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Telecommunications Wiring Policy

Policy
Purpose: 

To establish principles and provisions to guide the University in the construction and ongoing management of its telecommunications cabling infrastructure.

Applies to: 

University employees (faculty, staff, and student employees), students, University affiliates, vendors, independent contractors, and visitors who come in contact with the University's telecommunications cablin systems.

Campus: 
Edwards
Lawrence
Policy Statement: 

Principles

The priorities established for the University’s physical plant of telecommunications cabling systems are safety, security, economy, reliability, and capability. The goal of the University is to ensure the integrity and stability of the University Network and the efficiency and effectiveness of its construction and operation. To this end the University of Kansas adopts the following principles:

  1. Enterprise Class Systems that serve the entire campus, represent the most effective way to provide for the University’s priorities in information transport. Enterprise Class Systems reduce the total cost of ownership to the University as a whole, and maximize the availability and reliability of its information transport systems for all of its constituents. Enterprise Class Systems reduce the total number of separate and distinct systems required to service all the diverse information transport needs of the entire University community.
  2. The University’s Network, as with any campus-wide utility infrastructure, must be considered part of the basic infrastructure and utility services of the University. Consequently, telecommunications cabling shall be considered part of the basic infrastructure and utility services of the University. Installation of the telecommunications cabling infrastructure is to be considered part of the “up front” basic building and renovation costs and is not considered a discretionary option in construction and renovation design.
  3. The University Network requires management to ensure reliability and effective operation. Enterprise level planning and management is best served by centralized planning and management in order to ensure that the network infrastructure resource is constructed and operated in an integrated, cost-efficient, and effective manner.
  4. The University Enterprise Telecommunications Cabling System is for the overall use of the University as a whole and is managed for the benefit of all University units taken together as a whole. To maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the use of this infrastructure, the network system utilizing this cabling system shall be designed and implemented to handle a wide variety of information transport requirements. This network system is offered to Units to satisfy their video, voice, and digital data transport needs. To control information transport costs, this system is preferred over the creation of single use information transport systems.

Provisions

The following provisions are established to enable the University's principles to be adopted as part of this policy:

  1. All telecommunications cabling including, but not limited to copper wiring, copper cable, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, conduit, duct banks, maintenance holes, and any other cabling support system installed on University property shall be considered the property of the University and part of the University’s Structured Telecommunications Cabling System.
  2. All new construction or renovation projects involving the design, installation, maintenance, and use of all telecommunications cabling and support systems whether inside buildings, externally attached to buildings, or between buildings (above or below ground) as well as in structures and tunnels are considered part of the University’s Structured Telecommunications Cabling System.
  3. All the University’s Information Technology (IT) networking equipment, electronic door access and power equipment and associated cabling, shall be located in locked rooms, locked cabinets or locked enclosures. To include but not be limited to: the Main Distribution Frame (MDF), Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF), equipment rooms and wiring closets. Access to these spaces shall be controlled utilizing keyed-alike entry lock sets, or with the use of card access devices or other comparable physical security measures.
  4. The University, through IT, shall adopt a uniform standard of components, construction practices, construction process procedures, and an ongoing operational methodology. This standard shall be considered part of the University’s design standards to which all installations must conform. This standard shall be known as the University’s Uniform Telecommunications Wiring Standard, or KU’s Division 27 Design and Construction Guidelines. IT will maintain documentation of best practices and procedures, in consultation with University Units, including Facilities Planning and Development (FPD) and is responsible for updates. For questions, please contact IT Customer Service Center at 785-864-8080 or itcsc@ku.edu.
  5. All new construction, remodeling, and extensions of the University’s Structured Telecommunications Cabling System will comply with the University’s Uniform Telecommunications Wiring Standard to ensure that the cabling system is constructed and managed in a strategic manner consistent with University priorities.
  6. Third party network systems and network systems where located on private property may be required to be certified before they are allowed to directly connect to university systems.
  7. No entity may modify or repair any component associated with the University’s Structured Telecommunications Cabling System without approval of IT.
  8. No entity may install or attach any telecommunications cabling or cabling component to University property without approval of IT.
  9. Dedicated links of cabling (e.g., copper or fiber) to implement single purpose information transport systems are not offered as part of the University's Structured Telecommunications Cabling System. Approval for dedicated links of cabling shall only be granted when it is not feasible to utilize the existing enterprise network system and only when approved by IT.
  10. A codified set of practices and processes shall be established in order to clearly identify and delineate the roles and responsibilities of the various University entities involved in telecommunications construction activity. Facilities Planning & Development (FPD) and IT take joint responsibility for ensuring that these practices and processes are effectively developed and maintained.
  11. Units contracting vendors may request a list of secured networking and telecommunications cabling and equipment locations that require access approval from KU IT by contacting IT Customer Service Center at 785-864-8080 or itcsc@ku.edu.
Exclusions or Special Circumstances: 

