  ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | Not as bad... It's not AS bad as the VRAD's but sure makes their last advertisaing campaign look pretty freaking stupid now. | |
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 | | | Re: Not as bad... My question, how can they legally do this? Public property = Sidewalk and the curb. As far as I know, a company just can't demand usage of your lawn? Wouldn't this woman had to agree to the service? Otherwise, I would imagine she would have a nice lawsuit against Comcast. Just curious. | |
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| | ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | Re: Not as bad... Depends on the towns. Easements I believe can extend out from the sidewalk a bit. | |
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| | | | said by jc100:My question, how can they legally do this? Public property = Sidewalk and the curb. As far as I know, a company just can't demand usage of your lawn? Wouldn't this woman had to agree to the service? Otherwise, I would imagine she would have a nice lawsuit against Comcast. Just curious. Local townships pass easement laws giving utilities, cable companies, telcos an OK to put things on your property. It is all legal whether you like it or not. What do you think those franchise agreements are for?
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| |  marigoldsGainfully employed, finallyPremium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 | It's stupid cities not paying attention to their franchise language, or state level franchises that have no language.
Cities can include language requiring appropriate compensation to offset property value loss from installing equipment like this in the easement. States can too, but I have yet to see a state include it in their statewide franchise law.
(California is one of those states with a statewide franchise law that allows easements anywhere necessary on private property and has no requirement for compensation for lost property value. It does require repair of damage, but with no definition of adequate repair.)
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| | |  N3OGHYo Soy Col. "Bat" GuanoPremium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1 | Re: Not as bad... Not as stupid as you may think. The cities and towns are not turning a blind eye to this sort of stuff, they condone it.
See, if the cable company or the phone company have to dig up your lawn, and put a box here and there, no skin of the town fathers' nose. Grass grows back, and there is minimal disruption to the flow of traffic.
Mandate the use of street area, and all of a sudden, you've got traffic woes, torn up pavement, dust, etc.
The town powers that be WANT the likes of Verizon, AT&T and Comcast digging your lawn instead of ripping up blacktop.
And if you ask me, it makes perfect sense....
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Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
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| | rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Believe it or not, modern subdivision easements extend from the street all the way to your home's foundation. Yes, this means they can come and dig up your yard anytime they please. Jack hammer your driveway whenever they want. Destroy your flower beds without notice.
They do have to restore them but some items, like big trees, cannot be replaced and you just have to live with it.
This is not a bad law because if a gas line is leaking, you certainly want the utility to come in an fix it and not have to get permission from six different neighbors only to find out two are snow birds and out-of-town in Florida for the next four months. Unfortunately it fees like a "bend over" moment whenever it happens but it's one of those Star Trek moments where "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one".
I suppose the challenge is that with any power like this, there's bound to be abuse. In my opinion, that's why local franchises were good. If a cable company has to come in and please your local municipality, it's a bit closer to home when a local alderman can complain rather than your state's attorney general. I also see the other side in that local franchises are not efficient since it is necessary to get agreements from thousands in each state. There's no perfect solution but I would certainly rather deal with inefficiency versus losing your voice about what happens in your own community. That's why I generally oppose state-wide franchises because the easement power will be abused -- no question about it. | |
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| |  ykronicPremium
join:2006-01-31
Canada | at least up here the government can claim up to 4' or 6' I believe of lawn exending out from the sidewalk | |
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| | | | | Re: Not as bad... Ya and what gets me, try sending the city the bill for maintaining that piece of property =). Bet you won't get far. Franchise deals are a crock. I still believe it's your land and people need permission to change it. The same goes for these new eminent domain laws that allow businesses to randomly take your property. That was a load of crap when the Supreme Court said that was legal. Before, eminent domain meant only the city had this power. | |
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| |  BSD24Tier 4Premium
join:2008-04-30
Middleboro, MA | jc100 - read the agreement with Comcast. Most likely this customer they are talking about already had an UNDERGROUND connection to Comcast. Underground has been around for a very very very long time, it all depends on the community you live in. Some are U/G for other reasons, but most likely reasons is that is how the town/city is setup already. All this was was an upgrade cap that protects the access point where the connection is made.
