FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 02, 2010

TIA Issues Revised Requirements for Connecting Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network

TIA-968-B Specifies Technical Criteria for Direct Connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network in Accordance with Title 47 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

Arlington, Va. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, recently revised TIA-968-A and released the updated standard as TIA-968-B Telecommunications Telephone Terminal Equipment Technical Requirements for Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network.

TIA-968-B specifies technical criteria for terminal equipment approved in accordance with Title 47 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (47 C.F.R.), 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.

TIA-968-B is based on TIA-968-A and its addendums A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5. The structure of TIA-968-B was entirely changed to reflect a redirected emphasis on interface types instead of test types.

Other changes include:

• Tolerances were added for Type A and Type B surge wave shapes;
• Coin deposit signals were added along with DTMF as examples of signals generated by terminal equipment that are used for network control;
• Clarified that the tip ground state of loop start central office implemented telephones does not require transverse balance testing;
• Clarified in the applications section that terminal equipment must comply with the applicable technical criteria of this standard at any control adjustment employed;
• Annex A was clarified by limiting the grandfather clauses for non-approved equipment to the United States;
• New requirements were added for ADSL all digital mode, reach-extended ADSL and VDSL2. Other DSL requirements previously referenced from T1.417 were also added;
• Component approval requirements previously located in TSB-129-A were included in this standard.

TIA-968-B was formulated under the cognizance of TIA Engineering Committee TR-41 User Premises Telecommunications Requirements' Subcommittee TR-41.9 for Technical Regulatory Considerations, and its TR-41.9.1 working group for TIA-968-B.

To obtain copies of TIA standards, contact IHS International at +1.800.854.7179 (United States and Canada); +1.303.397.7796 (international) or visit global.ihs.com.

For technical information or to learn more about how to participate in standards development with TIA, please contact Victoria Mitchell at vmitchell@tiaonline.org.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Nokia Siemens Networks, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Wirefree. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

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