1. The Privatization of the Federal Communications Commission’s Part 68
By:
Ed Hall
Vice President, Technology Development
Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)

2. Part 68: History
Before the establishment of the FCC Part 68 rules & regulations, telephone equipment was manufactured almost exclusively by Western Electric whereby:
Inhibiting the proliferation of technical knowledge of telephone equipment and networks outside the Bell System
Creating a monopoly in the development and manufacturing of telephone equipment
Promoting a closed-system architectural & infrastructure
November 7, 2001

3. Part 68: Purpose
The purpose of the Part 68 rules and regulations is to provide for uniform standards for the protection of the telephone network from harms caused by the connection of telephone equipment and associated wiring
Part 68 also provides for compatibility of hearing aids and telephones so as to ensure that persons with hearing aids have reasonable access to the telephone network
November 7, 2001

4. Part 68: Influence
Since Part 68 was established, the marketplaces for telephone equipment and local exchange service have changed dramatically whereby:
Vibrant competition has emerged
Basic voice telephones and new types of terminal equipment, including advanced telephones, computer modems, and equipment for individuals with disabilities, have become widely and competitively available
Private standards-setting bodies and testing laboratories for telecommunications equipment have become well established
November 7, 2001

5. Part 68: Biennial Review
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 directed the FCC to review its rules every even-numbered year and repeal or modify those found to be no longer in the public interest
Because of the rapid pace of change in both network and telephone equipment technologies, the FCC found it increasingly difficult for the regulatory process to keep pace thus creating a public disservice
November 7, 2001

6. Part 68: Privatization
Pursuant to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Report and Order CC Docket No , FCC , the FCC minimized the government’s role in Part 68 by privatizing significant portions of its rules governing the connection of customer premises equipment (telephone equipment) to the public switched telephone network and privatized the standards development and terminal equipment approval processes
November 7, 2001

7. Part 68: Privatization
To ensure continued uniformity and a level playing field that will assure robust competition, the FCC mandated the establishment of the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA) to assume functions privatized
ACTA was formed through the co-sponsorship and support of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
November 7, 2001

8. The Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA)
By:
Tim Jeffries
Director, ACTA & Technology Development
Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)

9. Administrative Council
A non-governmental telecommunications industry driven entity not controlled or dominated by any particular industry segment
Is impartial, fair, balanced, and open
Represent all segments of the industry including:
Local Exchange Carriers (LEC)
Interexchange Carriers (IXC)
Terminal Equipment Manufacturers (TEM)
Network Equipment Manufacturers (NEM)
Test Laboratories (LAB), and
Other Interested Parties (OIP)
November 7, 2001

10. Administrative Council
Each segment elects 3 representatives to serve a two-year term
18 Council Members, Chair, & Secretariat (ATIS)
Council meets at least 4 times a year; open to the public
Work with government agencies, standards development organizations (SDO), telecommunications certification bodies (TCB), manufacturers, carriers, and the public
November 7, 2001

11. Administrative Council: Mission
Adopt mandatory technical criteria for terminal equipment to prevent network harm (Section 68.3) through the act of publishing such criteria developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards development organizations; and
Establish and maintain database(s) of equipment approved as compliant with the technical criteria
November 7, 2001

12. Administrative Council: Responsibilities
Council’s responsibilities must be performed in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner, and include:
Adopt technical criteria submitted from ANSI-accredited standards development organizations or committees
Provide 30-day public notice to inform industry of proposed technical criteria
Operate and maintain an accurate database of compliant equipment
Establish and maintain an appropriate labeling methodology
November 7, 2001

13. Administrative Council: Responsibilities
Council’s responsibilities (cont.)
Respond to inquiries from the public regarding its technical criteria
Manage such other tasks as necessary and within the Council’s scope that were formerly part of the FCC’s Part 68 functions
Ensure that the management, activities, and decisions of the Council are independent from all external influences
Coordinate, if necessary, which industry SDOs will take on a particular development project
November 7, 2001

