Electronic backplane device for a fiber distribution shelf in an optical fiber administration system

An optical fiber administration system comprising:

• a systems controller;
• a plurality of fiber distribution shelves;
• a plurality of connection modules on each of said fiber distribution shelves;
• an electrical backplane assembly disposed within each of said plurality of fiber distribution shelves, said electrical backplane being electrically coupled to said systems controller and each of said plurality of connection modules contained within the same fiber distribution shelf, wherein said systems controller and said plurality of connection modules intercommunicate with each other through said electrical backplane assembly.

In an optical fiber distribution shelf containing a plurality of connection modules disposed within a shelf structure, the method of electrically interconnecting a systems controller to said connection modules, comprising the steps of:

• mounting an systems interface module to said shelf structure, wherein said systems interface module is contained entirely within said shelf structure;
• joining said systems interface module to each of said connection modules within said shelf structure with a separate lead wherein each said lead is contained entirely within said shelf structure;
• and
• joining said systems controller to said systems interface modules, wherein said systems interface module enables intercommunication between said connection modules and said systems controller.