• Trevor Bowmer, Ph.D. - Principal, Bunya Telecom Consulting

The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) is for practical safeguarding of the public and workers during the installation, operation, and maintenance of electric power supply and communications network facilities and it is revised on a 5 year cycle.  This talk will review the changes to the 2023 edition of the NESC to better  for the operation and construction of wireless and wireline communications networks. Including (a) consolidation of antenna rules under Rule 235H and the new 238F to help reduce congestion and clearance issues around 5G wireless antennas and facilities on joint use structures, (b) application of NESC Rule 224 to remote span powering and Fault Managed Power System application for communications, (c) new wind/ice maps for strength and loading rules, and (d) ground clearance issues.  Related work on IEEE Guideline P2939 and the new Issue 7 of the Telcordia Construction Blue Book covering attachment criteria for Joint-Use structures to help standardize the wireless attachment approval process will also be discussed.