RUS Specification for Telecommunications Conduit

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1755

RUS Specification for Telecommunications Conduit

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) proposes to amend its

regulations on Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for

Materials, Equipment, and Construction, by adding a new specification,

RUS Specification for Telecommunications Conduit. The specification

will provide the relevant engineering and technical requirements for

conduit.

DATES: Comments concerning this proposed rule must be received by RUS

or be postmarked no later than January 4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Orren E. Cameron, III,

Director, Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Utilities

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,

STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598. RUS requests an original and

three copies of all comments (7 CFR part 1700.4). All comments received

will be made available for public inspection at room 2835, South

Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

STOP 1598 Washington, DC 20250-1598 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (7 CFR

1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie I. Harper, Jr., Chief, Outside

Plant Branch, Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Utilities

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598, telephone (202) 720-0667.

[[Page 59249]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This proposed rule is exempt from the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) review for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 12988

This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,

Civil Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this rule meets the

applicable standards provided in section 3 of the Executive Order. In

addition, all state and local laws and regulations that are in conflict

with this rule will be preempted, no retroactive effort will be given

to this rule, and, in accordance with Sec. 212(c) of the Department of

Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912(c)), appeal

procedures must be exhausted before an action against the Department or

its agencies may be initiated.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

The Administrator of RUS has determined that this proposed rule

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

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

seq.). This proposed rule involves standards and specifications, which

may increase the short-term direct costs to the RUS borrower. However,

the long-term direct economic costs are reduced through greater

durability and lower maintenance cost over time.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

The information collection and recordkeeping requirements contained

in this proposed rule were approved by OMB pursuant to the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended) under control

number 0572-0059. Comments concerning these requirements should be

directed to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Development and

Regulatory Analysis, USDA, RUS, Stop 1522, Washington, DC 20250-1522.

National Environmental Policy Act Certification

The Administrator of RUS has determined that this proposed rule

will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment as

defined by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.

4321 et seq.). Therefore, this action does not require an environmental

impact statement or assessment.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

The program described by this proposed rule is listed in the

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance programs under No. 10.851, Rural

Telephone Loans and Loan Guarantees, and No. 10.582, Rural Telephone

Bank Loans. This catalog is available on a subscription basis from the

Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office,

Washington, DC 20402.

Executive Order 12372

This proposed rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order

12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation

with State and local officials. A final rule related notice titled

``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order

12372'' (50 FR 47034) determined that RUS and RTB loans and loan

guarantees, were not covered by Executive Order 12372.

Unfunded Mandates

This proposed rule contains no federal mandates (under the

regulatory provision of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act)

for State, local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Thus

this proposed rule is not subject to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

Background

Pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, (7

U.S.C. et seq.) (RE Act), RUS makes and guarantees loans to furnish and

improve telecommunications in rural areas. As a condition of financing,

borrowers are required to follow RUS standards and specifications for

the construction of RUS financed facilities.

The specification contains mechanical and environmental

requirements, desired design features, and test methods for evaluation

of conduit. The test method procedures described in the specification

are required to demonstrate the reliability of conduit for use in

telecommunications systems.

Conduit is fabricated from rigid and flexible plastic, concrete, or

fiberglass. Conduit comes in different sizes and configurations to suit

a variety of applications. The purpose of conduit is to provide

protection of telecommunications cable and provide ease of installation

in restrictive areas.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1755

Loan programs-telecommunications, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirement, Rural areas, Telephone.

For reasons set out in the preamble, RUS proposes to amend Chapter

XVII of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 1755--TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR

MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION

1. The authority citation for part 1755 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 1921 et seq., 6941 et seq.

2. Section 1755.98 is amended by revising the section heading and

by adding the entry 1755.920 to the table in numerical order to read as

follows:

Sec. 1755.98 List of telephone standards and specifications included

in this chapter.

* * * * *

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Section Issue date Title

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* * * * * * *

1755.920.............................. [Effective date of final rule].............................. RUS Specification for Telecommunications Conduit.

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3. Section 1755.920 is added to read as follows:

Sec. 1755.920 RUS specification for telecommunications conduit.

