TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT INSTALLER AND REPAIRER, EXCEPT LINE INSTALLER

Job Definition:

Job Description:

• Set-up, rearrange, or remove switching and dialing equipment used in central offices. Service or repair telephones and other communication equipment on customers’ property. May install equipment in new locations or install wiring and telephone jacks in buildings under construction.

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Adjust or modify equipment to enhance equipment performance or to respond to customer requests.
• 2) Analyze test readings, computer printouts, and trouble reports to determine equipment repair needs and required repair methods.
• 3) Assemble and install communication equipment such as data and telephone communication lines, wiring, switching equipment, wiring frames, power apparatus, computer systems, and networks.
• 4) Clean switches and replace contact points, using vacuum hoses, solvents, and hand tools.
• 5) Climb poles and ladders, use truck-mounted booms, and enter areas such as manholes and cable vaults, in order to install, maintain, or inspect equipment.
• 6) Diagnose and correct problems from remote locations, using special switchboards to find the sources of problems.
• 7) Inspect equipment on a regular basis in order to ensure proper functioning.
• 8) Install telephone station equipment, such as intercommunication systems, transmitters, receivers, relays, and ringers, and related apparatus, such as coin collectors, telephone booths, and switching-key equipment.
• 6) Diagnose and correct problems from remote locations, using special switchboards to find the sources of problems.
• 7) Inspect equipment on a regular basis in order to ensure proper functioning.
• 8) Install telephone station equipment, such as intercommunication systems, transmitters, receivers, relays, and ringers, and related apparatus, such as coin collectors, telephone booths, and switching-key equipment.
• 12) Request support from technical service centers when on-site procedures fail to solve installation or maintenance problems.
• 13) Enter codes needed to correct electronic switching system programming.
• 14) Measure distances from landmarks to identify exact installation sites for equipment.
• 15) Perform database verifications, using computers.
• 16) Provide input into the design and manufacturing of new equipment.
• 17) Refer to manufacturers’ manuals to obtain maintenance instructions pertaining to specific malfunctions.
• 18) Remove and remake connections in order to change circuit layouts, following work orders or diagrams.
• 19) Repair or replace faulty equipment such as defective and damaged telephones, wires, switching system components, and associated equipment.
• 20) Review manufacturer’s instructions, manuals, technical specifications, building permits, and ordinances in order to determine communication equipment requirements and procedures.
• 21) Route and connect cables and lines to switches, switchboard equipment, and distributing frames, using wire-wrap guns or soldering irons to connect wires to terminals.
• 22) Run wires between components and to outside cable systems, connecting them to wires from telephone poles or underground cable accesses.
• 23) Test circuits and components of malfunctioning telecommunications equipment to isolate sources of malfunctions, using test meters, circuit diagrams, polarity probes, and other hand tools.
• 24) Test connections to ensure that power supplies are adequate and that communications links function.
• 25) Test repaired, newly installed, or updated equipment to ensure that it functions properly and conforms to specifications, using test equipment and observation.
• 26) Address special issues or situations, such as illegal or unauthorized use of equipment, or cases of electrical or acoustic shock.
• 27) Clean and maintain tools, test equipment, and motor vehicles.
• 28) Collaborate with other workers in order to locate and correct malfunctions.
• 29) Communicate with bases, using telephones or two-way radios to receive instructions or technical advice, or to report equipment status.
• 30) Demonstrate equipment to customers and explain how it is to be used, and respond to any inquiries or complaints.
• 31) Designate cables available for use.
• 32) Determine viability of sites through observation, and discuss site locations and construction requirements with
• customers.
  33) Dig holes or trenches as necessary for equipment installation and access.
• 34) Drive crew trucks to and from work areas.
• 35) Examine telephone transmission facilities to determine requirements for new or additional telephone services.
• 36) Install updated software, and programs that maintain existing software and/or provide requested features such as time-correlated call routing.
• 37) Maintain computer and manual records pertaining to facilities and equipment.
• 38) Place intercept circuits on terminals to handle vacant lines in central office installations.
• 39) Program computerized switches and switchboards to provide requested features.
• 40) Remove and replace plug-in circuit equipment.

Activities:

• 1) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• 2) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• 3) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 4) Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• 5) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 6) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• 7) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 8) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 9) Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• 10) Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• 11) Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• 12) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• 13) Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• 14) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 15) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• 16) Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• 17) Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• 18) Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• 19) Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• 20) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• 21) Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• 22) Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• 23) Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• 24) Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Abilities:

• 1) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• 2) Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• 3) Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• 4) Visual Color Discrimination — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• 5) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 6) Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• 7) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 8) Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• 9) Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• 10) Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• 11) Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• 12) Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
• 13) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• 14) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• 15) Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• 16) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• 17) Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• 18) Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• 19) Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• 20) Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• 21) Extent Flexibility — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• 22) Gross Body Coordination — The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
• 23) Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• 24) Depth Perception — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• 25) Hearing Sensitivity — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Knowledge:

• 1) Telecommunications — Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• 2) Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• 3) Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• 4) Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• 5) Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• 6) English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  7) Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• 8) Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• 9) Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.