I bet you this womens other utilities are running thru same or nearby aswell, this is standard procedures for cable operators across the country. It is legal - given you take a look at cable operator's "User Agreements". You probably didn't even know that the agreement shows Comcast owns the sections after the first 12 inches of cable that exit the home.
Another point, is there is a huge difference between an underground connect, meaning that is how the customer connects to Comcast (depends on city town because of telephone poles and regulations, or if the customer is more than 300feet from aerial drop), and the huge boxes that AT&T is using on poles and in the lawns of consumers. AT&T must have the boxes on the poles because of the way they deliver the service. U-VERSE is very difficult, only 1 or 2 device(s) in a home can talk back (upstream) in most cases at one time. The technology is expensive and very limited on what it can and its future is even very limited. When I think of U-VERSE I think of USELESS and A JOKE! | |
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| mglunt
join:2001-09-10
Fredericksburg, VA | Comcast has a couple boxes (formerly Adelphia) above ground in the back corner of my property. VZ's FIOS box is buried a few feet away. At least the cable boxes are in the back and away from the street view. | |
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| | | | Re: Not as bad... Adelphia installed boxes in Ohio as well. I think they're as big as a cross connect box in some areas.
But most cable companies do have boxes above ground. Made by Alpha. | |
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AmmlerPremium
join:2005-04-19
Pittsburgh, PA | Gladly I would gladly take a nice shinny metal cabinet on my lawn if it meant insane internet speeds. I'd think it would be something of a status symbol.  | |
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| | | Re: Gladly said by Ammler:I would gladly take a nice shinny metal cabinet on my lawn if it meant insane internet speeds. I'd think it would be something of a status symbol. Yeah, until you move and find people willing to pay less for your property cause of that ugly piece of.. | |
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| | | | Re: Gladly I'm just wondering?
But can you soak those boxes in gasoline and set them on fire? | |
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| | |  dispatcher21911 Where is your emergency?
join:2004-01-22
united state
kudos:1 | Re: Gladly Exactly. They have a right to put it there as long as its on their right of way. If it was even an inch past that right of way, it would be torched. | |
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| | |  ToadmanHypnotoad
join:2001-11-28
Ohio
kudos:1 | said by flyingjoey:I'm just wondering? But can you soak those boxes in gasoline and set them on fire? Well of course you could, but when CSI comes over and finds out that an accelerant was used to cause the fire, you are footing the bill. | |
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| | | |  fiber_manThings Happen For A ReasonPremium
join:2001-01-27
Port Saint Lucie, FL
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: Be careful what you do. It is a federal crime to destroy utility equipment. They will find out who did it. I have seen it happen too many times. A contractor cut a cable then buries it and takes off. Someone saw them digging and talked to a representative of the company or the police. The bill just gets bigger if they have to find the person or company that cut the cable.
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GO NOLES!! | |
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| | | | | And you can go to jail for it too. It's like refusing to pay taxes. | |
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| | | |  pfakBow before me for I am rootPremium
join:2002-12-29
Vancouver, BC | Re: Gladly ... As long as you haven't complained about the box they'd have a hard time proving it's you.  | |
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| | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | get a pick up that you dont keep at the site and run it over and drive away, might want to print a fake plate too | |
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| | | | said by ShadPTR:said by Ammler:I would gladly take a nice shinny metal cabinet on my lawn if it meant insane internet speeds. I'd think it would be something of a status symbol. Yeah, until you move and find people willing to pay less for your property cause of that ugly piece of.. Unless you have an equally geeky person move into the house who also values the high speed internets! | |
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| | Glad I don't have those boxes My next door neighbor has a transformer, a Comcast box and a Millennium Cable "stump" on her lawn.
The Verizon FIOS are in ground and have a small covering on them. | |
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| Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| Re: Glad I don't have those boxes If I were to find one of those things on my property... BELIEVE ME! I'll make sure the company who owns it has to come and service it at least twice a week. I'll run a waterhose right to it make sure I get some kind of solvent inside of it.
