The longer the cable, the more the signal degrades. The station cable used to connect your computer to the wall jack is also far more exposed than the wiring in the walls and ceilings. This means the cable is more vulnerable to damage or exposure to interference. The information running across your network cable is transmitted at speeds many times higher than over your telephone cable and, thus, requires that we follow more strict guidelines. Therefore, the cable should never be wrapped tightly under, around, or through furniture, as data transmission can be severely impaired.
Longer cables can also be a safety hazard.
Cables run across longer distances can easily be tripped over and cause serious injury. Wright State is committed to a safe, hazard-free workplace. It is important to note that computer networks are different from telephone networks. If your individual telephone or phone cable becomes damaged, other telephones in the system are rarely effected. However, in a computer network, malfunctioning computers or networking cables can effect everyone on your network segment.