This page just maintains my record of the facts I've discovered about running cable in MEB.

Plenum/Riser issues: The ceiling spaces of the first and second floors of MEB are not considered plena, but the space above third floor is. (Any space in which breathing air is circulated to rooms regularly occupied by people is considered a plenum.) The space below the machine room floor (and graphics lab/vision room floor) is not considered a plenum, because the air circulated there does not make it to any office spaces.

• Running copper: The DSL (Corey Hatch and others) are supposed to handle running this kind of cable.
• Running fiber: This can be handled either by the DSL or by Telecom (contact: Glen Copeland 1-8999). Both recommend buying bulk unterminated fiber, since pre-terminated fiber is more likely to be damaged when run.
• Running fiber FOR VIDEO: DSL recommends buying one big fiber bundle, laying it, and then terminating it. Telecom recommends laying a preterminated, length and attenuation tested bundle. They ask that we CLEARLY specify what the length and attenuation requirements are, and be explicit. (I.e., tell them that of 18 fibers, 1,2,3,and 4 must be length tested to within 6 inches of each other; 5 and 6 have no specific requirements; 7,8,9,and 10 must be length tested to within 6 inches of each other, etc.; don't simply say length+-6 inches, 5dB loss max.)