ABSTRACT: This GR contains the Telcordia view of generic requirements for Telecommunications Line Protector Units (TLPUs). These generic requirements should be met to satisfy the needs of the telecommunications network applications of a typical telecommunications service provider. TLPUs installed in their protector mounting are intended to prevent unwanted surge voltages and currents on the Outside Plant (OSP) from reaching terminal equipment used in telecommunications networks. These unwanted surges in the telecommunications network may arise, for example, from effects of lightning or power-line faults either by direct or indirect strike or fault, ground potential rise, coupling, or induction to the cable plant.

GR-974 proposes generic requirements that a TLPU shall meet to avoid interference with the operation of telecommunications networks and also to provide surge limiting that is compatible with telecommunications networks. This GR contains criteria suitable to specific network applications (e.g., telephony, T1-carriers, high-speed digital networks) and allows the users to select the appropriate surge protector criteria that fit best to their network application. Users are encouraged to carefully evaluate their network capabilities when selecting the surge protector criteria. This GR provides the user with 4 different voltage-limiting options to select: 5 ESS voltage limiting, low voltage limiting, medium voltage limiting, and high voltage limiting.

What's New in Issue 4:

• Covers the new generation of protector units such as solid-state arresters, gas-tube arresters, fusible links, or a hybrid combination of gas-tube, solid-state components, fusible links, or other technologies
• Expanded generic requirements for high-speed data testing to include frequencies up to 250 MHz (e.g., Digital Subscriber Lines ADSL2+, VDSL2), 10/100/1000BASE-T, 10GBASE-T, and HDSLx
• Two new sections: Section 8, "Insulation Displacement Connector (IDC) Physical Requirements," and Section 9, "Fused TLPUs"
• Updated test procedures.