This standard establishes minimum electrical protection requirements intended to mitigate the disruptive and damaging effects of lightning and ac power faults at telecommunications network entrances to customer structures or buildings.

Disturbances from lightning and ac power line faults may be disruptive to telecommunications service and may also result in damage to the telecommunications plant and equipment. Telecommunications network plant is often exposed to such disturbances due to its physical location and frequent joint-use or joint right-of-way installations with power utility facilities and may carry a portion of these disturbances to the network appearance at a customer structure or building. Telecommunications service providers employ electrical protection equipment and bonding and grounding techniques at the network appearance to reduce the effects of such disturbances.