A communication connector includes a housing having a panel flange configured to abut against a rear of a panel and a mating end configured to be positioned forward of the panel. The housing has panel nut threads and a panel nut is threadably coupled thereto. The panel nut has a tether extending therefrom with a first tether loop secured to the panel nut and a second tether loop at a second end. A protective cap is removably coupled to the mating end of the housing. The protective cap has a lanyard extending therefrom having a first lanyard loop removably coupled to the second tether loop. When the protective cap is coupled to the mating end, access to the at least one conductor is restricted, and when the protective cap is removed from the mating end, access to the at least one conductor is allowed.