(a) Scope. (1) The purpose of this specification is to inform

manufacturers and users of conduit of the engineering and technical

requirements that are considered necessary for satisfactory performance

in outside plant environments. Included are the relevant mechanical and

environmental requirements, desired design features, and test methods

for evaluation of conduit.

(2) The various types of conduit materials covered by this

specification include rigid plastic, flexible plastic, multi-duct

plastic, multi-duct concrete, and fiberglass.

(3) All conduit sold to RUS borrowers for projects involving RUS

loan funds under this specification must be

[[Page 59250]]

accepted by RUS Technical Standards Committee ``A''

(Telecommunications). For conduit manufactured to this specification,

all design changes to an accepted design must be submitted for

acceptance. RUS will be the sole authority on what constitutes a design

change.

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

specifically addressed by this specification may be allowed if accepted

by RUS. Justification for acceptance of modified materials,

manufacturing techniques, or conduit designs shall be provided to

substantiate product utility and long term stability and endurance.

(5) American Society for Testing and Materials Specifications

(ASTM) C 150-97, Standard Specification for Portland Cement; and ASTM F

1173-95, Standard Specification for Thermosetting Resin Fiberglass Pipe

and Fittings to be used for Marine Applications, referenced in this

section are pending approval of incorporation by reference by the

Office of the Federal Register. Copies are available from ASTM, 100

Barr Harbor Drive, W. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428-2959, telephone

number (610) 832-9585. Copies of ASTM standards are available for

inspection during normal business hours at RUS, room 2843, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC 20250-1598 or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(6) National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) TC-2,

Electrical Plastic Tubing (EPT) and Conduit (EPC-40 and EPC-80); NEMA

TC-5, Corrugated Polyolefin Coilable Plastic Utilities Duct; NEMA TC-6,

PVC and ABS Plastic Utilities Duct for Underground Installation; NEMA

TC-7, Smooth-Wall Coilable Polyethylene Electrical Plastic Duct; NEMA

TC-8, Extra-Strength PVC Plastic Utilities Duct for Underground

Installation; and NEMA TC-10, PVC Plastic Communications Duct and

Fittings for Underground Installation, referenced in this section are

pending approval of incorporation by reference by the Office of the

Federal Register. Copies are available from Global Engineering

Documents, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood CO 80112, telephone number

(303) 792-2181. Copies of NEMA standards are available for inspection

during normal business hours at RUS, room 2843, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1598

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

NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(b) Performance criteria and test procedures for rigid plastic

conduit. (1) Type B, Type C, and Type D round plastic conduit are

available in 1 inch (in.) (25 millimeters (mm)), 1\1/2\ in. (38 mm), 2

in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm), and 4 in. (102 mm)

diameters, and are normally supplied in 20 foot lengths. The three

types are as follows:

(i) Type B or Encased Buried (EB) is a thin-wall, round plastic

conduit designed to always be encased in concrete;

(ii) Type C or Direct Buried (DB) is a thick wall, round plastic

conduit designed to be placed with or without encasement; and

(iii) Type D is a round plastic conduit designed for exposed

installation, as on bridges.

(2) Plastic telecommunications duct and fittings shall be made from

Polyvinyl-Chloride (PVC) compound or Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene

(ABS) compound. Materials other than PVC or ABS may be used provided

that the materials are accepted by RUS prior to their use.

(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit that are to

be considered for RUS acceptance (1 in. (25 mm), 1\1/2\ in. (38 mm), 2

in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm), and 4 in. (102 mm)

diameters).

(4) All plastic telecommunications duct and fittings shall be

manufactured and tested in accordance with the specifications listed in

Table 1. Test results shall be submitted for all sizes of conduit to be

considered for RUS acceptance. Table 1 is as follows:

Table 1.--Plastic Conduit Criteria

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Type of plastic Conduit sizes in. (mm) Performance specification

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PVC................................ 1 (25), 1\1/2\ (38) NEMA TC-2 or TC-8.

PVC................................ 2 (51), 3 (76) NEMA TC-2, TC-6, or TC-8.

