COMMUNICATION MEDIA AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INDICATION OF SIGNAL POWER TO A NETWORK ENTITY

Communication media for providing indication of signal power to a network entity include communication paths extending from a first end to a second end; and a connector assembly terminating the first end of the communication paths, the connector assembly including a physical layer management (PLM) interface that is isolated from signals on the communication paths. The connector assembly includes a signal sensor that senses signal power propagating through the connector assembly to/from the communication paths; a programmable processor coupled to the signal sensor and the PLM interface; and data storage devices that include first instructions that cause the programmable processor to receive a signal from the signal sensor corresponding to the signal power detected by the signal sensor, and to send an indication of the signal power propagating through the connector assembly, the programmable processor sending the indication over the PLM interface to a network entity.