No one is putting their crap on my property. | |
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| |  MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | Re: Glad I don't have those boxes said by flyingjoey:If I were to find one of those things on my property... BELIEVE ME! I'll make sure the company who owns it has to come and service it at least twice a week. I'll run a waterhose right to it make sure I get some kind of solvent inside of it. No one is putting their crap on my property. You signed a right of way/utility easement agreement when you purchased your dwelling that allows utility companies to install their equipment as long as it's for the public good. | |
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| | |  Jwobot
join:2002-08-14
Sterling Heights, MI
2 edits | Re: Glad I don't have those boxes said by Matt:said by flyingjoey:If I were to find one of those things on my property... BELIEVE ME! I'll make sure the company who owns it has to come and service it at least twice a week. I'll run a waterhose right to it make sure I get some kind of solvent inside of it. No one is putting their crap on my property. You signed a right of way/utility easement agreement when you purchased your dwelling that allows utility companies to install their equipment as long as it's for the public good. Theres a fine line for "As long as it's for the public good." from utility companies.
»www.wwj.com/pages/2110875.php? | |
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| | | | | | Re: Glad I don't have those boxes not sure why they are building on property. ATT put their uverse boxes along power lines in our community. They're ugly but not obtrusive. | |
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| | |  DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | Sure looks like the boxes are for the private good. | |
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| | | |  JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD | Re: Glad I don't have those boxes And when companies tout their services as being a luxury rather than a utility, and challenge you to just cancel if their serve is sub-par and you dare complain, it does more than just look like they're for private good. | |
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| | | | | NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:4 | Re: Glad I don't have those boxes Absent legislation declaring Internet services to be essential utility, rather than a luxury, this is what we get.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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| | | | | | JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: Glad I don't have those boxes Yes, it's what we're stuck with. But it sure raises questions as to why providers of "luxury" services were granted access to the public right-of-way, since they don't provide anything that can be considered to be for "the good of the public", by their own admission. | |
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| | | | | | |
See 9 replies to this post |
| | | | Joey,
Best read your property deed for easements before making rash statements about what you are going to do. You could look like quite the fool in court as the defendant. | |
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See 11 replies to this post |
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| | KearnstdElf WizardPremium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | said by flyingjoey:If I were to find one of those things on my property... BELIEVE ME! I'll make sure the company who owns it has to come and service it at least twice a week. I'll run a waterhose right to it make sure I get some kind of solvent inside of it. No one is putting their crap on my property. and when my internet and TV goes down several times a week because you are hosing the cable node. id setup a video cam on it and send the tape to the police.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports | |
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| | | Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Glad I don't have those boxes So hold on...
The utility company is NOT Paying my Property Taxes, is not giving me free cable, phone, internet, or better yet... paying me... and they can come and put up their box on my property... HELL FREAKEN NO!
If it's on my property is MINE then. | |
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| | | | | | Re: Glad I don't have those boxes Please do yourself a favor and study your deed for utility easements and the requirements placed upon you by the deed restrictions on the utility easements. You might just sound like a reasonable person, then. | |
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| | | | NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:4 Reviews:
 ·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by flyingjoey:So hold on... The utility company is NOT Paying my Property Taxes, is not giving me free cable, phone, internet, or better yet... paying me... and they can come and put up their box on my property... HELL FREAKEN NO! If it's on my property is MINE then. I concur with others, check your deed. If the utilities have placed poles, boxes, etc., on "your" property, likely they have an easement, and you have no recourse. Unless they have built outside of the boundary of the easement.
