Inside wiring rules - 47 CFR 76.800

“Inside Wiring” refers to the cable wiring infrastructure inside an multi-dwelling-unit (MDU) building. The wiring may be of several types: coaxial cable wiring (RG6), copper twisted pair (Cat5) or fiber optic cable wiring.

The FCC’s wiring rules are based on the recognition that the coaxial cable wiring infrastructure inside a residential multi-dwelling unit building cannot be easily or cost-effectively replicated by a would-be competitor to the incumbent cable television operator using that wiring to serve residents. Therefore, without regulatory intervention, the incumbent provider has an irreducible advantage over potential rivals, and competition never gets off the ground. The FCC’s inside wiring rules attempt to address this circumstance by mandating that in certain circumstances the incumbent cable company may be compelled to cede ownership and control over existing wiring infrastructure to the property owner, the cable television subscriber, or an alternative provider of video programming services.

The FCC rules apply to two categories of coaxial cable inside wiring: home run wiring and cable home wiring. Separate rules apply to each category of wiring.