Original Version

Rule 80.1

80.1    New Rule

Strikeout and Underline Version

Rule 80.1

80.1   Inspection Requirements for Communication Lines:

A.    Patrol and Detailed Inspections

(1)    Inspection Requirements for Joint-Use Poles in High Fire-Threat Areas

In high fire-threat areas, the inspection intervals for (i) Communication Lines located on Joint Use Poles (See Rule 21.8) that contain Supply Circuits (See Rule 20.6-D), and (ii) Communication Lines attached to a pole that is within three spans of a Joint Use Pole with Supply Circuits, shall not exceed the time specified in the following Table.

Inspection intervals and shall be conducted more frequently than shown in the above table, if necessary, based on the five factors listed in Rule 80.1-A2, below. 

For the purpose of the above Table, the high fire-threat areas in Southern California are Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones in the following counties:  Imperial,Los Angeles,Orange,Riverside, Santa Barbara,San Bernardino,San Diego, andVentura.  Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones are defined by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) Fire Threat Map. 

For the purpose of the above Table, the high fire-threat areas inNorthern Californiaare areas designated as Threat Classes 3 and 4 on the Reax Map adopted by Decision 12-01-032 issued in Phase 2 of Rulemaking 08-11-005. 

For the purpose of implementing the patrol and detailed inspection intervals in the above Table in the high fire-threat areas of the state, the term “year” is defined as 12 consecutive calendar months starting the first full calendar month after an inspection is performed, plus or minus two full calendar months, not to exceed the end of the calendar year in which the next inspection is due. 

The FRAP Map and Reax Map are to be used to establish approximate boundaries.  Communications Infrastructure Providers should use their own expertise and judgment to determine if local conditions require them to adjust the boundaries of the map.

Inspections in high fire-threat areas shall be planned and conducted in accordance with the statewide inspection requirements and procedures described in Rule 80.1-A2, below. 

Each company’s procedures shall describe (i) the methodology used to ensure that all Communication Lines are subject to the required inspections, and (ii) the procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections.  The procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections shall include a checklist for patrol inspections.

(2)    Statewide Inspection Requirements

Each company shall prepare, follow, and modify as necessary, procedures for conducting patrol or detailed inspections for all of its Communication Lines throughout the State.  Consistent with Rule 31.2, the type, frequency and thoroughness of inspections shall be based upon the following factors:
 
•    Fire threat
•    Proximity to overhead power line facilities
•    Terrain
•    Accessibility
•    Location
 
Each company that discovers a safety hazard on or near a communications facility or electric facility involving another company while performing inspections of its own facilities pursuant to this rule shall notify the other company and/or facility owner of such safety hazard in accordance with Rule 18(B).
 
Each company’s procedures shall describe (i) the methodology used to ensure that all Communication Lines are subject to the required inspections, and (ii) the procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections.  The procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections shall include a checklist for patrol inspections.

(3)    Definitions

Detailed Inspections.  For the purpose of this rule, Detailed Inspection shall be defined as a careful visual inspection of Communication facilities and structures using inspection tools such as binoculars and measuring devices, as appropriate.  Detailed inspections may be carried out in the course of other company business.

Patrol Inspections.  For the purpose of this rule, Patrol Inspection shall be defined as a simple visual inspection, of applicable communications facilities equipment and structures that is designed to identify obvious structural problems and hazards.  Patrol inspections may be carried out in the course of other company business. 

(4)    Record Keeping

Each company shall maintain records for at least ten (10) years that provide the following information for each facility subject to this rule:  The location of the facility, the date of each inspection of the facility, the results of each inspection, the personnel who performed each inspection, the date and description of each corrective action, and the personnel who performed each correction action.  Commission staff shall be permitted to inspect records consistent with Public Utilities Code Section 314 (a).

B.    Intrusive Inspections
 
Wood poles in high fire-threat areas that support only Communication Lines or equipment shall be intrusively inspected in accordance with the schedule established in General Order 165 if they are:
 
•    Interset between joint-use poles supporting supply lines in the high fire threat areas ofSouthern California.
•    Within three spans of a joint-use pole supporting supply lines in the high fire-threat areas ofSouthern California.
•    Within one span of a joint-use pole supporting supply lines in the high fire-threat areas ofNorthern California. 

For the purpose of this rule, the high fire-threat areas in Southern California are Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones in the following counties:  Imperial,Los Angeles, Orange,Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.  Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones are defined by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) Fire Threat Map.  The high fire threat areas inNorthern Californiaare areas designated as Threat Classes 3 and 4 on the Reax Map adopted in Decision 12-01-032 issued in Phase 2 of Rulemaking 08-11-005. 

The FRAP Fire Threat Map and Reax Map are to be used to establish approximate boundaries.  Communications Infrastructure Providers (CIPs) should use their own expertise and judgment to determine if local conditions require them to adjust the boundaries of the map.