And they do pay fees to the government; or, at the least, make certain concessions as a consideration for getting that easement.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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| | | |  knightmbEverybody Lies
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN | said by flyingjoey:So hold on... The utility company is NOT Paying my Property Taxes, is not giving me free cable, phone, internet, or better yet... paying me... and they can come and put up their box on my property... HELL FREAKEN NO! If it's on my property is MINE then. Eaiser than burning it or running over it in a pickup truck, just bury it. Cover the thing in crap (find all the most disgusting things that you can), then throw tons of grass seed all over it. It will grow into a nice law lump and cause all the equipment underneath to overheat. They will have fun digging it out and the smell will probably make some of them puke when they "break" that methane pocket open. | |
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| | | | | | | Re: Glad I don't have those boxes Quick tip, anger the guy working on a splice and he'll bill you for everything he can. | |
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| | PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR | said by flyingjoey:No one is putting their crap on my property. If you run a title report (You did this before you bought it, right, so you completely understood what you were "buying"?), you'd find out that it's not really "your" property. Not 100% yours, anyway.
Every urban/suburban/subdivision lot has significant "clouds" on the title; i.e., other entities have non-negligible rights to the property. They were there when you bought it.
It could be worse. Owners of properties with long-forgotten mining easements have returned from vacation, only to find their house bulldozed, and replaced by a big hole in the ground.  | |
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| | |
| KearnstdElf WizardPremium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | i dont understand how these little green boxes can lower property values. then again i dont look out the windows much and my version of lawn care is a weekly mowing.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports | |
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|  a333A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY | Exactly, at least FiOS uses PON tech that doesn't need huge boxes on the street/poles. Boxes there are, but only IF you want service. | |
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 maartenaElmoPremium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
kudos:1
·AT&T U-Verse
 ·DIRECTV
| I wouldn't put up with it. Let them talk to the city and put it on the sidewalk. If I bought a house with something like that on MY property, first thing I would do is get rid of it. (Obviously giving the company a month or so to come do it).
Let them bury it in the sidewalk. Concrete lid on top of it.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -
Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father. | |
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|  tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3
·Comcast
| Re: I wouldn't put up with it. said by maartena:Let them talk to the city and put it on the sidewalk. If I bought a house with something like that on MY property, first thing I would do is get rid of it. (Obviously giving the company a month or so to come do it). Let them bury it in the sidewalk. Concrete lid on top of it. In most areas the RoW extends inside(closer to your house)the sidewalk area.
While some areas in california issue a seperate deed in new developments for the easement, the IMPLIED easement exists even if not sepcificly shown on your deed.
willful destruction of their property legally installed in the easement (your property which they are given a right of use) will get you arrested (anywhere from a ticket to a trip to jail) fines, posssible jail time (if you burn it, that's arson, a state and federal crime), AND the FULL cost of replacement/repair.
Plus persons effected by your action may presue civil penalties for loss of use, lost oppotunity, and punitive damages.
shortly you won't own that house anymore (siezed to pay the jugements) so I guess the problem will be solved. (equipment is no longer on your property, i'e. not your property) | |
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| Reviews:
·Mediacom
| said by maartena:Let them talk to the city and put it on the sidewalk. If I bought a house with something like that on MY property, first thing I would do is get rid of it. (Obviously giving the company a month or so to come do it). Let them bury it in the sidewalk. Concrete lid on top of it. And if they are within easement, how would you do that? | |
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| NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:4 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by maartena:Let them talk to the city and put it on the sidewalk. If I bought a house with something like that on MY property, first thing I would do is get rid of it. (Obviously giving the company a month or so to come do it). I have not seen a VRAD on anybody's front lawn around the south S.F. Bay Area. I've seen a score, or more, of them. Mostly in parking strips, between the curb and the sidewalk. Mostly where there is a property line fence abutting the sidewalk.
Let them bury it in the sidewalk. Concrete lid on top of it.
And let the utility charge you the extra $5 to $10 per month they will need to offset the cost of adequate cooling of the equipment.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
|
 DaveDudeNo Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1 | ugly design Why cant they invent a less ugly design. Like cell tower that look like spruce trees (kinda). Another answer would put them in a neutral spot, on the side of a house, but not in front. | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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 djdanskaRudie32Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
kudos:4 | Just wait... Just wait until at&t comes in and installs one of their equipment on her property! You think she is upset now? Oh boy!
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When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all. | |
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 CableGeiPremium
join:2004-05-27
Brookville, OH
·Frontier Communi..
| whatever I'm sure I'll be flammed for this, but oh well.
