<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" citation="COMAR 12.11.03.09" title_num="12" subtitle_num="11" chapter_num="03" heading="Safeguarding Telephone Circuits by Telephone Companies.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A facility housing 9-1-1 telephone equipment shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Be equipped at all exposed terminations, including central office distributing frames, with protective devices that prevent accidental worker contact; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Include clearly identified protected terminations to distinguish protected terminations from other circuitry.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>A protected circuit may not be opened, grounded, short-circuited, or manipulated in any way by a telephone company worker without the local telephone company first obtaining approval for circuit release from the appropriate public safety answering point.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>A telephone company shall ensure that telephone company employees who work in facilities associated with the 9-1-1 service are familiar with procedures for safeguarding 9-1-1 system equipment.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>