7 C.F.R. § 1755.397
(a) General.
(1) This section covers general requirements for a line concentrator (LC) system. This system shall operate in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. Reliability shall be of prime importance in the design, manufacture and installation of the equipment. The equipment shall automatically provide for:
(3) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards are available from ANSI Inc., 11 West 42nd Street, 13th floor, New York, NY 10036, telephone 212-642-4900.
(4) American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) are available from 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, telephone 215-299-5400.
(5) Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) standards are available from Bellcore Customer Service, 8 Corporate Place, Piscataway, NJ 08854, telephone 1-800-521-2673.
(7) IEEE standards are available from IEEE Service Center, 445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08854, telephone 1-800-521-2673.
(8) RUS standards are available from Publications and Directives Management Branch, Administrative Services Division, Rural Utilities Service, room 0180, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500.
(b) Types of requirements.
(c) Reliability.
(f) Subscriber lines—(1) General.
(2) Dialing.
(iii) Subscriber line pushbutton dialing frequencies. The frequency pairs assigned for pushbutton dialing when provided by the central office shall be as listed in this paragraph (f)(2)(iii), with an allowable variation of ±1.5 percent:
| Low group frequencies (Hz) | High group frequencies (Hz) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1209 | 1336 | 1477 | 1633 | |
| 697 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Spare. |
| 770 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Spare. |
| 852 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Spare. |
| 941 | * | 0 | # | Spare. |
(3) Ringing.
(g) Traffic.
(1)
(6) Return loss. The specified return loss values are determined by the service and type of port at the measuring end. Two-wire ports are measured at 900 ohms in series with 2.16 microfarads, and 4-wire ports are measured at 600 ohms resistive. When other balance networks are supplied, test equipment arranged for operation with the supplied network(s) may be used. The requirement given shall meet the following cited values on each balance network available in the system:
Line-to-Line or Line-to-Trunk (2-Wire) Echo Return Loss (ERL)—18 dB, Minimum Singing Return Loss (SRL)—Low—15 dB, Minimum Singing Return Loss (SRL)—High—18 dB, Minimum
(8) 60 hz longitudinal current immunity. The LC 60 Hz longitudinal current immunity shall be measured in accordance with Figure 1 of this section. Under test conditions cited on Figure 1 of this section, the system noise shall be 23 dBrnC or less as follows:

(9) Steady noise (idle channel at 900 ohm impedance). Steady noise: Measure on terminated call. Noise measurements shall comply with the following:
Maximum—23 dBrnC0 Average—18 dBrnC0 or Less 3KHz Flat—Less than 35 dBrnO as an Objective
(13) Quantizing distortion.
(i) The system shall meet the following requirements:
| Input level (dBm0) 1004 or 1020 Hz | Minimum signal to distortion with C-message weighting |
|---|---|
| 0 to −30 | 33 dB |
| −30 to −40 | 27 dB |
| −40 to −45 | 22 dB |
(15) Gain tracking (linearity) shall meet the following requirements:
| Input signal level 1 | Maximum gain deviation |
|---|---|
| + 3 to −37 dBm0 | ±0.5 dB |
| −37 to −50 dBm0 | ±1 dB |
| 1 1004 Hz reference at 0 dBm0. |
(16) Frequency response (loss relative to 1004 Hz) for line-to-line (via trunk group or intra-link) connections shall meet the following requirements:
| Frequency (Hz) | Loss at 0 dBm0 input 1 |
|---|---|
| 60 | 20 dB Min. 2 |
| 300 | −1 to + 3 dB |
| 600 to 2400 | + 1 dB |
| 3400 | −1 to + 3 dB |
| 1 (−) means less loss and (+) means more loss. | |
| 2 Transmit End. |
(17) Envelope delay distortion. On any properly established connection, the envelope delay distortion shall not exceed the following limits:
| Frequency (Hz) | Microseconds |
|---|---|
| 1000 to 2600 | 190 |
| 800 to 2800 | 350 |
| 600 to 3000 | 500 |
| 400 to 3200 | 700 |
(20) Detailed requirements for direct digital connections.
(iv) When a direct digital interface between the span line and the host central office equipment is to be implemented, the following requirements shall be met:
(j) Electrical protection—(1) Surge protection.
