Common use of Aerial Construction Clause in Contracts

Aerial Construction. Subject to prior approval by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), aerial construction methods will only be used when buried construction techniques are impractical due to environmental conditions, schedule or economic considerations, right-of-way issues, or code restrictions. The parties acknowledge that aerial construction on utility towers (not utility poles) using optical groundwire or all dielectric self-support methods may be used without GTE approval provided QWEST agrees to give GTE reasonable prior notice of its decision to use such aerial methods. Aerial design standards and construction techniques will conform with industry- accepted practices for aerial fiber optic cable systems. All aerial plant must comply with applicable national (NEC, NESC, etc.), state and local codes. The fiber optic cable placed on an aerial system shall be armored and designed for aerial applications. The cable will be placed in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Cable tension will be monitored during placement. Cable rollers will be placed at a maximum interval of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## feet. Cable expansion loops will be placed at every pole. Cable identification/warning tags will be placed at every pole. All cable splices will be buried in handholes or manholes. Cable sheath to suspension strand bonds and grounding will be performed at the first and last pole of the system and at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## mile intervals. Fiber optic cable at all riser poles will be protected with galvanized steel U- guard from ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches below grade to a point ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches below the suspension strand. Conduit sweeps will be used to transition from the U-guard to either a handhole or manhole. All aerial plant will be designed and constructed with 10M EHS (Class A galvanized) suspension strand unless otherwise dictated by the pole owners or field conditions. The fiber optic cable will be double lashed to the suspension strand using 45 mil stainless lashing wire. Span length shall account for storm loading (wind and ice) in accordance with zones outlined in NESC code. Sags and tensions will be calculated in accordance with industry accepted practices and account for strand size, span length, ambient temperature at placement and loading. The suspension strand will be tensioned with a strand dynamometer. A catenary suspension system may be used if the system exceeds maximum span length specifications. Prior to attachment to any existing pole line, the system will be inspected for compliance with applicable codes and standards, as well as the physical condition of the poles and existing hardware. Any make-ready work will be reviewed with the pole owner and specifically addressed prior to construction. If a pole line need be constructed, the preferred poles will be Class 4 (40 feet) and Class 5 (35 feet). Use of the preferred poles will make it unnecessary to calculate pole loading (horizontal, vertical and bending moments) in most field conditions. Some unusual conditions may require the use of a stronger class pole. Depth of placement will be dictated by soil conditions, slope of terrain and length of pole. Poles will be guyed in accordance with industry- accepted standards. All pole attachment hardware will be galvanized steel. Aerial cable will be placed below power attachments and above all other attachments unless otherwise dictated by the pole owner. Pole contact clearances and locations will be dictated by current NESC code and the presence of existing attachments; however, the following minimum objective clearances will apply:

Aerial Construction. Subject to prior approval by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), aerial construction methods will only be used when buried construction techniques are impractical due to environmental conditions, schedule or economic considerations, right-of-right of way issues, or code restrictions. The parties acknowledge that aerial construction on utility towers (not utility poles) using optical groundwire or all dielectric self-support methods may be used without GTE approval FRONTIER approval, provided QWEST agrees to give GTE FRONTIER reasonable prior notice of its decision to use such aerial methods. Aerial design standards and construction techniques will conform with industry- industry-accepted practices for aerial fiber optic cable systems. All aerial plant must comply with applicable national (NEC, NESC, etc.), state state, and local codes. The fiber optic cable placed on an aerial system shall be armored and designed for aerial applications. The cable will be placed in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Cable tension will be monitored during placement. Cable rollers will be placed at a maximum interval of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 35 feet. Cable expansion loops will be placed at every pole. Cable identification/warning tags will be placed at every pole. All cable splices will be buried in handholes or manholes. Cable sheath to suspension strand bonds and grounding will be performed at the first and last pole of the system and at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 0.25 mile intervals. Fiber optic cable at all riser poles will be protected with galvanized steel U- U-guard from ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 12 inches below grade to a point ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 24 inches below the suspension strand. Conduit sweeps will be used to transition from the U-U- guard to either a handhole or manhole. All aerial plant will be designed and constructed with 10M EHS (Class A galvanized) suspension strand unless otherwise dictated by the pole owners or field conditions. The fiber optic cable will be double doubled lashed to the suspension strand using 45 mil stainless lashing wire. Span length shall account for storm loading (wind and ice) in accordance with zones outlined in NESC code. Sags and tensions