Telecommunications closets are generally considered to be floor serving facilities for horizontal cable distribution. They may also be used for intermediate and main cross-connects.

Some specifications related to telecommunications closets:

• Closets shall be designed and equipped in accordance with ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-A.
• Cable stress from tight bends, cable ties, and tension should be avoided by well-designed cable management.
• Cables and cords used for active equipment connections are outside the scope of the standard. A length of 10 m (33 ft.) total is allowed for patch cords and equipment cables on both ends of each link).
• Only standards-compliant connecting hardware shall be used.
• Equipment connections at a cross-connect may be made by way of "interconnections" or "cross-connections". Cross-connections are used for connections between cabling subsystems and for connections to equipment with multi-port connectors. Interconnections are used for connections to equipment with single-port connectors.