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ISE Columnist Don McCarty, OSP Expert
ISE Columnist Don McCarty, OSP Expert
ISE Columnist Don McCarty, OSP Expert
ISE Columnist Don McCarty, OSP Expert
ISE Columnist Don McCarty, OSP Expert

Limited Access Install Procedures for FTTH / DSL / Bonded DSL

Dec. 1, 2020
I was recently contacted by the GM of a small independent Telco asking me about good procedures for installation in general and also in this time of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. […]

I was recently contacted by the GM of a small independent Telco asking me about good procedures for installation in general and also in this time of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. This is not a problem I’ve had to deal with during my active working career so I reached out to my friend, Randy Lis, the GM of Piedmont Rural Telephone Cooperative (PRTC) in Laurens, South Carolina, and asked about his processes. I have tremendous respect for Randy and PRTC. They are proactive and organized in creating and implementing best practices.

Randy referred me to his Outside Plant Supervisor, Mike Foster, who had put together a process for limited access install procedures for FTTH / DSL / Bonded DSL. The procedures are used in the event of limited access to the inside of a customer’s home or business.

PRTC makes every attempt possible to install service for their customers while taking every necessary precaution to ensure the safety of their employees and customers.

Food for Thought from Our 2022 ICT Visionaries

FTTH Install
1. Begin by verifying information displayed on the service order is accurate (Name and Address). In some cases you may have the customer information e-mailed to you; please verify with customer all information is correct.

2. With all information correct, proceed to unbox equipment (Gigacenter, Gigapoint) and make any equipment connections possible before turning equipment over to customer.

3. Take note of any necessary equipment ID information needed to activate equipment before turning equipment over to customer.

4. Run temporary fiber jumper from Primex enclosure to house. The jumper will need to be ran through a window or door in most instances. (FTTH jumpers are ruggedized and should withstand this type of install under most circumstances.)

5. After jumper is ran you may pass equipment on to customer. (Equipment may be left at door or on porch area for customer to pick up.)

6. While keeping a safe distance (minimum 6 feet) you may explain how to complete any inside connections required. (This may also be done by phone if necessary.)

7. After customer has equipment connected inside home, call IT to have equipment provisioned.

8. IT can change password for customer if requested, and answer customer questions regarding connecting customer-owned equipment.

9. When install is complete you may check off assigned work using your work app and e-mail Dispatch "Install complete w/FTTH jumper ran temporary." Please include the service order number.

DSL Install (Single Pair)
1. Begin by verifying information displayed on the service order is accurate (Name and Address). In some cases you may have the customer information e-mailed to you; please verify with customer all information is correct.

2. With all information correct proceed to unbox equipment (DSL Modem / PWR Supply / Modem Antenna(s)) and make any equipment connections possible before turning equipment over to customer.

3. Take note of any necessary equipment ID information needed to activate equipment before turning equipment over to customer.

4. In some cases, the customer may have existing wiring that will work for DSL install. In the event a customer has existing wiring that will work, PRTC will provide in-line filters for customer to install. (We will provide 1 dual filter and as many single filters as necessary to complete install.)

5. If there is no existing wiring or the existing wiring will not work, a jack may be wired up on a temporary CAT5 wire and passed through a door or window.

6. After the necessary wiring has been completed (Existing wire or Temp wire), you may pass the DSL equipment to customer. (Equipment may be left at door or on porch area for customer to pick up.)

7. While keeping a safe distance (minimum 6 feet) you may explain how to complete any inside connections required. (This may also be done by phone if necessary)

8. After customer has equipment connected inside home and modem is in sync, customer will be required to connect any customer-owned equipment.

9. In the event a customer is having trouble connecting customer-owned equipment, you may assist customer over the phone or have IT call customer and assist them.

10. When install is complete, you may check off assigned work using your work app and e-mail Dispatch "Install complete w/FTTH jumper ran temporary." Please include the service order number.

DSL Install (Bonded)
1. Follow all procedures used for standard single pair install with 1 exception. A temp jack and wire will most often be required due to the need for 2 pairs to be wire correctly at the NID and inside the jack.

2. In the event a customer has had a Bonded DSL service in the past and an existing jack may be used, the customer may connect DSL modem to the existing jack to restore service.

3. After customer has equipment connected inside home and modem is in sync, customer will be required to connect any customer-owned equipment.

4. In the event a customer is having trouble connecting customer-owned equipment, you may assist customer over the phone or have IT call customer and assist them.

5. When install is complete you may check off assigned work using your work app and e-mail Dispatch "Install complete w/FTTH jumper ran temporary." Please include the service order number.

Extra Safety Thoughts
• Please remember that when close contact with your customer is necessary, respect the 6-foot social distancing recommendation and mask up.

• I know masking isn’t required everywhere, and this is not a political comment; as a 77-year-old recovering from a recent bout of cancer, I’m thankful to everyone who is helping me stay healthy.

• Also, do frequent hand cleaning with soap and water when you can or use hand sanitizer.

• Also, if you don’t feel good for any reason, talk with your supervisor to decide if you are safe to go to work.

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We all wish this was behind us but we can learn something about being healthier. If we practice safe procedures, it’s very possible we can decrease cold and flu viruses.

Signing off
Perhaps you have technical processes you would like to share. I’d love to hear — all of you are important members of a community to help each other learn and grow. Please reach out to me: [email protected], or text or call me at 831.818.3930.

About the Author

Don McCarty

Don McCarty is the OSP EXPERT columnist for ISE magazine, discussing the issues around provisioning, testing, and maintaining copper for all services from POTs to IPTV. Don is also president of and the lead trainer for McCarty Products, a technical training and products company training field technicians, cable maintenance, installation repair, and Central Office technicians and managers. For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.mccartyinc.com.