A method and apparatus for discharging accumulated static charge in unshielded twisted pair cables. According to one example, an electrical jack includes a housing having an opening defined therein through which a mating plug is received, a grounding strip, and at least one elastically deformable signal contact residing within the housing. As the mating plug is received, the elastically deformable signal contact may move from a position in contact with the grounding strip to a position not in contact with the grounding strip, thereby discharging static charge from the unshielded twisted pair cables and allowing normal connection to the mating plug.