A method comprising: obtaining a communications cable comprising a bundle of strands (702a-702g), the bundle of strands twisting along the length of the cable and comprising: an electrically insulative first strand, an electrically conductive second strand disposed adjacent to the first strand, an electrically conductive third strand disposed adjacent to the first strand and opposite the second strand, and one or more additional electrically insulative strands (702d-702g) disposed adjacent to the first strand; the method comprising cutting, at a first position along a length of the communications cable, the one or more additional strands while not cutting first, second, and third strands at the first position by determining an orientation of at least one of the second strand or the third strand at the first position, wherein the orientation is determined based on a visual index on the communications cable, the visual index indicating the orientation of at least one of the second strand or the third strand along a length of the communications cable; and removing, from the communications cable, a portion of the one or more additional strands between the first position and an end of the communications cable. obtaining a communications cable comprising a bundle of strands (702a-702g), the bundle of strands twisting along the length of the cable and comprising: an electrically insulative first strand, an electrically conductive second strand disposed adjacent to the first strand, an electrically conductive third strand disposed adjacent to the first strand and opposite the second strand, and one or more additional electrically insulative strands (702d-702g) disposed adjacent to the first strand; the method comprising cutting, at a first position along a length of the communications cable, the one or more additional strands while not cutting first, second, and third strands at the first position by determining an orientation of at least one of the second strand or the third strand at the first position, wherein the orientation is determined based on a visual index on the communications cable, the visual index indicating the orientation of at least one of the second strand or the third strand along a length of the communications cable; and removing, from the communications cable, a portion of the one or more additional strands between the first position and an end of the communications cable. an electrically insulative first strand, an electrically conductive second strand disposed adjacent to the first strand, an electrically conductive third strand disposed adjacent to the first strand and opposite the second strand, and one or more additional electrically insulative strands (702d-702g) disposed adjacent to the first strand; the method comprising cutting, at a first position along a length of the communications cable, the one or more additional strands while not cutting first, second, and third strands at the first position by determining an orientation of at least one of the second strand or the third strand at the first position, wherein the orientation is determined based on a visual index on the communications cable, the visual index indicating the orientation of at least one of the second strand or the third strand along a length of the communications cable; and removing, from the communications cable, a portion of the one or more additional strands between the first position and an end of the communications cable.