Abstract

A communication wire of flat construction has two or more pairs of communication gage polyolefin insulated wires, twisted along their length, disposed in groups on opposite sides and parallel to a conductive steel wire. The steel wire may be galvanized or copper clad. All of the foregoing are embedded in a PVC jacket with the PVC material bonded to the steel wire but unbonded to the insulated communication gage wires. Weakening lines permit separation into central and side parts with an intact PVC jacket on each part. When used as telephone drop wire the steel wire provides both physical support and electrical conductivity for supplemental or primary grounding. The wire shape and size permits use of existing hardware for installation. Alternatively, a group of wires on at least one side is replaced either by a coaxial cable or by one or more polyolefin jacketed optical fiber conductors.