(ii) Equipment must pass laboratory tests, simulating a hostile electrical environment, before being placed in the field for the purpose of obtaining field experience. For acceptance consideration RUS requires manufacturers to submit recently completed results (within 90 days of submittal) of data obtained from the prescribed testing. Manufacturers are expected to detail how data and tests were conducted. There are five basic types of laboratory tests which must be applied to exposed terminals in an effort to determine if the equipment will survive. Figure 2 of this section, Summary of Electrical Requirements and Tests, identifies the tests and their application as follows:
| Test | Application criteria | Peak voltage or current | Surge waveshape | Number of applications and maximum time between | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current surge | Low impedance paths exposed to surges | 500A or lesser current (see fig. 4) | 10 × 1000 µs | 5 each polarity at 1 minute intervals | None. |
| 60 Hz current carrying | High or low impedance paths exposed to surges | 10A rms or lesser current (see fig. 6) | 11 Cycles of 60 Hz (0.183 Sec.) | 3 each at 1 minute intervals | None. |
| AC Power service surge voltage | AC power service connection | 2500V or + 3 σ clamping V of arrester employed at 10kV/µs | 1.2 × 50 µs | 5 each polarity at 1 minute intervals | AC arrester, if used, must be removed. Communications line arresters, if used, remain in place. |
| Voltage surge | High impedance paths exposed to surges | 1000V or + 3 σ dc breakdown of arrester employed | 10 × 1000 µs | 5 each polarity at 1 minute intervals | All primary arresters, if used, must be removed. |
| Arrester response delay | Paths protected by arresters, such as gas tubes, with breakdown dependent on V. rate of rise | + 3 σ breakdown of arrester employed at 100V/µs of rise | 100V/µs rise decay to 1⁄2 V. in tube's delay time | 5 each polarity at 1 minute intervals | All primary arrestors, if used, must be removed. |
(iii) Electrical protection requirements for line concentrator equipment can be summarized briefly as follows:
(A) Current surge tests simulate the stress to which a relatively low impedance path may be subjected before main frame protectors break down. Paths with a 100 Hz impedance of 50 ohms or less shall be subjected to current surges, employing a 10 × 1000 microsecond waveshape as defined in Figure 3 of this section, Surge Waveshape. For the purpose of determining this impedance, arresters which are mounted within the equipment are to be considered zero impedance. The crest current shall not exceed 500A; however, depending on the impedance of the test specimen this value of current may be lower. The crest current through the sample, multiplied by the sample's 100 Hz impedance, shall not exceed 1000 V. Where sample impedance is less than 2 ohms, peak current shall be limited to 500A as shown in Figure 4 of this section, Current Surge Tests. Figures 3 and 4 follow:


(E) Arrester response delay tests are designed to stress the equipment in a manner similar to that caused by the delayed breakdown of gap type arresters when subjected to rapidly rising voltages. Arresters shall be removed for these tests, the peak surge voltage shall be the + 3 sigma breakdown voltage of the arrester in question on a voltage rising at 100 V per microsecond, and the time for the surge to decay to half voltage shall equal at least the delay time of the tube as explained in Figure 5 of this section, Arrester Response Delay Time as follows:

(iv) Tests shall be conducted in the following sequence. As not all tests are required in every application, non-applicable tests should be omitted:
(v) A minimum of five applications of each polarity for the surge tests and three for the 60 Hz Current Carrying Tests are the minimum required. All tests shall be conducted with not more than 1 minute between consecutive applications in each series of three or five applications to a specific configuration so that heating effects will be cumulative. See Figure 6 of this section, 60 Hz Current Surge Tests as follows:

(vi) Tests shall be applied between each of the following terminal combinations for all line operating conditions:
(2) Dielectric strength.
(4) Self-protection.
(2) Wire wrapped terminals. These terminals are preferred and where used shall be of a material suitable for wire wrapping. The connections to them shall be made with a wire wrapping tool with the following minimum number of successive non-overlapping turns of bare tinned copper wire in contact with each terminal:
(5) Environmental requirements.
(ii) To the extent practicable, the following temperature range objectives shall be met:
(9) Housing.
(10) Distributing frame.
(2) Operating voltage.
(3) Batteries.
(4) Charging equipment.
(iv) The charger noise, when measured with a suitable noise measuring set and under the rated battery capacitance and load conditions, shall not exceed 22 dBrnC. See Figure 7 of this section, Charger Noise Test as follows:

(5) Power panel.
(n) Trouble location and test—(1) Equipment.
(2) Maintenance system.
(p) Drawings and printed material.
(2) Three complete sets of legible drawings shall be provided for each central office to be accessed. Each set shall include all of the following:
(3) The following information shall also be furnished:
(2) Responsibilities of owner. The owner shall:
(3) Responsibilities of bidder. The bidder shall:
(4) Information to be furnished by bidder. The bidder shall accompany its bid with the following information:
(5) Installation requirements.
