smart grid question

ACTA-10-014 T. Bishop (Verizon) 301-236-3754 1

Smart Grid Question

Does customer premises equipment associated with Smart Grid applications need to comply with 47 C.F.R. Part 68 of the FCC’s rules and regulations?


Short Answer

It depends.

Part 68 applicability is not dependent on whether equipment is used in connection with a smart grid application.

Part 68 applicability is dependent on certain conditions. When those conditions are present, equipment used in connection with smart grid applications will need to comply with Part 68. If those conditions are not applicable to the equipment, then the equipment will not need to comply with Part 68.


When must equipment meet Part 68?

• For the most part, Part 68 compliance is dependent on whether or not equipment can be connected directly (i.e., it has a physical connection) to a wireline carrier network.

• Part 68 also has rules pertaining to a few other characteristics of equipment.


Other Part 68 Criteria

• Approved equipment must provide equal access to common carriers.

• Telephones must be compatible with hearing aids.• Limits on equipment with automatic dialing capability.• Limits on automatic telephone dialing systems.• Telephone facsimile machines must clearly mark

identifying information on each transmitted message.

If any of the requirements in 68.318 are applicable to the equipment, then the equipment needs to comply.


Direct Connection of CPE

Part 68 allows equipment to be directly connected to wireline carrier facilities if it is approved in accordance with Part 68.


Part 68 Approval

Responsible party must warrant that each unit of equipment will comply with: – All applicable rules in Part 68.– All applicable technical criteria of the

Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA).


ACTA Technical Criteria

• TIA-1096-A – Connector Requirements for Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network.

• TIA-968-B – Technical Requirements for Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network.

• Both standards may be downloaded for free from the ACTA website at www.part68.org.


TIA-1096-A

• Requirements pertain to:– Carrier-installed jacks used at the

demarcation point.[1] – Plugs and jacks used with inside wiring.[2]– Plugs and jacks used to connect terminal

equipment to wireline carrier networks.[3]

[1] 47 C.F.R. 105(a).

[2] 47 C.F.R. 68.213(b).

[3] TIA-968-B, clause 4.6, and TIA-1096-A, clause 1.1.


TIA-968-B

• Requirements in TIA-968-B pertain to terminal equipment approved in accordance with Part 68 for direct connection to the public switched telephone network, including private line services provided over wireline facilities owned by providers of wireline telecommunications.

• Requirements are defined for several types of electrical interfaces that are itemized in the scope (clause 1.1) of TIA-968-B.


TIA-968-B Interfaces• Loop start * (not including party lines)• Ground start *• Loop reverse-battery incoming * (e.g., DID and PSAP trunks)• Loop reverse-battery outgoing * (e.g., E911 PBX trunks)• E&M * (e.g., analog tie trunks)• Off-premises station * (Class A, B, and C OPS)• Private line * (with ringdown, voice band metallic, or in-band signaling)• Local area data channel• Subrate (e.g., 1.2, 2.4, 4.8, 9.6, and 56 kbps DDS)• PSDS Types I, II, and III• DS1 and ISDN PRI (1.544 Mbps)• ISDN BRI and IDSL• ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+, and reach extended ADSL2 (READSL2)• SHDSL and ESHDSL• HDSL2, SMC4, and HDSL4• SDSL• SMC6, VDSL, and VDSL2• SMC2, SMC3, SMC7, SMC8, and other DSL

* Analog voice band (< 4 kHz) interface.


Conclusion

Regardless of whether or not the equipment is used in connection with a smart grid application, if the equipment can be directly connected to a wireline carrier network using one of the interfaces identified in the scope of TIA-968-B, then it must meet all applicable requirements of Part 68, TIA-968-B, and TIA1096-A.

In addition, Part 68 requires:– Telephones to be compatible with hearing aids.– Places limits on equipment with automatic dialing capability.– Places limits on automatic telephone dialing systems.– Requires telephone facsimile machines to be capable of clearly

marking identifying information on each transmitted message.


Where can I go with Part 68 Questions?

• Administrative questions: – Administrative Council for Terminal

Attachments (ACTA).

• Technical questions:

– TR41.9 - Technical and Administrative Regulatory Considerations subcommittee of TR41 – User Premises Telecommunications Equipment engineering committee of Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).


ACTA Contact Information

• Phone: 202-628-6280

• e-mail: [email protected]

• ACTA Online Filing (AOF) questions: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



TR41 Contact Information

For information about TR41.9 meetings, go to:

http://www.tiaonline.org/standards/committees/committee.cfm?comm=tr-41

If you are unable to attend a meeting of TR41.9 in person, you may submit your question to the Chair of TR41.9 or TR41 via email.

TR41.9 Chair: Phil Havens - [email protected]

TR41 Chair: Steve Whitesell - [email protected]


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