuity using the procedures of

ASTM D 4566-90.

(ii) Dielectric strength between all conductors and the shield

shall be tested to determine freedom from grounds in accordance with

paragraph (h)(6)(ii) of this section.

(iii) Each conductor in the completed cable shall be tested for

continuity using the procedures of ASTM D 4566-90.

(iv) Dielectric strength between conductors shall be tested to

ensure freedom from shorts and crosses in accordance with paragraph

(h)(6)(i) of this section.

(v) Each conductor in the completed preconnectorized cable shall be

tested for continuity.

(vi) Each length of completed preconnectorized cable shall be

tested for split pairs.

(vii) The average mutual capacitance shall be measured on all

cables. If the average mutual capacitance for the first 100 pairs

tested from randomly selected groups is between 50 and 53 nF/km (80 to

85 nF/mile), the remainder of the pairs need not to be tested on the

100 percent basis. (See paragraph (h)(1) of this section).

(6) Capability tests. Tests on a quality assurance basis shall be

made as frequently as is required for each manufacturer to determine

and maintain compliance with:

(i) Performance requirements for conductor insulation and jacket

material;

(ii) Bonding properties of coated or laminated shielding materials;

(iii) Sequential marking and lettering;

(iv) Capacitance unbalance and crosstalk;

(v) Insulation resistance;

(vi) Conductor resistance and resistance unbalance;

(vii) Cable cold bend and cable flame tests; and

(viii) Mutual conductance.

(n) Summary of records of electrical and physical tests. (1) Each

manufacturer shall maintain a suitable summary of records for a period

of at least 3 years for all electrical and physical tests required on

completed cable by this section as set forth in paragraphs (m)(5) and

(m)(6) of this section. The test data for a particular reel shall be in

a form that it may be readily available to the purchaser or to REA upon

request.

(2) Measurements and computed values shall be rounded off to the

number of places of figures specified for the requirement according to

ASTM E 29-90.

(o) Manufacturing irregularities. (1) Repairs to the shield are not

permitted in cable supplied to the end user under this section.

(2) No repairs or defects in the jacket are allowed.

(p) Preparation for shipment. (1) The cable shall be shipped on

reels unless otherwise specified or agreed to by the purchaser. The

diameter of the drum shall be large enough to prevent damage to the

cable from reeling or unreeling. The reels shall be substantial and so

constructed as to prevent damage to the cable during shipment and

handling.

(2) A waterproof corrugated board or other means of protection

acceptable to REA shall be applied to the reel and shall be suitably

secured in place to prevent damage to the cable during storage and

shipment.

(3) The outer end of the cable shall be securely fastened to the

reel head so as to prevent the cable from becoming loose in transit.

The inner end of the cable shall be securely fastened in such a way as

to make it readily available if required for electrical testing.

Spikes, staples, or other fastening devices which penetrate the cable

jacket shall not be used. The method of fastening the cable ends shall

be accepted by REA prior to it being used.

(4) Each length of cable shall be wound on a separate reel unless

otherwise specified or agreed to by the purchaser.

(5) The arbor hole shall admit a spindle 63 mm (2.5 in.) in

diameter without binding. Steel arbor hole liners may be used but shall

be acceptable to REA prior to their use.

(6) Each reel shall be plainly marked to indicate the direction in

which it should be rolled to prevent loosening of the cable on the

reel.

(7) Each reel shall be stenciled or labeled on either one or both

sides with the name of the manufacturer, year of manufacture, actual

shipping length, an inner and outer end sequential length marking,

description of the cable, reel number and the REA cable designation:

Cable Designation

Cable Construction

Pair Count

Conductor Gauge

A = Coated Aluminum Shield

P = Preconnectorized Cable

Example: CTAP 100-22

Terminating Cable, Coated Aluminum Shield, Preconnectorized, 100

pairs, 22 AWG.

(8) When preconnectorized cable is shipped, the splicing modules

shall be protected to prevent damage during shipment and handling. The

protection method shall be acceptable to REA prior to its use.

Appendix A to 7 CFR 1755.870--Qualification Test Methods

(I) The test procedures described in this appendix are for

qualification of initial designs and major modifications of accepted

designs. Included in paragraph (V) of this appendix are suggested

formats that may be used in submitting test results to REA.

(II) Sample Selection and Preparation. (1) All testing shall be

performed on lengths removed sequentially from the same 25 pair, 22

gauge jacketed cable. This cable shall not have been exposed to

temperatures in excess of 38 deg.C since its initial cool down

after sheathing. The lengths specified are minimum lengths and if

desirable from a laboratory testing standpoint longer lengths may be

used.

(a) Length A shall be 12 0.2 meters (40

0.5 feet) long. Prepare the test sample by removing the

jacket, shield, and core wrap for a sufficient distance on both ends

to allow the insulated conductors to be flared out. Remove

sufficient conductor insulation so that appropriate electrical test

connections can be made at both ends. Coil the sample with a

diameter of 15 to 20 times its sheath diameter. Two lengths are

required.

(b) Length B shall be 300 millimeters (1 foot) long. Three

lengths are required.

maintained at 23 3 deg.C for the duration of the test.

Two lengths are required.

