In telephone testing, what do you do first when you locate an open circuit?

Locating an open circuit is a critical step in telephone testing, and the initial action must involve understanding the nature of the problem. Determining which side of the line is open allows a technician to ascertain where the fault rests—whether it is on the customer side or in the network. By identifying the open circuit's location, further troubleshooting can be conducted efficiently, such as checking the connections, testing equipment, or determining if wiring replacements are necessary.

Once it is clear which side is affected, appropriate corrective actions can follow, such as checking for shorts, verifying signal strength, or replacing wiring if needed. This initial assessment ensures that repair efforts are directed effectively without unnecessary steps.