I have only seen this done in Washington, DC installations. Verizon doesn't consider outside plant in the downtown area to be exposed (to lightning), so they don't use protectors there.

Even large feeder cables are just punched down on 66 blocks in office buildings; no protection at all.

NEC stipulates that any outdoor wiring that extends more than one city block be protected. Since Verizon is a utility, they are exempt from having to follow the NEC. They are also exempt from parking restrictions or so it seems!


Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX