This appendix establishes policies and assigns responsibility for use of and compliance with the appropriate Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBs) and Federal Telecommunications Recommendations (FTRs) as the standards for specifying requirements for Building Telecommunications Wiring and Infrastructure in Federal office buildings and building complexes.

Before the 1950s, planning for telecommunications facilities was not perceived as a significant factor in the design and construction of a building. However, the economic penalties of this perception became clear in the 1950s and an understanding evolved that the building and telecommunications industries had to work more closely as a team. Technological advances of the past 30 years have continued to reinforce this requirement. Telecommunications managers shall be aware of building codes and standards governing the installation practices and materials used in the construction of telecommunications facilities. The purpose of codes and standards is to ensure the quality of construction and protect life, health, and property.

CIO - Chief Information Officer

FIPS - Federal Information Processing Standards

FTR - Federal Telecommunications Recommendations

GWAC - General Services Administration Wiring and Cabling Contract

OCIO - Office of Chief Information Officer

TSO - Telecommunications Services and Operations

a The use of the standards specified in the FTR and FIPS PUBs are mandatory and binding for the acquisition of new equipment and services by all Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

b Agencies and staff offices shall specify in solicitations or contracts that all wiring shall comply with FTR 1090-1997, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard. The standard shall be used by all agencies and staff offices in the planning and design of all office buildings, including both the wiring of new buildings and the upgrading of existing plant in both Federal and leased non-Federal buildings, when FIPS PUB 176 is not selected.

c Agencies and staff offices responsible for the architectural design of new buildings shall comply with the provisions of FIPS PUB 175, Federal Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces.

d Agencies and staff offices responsible for wiring small buildings shall comply with the provisions of FIPS PUB 176, Residential and Light Commercial Telecommunications Wiring Standard. The standard shall be used by all agencies and staff offices responsible for the planning and design of premises-wiring systems, when FTR 1090-1997 is not selected.

e Agencies and staff offices responsible for the administration of the telecommunications infrastructure (telecommunications equipment spaces, cable pathways, bonding/grounding, wiring, and termination hardware) shall comply with the provisions of FIPS PUB 187, Administration Standard for the Telecommunications Infrastructure of Federal Buildings.

f Agencies and staff offices responsible for the design, maintenance, renovation, or retrofit of telecommunications grounding systems within new or existing Federal buildings shall comply with the provisions of FIPS PUB 195, Federal Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications.

g Under certain exceptional circumstances, the heads of Federal departments and agencies may approve waivers to the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). The head of such agency may redelegate such authority only to a Chief Information Officer (CIO) designated pursuant to Section 3506 of Title 44, U.S.C.

Waivers shall be granted only when:

 a The Office of the Chief Information Officer will:

b Agencies and Staff Offices will:

a Bonding. The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrical conductive path that will assure electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any electrical current likely to be imposed.

b Ground. A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.

c Pathway. A facility for the placement of telecommunications cable.

d Building Telecommunications Infrastructure. A collection of those telecommunications components, excluding equipment, that together provide the basic support for the distribution of all information within a building or campus.