Industry Begins Privatization of Part 68 Rules for Terminal Equipment

The Telecommunications Industry

Association (TIA) (www.tiaonline.org) and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) (www.atis.org) have formed the Part 68 Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA). ACTA is an industry-led body that will serve as the "gatekeeper" for maintaining Part 68 certification requirements for terminal equipment. Part 68 requirements provide assurances that customer premises terminal equipment does not cause harm to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or cause damage to telephone company equipment, malfunctions in telephone company billing equipment, degradation of service to consumers, or electrical hazards. The FCC's decision to chose TIA and ATIS as joint sponsors was published in a Report and Order (R&O) which is available for download at www. fcc.gov/ccb/nsd/documents/PART68.HTML .