A fiber optic cable (10, 110) having a central longitudinal axis, the fiber optic cable comprising: a jacket having a length that extends along the central longitudinal axis of the fiber optic cable (10, 110), the jacket defining a transverse cross-sectional profile having a thickness and a width, the thickness extending between top and bottom sides (36, 38) while the width extends between rounded ends (40, 42), the thickness being smaller than the width, the transverse cross- sectional profile of the jacket defining a major axis that extends across the width of the jacket and a minor axis that extends across the thickness of the jacket), the major and minor axes (18, 16) being perpendicular to one another and also being perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the fiber optic cable, and the major axis and the minor axis (18, 16) intersecting each other at the central longitudinal axis; a core positioned within the jacket that extends along the central longitudinal axis, the core including at least one optical fiber; cable reinforcing members positioned within the jacket on opposite sides of the minor axis; first and second open- sided notches (24, 26) defined by the jacket that extend along the length of the jacket, each open- sided notch (24, 26) being positioned at a location offset from the minor axis, wherein each open-sided notch (24, 26) is defined by surfaces (50, 52) that are angled relative to one another and that converge as the surfaces (50, 52) extend into the jacket in a direction from a respective open end to a respective closed end, characterized in that: the core also includes a buffer layer that surrounds the at least one optical fiber; and inner edges of the first and second open-sided notches (24, 26) are positioned along a reference plane that intersects the core, the notches (24, 26) forming a tear path aligned along the reference plane. a jacket having a length that extends along the central longitudinal axis of the fiber optic cable (10, 110), the jacket defining a transverse cross-sectional profile having a thickness and a width, the thickness extending between top and bottom sides (36, 38) while the width extends between rounded ends (40, 42), the thickness being smaller than the width, the transverse cross- sectional profile of the jacket defining a major axis that extends across the width of the jacket and a minor axis that extends across the thickness of the jacket), the major and minor axes (18, 16) being perpendicular to one another and also being perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the fiber optic cable, and the major axis and the minor axis (18, 16) intersecting each other at the central longitudinal axis; a core positioned within the jacket that extends along the central longitudinal axis, the core including at least one optical fiber; cable reinforcing members positioned within the jacket on opposite sides of the minor axis; first and second open- sided notches (24, 26) defined by the jacket that extend along the length of the jacket, each open- sided notch (24, 26) being positioned at a location offset from the minor axis, wherein each open-sided notch (24, 26) is defined by surfaces (50, 52) that are angled relative to one another and that converge as the surfaces (50, 52) extend into the jacket in a direction from a respective open end to a respective closed end, characterized in that: the core also includes a buffer layer that surrounds the at least one optical fiber; and inner edges of the first and second open-sided notches (24, 26) are positioned along a reference plane that intersects the core, the notches (24, 26) forming a tear path aligned along the reference plane. the core also includes a buffer layer that surrounds the at least one optical fiber; and inner edges of the first and second open-sided notches (24, 26) are positioned along a reference plane that intersects the core, the notches (24, 26) forming a tear path aligned along the reference plane.