14. Administrative Council: Database
The continuation of a uniform, nationwide database is essential to protecting the public interest
Maintaining a centralized, accurate database that is readily available and accessible to the public, including individuals with disabilities will:
Permit interested parties such as the FCC, U.S. Customs, and providers of telecommunications services to track and identify suppliers or importers of non-compliant equipment
November 7, 2001

15. Administrative Council: Database
Database advantages (cont):
Ameliorate concerns regarding the potentially adverse impact of non-compliant terminal equipment on the public switched telephone network (PSTN) by ensuring that suppliers are held accountable for any damage their equipment may cause
Provide the public with the means to identify the party ultimately responsible for the product
November 7, 2001

16. Administrative Council: Database
Entities submitting information to the database, whether they obtained their approval from a TCB or utilized the supplier’s declaration of conformity (SDoC) process, must submit pertinent information regarding their identity and approved equipment to the database administrator
ACTA assumed the FCC Part 68 database which (currently) maintains records for 34,000+ products
Database is accessible via the Internet
November 7, 2001

17. Administrative Council: Questions
November 7, 2001

18. Administrative Council: Website
November 7, 2001

19. Administrative Council: Website-Query
November 7, 2001

20. Information & Guidance for Submissions to the ACTA from a Submitter’s Perspective
By:
John Bipes
Owner/Engineer
Mobile Engineering, Inc.
OIP Segment Representative, ACTA
MOBILE ENGINEERING

21. via TCB (Telecom Certification Body)
Submission to the ACTA
via TCB (Telecom Certification Body)
Lab evaluation and Certification of the TTE* (Telecom Terminal Equipment) by one of the commercial labs granted TCB status by FCC
via SDOC (Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity)
Lab evaluation of the TTE* (Telecom Terminal Equipment), and Declaration by the supplier.
*Sometimes called TE (Terminal Equipment) or CPE (Consumer Premise Equipment)
November 7, 2001

22. ACTA Standards
The Administrative Council for Terminal Attachment (ACTA) has adopted technical criteria for Telephone Terminal Equipment (TTE). Equipment approved for connection to the public switched telephone network shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of Part 68, and with the applicable technical criteria adopted by ACTA.
The “dBs/Volts/s.” of FCC’s CFR47, Part 68, Subpart D
November 7, 2001

23. ACTA Standards
TIA/EIA/IS-968, Telecommunications -- Telephone Terminal Equipment -- Technical Requirements for Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network, June
TIA/EIA/IS-883, Telecommunications -- Telephone Terminal Equipment -- Supplemental Technical Requirements for Connection of Stutter Dial Tone Detection Devices and ADSL Modems to the Telephone Network, June 2001
TIA/EIA/TSB-168, Telecommunications - Telephone Terminal Equipment - Labeling Requirements, June 2001
November 7, 2001

24. Questions re. ACTA Standards
Inquires in regards to the technical content of any adopted specification, or interpretation thereof, should be sent to the organization (SDO) that submitted the specification. For information on contacting the appropriate SDO, refer to the technical specification.
A website of Frequently Asked Part 68 Questions is maintained by TIA under Committee TR41.
November 7, 2001

25. Origination of ACTA Standards
As provided for in the FCC Order [Report and Order in the 2000 Biennial Review of Part 68 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, CC Docket No , FCC , adopted November 9, and released December 21, 2000], any ANSI- accredited Standards Development Organization (SDO) observing ANSI consensus decision-making procedures may establish technical criteria and submit such criteria to the ACTA for adoption.
T1 Committee T1E1
TIA Committee TR41
November 7, 2001

26. Origination of ACTA Standards
The Report and Order:
Created the ACTA
Split out the “dBs/Volts/s.” of FCC’s CFR47, Part 68, Subpart D - from Part 68
Mandated the ACTA adopt this unaltered item as their 1st mandatory Terminal Attachment Standard
This split-out and unaltered portion of Part 68, in ANSI format, is TIA/EIA/IS-968
November 7, 2001

27. FCC Pt.68 Law TIA/EIA/IS-968 TIA/EIA/IS-968 “dBs/Volts/s.”
Enforcement
Complaint Procedures,
etc.
Law
November 7, 2001

