NESC nixes SNET's powering cable >BY SHIRA LEVINE, New Media Editor

The National Electrical Safety Code ruled against Southern New England Telecommunications' request for an exception to NESC specifications last week, ending the latest skirmish in an ongoing war between SNET and Cablevision of Connecticut.

The decision comes as the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control considers Cablevision's complaint about the safety of the powering cable for I-SNET, SNET's hybrid fiber/coax network. That ruling is expected by the end of the month.

In early 1996, SNET sought to temporarily amend a portion of the safety code requiring that each conductor be sheathed individually. The code isn't scheduled to be reviewed until 2002.

Last week's ruling that the cable would either have to be brought up to code or installed higher on utility poles could force the telco to redesign its patented powering cable. SNET will not appeal the ruling, but will replace the 10 miles of cable in Stamford, Conn., that has already been installed, said Hoshang Mulla, vice president of I-SNET. SNET is looking at options for redesigning its cable, he said.

At the heart of the bitter battle is whether SNET knew that its powering cable did not comply with NESC code when it started building out its network. Cablevision alleges that SNET was aware of safety code violations long before it applied for the amendment, but SNET claims that it believed it was in full compliance and filed for the waiver when it realized it was not.

MCI has implemented a real-time messaging process that will speed customer installation orders to local exchange carriers, letting customers switch carriers in seconds rather than days.

The new system, which uses electronic bonding technology to fulfill MCI's customer orders, is being used by GTE, and negotiations are in progress with other LECs (Telephony, Feb. 3, page 7).

"What this means for our customers is simple: They get MCI's products and services, and receive their promotions and discounts faster than ever before," John Gerdelman, president of networkMCI services, said. "This new standard in technology will lead to a new standard in customer fulfillment that complements the power and reliability of our intelligent network.

Recent advances in messaging technology have allowed MCI to drastically reduce the time required to process orders at the LEC, Gerdelman said.

The previous method for switching a customer's local line to MCI normally required 24 to 72 hours because of limits on mainframe technology that required batch order processing.

MCI selected Hewlett-Packard's Open Systems Interconnection Common Management Information Protocol gateway technology for the GTE system.

MCI also sees the technology as an important tool for meeting the Federal Communications Commission requirement that carriers' management systems enable customers to switch service providers quickly and easily.