Protective housing for a telecommunications interface and/or a jumper cable comprising: a boot comprised of an elastomeric material and having a central bore receiving a prepared end of a coaxial cable connector, the boot comprising at least three portions corresponding to peripheral surfaces of either a coaxial cable or the connector; a first portion having a first inner mold line surface corresponding to a first connector surface at one end; a second portion having a second IML surface corresponding to a coaxial cable surface at another end; a third portion having an intermediate IML surface corresponding to a second connector surface; and characterized by: six equiangularly-spaced elongate slots disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the boot along at least one of the IML surfaces and in fluid communication with one of the adjacent IML surfaces, wherein the elongate slots provide a fluid passageway to prevent the build-up of air pressure to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the boot from the connector, wherein a length of each of the elongated slots is between twenty-five percent (25%) of the total intermediate IML surface and seventy-five percent (75%) of the total intermediate IML surface, wherein the elongate slots eliminate about one-half (1/2) of the elastomeric material in frictional engagement with the connector, and wherein a width of each of the elongated slots defines an arc of 30 degrees. a boot comprised of an elastomeric material and having a central bore receiving a prepared end of a coaxial cable connector, the boot comprising at least three portions corresponding to peripheral surfaces of either a coaxial cable or the connector; a first portion having a first inner mold line surface corresponding to a first connector surface at one end; a second portion having a second IML surface corresponding to a coaxial cable surface at another end; a third portion having an intermediate IML surface corresponding to a second connector surface; and characterized by: six equiangularly-spaced elongate slots disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the boot along at least one of the IML surfaces and in fluid communication with one of the adjacent IML surfaces, wherein the elongate slots provide a fluid passageway to prevent the build-up of air pressure to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the boot from the connector, wherein a length of each of the elongated slots is between twenty-five percent (25%) of the total intermediate IML surface and seventy-five percent (75%) of the total intermediate IML surface, wherein the elongate slots eliminate about one-half (1/2) of the elastomeric material in frictional engagement with the connector, and wherein a width of each of the elongated slots defines an arc of 30 degrees. six equiangularly-spaced elongate slots disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the boot along at least one of the IML surfaces and in fluid communication with one of the adjacent IML surfaces, wherein the elongate slots provide a fluid passageway to prevent the build-up of air pressure to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the boot from the connector, wherein a length of each of the elongated slots is between twenty-five percent (25%) of the total intermediate IML surface and seventy-five percent (75%) of the total intermediate IML surface, wherein the elongate slots eliminate about one-half (1/2) of the elastomeric material in frictional engagement with the connector, and wherein a width of each of the elongated slots defines an arc of 30 degrees.