Old (older than every poster here) demanded the phone to be earthed
to a water pipe. That is no longer acceptable. Phone must now be
earthed to an electrode also used by cable TV and AC electric. Code
also says that wire must be 12 AWG. Most use 10 AWG wire. Code also
says that earthing wire must be short. That required to meet 'human
safety' code. For transistor safety, that wire from demarc (NID) must
be 'less than 10 feet', separated from all other non-earthing wires, no
sharp bends, no splices, not inside any metallic conduit, and should be
as short as practicable. These include post 1990 code requirements.

Same rules also apply to cable TV and AC mains earthing wire. All
earthing wires should remain separated until all meet at their common
earthing electrode. If it does not exist, you should install the
earthing rod (for AC electric) before the telco comes out. You want
them to use your 'better' earthing. Else they may install one that is
insufficient (too short).

Only other ground for telephone wire is where that wire enters the
telco's CO. However AC electric must be earthed at your earthing
electrode AND at utility's transformer.

While inspecting, also confirm a safety ground wire from breaker box
to water pipe is still connected. Best attached at a point where water
pipe just enters the building and so that an earthing connection does
not pass through any soldered connections. Your gas company may also
demand same connection to gas pipe; a requirement that varies with
natural gas companies.

Most important reason to confirm ground wires and to route them deep
enough so at to not be pierced by a nail - human safety. Do those
inspections while it remains convenient.

Eigenvector wrote:
Alright, I'd better call them then.

The whole thing started while I was sheetrocking and insulating the
basement. The previous owner/and or phone company rather than drilling
holes into the studs, took a chisel and cut a "V" notch on the surface of
the stud so that the sheetrock would lay flat. So I'm looking at their
handywork and wondering how I can re-route those wires - when I discovered
that one of those grey wires wasn't a phone line - it was a ground wire.
Now I'm wondering if I can route the ground wire to my panel instead and/or
toss it.

Alright, Qwest here I come. I'm sure it will take about a week to
sufficiently explain my question to them so that I get an intelligent
answer.