Patent ID: 7039065

Claim:
A telecommunications rack for connection to an upstream network service provider for providing said service to downstream subscriber equipment also for connection to said rack, comprising: a plurality of shelves, at least one shelf for connection to said upstream network service provider by means of network termination equipment, each shelf for connection to different equipment of said downstream subscriber equipment by means of line termination equipment, wherein each of said plurality of shelves has a same nonredundant feature; at least one pair of redundant line termination equipment, one line termination equipment of said pair for use in said at least one shelf in association with said same nonredundant feature thereof and a remaining line termination equipment of said pair for use in another shelf of said plurality of shelves in association with said same nonredundant feature thereof; and means for connecting said at least one shelf and said another shelf for providing said same nonredundant feature redundantly.