Exceptions to this policy shall only be allowed if previously approved by the KU Information Technology Security Office and this approval is documented and verified by the Chief Information Officer.

Consequences: 

Failure to abide by the requirements of this policy and/or any standards or procedures that are developed to implement this policy may result in termination of the user’s or departmental information services and/or access to the campus network. The department will be responsible for expenses associated with correction of any unauthorized installation, modification, or repair. Units/users may also be subject to other University sanctions, including disciplinary action, suspension, termination of employment, dismissal from the University, fines, and legal action. Some violations may constitute criminal offenses under local, state, and federal laws. The University will carry out its responsibility to report such violations to the appropriate authorities.

Contact: 

Chief Information Officer
Price Computing Center
1001 Sunnyside Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66045
785-864-4999
kucio@ku.edu

Approved by: 
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, Chief Information Officer, Vice Provost for Facilities Planning and Management
Approved on: 
Friday, March 18, 2005
Effective on: 
Friday, April 1, 2005
Review Cycle: 
Annual (As Needed)
Definitions: 

These definitions apply to these terms as they are used in this document.

University Network: The University Network infrastructure is comprised of the campus-wide wired and wireless media used to support the transmission of information, electronic and optical distribution device hardware, distribution device control software, and the services created to support these systems. The KU network begins at the point an end-user device located on University property gains access to the network; includes all hardware and software used to establish or maintain the transport path across University property; and ends at the point where KU’s physical network attaches to external non-KU networks.

University Property: Any property owned by the State of Kansas and managed by the University of Kansas.

University Uniform Telecommunications Wiring Standard: Also known as KU’s Division 27 Design and Construction Guidelines. A set of rules governing the type of cabling, cabling support systems, installation practices, and installation procedures used when constructing the telecommunications delivery media. The University Uniform Telecommunications Wiring Standard incorporates advanced components, component interconnection technologies, industry codes, industry standards, and best practices, and is subject to regular revision based upon ongoing experience, new industry standards, new industry codes, and technological advances. The University Uniform Telecommunications Wiring Standard is based on the nationally and/or internationally-accepted codes and standard-making bodies including, but not limited to, National Electrical Code (NEC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) Telecommunications Infrastructure Standards, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and BICSI’s Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (BICSI TDMM) and Customer Owned Outside Plant Manual. For a more detailed discussion of industry standards and supporting organizations, refer to Appendix A in the most recend edition of the BICSI TDMM, or by contacting IT Customer Service Center at 785-864-8080 or itcsc@ku.edu.

University Structured Telecommunications Cabling System: A structured system of mixed cabling types and cabling support systems that adopts a uniform wiring standard. The primary purpose of a structured telecommunications cabling system is to improve network quality, stability, and supportability and to reduce labor and material costs associated with the delivery of telecommunications services.

Keywords: 
wiring, cabling, standards, security, reliability, information transport
Change History: 

04/10/2024: Fixed broken link.
01/19/2021: Fixed broken links and corrected spelling errors.
01/14/2021: Updated policy to reflect current practices in security, building codes, and vendor codes; Added Edwards Campus; Approved by Chief Information Officer.
06/12/2015: Policy formatting cleanup (e.g., bolding, spacing).
10/23/2009: Updated to reflect Legislative Post Audit requirements.
09/11/2007: Updated to reflect NTS/IT reorganization of responsibilities.

Information Access & Technology Categories: 
Information Technology

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