Academic Catalog


Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Units: 0.5
Hours: 9 lecture, 6 laboratory per quarter (15 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Completion of recognized sound and communication apprenticeship or equivalent and recent employment as an installer/technician in the sound and communication industry.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Repeatability: Not Repeatable


Covers the essentials in structured cabling, including telephony, industry standards, performance, and wiring.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:
A. State the purpose of the TIA/EIA Standards
B. Identify the elements of a structured cabling wiring system
C. Define the term "permanent link"
D. Define the term "channel"
E. Explain the "category" system for rating cables, connectors, permanent links and channels
F. Explain why twisting a pair reduces its susceptibility to noise pickup
G. State the benefit of using a different twist length for each pair in a 4-pair UTP cable
H. Terminate a 25 UTP cable
I. Terminate a UTP patch panel

Course Content

A. Telephony
1. History (Lec)
2. Wiring (Lec)
3. Telephone basics (Lec)
B. Structured Cabling
1. Standards (Lec)
2. Performance (Lec)
3. Cables and connectors (Lec)
4. Pathway and spaces (Lec)
5. Grounding and bonding (Lec)
6. Configuring and installing (Lec)
7. Testing (Lec)
C. Structured Cabling Lab
1. Cable pulling (Lab)
2. 66 block termination (Lab)
3. 110 block termination (Lab)
4. 8P8C modular plug termination (Lab)
5. Configuring certified testers (Lab)

Lab Content

A. Work individually and in teams with basic tools of the trade, test instruments and tool safety.
B. Included will be the installation of sound and/or communication devices using shielded and unshielded twisted pair cables.
C. Equipment safety and safe handling practices are reviewed and applied.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

A. Cable pulling raceway, 66 termination blocks, 110 termination blocks, 8P8C modular termination and crimp tool, TIA/EIA certified testing equipment.
B. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to email software and hardware; email address.

Method(s) of Evaluation

A. Results of quizzes and tests
B. Classroom and laboratory project participation
C. Discussion participation

Method(s) of Instruction

A. Lecture
B. Group discussion
C. Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC). Configuring and Installing Structured Cabling Systems. MD: NJATC Publishers, 2009.

NOTE: This is the standard Sound & Communications textbook/workbook used for this course. Although it may not be within 5 years of the required published date, it is the most current book used when teaching this course. We will adopt the next edition, as it is published.



A. Reading assignments:

1. Read Configuring and Installing Structured Cabling Systems Chapter 3: Unshielded Twisted Pair Cables

2. Read Configuring and Installing Structured Cabling Systems Chapter 11: Standards Compliant Cabling Transmission and Test Requirements

B. Writing assignments:

1. Explain how the twisting of pairs reduces the coupling of noise from other pairs

2. Describe the differences between testing a permanent link vs. channel test



Telecommunication Technology