(iii) An inspection shall be made by the owner or its representatives prior to performing operational and performance tests on the equipment, but after all installing operations which might disturb apparatus adjustments have been completed. The inspection shall be of such character and extent as to disclose with reasonable certainty any unsatisfactory condition of apparatus or equipment. During these inspections, or inspections for apparatus adjustments, or wire connections, or in testing of equipment, a sufficiently detailed examination shall be made throughout the portion of the equipment within which such condition is observed, or is likely to occur, to disclose the full extent of its existence, where any of the following conditions are observed:
(6) Operational tests.
(7) Acceptance tests and data required.
(i) Data shall be supplied to the owner by the bidder in writing as a part of the final documents in closing out the contract as follows:
(8) Joint inspection requirements.
(i) The bidder shall notify the owner in writing at least one week before the date the complete system will be ready for inspection and tests. A joint inspection shall be made by the bidder and the owner (or owner's engineer) to determine that the equipment installation is acceptable. The inspection shall include physical inspection, a review of acceptance test data, operational tests, and sample measurements.
(ii) In the event that the measured data or operational tests show that equipment fails to meet the requirements quirements of this section, the deficiencies are to be resolved as set forth in Article II of the 397 Special Equipment Contract. (Copies are available from RUS, room 0174, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500.) The reports of the bidder and the owner shall be detailed as to deficiencies, causes, corrective action necessary, corrective action to be taken, completion time, etc.
(The information and recordkeeping requirements of this section have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under the control number 0572-0059)
Appendix A to § 1755.397—Specification for Line Concentrator Detailed Equipment Requirements (Information To Be Supplied by Owner) Telephone Company (Owner) Name: Location: Number of LC's Required: ________ Line Concentrator Locations: Location No. of Lines CentralOffice 1. General 1.1 Notwithstanding the bidder's equipment lists, the equipment and materials furnished by the bidder must meet the requirements of paragraphs (a) through (p) of this section, and this appendix A. 1.2 Paragraph (a) through (p) of this section cover the minimum general requirements for line concentrator equipment. 1.3 Paragraph (q) of this section covers the requirements for installation, inspection and testing when such service is included as part of the contract. 1.4 This appendix A covers the technical data for application engineering and detailed equipment requirements insofar as they can be established by the owner. This appendix A shall be filled in by the owner. 1.5 Appendix B of this section covers detailed information on the line concentrator equipment, information on system reliability and traffic capacity as proposed by the bidder. Appendix B of this section is to be filled in by the bidder and must be presented with the bid. Office Name (By Location) LC Designation 2. Number of Subscriber Lines Equipped Wired only Single-Party Pay Station (Type:________) Other (Describe:________) Total 3. Loop Resistance 3.1 Number of non-pay station lines having a loop resistance, including the telephone set as follows: 3.1.1 For physical trunks between the remote and the office units, the loop resistance is to include the resistance of the trunk. No. of lines 1200-1900 ohms 1901-3200 ohms 3201-4500 ohms 3.1.2 Number of pay station lines having a loop resistance, excluding the telephone set, greater than: No. of lines 1200 ohms (Prepay) 1000 ohms (Semi-Postpay) When physical trunks are used, these resistances include that of the facility between the CO and the remote. 3.1.3 Range extension equipment, if required, is to be provided: ________ By Bidder ________ By Owner (Quantity and Type) 4. Traffic Data 4.1 Average combined originating and terminating hundred call seconds (CCS) per line in the busy hour: ______ CCS/Line. (Assume originating & terminating equal.) 4.2 Percent Intra-Calling ________ 4.3 Total Busy Hour Calls ________ 5. TYPE or RINGING 5.1 Frequency No. 1. 2. 3. 4. Frequency (Hz) Max. No. of Phones/Freq. 5.2 Minimum ringing generator capacity to be supplied shall be sufficient to serve ________ lines (each frequency). 6. Central Office Equipment Interface 6.1 COE will be: 6.1.1 COE Manufacturer Type Year Generic 6.1.2 ________ See digital central office specification for the switchboard at ____________________ . 