The could just use fiber.... the FIOS cabinets are 5 times smaller, and mounted on poles. But noooooo, AT&T thinks copper is the future!
I doubt they think copper is the future.. more like wireless..
but also AT&T loves to reuse old equipment and thats what where seing with the phone lines haha, uverse is so funny because it uses fiber then coverts to phone line... which is cheaper than heck!