TIA Announces New Optical Cable Standard

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Arlington, Va., has published a new standard, FOTP -171, "Attenuation by Substitution Measurement for Short-Length Multimode Graded-Index and Single Mode Optical Fiber Cable Assemblies," TIA/EIA-455-171A.

The document upgrades and revises TIA/EIA-455-171. FOTP-171 describes procedures for measuring the attenuation by substitution of short length multimode graded index and single-mode optical fiber cable assemblies. These tests are primarily used for multimode cables of 100 m or less in length and for single-mode cables of any length. The document focuses on connector loss; fiber loss usually represents only a small portion of the total loss. The FOTP contains twelve methods for testing connectorized cable assemblies.

TIA/EIA-455-171A was created by TIA FO-6.3 Subcommittee on Fiber Optic Interconnecting Devices. To obtain copies of the document, contact Global Engineering Documents at (800) 854-7179 or visit http://global.ihs.com.