will be calculated in accordance with industry accepted practices and account for strand size, span length, ambient temperature at placement placement, and loading. The suspension strand will be tensioned with a strand dynamometer. A catenary suspension system may be used if the system exceeds maximum span length specifications. Prior to attachment to any existing pole line, the system will be inspected for compliance with applicable codes and standards, as well as the physical condition of the poles and existing hardware. Any make-ready work will be reviewed with the pole owner and specifically addressed prior to construction. If a pole line need be constructed, the preferred poles will be Class 4 (40 feet) and Class 5 (35 feet). Use of the preferred poles will make it unnecessary to calculate pole loading (horizontal, vertical vertical, and bending moments) in most field conditions. Some unusual conditions may require the use of a stronger class pole. Depth of placement will be dictated by soil conditions, slope of terrain terrain, and length of pole. Poles will be guyed in accordance with industry- industry-accepted standards. All pole attachment hardware will be galvanized steel. Aerial cable will be placed below power attachments and above all other attachments unless otherwise dictated by the pole owner. Pole contact clearances and locations will be dictated by current NESC code and the presence of existing attachments; however, the following minimum objective clearances will apply:

Aerial Construction. Subject to prior approval by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), aerial construction methods will only be used when buried construction techniques are impractical due to environmental conditions, schedule or economic considerations, right-of-right of way issues, or code restrictions. The parties acknowledge that aerial construction on utility towers (not utility poles) using optical groundwire or all dielectric self-support methods may be used without GTE approval FRONTIER approval, provided QWEST agrees to give GTE FRONTIER reasonable prior notice of its decision to use such aerial methods. Aerial design standards and construction techniques will conform with industry- industry-accepted practices for aerial fiber optic cable systems. All aerial plant must comply with applicable national (NEC, NESC, etc.), state state, and local codes. The fiber optic cable placed on an aerial system shall be armored and designed for aerial applications. The cable will be placed in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Cable tension will be monitored during placement. Cable rollers will be placed at a maximum interval of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 35 feet. Cable expansion loops will be placed at every pole. Cable identification/warning tags will be placed at every pole. All cable splices will be buried in handholes or manholes. Cable sheath to suspension strand bonds and grounding will be performed at the first and last pole of the system and at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 0.25 mile intervals. Fiber optic cable at all riser poles will be protected with galvanized steel U- U-guard from ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 12 inches below grade to a point ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 24 inches below the suspension strand. Conduit sweeps will be used to transition from the U-U- guard to either a handhole or manhole. All aerial plant will be designed and constructed with 10M EHS (Class A galvanized) suspension strand unless otherwise dictated by the pole owners or field conditions. The * Confidential Treatment Applied For fiber optic cable will be double doubled lashed to the suspension strand using 45 mil stainless lashing wire. Span length shall account for storm loading (wind and ice) in accordance with zones outlined in NESC code. Sags and tensions will be calculated in accordance with industry accepted practices and account for strand size, span length, ambient temperature at placement placement, and loading. The suspension strand will be tensioned with a strand dynamometer. A catenary suspension system may be used if the system exceeds maximum span length specifications. Prior to attachment to any existing pole line, the system will be inspected for compliance with applicable codes and standards, as well as the physical condition of the poles and existing hardware. Any make-ready work will be reviewed with the pole owner and specifically addressed prior to construction. If a pole line need be constructed, the preferred poles will be Class 4 (40 feet) and Class 5 (35 feet). Use of the preferred poles will make it unnecessary to calculate pole loading (horizontal, vertical vertical, and bending moments) in most field conditions. Some unusual conditions may require the use of a stronger class pole. Depth of placement will be dictated by soil conditions, slope of terrain terrain, and length of pole. Poles will be guyed in accordance with industry- industry-accepted standards. All pole attachment hardware will be galvanized steel. Aerial cable will be placed below power attachments and above all other attachments unless otherwise dictated by the pole owner. Pole contact clearances and locations will be dictated by current NESC code and the presence of existing attachments; however, the following minimum objective clearances will apply:

Aerial Construction. Subject to prior approval by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), aerial construction methods will only be used when buried construction techniques are impractical due to environmental conditions, schedule or economic considerations, right-of-right of way issues, or code restrictions. The parties acknowledge that aerial construction on utility towers (not utility poles) using optical groundwire or all dielectric self-support methods may be used without GTE approval FRONTIER approval, provided QWEST agrees to give GTE FRONTIER reasonable prior notice of its decision to use such aerial methods. Aerial design standards and construction techniques will conform with industry- industry-accepted practices for aerial fiber optic cable systems. All aerial plant must comply with applicable national (NEC, NESC, etc.), state state, and local codes. The fiber optic cable placed on an aerial system shall be armored and designed for aerial applications. The cable will be placed in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Cable tension will be monitored during placement. Cable rollers will be placed at a maximum interval of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 35 feet. Cable expansion loops will be placed at every pole. Cable identification/identification/ warning tags will be placed at every pole. All cable splices will be buried in handholes or manholes. Cable sheath to suspension strand bonds and grounding will be performed at the first and last pole of the system and at ##0.25 mile intervals. * MATERIAL HAS BEEN OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## mile intervalsTREATMENT AND SUCH MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION. 95 Fiber optic cable at all riser poles will be protected with galvanized steel U- U-guard from ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 12 inches below grade to a point ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## 24 inches below the suspension strand. Conduit sweeps will be used to transition from the U-guard to either a handhole or manhole. All aerial plant will be designed and constructed with 10M EHS (Class A galvanized) suspension strand unless otherwise dictated by the pole owners or field conditions. The fiber optic cable will be double doubled lashed to the suspension strand using 45 mil stainless lashing wire. Span length shall account for storm loading (wind and ice) in accordance with zones outlined in NESC code. Sags and tensions will be calculated in accordance with industry accepted practices and account for strand size, span length, ambient temperature at placement placement, and loading. The suspension strand will be tensioned with a strand dynamometer. A catenary suspension system may be used if the system exceeds maximum span length specifications. Prior to attachment to any existing pole line, the system will be inspected for compliance with applicable codes and standards, as well as the physical condition of the poles and existing hardware. Any make-ready work will be reviewed with the pole owner and specifically addressed prior to construction. If a pole line need be constructed, the preferred poles will be Class 4 (40 feet) and Class 5 (35 feet). Use of the preferred poles will make it unnecessary to calculate pole loading (horizontal, vertical vertical, and bending moments) in most field conditions. Some unusual conditions may require the use of a stronger class pole. Depth of placement will be dictated by soil conditions, slope of terrain terrain, and length of pole. Poles will be guyed in accordance with industry- accepted standards. All pole attachment hardware will be galvanized steel. Aerial cable will be placed below power attachments and above all other attachments unless otherwise dictated by the pole owner. Pole contact clearances and locations will be dictated by current NESC code and the presence of existing attachments; however, the following minimum objective clearances will apply:

Aerial Construction. Subject to prior approval by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), aerial construction methods will only be used when buried construction techniques are impractical due to environmental conditions, schedule or economic considerations, right-of-way issues, or code restrictions. The parties acknowledge that aerial construction on utility towers (not utility poles) using optical groundwire or all dielectric self-support methods may be used without GTE approval provided QWEST agrees to give GTE reasonable prior notice of its decision to use such aerial methods. .. Aerial design standards and construction techniques will conform with industry- industry-accepted practices for aerial fiber optic cable systems. All aerial plant must comply with applicable national (NEC, NESC, etc.), state and local codes. The fiber optic cable placed on an aerial system shall be armored and designed for aerial applications. The cable will be placed in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Cable tension will be monitored during placement. Cable rollers will be placed at a maximum interval of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## feet. Cable expansion loops will be placed at every pole. Cable identification/warning tags will be placed at every pole. All cable splices will be buried in handholes or manholes. Cable sheath to suspension strand bonds and grounding will be performed at the first and last pole of the system and at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## mile intervals. Fiber optic cable at all riser poles will be protected with galvanized steel U- U-guard from ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches below grade to a point ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches below the suspension strand. Conduit sweeps will be used to transition from the U-guard to either a handhole or manhole. All aerial plant will be designed and constructed with 10M EHS (Class A galvanized) suspension strand unless otherwise dictated by the pole owners or field conditions. The fiber optic cable will be double lashed to the suspension strand using 45 mil stainless lashing wire. Span length shall account for storm loading (wind and ice) in accordance with zones outlined in NESC code. Sags and tensions will be calculated in accordance with industry accepted practices and account for strand size, span length, ambient temperature at placement and loading. The suspension strand will be tensioned with a strand dynamometer. A catenary suspension system may be used if the system exceeds maximum span length specifications. Prior to attachment to any existing pole line, the system will be inspected for compliance with applicable codes and standards, as well as the physical condition of the poles and existing hardware. Any make-ready work will be reviewed with the pole owner and specifically addressed prior to construction. If a pole line need be constructed, the preferred poles will be Class 4 (40 feet) and Class 5 (35 feet). Use of the preferred poles will make it unnecessary to calculate pole loading (horizontal, vertical and bending moments) in most field conditions. Some unusual conditions may require the use of a stronger class pole. Depth of placement will be dictated by soil conditions, slope of terrain and length of pole. Poles will be guyed in accordance with industry- industry-accepted standards. All pole attachment hardware will be galvanized steel. Aerial cable will be placed below power attachments and above all other attachments unless otherwise dictated by the pole owner. Pole contact clearances and locations will be dictated by current NESC code and the presence of existing attachments; however, the following minimum objective clearances will apply:

Aerial Construction. Subject to prior approval by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), aerial construction methods will only be used when buried construction techniques are impractical due to environmental conditions, schedule or economic considerations, right-of-way issues, or code restrictions. The parties acknowledge that aerial construction on utility towers (not utility poles) using optical groundwire or all dielectric self-support methods may be used without GTE approval provided QWEST agrees to give GTE reasonable prior notice of its decision to use such aerial methods. .. Aerial design standards and construction techniques will conform with industry- industry-accepted practices for aerial fiber optic cable systems. All aerial plant must comply with applicable national (NEC, NESC, etc.), state and local codes. The fiber optic cable placed on an aerial system shall be armored and designed for aerial applications. The cable will be placed in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Cable tension will be monitored during placement. Cable rollers will be placed at a maximum interval of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## feet. Cable expansion loops will be placed at every pole. Cable identification/warning tags will be placed at every pole. All cable splices will be buried in handholes or manholes. Cable sheath to suspension strand bonds and grounding will be performed at the first and last pole of the system and at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## mile intervals. Fiber optic cable at all riser poles will be protected with galvanized steel U- U-guard from ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches below grade to a point ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches below the suspension strand. Conduit sweeps will be used to transition from the U-guard to either a handhole or manhole. All aerial plant will be designed and constructed with 10M EHS (Class A galvanized) suspension strand unless otherwise dictated by the pole owners or field conditions. The fiber optic cable will be double lashed to the suspension strand using 45 mil stainless lashing wire. Span length shall account for storm loading (wind and ice) in accordance with zones outlined in NESC code. Sags and tensions will be calculated in accordance with industry accepted practices and account for strand size, span length, ambient temperature at placement and loading. The suspension strand will be tensioned with a strand dynamometer. A catenary suspension system may be used if the system exceeds maximum span length specifications. Prior to attachment to any existing pole line, the system will be inspected for compliance with applicable codes and standards, as well as the physical condition of the poles and existing hardware. Any make-ready work will be reviewed with the pole owner and specifically addressed prior to construction. If a pole line need be constructed, the preferred poles will be Class 4 (40 feet) and Class 5 (35 feet). Use of the preferred poles will make it unnecessary to calculate pole loading (horizontal, vertical and bending moments) in most field conditions. Some unusual conditions may require the use of a stronger class pole. Depth of placement will be dictated by soil conditions, slope of terrain and length of pole. Poles will be guyed in accordance with industry- industry-accepted standards. All pole attachment hardware will be galvanized steel. Aerial cable will be placed below power attachments and above all other attachments unless otherwise dictated by the pole owner. Pole contact clearances and locations will be dictated by current NESC code and the presence of existing attachments; however, the following minimum objective clearances will apply:: a) Power line - ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches (below) b) Non-current carrying power line - ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches c) Telephone, CATV and other signal lines - ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## inches (above) Verticle clearances for crossings or parallel lines will be dictated by current NESC code; however, the objective clearance for most objects (roads, alleys, etc.) Is ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## feet (at 100 F) with the exception of railroad tracks and waterways which have an objective of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## feet (at 100 F). 14.0 Approval of Deviations From Specifications. QWEST will seek the approval of GTE, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, prior to undertaking any construction which will deviate from the Construction Specifications set forth in this Exhibit C. EXHIBIT D Fiber Cable Splicing, Testing and Acceptance Procedures 1. All splices will be performed with an industry-accepted fusion splicing machine. Qwest will perform two stages of testing during the construction of a new fiber cable route. Initially, OTDR tests will be taken from one direction. As soon as fiber connectivity has been achieved to both regen sites, Qwest will verify and record the continuity of all fibers. Qwest will take and record power level readings on all fibers in both directions. Qwest will bi-directional OTDR test all fibers. 