Final Version

Rule 80.1

80.1   Inspection Requirements for Communication Lines:

A.    Patrol and Detailed Inspections

(1)    Inspection Requirements for Joint-Use Poles in High Fire-Threat Areas

In high fire-threat areas, the inspection intervals for (i) Communication Lines located on Joint Use Poles (See Rule 21.8) that contain Supply Circuits (See Rule 20.6-D), and (ii) Communication Lines attached to a pole that is withinthree spans of a Joint Use Pole with Supply Circuits, shall not exceed the time specified in the following Table.

Inspection intervals and shall be conducted more frequently than shown in the above table, if necessary, based on the five factors listed in Rule 80.1-A2, below. 

For the purpose of the above Table, the high fire-threat areas in Southern California are Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones in the following counties:  Imperial,Los Angeles,Orange,Riverside, Santa Barbara,San Bernardino,San Diego, andVentura.  Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones are defined by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) Fire Threat Map. 

For the purpose of the above Table, the high fire-threat areas inNorthern Californiaare areas designated as Threat Classes 3 and 4 on the Reax Map adopted by Decision 12-01-032 issued in Phase 2 of Rulemaking 08-11-005. 

For the purpose of implementing the patrol and detailed inspection intervals in the above Table in the high fire-threat areas of the state, the term “year” is defined as 12 consecutive calendar months starting the first full calendar month after an inspection is performed, plus or minus two full calendar months, not to exceed the end of the calendar year in which the next inspection is due. 

The FRAP Map and Reax Map are to be used to establish approximate boundaries.  Communications Infrastructure Providers should use their own expertise and judgment to determine if local conditions require them to adjust the boundaries of the map.

Inspections in high fire-threat areas shall be planned and conducted in accordance with the statewide inspection requirements and procedures described in Rule 80.1-A2, below. 

Each company’s procedures shall describe (i) the methodology used to ensure that all Communication Lines are subject to the required inspections, and (ii) the procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections.  The procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections shall include a checklist for patrol inspections.

(2)    Statewide Inspection Requirements

Each company shall prepare, follow, and modify as necessary, procedures for conducting patrol or detailed inspections for all of its Communication Lines throughout the State.  Consistent with Rule 31.2, the type, frequency and thoroughness of inspections shall be based upon the following factors:
 
•     Fire threat
•     Proximity to overhead power line facilities
•     Terrain
•     Accessibility
•     Location
 
Each company that discovers a safety hazard on or near a communications facility or electric facility involving another company while performing inspections of its own facilities pursuant to this rule shall notify the other company and/or facility owner of such safety hazard in accordance with Rule 18(B).
 
Each company’s procedures shall describe (i) the methodology used to ensure that all Communication Lines are subject to the required inspections, and (ii) the procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections.  The procedures used for specifying what problems should be identified by the inspections shall include a checklist for patrol inspections.

(3)    Definitions

Detailed Inspections.  For the purpose of this rule, Detailed Inspection shall be defined as a careful visual inspection of Communication facilities and structures using inspection tools such as binoculars and measuring devices, as appropriate.  Detailed inspections may be carried out in the course of other company business.

Patrol Inspections.  For the purpose of this rule, Patrol Inspection shall be defined as a simple visual inspection, of applicable communications facilities equipment and structures that is designed to identify obvious structural problems and hazards.  Patrol inspections may be carried out in the course of other company business. 

(4)    Record Keeping

Each company shall maintain records for at least ten (10) years that provide the following information for each facility subject to this rule:  The location of the facility, the date of each inspection of the facility, the results of each inspection, the personnel who performed each inspection, the date and description of each corrective action, and the personnel who performed each correction action.  Commission staff shall be permitted to inspect records consistent with Public Utilities Code Section 314 (a).

B.    Intrusive Inspections
 
Wood poles in high fire-threat areas that support only Communication Lines or equipment shall be intrusively inspected in accordance with the schedule established in General Order 165 if they are:
 
•    Interset between joint-use poles supporting supply lines in the high fire threat areas ofSouthern California.
•    Within three spans of a joint-use pole supporting supply lines in the high fire-threat areas ofSouthern California.
•    Within one span of a joint-use pole supporting supply lines in the high fire-threat areas ofNorthern California. 

For the purpose of this rule, the high fire-threat areas in Southern California are Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones in the following counties:  Imperial,Los Angeles, Orange,Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.  Extreme and Very High Fire Threat Zones are defined by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) Fire Threat Map.  The high fire threat areas inNorthern Californiaare areas designated as Threat Classes 3 and 4 on the Reax Map adopted in Decision 12-01-032 issued in Phase 2 of Rulemaking 08-11-005. 

The FRAP Fire Threat Map and Reax Map are to be used to establish approximate boundaries.  Communications Infrastructure Providers (CIPs) should use their own expertise and judgment to determine if local conditions require them to adjust the boundaries of the map.