Invitation to Participate

NEW GR
Consolidation and Updating of Metallic Cable Documents, Issue 1

Contact:

Trevor Bowmer, Ph.D. Telcordia Phone: + 1.732.699.3341 tbowmer@telcordia.com

Projected Start Date: 1st Quarter 2008 (subject to contracted participation level) Estimated Completion Date: Step 1 - September/October 2008; Step 2 - December 2008; Step 3 - April 2009; Step 4 - July 2009. It is hoped that the process will be completed long before July 2009; however, it is difficult to anticipate the issues and time to resolve technical questions that may unexpectedly arise from considering such a broad range of product documents. Participation Fee: $12,500 per step or $35,000 for the complete 4-step process

It is Telcordia's intention to consolidate and update its metallic cable and wire documents. To accomplish these activities, a four-step process is proposed by which participants can elect to join one or all of the steps on a graduated cost scale. The extent of the work will be determined by the number of participants and the total available funds for the project. The outline of the four-step process is as follows:

• Step 1 - Consolidation and update of the Drop Cable and Wire Documents listed below into a single document, titled Generic Requirements of Telecommunications Service Drop Service Wires
  • TR-NWT-000121, Generic Requirements for Single Pair Aerial Service Wire
  • TR-NWT-000122, Generic Requirements for Multiple-Pair Aerial Service Wire
  • TR-NWT-000123, Generic Requirements for Single Pair Buried Wire
  • TR-NWT-000124, Generic Requirements for Multiple Pair Buried Wire
  • TR-TSY-000128, Generic Requirements for Bridle Wire
  • TR-TSY-000129, Generic Requirements for Tree Wire
• Step 2 - Consolidation and update of the Inside Cable and Wire documents listed below into a new Issue 2 of GR-137, planned to be titled Generic Requirements of Telecommunications Inside Cable and Wires, incorporating the following products:
  • TR-NWT-000131, Generic Requirements for Network Plenum Cable/Wire
  • TR-NWT-000132, Generic Requirements for Network Shielded Station Wire
  • TR-NWT-000133, Generic Requirements for Network Inside Wiring Cable
  • TR-NWT-000134, Generic Requirements for Network Two Pair Station Wire
  • GR-136, Generic Requirements for Distributing Frame Wire
  • GR-137, Generic Requirements for Central Office Cable
• Step 3 - Update of the 1998 Issue 1 of GR-421 to include any appropriate revisions based on the results of Steps 1 and 2, and review for inclusion products covered under the following documents:
  • GR-421, Generic Requirements for Metallic Telecommunications Cables
  • TR-NWT-000188, Plugged Cable Stubs
  • GR-111, Generic Requirements for Thermoplastic Insulated Riser Cable
• Step 4 - Update of the 1994 Issue 1 of GR-492 to include any appropriate revisions based on the results of Steps 1, 2, and 3 above, and review for inclusion products covered under the following documents:
  • GR-492, Generic Requirements for Metallic Telecommunication Wire
  • GR-126, Generic Requirements for Network Outdoor, Customer Premises, and Universal Cross-Connecting Wire

The documents listed herein address the major part of the Metallic Cable area of Network products and various products of metallic (copper pairs) telecommunications wire and cable. This project will entail reviewing the requirements documents listed above, bringing them up to date, converting any TRs to the GR format, incorporating high-speed data performance requirements (e.g., Category 5, 5e) for applicable products, revising for latest insulation, jacket, and shield material technologies, and other cable design changes that have occurred since the documents were last issued.

It is anticipated that the major technical issues to be addressed will include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Addition of any necessary broadband, high-speed data requirements
• Consolidation of product documents and formation of a single coherent family of documents
• Updating where relevant for latest material technologies including consideration of non-halogen, fire-resistant materials as well as the possible replacement of lead (Pb)-based additives and phthalate plasticizers as a result of emerging rules and regulations from various governmental agencies including EPA-, RoHS- and WEEE-based regulations.
• Updating where relevant for latest cable design technologies (e.g., universal indoor/outdoor cable, cable stripping, and color coding)
• Customize wire or cable documents, as needed, to meet expected needs of Next Generation Networks and potential new services (attempt to "future-proof" the metallic wire and cable requirements documents).

The multi-step process outlined above is envisioned to occur over an 18-month to 2-year time frame with 6 months on average being necessary to complete each step. The steps are designed to be completed in sequence as outlined.

Pursuant to provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, related to the development of industry-wide generic requirements, Telcordia invites all interested parties to participate in this GR project. If your company is interested in participating in this activity, please contact Telcordia. The resulting document will only be available through the purchase of an Enterprise License. Such a license is included in the participation fee for this GR project.

To proceed with this new GR, it is expected that Telcordia will need at least five industry participants. While the project can proceed with fewer participants, deliverables may change as a result. The exact set of deliverables may change as a result of the number or funding participants.The participating industry members will be apprised regularly of project status and any changes in deliverables.