PVC................................ 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-2, TC-6, TC-8, or TC-10.

ABS................................ 2 (51), 3 (76), 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-6.

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(c) Performance criteria and test procedures for flexible plastic

conduit. (1) Flexible plastic conduit is available in both smooth wall

and corrugated types.

(2) Smoothwall flexible plastic conduit and fittings shall be made

from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or Medium-density Polyethylene

(MDPE). Corrugated flexible plastic conduit and fittings shall be made

from HDPE or Copolymer Polypropylene. Materials other than HDPE, MDPE,

or Copolymer Polypropylene may be used provided that the materials are

accepted by RUS prior to their use.

(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit that are to

be considered for RUS acceptance (1 in. (25 mm), 1\1/2\ in. (38 mm), 2

in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm), and 4 in. (102 mm)

diameters).

(4) All flexible plastic telecommunications duct and fittings shall

be manufactured and tested in accordance with the specifications listed

in Table 2. Test results shall be submitted for all sizes of conduit to

be considered for RUS acceptance. Table 2 is as follows:

Table 2.--Flexible Plastic Conduit Criteria

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Type of flexible conduit Conduit sizes in. (mm) Performance specification

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Smooth-wall, HDPE and MDPE......... 1 (25), 1\1/2\ (38), 2 (51), 3 (76), 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-7.

Corrugated, HDPE and Copolymer 1 (25), 1\1/2\ (38), 2 (51), 3 (76), 3\1/2\ (89), 4 (102) NEMA TC-5.

Polypropylene.

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[[Page 59251]]

(d) Performance criteria and test procedures for multi-duct plastic

conduit. (1) Multi-duct plastic conduit usually consists 3, 4, or 6

inner ducts contained within a larger plastic duct.

(2) Multi-duct plastic conduit and fittings shall be made from PVC

or HDPE. Materials other than PVC or HDPE may be used provided that the

materials are accepted by RUS prior to their use.

(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit and number

chambers that are to be considered for RUS acceptance (3, 4, or 6

chambers).

(4) All multi-duct plastic conduit and fittings shall meet the

requirements shown in Table 3. Test results showing conformance to

these requirements shall be submitted for each size of conduit to be

considered for RUS acceptance. Table 3 is as follows:

Table 3.--Multi-Duct Plastic Conduit Criteria

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Material Performance specification

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PVC............................... NEMA TC-2, TC-6, TC-8, or TC-10.

HDPE.............................. NEMA TC-7.

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(e) Performance criteria and test procedures for multi-duct

concrete conduit. (1) Multi-duct concrete conduit is available in 4, 6,

and 9 way configurations with bore sizes of 3\1/2\ in. (89 mm) or 4

(102 mm) in. in diameter.

(2) Multi-duct concrete conduit shall consist of a homogeneous

mixture of portland cement, aggregates, and water. Portland Cement

shall be type I, II, or III conforming to ASTM C150-97, ``Standard

Specification for Portland Cement.''

(3) The manufacturer shall specify the sizes of conduit that are to

be considered for RUS acceptance (4, 6, or 9 chambers).

(4) Physical tests.--(i) Permeability. No conduit shall be

permeable to water in excess of 38.5 cubic in. (63.1*E+04 cubic mm) per

hour as determined in an outside corner chamber of the multi-duct. The

test specimens for this test shall be in units of conduit at least 36

in. (914 mm) in nominal length which have been dried at a temperature

of approximately 70 deg.F (21 deg.C) for a period of not less than 24

hours. A total of 5 test specimens shall be prepared in this manner. A

rubber duct plug or equivalent shall then be used to seal the chamber

to be tested. Water at a temperature of approximately 70 deg.F

(21 deg.C) shall be poured into the sealed chamber to a height of 34

in. (864 mm) from the sealed end of the chamber. The water level shall

not fall more than 2 in. (51 mm) in 30 minutes for each of the tested

specimens.

(ii) Compressive strength. Compressive strength tests shall be made

on a total of 5 specimens of 12 in. (305 mm) in nominal length cut from

full length units of conduit but not including any formed end.