28. TIA/EIA/IS-968 TTE Line Interface Hostilities; Line Interface Network
4.2 Environmental
4.3 AC Leakage Current
4.4 Hazardous Voltage
Line
Interface Network
November 7, 2001

29. Signal Power Limitations;
TIA/EIA/IS-968
Signal Power Limitations;
4.5
Line
Interface Network
November 7, 2001

30. Transverse Balance Limitations;
TIA/EIA/IS-968
Transverse Balance Limitations;
4.6
Line
Interface Network
November 7, 2001

31. On-Hook Impedance Limitations;
TIA/EIA/IS-968
On-Hook Impedance Limitations;
4.7
Line
Interface Network
November 7, 2001

32. TIA/EIA/IS-968 Billing Protection; 4.8 Line Interface Network
November 7, 2001

33. TIA/EIA/IS-968
Plugs & Jacks;
6.0
Plugs & Jacks
November 7, 2001

34. Grandfathered Equipment; Cross Reference to FCC Pt.68;
TIA/EIA/IS-968
Grandfathered Equipment;
Annex A
Cross Reference to FCC Pt.68;
Annex B
Informative Definitions;
Annex C & D
Informative References;
Annex E
November 7, 2001

35. ACTA “Submission Form”
The newest Telephone Terminal Equipment (TTE) Submission Form Version 1.04, October 16, 2001 is now available for download. This version contains a sample SDoC submission as well as a detailed description of each line item. All submitters should use this form for future TTE submissions:
Telephone Terminal Equipment (TTE)Submission Form Version 1.04
November 7, 2001

36. ACTA “Guidelines & Procedures”
The Administrative Council for Terminal Attachment (ACTA) guidelines and procedures for submitting information to ACTA:
Guidelines and Procedures for submittal of information for inclusion in the ACTA database of approved Telephone Terminal Equipment ("TTE"), Revision 1.1., October 2001
November 7, 2001

37. US Postage Submission to the ACTA ACTA Submission c/o ATIS
1200 G St. NW
Washington, DC
20005
November 7, 2001

38. The Changing World of Telecom FCC Part 68 and ACTA In Today’s World
By:
Jimmy Salinas
Regional Manger
Southwestern Bell Communications, Inc
Chair of ACTA

39. This year has provided our world with many changes
Telecom: Today
This year has provided our world with many changes
Many of them have gone unnoticed by our industry to date
Minor thing like the creation of the ACTA
The changing functions of the FCC in relation to the Part 68 technical rules
Items like Sections 68.3, 68.7 and
November 7, 2001

40. 68.7 - Technical Criteria for Terminal Equipment
Telecom: Today
Definitions
Demarcation Point - interconnection between the Wireline Provider and the Terminal Equipment
Technical Criteria for Terminal Equipment
Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA)
November 7, 2001

41. 68.105 - Minimum Point of Entry (MPOE ) and Demarcation point
Telecom: Today
Minimum Point of Entry (MPOE ) and Demarcation point
MPOE; Shall be either the closest practicable point to where the wiring crosses a property line or closest practicable point to where the wiring enters a Multiunit Building or Buildings
November 7, 2001

42. Telecom: Today
Minor Changes, but changes that carry major problems in the way we do our business
First minor item, is the fact that there are no bandwidth limitations in the new FCC Part 68
Second, there or no facility type limits as well, just Wireline or Wireless Providers
November 7, 2001

43. Telecom: Today
And finally, the most important minor change is The President’s “Executive Order Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Information Age” Noting that the way we conduct Business, Government Operates and National Defense, depend on an interdependent network of critical information infrastructures
November 7, 2001

44. Telecom: Today
It is the policy of the United States to protect against disruption of the operation of information system for critical infrastructure and thereby help to protect the people, economy, essential human and government services, and national security of the United States
November 7, 2001

45. Questions & Answers: ACTA Panel: Ed Hall, VP, Tech. Development, ATIS
Tim Jeffries, Dir, ACTA & Tech. Development, ATIS
John Bipes, Owner/Eng., Mobile Engineering, ACTA OIP Rep.
Jimmy Salinas, Regional Mgr., SBC, ACTA Chair
November 7, 2001