(2) Data Reference Temperature. Unless otherwise specified, all

measurements shall be made at 23 3 deg.C.

(III) Environmental Tests--(1) Heat Aging Test--(a) Test

Samples. Place one sample each of lengths A and B in an oven or

environmental chamber. The ends of sample A shall exit from the

chamber or oven for electrical tests. Securely seal the oven exit

holes.

(b) Sequence of Tests. Sample B referenced in paragraph

(III)(1)(a) of this appendix shall be subjected to the insulation

compression test outlined in paragraph (III)(2) of this appendix.

circuit capacitance and conductance for each odd pair at 1, 150, and

772 kilohertz after conditioning the sample at the data reference

temperature for 24 hours. Calculate the average and standard

deviation for the data of the 13 pairs on a per kilometer (per mile)

basis.

(ii) Record on suggested formats in paragraph (V) of this

appendix or on other easily readable formats.

(d) Heat Conditioning. (i) Immediately after completing the

initial measurements, condition the sample for 14 days at a

temperature of 65 2 deg.C.

(ii) At the end of this period. Measure and calculate the

parameters given in paragraph (III)(1)(c) of this appendix. Record

on suggested formats in paragraph (V) of this appendix or on other

easily readable formats.

(e) Overall Electrical Deviation. (i) Calculate the percent

change in all average parameters between the final parameters after

conditioning with the initial parameters in paragraph (III)(1)(c) of

this appendix.

(ii) The stability of the electrical parameters after completion

of this test shall be within the following prescribed limits:

(A) Capacitance. The average mutual capacitance shall be within

10 percent of its original value;

(B) The change in average mutual capacitance shall be less than

10 percent over the frequency range of 1 to 150 kilohertz; and

3.7 micromhos/kilometer (6 micromhos/mile) at a frequency of 1

kilohertz.

(2) Insulation Compression Test--(a) Test Sample B. Remove

jacket, shield, and core wrap being careful not to damage the

conductor insulation. Remove one pair from the core and carefully

separate and straighten the insulated conductors. Retwist the two

insulated conductors together under sufficient tension to form 10

evenly spaced 360 degree twists in a length of 100 millimeters (4

inches).

(b) Sample Testing. Center the mid 50 millimeters (2 inches) of

the twisted pair between two smooth rigid parallel metal plates

measuring 50 millimeters (2 inches) in length or diameter. Apply a

1.5 volt direct current potential between the conductors, using a

light or buzzer to indicate electrical contact between the

conductors. Apply a constant load of 67 newtons (15 pound-force) on

the sample for one minute and monitor for evidence of contact

between the conductors. Record results on suggested formats in

paragraph (V) of this appendix or on other easily readable formats.

(3) Temperature Cycling. (a) Repeat paragraphs (III)(1)(a)

through (III)(1)(c)(ii) of this appendix for a separate set of

samples A and B which have not been subjected to prior environmental

conditioning.

(b) Immediately after completing the measurements, subject the

test samples to 10 cycles of temperature between -40 deg.C and +60

deg.C. The test samples shall be held at each temperature extreme

for a minimum of 1.5 hours during each cycle of temperature. The air

within the temperature cycling chamber shall be circulated

throughout the duration of the cycling.

this appendix.

(IV) Control Sample--(1) Test Samples. One length of sample B

shall have been maintained at 23 3 deg.C for at least

48 hours before the testing.

(2) Repeat paragraphs (III)(2) through (III)(2)(b) of this

appendix.

(3) Surge Test. (a) One length of sample C shall be used to

measure the breakdown between conductors while the other length of C

shall be used to measure core to shield breakdown.

(b) The samples shall be capable of withstanding, without

damage, a single surge voltage of 20 kilovolts peak between

conductors, and 35 kilovolts peak between conductors and the shield

as hereinafter described. The surge voltage shall be developed from

a capacitor discharge through a forming resistor connected in

parallel with the dielectric of the test sample. The surge generator

constants shall be such as to produce a surge of 1.5 x 40

microseconds wave shape.

reduced voltage by connecting an oscilloscope across the forming

resistor with the cable sample connected in parallel with the

forming resistor. The capacitor bank is charged to the test voltage

and then discharged through the forming resistor and test sample.

The test sample shall be considered to have passed the test if there

is no distinct change in the wave shape obtained with the initial

reduced voltage compared to that obtained after the application of

the test voltage.

(V) The following suggested formats may be used in submitting

the test results to REA:

Environmental Conditioning ____________________

Frequency 1 Kilohertz

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

Capacitance nF/km P(nF/ Conductance micromhos/km

mile) (micromhos/mile)

Pair No. ---------------------------------------------------

Initial Final Initial Final

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

1................... ........... ........... ........... ...........

3................... ........... ........... ........... ...........

5................... ........... ........... ........... ...........

7................... ........... ........... ........... ...........

9................... ........... ........... ........... ...........

11.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

13.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

15.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

17.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

19.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

21.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

23.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

25.................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

Average x.8......... ........... ........... ........... ...........

Overall Percent

Difference in

Average x.8..... ........... ........... ........... ...........

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

Environmental Conditioning ____________________

Frequency 150 Kilohertz