Specimens shall be air dried at a temperature of approximately 70 deg.F

(21 deg.C) for a period of not less than 24 hours immediately prior to

the test. Samples shall be tested, 6-duct resting on the wide side, as

follows. A suitable container, having interior dimensions of not less

than 14 in. (356 mm) in length and 14 in. (356 mm) in width, shall be

filled to a depth of not less than 2 in. (51 mm) nor more than 4 in.

(102 mm) with dry, tightly packed sand and placed on the lower platen

of the testing machine. The test specimen shall be bedded on the sand

so that its upper surface is parallel with the crosshead of the test

machine. The upper bearing block shall consist of a rigid steel plate

14 in. (356 mm) square and not less than \1/2\ in. (13 mm) thick and

shall be positioned so that it overhangs the flat portion of the upper

surface of the sample on all sides. A sheet of sponge rubber 1 in. (25

mm) thick and 14 in. (356 mm) square, or equivalent, shall be inserted

between the bearing block and the specimen. The load shall then be

applied at a uniform rate such that the minimum compressive value set

forth in Table 4 is reached in not less than 1 minute. No sample shall

fail at a load less than that shown in Table 4. A sample shall be

considered to have failed upon the first evidence that cracking has

occurred. Table 4 is as follows:

Table 4.--Minimum Breaking Loads

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Minimum breaking load (lbs)

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Conduit size 3\1/2\ in. (89 4 in. (102 mm)

mm) diameter duct diameter duct

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4-Duct............................ 15,000 11,250

6-Duct............................ 20,000 15,000

9-Duct............................ 20,000 15,000

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(f) Performance criteria and test procedures for epoxy resin

fiberglass conduit. (1) Epoxy Resin Fiberglass conduit is available in

2 in. (51 mm), 3 in. (76 mm), 4 in. (102 mm), and 6 in. (152 mm) bore

sizes.

(2) All Epoxy Resin Fiberglass conduit and fittings shall be

manufactured and tested in accordance with ASTM F 1173-95, ``Standard

Specification for Thermosetting Resin Fiberglass Pipe and Fittings to

be used for Marine Applications''. Test results shall be submitted for

all sizes of conduit to be considered for RUS acceptance.

(g) RUS Acceptance Procedure. (1) The tests described in this

specification are required for acceptance of product designs and major

modifications of accepted designs. All modifications shall be

considered major unless otherwise declared by RUS. These tests are

intended to demonstrate the capability of the manufacturer to produce

conduit which meets service requirements of RUS Telecommunications

borrowers.

(2) For initial acceptance the manufacturer shall:

(i) Certify that the product fully complies with each paragraph of

this specification, and submit supporting test data;

(ii) Submit quality assurance data which is representative of

several production lots and which demonstrate the reliability of an

ongoing quality assurance program;

(iii) Certify whether the product complies with the domestic origin

manufacturing provisions of the ``Buy American'' Requirement of the

Rural Electrification Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 903 note), as amended (the

REA ``Buy American'' Provision);

(iv) Submit at least three user testimonials concerning field

performance of the product;

(v) Submit product identification information;

(vi) Submit one three inch production sample of each size of

conduit to be considered for acceptance;

(vii) Agree to provide plant inspections by RUS; and

(viii) Provide any other nonproprietary data deemed necessary

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by the Chief, Outside Plant Branch (Telecommunications).

(3) Requalification of a manufacturer's product shall be required

every 2 years after initial acceptance of that product. In order for

RUS to consider a manufacturer's request that a product be requalified,

the manufacturer shall certify, that the product:

(i) Fully complies with each paragraph of this specification; and

(ii) Does or does not comply with the domestic origin manufacturing

provisions of the REA ``Buy American'' provisions. The required

certifications shall be dated within 90 days of the submission.

(4) Initial and requalification acceptance requests should be

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

(Telecommunications), Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural

Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, STOP 1598, Washington, DC

20250-1598.

Dated: October 23, 1998.

Jill Long Thompson,

Under Secretary, Rural Development.

[FR Doc. 98-29132 Filed 11-2-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-15-P