Yes, I see the irony with Comcast running ads about the VRADs, but look at all of you people who want the latest and greatest technology and internet speeds, but have a huge fit when you have to look at the equipment associated with it.
Sure, some cities would look a lot better with no utility poles and lines.... but oh that's right, we want the service.
You people who claim that you'd do this or that to have one of these unsightly boxes removed, buried, changed, or disguised in some way are the same people who will be complaining when a service person can no longer access these pedistals and pieces of equipment and your service is not working or intermittent.
It's no different than if I go to a house for a service call and the customer states that I'm the fifth person out and the problem still isn't fixed...yada yada... and it's clear to me why the problem hasn't been fixed... you live in filth, your house stinks, there's trash everywhere... of course your problem hasn't been fixed, you've made it extremely inconvenient and a human service person might do whatever to get out of that situation, whether it's the right thing to do or not.
If you want fast internet and all this technology... these things just have to exist for now. | |
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| ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 Reviews:
 ·VOIPo
| Re: whatever said by CableGei:If you want fast internet and all this technology... these things just have to exist for now. They could be buried. Yes, it does cost more but can be done. | |
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| | | you hit the nail on the head right there. Same people that complain about new cell towers have a cell phone in their pocket and yell for no dropped calls and better coverage. Those who complain about being out for extended periods want all access points removed so the service person has no where to start except and the customers house and has to start digging up the ground. | |
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| a333A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY Reviews:
 ·Cingular Wireless
| FiOS doesn't need any huge boxes/cooling.............. why should I support service (Re-Verse, Comcast) providers who put ugly boxes on my lawn when other companies are dropping the cash and investing in FTTH tech that is SO MUCH less of an eyesore? Sure, I can live with big boxes on my property, but only if I want the service/subscribe to it. Alse, the property owner who's getting the box on their yard should at the least get some re-compensation, or a few year's worth of free service. | |
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cacoPremium
join:2005-03-10
Whittier, AK | Those are your typical boxes for cable pedestals and aren't anywhere near the size of the ATT boxes. That is like comparing a H2 and a Toyota Yaris.
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»www.seabee.navy.mil | |
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| | It could be worst She could have gotten a pine box from Comcast... | |
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| | typical comcast Comcast can even manage to screw up a customers lawn
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9929 | |
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MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 |  "Came home to find ...."
Could they have done whatever digging, cable splicing, and such was necessary to install that box in a single DAY ... like 9 hours if it wasn't there when she went to work?
I find that suspect. | |
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| Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: "Came home to find ...." Matt,
It is possible that the box could have been placed in one day, as well as the cable trenched in one day. Since we can't see inside the box, we don't know 1) if the cable is even in there, 2) is there any equipment in the box, and 3) is the cable spliced, if present. It wouldn't be that difficult to do the cable across an average lot is under an hour and the digging for the box 1 to 2 hours, depending on the soil conditions. All this work would probably be done by a contractor, as opposed to a Comcast technician, where the placement of the equipment and splicing might be done by a Comcast technician.
They may come back another day to install equipment in the box and splice the cable. | |
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| | a333A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY | Re: "Came home to find ...." would've been entertaining if they hit a gas line by mistake, or worse, a sewer. Then they would've been caught red-handed, and with their shorts dropped..... | |
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| | | | | Re: "Came home to find ...." Actually, most utility companies and contractors call a "one call" locating number that has gas, telephone, sewer, water, etc., come out an mark the lines. | |
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| tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| said by Matt:Could they have done whatever digging, cable splicing, and such was necessary to install that box in a single DAY ... like 9 hours if it wasn't there when she went to work? I find that suspect. I think so. if you read the article and look at the pic, there is a big flat cement/metal hatch to the left, which she stated existed before, the new item (battery? PSU? splice box) in the small green box on the right, which probably sits on a precast slab.
The box easily could be placed in a few hours, even if all the wire/etc. are not yet attached | |
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Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| Comcast is no better... Comcast always slams ATT and other companies for doing something that they themselves are doing:
1. $50 & $10 dollaring their customers - both companies raise their rates all the time and charge for every thing they possibly can.
