There are some places where NM cable and communication cables cannot be run, due to the nature of location. For instance, small gauge non-metallic cable cannot be run perpendicular under floor joists in a basement because people tend to hang things from it, which can pop loose the staples securing it, or in worst-case damage the cable.
On your other similarly related topic, I mentioned the ***.24 sections of the NEC which state that cables installed Exposed on the surface of ceilings and sidewalls shall be supported by the building structure in such a manner that the cable will not be damaged by normal building use. Going in Step farther, I would say would not be damaged by normal occupant use either.
As others have written, there is no defined standard. The way I do it is I try to figure out if there is any way under normal conditions that a cable would be damaged. You could run telephone cable tucked under the cove base in a room, however I would not run it under a carpet knowing that chairs could be rolled across it, a woman with high heels could step on it, etc.
I believe that under Virginia IRC, cables were or are required to be protected below 7 feet. I have done a few installations with a surface mount metal switch box, and a stub running up near the ceiling to protect the NM cable running to it.
Then again, the local cable company has done many installs where they simply lay the cable in the crawlspace and do not attach it to the structure. If I had to guess as to reasoning for that, it's that a lot of coax gets installed with NM Staples and strung like banjo strings, which will eventually cause signal problems.
