W. Va. Code R. §§ 150.6-3

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 150.6-3 - Engineering

3.1. Construction.

Telecommunications plant shall be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated in accordance with the provisions outlined in the current National Electric Safety Code or Rural Utility Service Standard, or such other appropriate regulation as may be prescribed.

3.2. Switching service.

In order to provide and maintain the best possible service for all telephone customers, the telephone company shall not be required to provide exchange or message toll switching services to lines that introduce energy into the network at levels of frequencies that will interfere with other users.

3.3. Emergency operation.

a. The telephone company shall make reasonable provisions to meet emergencies resulting from failures of lighting or power service, sudden and prolonged increases in traffic, illness of personnel, or from fire, storm, or other acts of God, and the telephone company shall inform employees as to procedures to be followed in the event of emergency in order to prevent or minimize interruption or impairment of telephone service.

b. It is essential that all switching locations have some provision for emergency power. At switching locations without installed emergency power facilities, there shall be a mobile power unit available which can be delivered and connected on short notice.

c. At switching locations serving in excess of five thousand (5,000) lines, a permanent auxiliary power unit shall be installed.

d. Selective interruption of telephone service may be necessary to ensure continuance of service to essential users during emergency conditions.

3.4. Construction work near utility facilities.

a. Upon receipt of written or verbal notification from the property owner, or from a contractor, of work that may affect its facilities used for serving the public, the telephone company shall investigate and decide what action, if any, must reasonably be taken to protect or alter telephone facilities in order to protect service to the public and to avoid unnecessary damage, such as identifying in a suitable manner the location of any underground facilities which may be affected by the work.

b. The telephone company shall take such action as is reasonably and legally necessary to protect, remove, alter, or reconstruct its facilities, and shall perform such work with reasonable dispatch taking into account the conditions to be met: Provided, that nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to affect any right which the telephone company may have to require advance payment or adequate assurance of payment of the reasonable cost thereof to the telephone company by the property owner or contractor.

c. The telephone company may, in order to protect its interest, require that the owner or contractor perform certain work upon that part of the service piping or wiring on, or being removed from, the property on which the work is being performed. This subdivision is not intended to affect the responsibility of the contractor or owner, or the liability or legal rights of any party.

d. The telephone company shall provide a listing in each of its directories advising the public and contractors of an appropriate office to call for guidance and directions for performing excavations, etc., near telephone facilities.

W. Va. Code R. §§ 150.6-3