2. Bad weather affecting the signal - Always harp about how satellite tv is affected by weather...where do people think Comcast gets a lot of their digital channels from...satellite. My channels pixelate also...they don't do it when I have a storm, it happens when the storm is at their distribution point. | |
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| Reviews:
·Sprint Mobile Br..
| Re: The more the merrier They could always have done this to their yard... | |
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| | | | Re: The more the merrier you can always replace sidewalks and grow grass,but an ugly green box will only get uglier each year.
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9929 | |
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| Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: That darn SUV That's okay, they will just contact your insurance company and take care of the matter. Then you can deal with the possible consequences to your policy premiums.
Honestly, I have never seen so many people that think it is okay to destroy the property of other entities and cause a communications outage that could affect someone's life. | |
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| | Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·T-Mobile US
·AT&T Wireless Br..
·ViaTalk
·Verizon Broadban..
| Re: That darn SUV said by Austinloop:That's okay, they will just contact your insurance company and take care of the matter. Then you can deal with the possible consequences to your policy premiums. Honestly, I have never seen so many people that think it is okay to destroy the property of other entities and cause a communications outage that could affect someone's life. If they didn't see it was me then they wouldn't know. Haha only kidding. If it's so important though, they should put it where it wouldn't be attacked. | |
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| | | | | Re: That darn SUV Believe it or not, everyone else in the world isn't an idiot and could figure things out. | |
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 jasqidFiber In Your Diet?
join:2002-04-02
East Palestine, OH | I'd Let em if... I'd let them put a box on my prop for life time employee rates. | |
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| | Give it a hosing Then when the techs come out and pop open the box to check out the problemo, run the sprinklers. | |
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| | Lawns are evil If you all think the VRAD box is ugly. Have a green power transformer box on the 'Edge' of the lawn. Stick a hose in that one and the sparks will fly...
But generally as mentioned already is that there is usually about 3 feet from the edge of the sidewalk, towards your house, that is city property. But the city causes you to have liability for maintaining it's property by mowing it and shoveling the sidewalk in winter. I've seen places where the city will dig a trench and then kind of back fill it and expect you to level and reseed it. Otherwise the public ugliness Nazis show up and try to force you to comply.
Don't like the box?? Plant hedging around it. But not within 3 feet for access and air movement. So says the utility's. | |
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| | | Re: Lawns are evil said by zalternate:If you all think the VRAD box is ugly. Have a green power transformer box on the 'Edge' of the lawn. Stick a hose in that one and the sparks will fly... But generally as mentioned already is that there is usually about 3 feet from the edge of the sidewalk, towards your house, that is city property. But the city causes you to have liability for maintaining it's property by mowing it and shoveling the sidewalk in winter. I've seen places where the city will dig a trench and then kind of back fill it and expect you to level and reseed it. Otherwise the public ugliness Nazis show up and try to force you to comply. Don't like the box?? Plant hedging around it. But not within 3 feet for access and air movement. So says the utility's. This is the New Fascism. It's the same as the old Fascism, but disguised loudly under the phrase "this is a free country". Sure, all dictatorships and despot countries have propaganda, but in America, the government owns ALL property, and the slaves--er, taxpayers get stuck with the cost of maintaining it all.
These ugly cabinets reduce property value, but do you think you'd get a reduction in your property tax assessment? Nope.
So, you get to pay rent to the town/city, live under the lie that you "own" your property, and have to accept any abuse, whether it be easements, eminent domain, or not being able to paint your house the color you choose.
It never ceases to amaze me how much people bitch and moan over unimportant issues, but they roll over when it comes to matters that affect the very core of our freedom (of which we have just about none left). | |
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| | tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Lawns are evil said by disconnected :
So, you get to pay rent to the town/city, live under the lie that you "own" your property, and have to accept any abuse, whether it be easements, eminent domain, or not being able to paint your house the color you choose.
