The Optics of Compliance: Navigating Supplier Regulations for Your Next Fiber Project

As organizations like internet service providers, mobile network operators, managed service providers, and cloud service providers strive to plan and deploy new networks, there are a variety of obstacles. From budgeting constraints to staffing shortages to weather delays, there are a litany of hurdles to get a route from blueprint to ribbon cut. One of the most tricky hurdles to navigate is the various local, national, and international standards which may affect everything from how the cables are installed to how data is managed. Here are a few examples of fiber optic material compliance standards that can be a project buzzkill:

RoHS: the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive is the European Union’s standard for restricting the use of specific materials found in electrical and electronic products. It applies to all materials found in fiber optic broadband equipment, including cables, connectors, and electronic components.

REACH: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals is a European Union regulation dating from 18 December 2006.[1] REACH addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment

BABA: The Build America Buy America waiver requires that all materials used in internet infrastructure projects in the United States are produced domestically. The regulations especially apply to optical line terminals, optical network terminals, and optical line cards.

Buy American Act (4 U.S.C. & 10a-10d): According to the Buy American Act, a given product must "be manufactured in the U.S. of more than 50% U.S. parts to be considered ‘Made in the USA’ for government procurement purposes."

Trade Agreement Act (19 U.S.C. & 2501-2581): A good or service is TAA-compliant if manufactured or substantially transformed in the United States or manufactured in a TAA-designated country. A TAA-designated country is a nation with which the U.S. maintains a trade agreement and regards as a reliable or acceptable procurement source.

ITAR: The International Traffic in Arms Regulations regulate the export of defense-related technologies from the United States, which can include certain high-performance fiber optic components and systems. If a component is ITAR-controlled, companies might face restrictions or additional requirements when incorporating it into their products.

Conquering Compliance

There are, of course, some hangups with the process of ensuring that all materials meet regulatory requirements. The certification process can be complicated, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. When seeking out appropriate materials, managing the verification and audits can require dedicated personnel and systems to inspect manufacturing processes, sourcing practices, and product requirements to ensure compliance. In the most laborious cases, this can involve RFP procedures that include financial evaluations, site visits, compatibility tests, and pilot performance tests. This adds a layer of complexity that adds dollars and headaches, delaying project timelines along the way.

In the easiest cases, however, the process can involve merely the verification of pre-existing documentation. Suppliers that already meet the necessary certifications are already compliant, and have a strong understanding of how to meet regulatory requirements. The advantages to this kind of pre-approved supplier are the kind that echo across the project. First off, when your materials are already fully compliant, it makes it easier for you to secure funds for your project. This means that not only will your regulatory approvals be streamlined, but your financial and legal processes will also be streamlined to avoid any bureaucratic delays. This streamlining stretches to project management in the field, too. Without compliance checks and audits, you can focus less on administrative tasks and more on the execution of the fiber deployment. The streamlining even has the capacity to enter your next project. When stakeholders like local governments and investors see quick and easy adherence to quality standards, it means a heightened reputation and credibility for next time.

Supplier Superiority

One of the best ways to ensure you are securing a supplier that can provide regulatory advantages is by partnering with a vendor that both assembles and manufactures its own products. On the vendor’s side, there is more control over the quality of the product this way, meaning tighter and more uniform adherence to standards. On the contractor’s side, compliance management is more straightforward when a single entity handles both production and assembly. In this way, a single integrated supplier offers better traceability of components and reduces the burden of dealing with multiple organizations in the process. And, if standards or project specifications change, an integrated supplier is better positioned to customize in-house, offering greater flexibility and responsiveness to the project supply chain.

Whether it's solutions for cables, patch panels, and assemblies, or components like furcation tubing and fanout kits, addressing the financial and administrative challenges of deploying fiber optic broadband often starts with the right material supplier. To learn more about OpticonX’s ITAR, BABA, and RoHS approved fiber solutions, click here.