In a contiguous properly environment (e. g., where campus backbone cables exist), which two of the following are CRITICAL factors to understand for maintenance and growth purposes? (Select two…

Question

Options

• AFill ratio
• BFamiliarity with the routes and spaces (proper record keeping)
• CCable composition
• DNot able to determine the working capacity versus spare cable capacity
• ECost analysis of the value of capex and capex models

• A
  11% (3)
• B
  70% (19)
• D
  4% (1)
• E
  15% (4)

Explanation

Knowing where cables run (B) and what they're made of (C) forms the foundation of any effective cable plant management. Proper record keeping of routes and physical spaces enables technicians to locate, troubleshoot, and extend the network without guesswork or rework. Cable composition (fiber type, copper category, etc.) determines performance ceilings, bend radius limitations, and compatibility with future upgrades - without this, you cannot make informed decisions about what can be spliced, extended, or replaced.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A (Fill ratio) is useful for planning conduit expansion but is a secondary metric - you can't even assess fill ratio accurately without first having the records from B.
• D describes an inability to assess capacity, which is a management failure, not a critical factor to understand - it's the problem you're trying to avoid, not a planning input.
• E (CapEx analysis) is a financial/business concern, not a technical maintenance factor; cost modeling follows from understanding B and C, not the other way around.

Memory tip: Think of B + C as "Where & What" - Where do the cables go (routes/records) and What are they made of (composition). Everything else - cost, capacity planning, fill ratios - is downstream of knowing those two things first.

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