It never ceases to amaze me how much people bitch and moan over unimportant issues, but they roll over when it comes to matters that affect the very core of our freedom (of which we have just about none left).
Good idea? Yes let's remove all easements, from all property.......no more cable, telco, power or gas lines, also no streets or ingress/egress to your property.....look at those land values soar 
Take away eminent domain and most schools, fire stations, and hospitals are never built (doesn't matter, without roads/streets/highways/freeways, nobody can get to them anyway)
perhaps it doesn't bother you that your neighbor painted a billboard on the side of his house, but the flashing neon keeps me awake at night.
That freedom you speak of comes from the restrictions placed on others, i.e.laws to define your rights and prevent abuse/encrochment by others. | |
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| | | | 'These ugly cabinets reduce property value, but do you think you'd get a reduction in your property tax assessment? Nope.'
Uhhh...Assessment is a guess at property value. They can't deduct hard values from a guess. | |
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| | Time for Comcast.. and anyone else to hire landscapers. Fortunately I have FIOS, and the box is flush with my lawn... If any utility wants to put something on my lawn that sticks up above ground, they are more then welcome to, however they will be receiving a bill from a landscaper which will be hired to plant trees, shrubs, and other plants to hide it.. maybe even a water fixture...
I believe the RoW and Easements only go so far, but they are not permitted to decrease the value of the land, which by placing an ugly green box above ground, they are. | |
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| marigoldsGainfully employed, finallyPremium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 | Re: Time for Comcast.. and anyone else to hire landscapers. said by jvanbrecht:I believe the RoW and Easements only go so far, but they are not permitted to decrease the value of the land, which by placing an ugly green box above ground, they are. California has a statewide franchise law that does not have such limitations. | |
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| BSD24Tier 4Premium
join:2008-04-30
Middleboro, MA | Check your User Agreement. Utility and Cable Operators usually have it in the agreement, that the line leaving your house you own the first 12 inches that exit your building and the Utility/Cable Operator owns or has rights to the cable-line and/or parts of your land after that first 12 inches. | |
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 SolarPupHardware GodPremium
join:2002-03-07
Greeley, CO | Hmm This resident could have had Comcast easily replace it with a rock cover as per mentioned above. We have several of those around here because they're in front easement. You can't even tell unless you notice a tech having one open. Just looks like a decorative rock in the yard.
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...I don't have a 8mb speedy connection, I fly through the net at low altitudes! | |
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| | | Re: Hmm yea throw the fake rock over the ped thats right next to the 2 faded plastic covers taking up 3 by 8 ft of the yard, yea they will so make it blend in! | |
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| | wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·T-Mobile US
| Re: Hmm said by OSUGoose:yea throw the fake rock over the ped thats right next to the 2 faded plastic covers taking up 3 by 8 ft of the yard, yea they will so make it blend in! I'd love that. Less yard to mow!
Seriously, though, if we hadn't all been idiots in the past and failed to maintain the utility easements in the rear of our property and built fences across them, perhaps the utilities wouldn't have been so adamant about new subdivisions having the easement in the front.
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It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word. | |
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| | |  sivranBack to Opera againPremium
join:2003-09-15
Arlington, TX
kudos:1
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Hmm said by wierdo:said by OSUGoose:yea throw the fake rock over the ped thats right next to the 2 faded plastic covers taking up 3 by 8 ft of the yard, yea they will so make it blend in! I'd love that. Less yard to mow! Damn, I hate mowing the yard. I wonder if I can call up my local utility companies and ASK them to put a few in my yard!
Hey, if TWC slapped one in, maybe my service would improve... | |
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DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | We have those too And they're not nearly as bad as the AT&T units.
Most are located between properties and people plant hedges around them and being green makes them a bit camouflaged. | |
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The more the merrier
It is not the cabinet that counts it is the number of cabinets and their location. In the old days most distribution equipment was located in the customers back yard. Recently developers and utility companies began installing the utilities and related cabinets in the front yard. The reason for the change was to allow access to the equipment directly from the public right of way. In my area we have the potential for or the following utility cabinets in our front yards:
