Telecommunications outside plant, by nature of its outdoor location, and frequent joint-use or joint right-of-way installations with power utility facilities, is often subject to disturbances from lightning and ac power line faults. This standard provides the minimum electrical protection, grounding, and bonding criteria necessary to mitigate the disruptive and damaging effects of lightning and ac power faults. It is intended to serve as a guide for designers of such facilities in the application of electrical protection, grounding, and bonding, as a function of the electrical environment.