6.2 Interface will be: 6.2.1 ________ Line Circuit(s) 6.2.2 ________ Direct Digital Interface 6.2.3 ________ Other (Describe) 6.3 Mounting rack for line concentrator furnished by: ________ Bidder ________ Owner (Specify width and height of rack available) (Width) (Height) 6.4 Equipment to be installed in existing building: ________ Yes (Attach detailed plan) ________ No 7. Transmission Facilities 7.1 Transmission facilities between the central office and remote terminals shall be: 7.1.1 Type: ________ VF Carrier Derived Circuits ________ Digital Span Line (DS1) ________ Other (Attach a layout of the transmission facilities between the central office and the remote terminals describing transmission and signaling parameters, routing and resistance where applicable.) 7.1.2 Utilizes physical plant ________ Cable Pairs (Existing/New) ________ Other Note: Unless otherwise stated, physical plant will be supplied by the owner. 7.1.3 Terminal equipment for transmission facility to be supplied by: ________ Owner ________ Bidder 7.1.3.1 Carrier e/w voice terminations ________ Yes ________ No Manufacturer and type Central office voice terminations Equipped ________, Wired Only ________ 7.1.3.2 Digital span line (DS1) supplied by ________ Owner ________ Bidder Manufacturer and Type 7.1.3.3 Number of repeaters (per span line) ________ 7.1.3.4 Diverse (alternate) span line routing required ________ Yes (Describe in Item 11) ________ No 7.1.3.5 Span line terminations only ________ Yes ________ No 7.1.3.6 Span line power required (CO and Remote Terminals) ________ Yes ________ No 7.1.3.7 Physical facility between CO and remote Loop Resistance ________ ohms, Length ________ meters 8. Power Equipment Requirements 8.1 Central Office Terminal 8.1.1 Owner-furnished −48 volt dc power ________ Yes ________ No 8.1.2 Other (Describe) 8.1.3 Standby power is available ________ Yes ________ No 8.2 Remote Terminal 8.2.1 Owner-furnished −48 vdc power ________ Yes ________ No 8.2.2 Bidder-furnished power supply ________ Yes ________ No 8.2.3 AC power available at site: ________ 110 vac, 60 Hz, single-phase ________ Other (Describe in Item 11) 8.2.4 A battery reserve of ________ busy hours shall be provided for this line concentrator terminal when it reaches ________ lines at the traffic rates specified. 8.2.5 Batteries supplied shall be: ________ Lead Calcium ________ Stabilized Electrolyte ________ Sealed Lead Acid ________ Other (Describe in item 11) 8.2.6 Standby power is available ________ Yes ________ No 9. Remote Terminal 9.1 Mounting 9.1.1 ________ Outside Housing (To be furnished by bidder) 9.1.2 ________ Concrete Slab to be furnished by owner (Bidder to supply construction details after award.) 9.1.3 ________ Manhole, environmentally controlled (Describe in Item 11) 9.1.4 ________ Pedestal Mounting 9.1.5 ________ Pole Mounting (Owner-furnished installed pole) 9.1.6 ________ Prefab Building (Owner-furnished site) 9.2 Equipment is to be installed in an existing building. ________ Yes ________ No (Attach detailed plan.) 9.3 Other (Describe) 10. Alternates 11. Explanatory Notes
Appendix B to § 1755.397—Specification for Line Concentrators Detailed Requirements; Bidder Supplied Information Telephone Company (Owner) Name: Location: Line Concentrator Equipment Locations Central Office Terminal: Remote Terminal: 1. General 1.1 The equipment and materials furnished by the bidder must meet the requirements of paragraphs (a) through (p) of this section. 1.2 Paragraph (a) through (p) of this section cover the minimum general requirements for line concentrator equipment. 1.3 Paragraph (q) of this section covers requirements for installation, inspection and testing when such service is included as part of the contract. 1.4 Appendix A of this section covers the technical data for application engineering and detailed equipment requirements insofar as they can be established by the owner. Appendix A of this section is to be filled in by the owner. 1.5 This appendix B covers detailed information on the line concentrator equipment, information as to system reliability and traffic capacity as proposed by the bidder. This appendix B shall be filled in by the bidder and must be presented with the bid. 2. Performance Objectives 2.1 Reliability (See paragraph (c) of this section) 2.2 Busy Hour Load Capacity and Traffic Delay (See Paragraph (g) of this section) 3. Equipment Quantities Dependent on System Design 3.1 Transmission Facilities between the Central Office and Remote Terminals Type Quantity equipped Quantity wired only 4. Power Requirements 4.1 Central Office Terminal Voltage Current Drain (Amps) Normal ________, Peak ________ Fuse Qty ________, Size ________, Type ________ Heat Dissipation (BTU/Hr.) ________ 4.2 Remote Terminal AC or DC Voltage Current Drain (Amps) Normal ________, Peak ________ Fuse Qty ________, Size ________, Type ________ Heat Dissipation (BTU/Hr.) ________ Power required for heating or cooling equipment in remote bidder-furnished housing 5. Temperature and Humidity Limitations 5.1 Temperature Central office Remote* Maximum °F (°C) Minimum °F (°C) 5.2 Relative Humidity Central office Remote* Maximum Minimum * Show conditions outside bidder-furnished housing. 6. Explanatory Notes
[60 FR 44729, Aug. 29, 1995, as amended at 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004]