The purpose of this document is to establish a national standard that defines the location of installed outside fiber optic cable plant relative to its physical environment, including related protective measures necessary to reduce the probability of cable damage.

The Standard addresses fiber optic cables that are directly buried, placed in duct, in non-navigable waterways, or in transition from underground to aerial structures. It further specifies the location-marking and physical and operational protection of such cables.

This Standard does not address installation methods or existing cable plant, nor does it cover aerial, building, and submarine cables, or cables placed in navigable waterways.