IEEE Std 802.

3-2012 SECTION THREE IEEE STANDARD FOR ETHERNET

35.2.1.3 Mapping of PLS_CARRIER.indication
This section explain how the PLS_CARRIER.indication or
(CARRIER_STATUS) works. It can only take one of the two values: CARRIER_ON or
CARRIER_OFF. When the CARRIER_STATUS assumes the value is in the
CARRIER_ON is when the GMII signal CRS is asserted and when it assumes the value
is in the CARRIER_OFF is when CRS is de-asserted. When this is generated the
PLS_CARRIER.indication service primitive is generated by the Reconciliation sublayer
whenever the CARRIER_STATUS parameter changes from CARRIER_ON to
CARRIER_OFF or vice versa. The GMII is designed to make the differences among the
various media transparent to the MAC sublayer.