2. During the initial construction, it is only possible to measure the fiber from one direction. Because of this, splices will be qualified during initial construction with an OTDR from only one direction. The profile alignment system or light injection detection system on the fusion splicer may be used to qualify splices as long as a close correlation to OTDR data is established. The pigtails will also be qualified at this stage using an OTDR and a minimum 1 km launch reel. All measurements at this stage in construction will be taken at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## nm. 3. After Qwest has provided end-to-end connectivity on the fibers, bi-directional span testing will be done. These measurements must be made after the splice manhole or handhole is closed in order to check for macro-bending problems. Continuity tests will be done to verify that no fibers have been "frogged" or crossed in any of the splice points. Once the pigtails have been spliced, loss measurements will be recorded using an industry-accepted laser source and a power meter. OTDR traces will be taken and splice loss measurements will be recorded. Qwest will also store OTDR traces on diskette and on data sheets. Laser Precision format will be used on all traces. Qwest will provide three copies of all data sheets and tables, and one set of diskettes with all traces. a. The power loss measurements shall be made at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT##

Aerial Construction. Subject to prior approval by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld)Section 7.01 of the IRU Agreement, aerial construction methods will only be used when in local loop construction and in those circumstances where buried construction techniques are impractical due to environmental conditions, schedule or economic considerations, right-of-way issues, issues or code restrictions. The parties acknowledge that aerial Aerial construction on utility towers (not utility poles) structures using optical groundwire or all dielectric self-support methods may be used without GTE approval provided QWEST agrees to give GTE reasonable prior notice of its decision to use such aerial methodsused. . Aerial design standards and construction techniques will conform with industry- industry-accepted practices for aerial fiber optic option cable systems. All aerial plant must comply with applicable national (i.e., NEC, NESC, etc.), state and local codes. .The fiber optic cable placed on an aerial system shall be armored and designed for aerial applications. . The cable will be placed in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Cable tension will be monitored during placement. Cable rollers will be placed at a maximum interval of ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## feetthirty-five feet (35'). Cable expansion loops will be placed at every ever pole. Cable identification/warning tags will be placed at every pole. All cable splices will be buried in handholes hand holes or manholes. . Cable sheath to suspension strand bonds and grounding will be performed at the first and last pole of the system and at ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## .25 mile intervals. . Fiber optic cable at all riser poles will be protected with galvanized steel U- U-guard from ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## twelve inches (12") below grade to a point ##MATERIAL OMITTED AND SEPARATELY FILED UNDER AN APPLICATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT## twenty four inches (24") below the suspension strand. Conduit sweeps will be used to transition from the U-guard to either a handhole hand hole or manhole. . All aerial plant will be designed and constructed with 10M EHS (Class A galvanized) suspension strand unless otherwise dictated by the pole owners or field conditions. The fiber optic cable will be double lashed to the suspension strand using 45 mil stainless lashing wire. . Span length shall account for storm loading (wind and ice) in accordance with zones outlined in NESC code. Sags and tensions will be calculated in accordance with industry accepted practices and account for strand size, span length, ambient temperature at placement placement, and loading. The suspension strand will be tensioned transformed with a strand dynamometer. A catenary suspension system may be used if the system exceeds maximum span length specifications. . Prior to attachment to any existing pole line, the system will be inspected for compliance with applicable codes and standards, as well as the physical condition of the poles and existing hardware. Any make-ready work will be reviewed with the pole owner and specifically addressed prior to construction. . If a pole line need needs to be constructed, the preferred poles will be Class 4 (40 feet) and Class 5 (35 feet). Use of the preferred poles will make it unnecessary to calculate pole loading (horizontal, vertical and bending moments) in most field conditions. Some unusual conditions may require the use of a stronger class pole. Depth of placement will be dictated by soil conditions, slope of terrain and length of pole. Poles will be guyed in accordance with industry- industry-accepted standards. All pole attachment hardware will be galvanized steel. . Aerial cable will be placed below power attachments and above all other attachments unless otherwise dictated by the pole owner. Pole contact clearances and locations will be dictated by current NESC code and the presence of existing attachments; however, the following minimum objective clearances will apply:: NOTE: Redacted portions have been marked with (***). The redacted portions are subject to a request for confidential treatment that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. . Power line-forty inches (40") (below). . Non-current carrying power line-thirty inches (30"). . Telephone, CATV and other signal lines-twelve inches (12") (below). . Vertical clearances for crossings or parallel lines will be dictated by current NESC code; however, the objective clearance for most objects (roads, alleys, etc.) is eighteen feet (18') (at 100 degree F) with the exception of railroad tracks and waterways which have an objective of 27 feet (27') (at 100 degree F).