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story category AT&T's Latest VRAD Headache: Graffiti
City of New Haven now annoyed with box tagging...
(old news - 04:18PM Friday Jul 18 2008)
tags: business · telco · install · networking · AT&T U-Verse
AT&T can't seem to catch a break when it comes to the bulky VRAD cabinets they need to install on city streets for their U-Verse VDSL and IPTV service. A number of communities have complained that the large VRAD cabinets reduce their property value (Comcast even used the complaints in an anti-U-Verse ad campaign). Most of the complaints have generally focused on the ugliness of the boxes, but New Haven locals are now complaining that graffiti on those boxes are making them even uglier, and they're trying to ensure AT&T cleans it up.
Click for full size
Smuts "strongly encouraged" New Haveners to report any taggings through SeeClickFix.com, an independent watchdog website mapping quality of life complaints across the city and tracking how quickly they’re addressed. The tagging at the top of this story was reported here on SeeClickFix on Sunday evening and fixed Thursday by noon. Graffiti seen on the V-rad boxes can be reported at the website, with the tag word "v-rad."
AT&T is doing a good job of cleaning things up, something they say is company policy for all equipment. Still, these cabinets have proven to be a bit of a pain. They've exhibited the occasional but annoying tendency to explode, aesthetically anger city residents when not busy exploding, and they create one more thing AT&T techs have to clean. Of course AT&T could have avoided these cabinets altogether if they had embraced pure fiber to the home, something they'll eventually wind up doing anyway.

Related:
  1. AT&T Switches From Tellabs To Ericsson
  2. Comcast: U-Verse Interfering With Our Network
  3. AT&T VRADs in CT Need Landowner Approval
  4. AT&T Backbone Sees 20% P2P Drop
  5. Electrical Expert: FiOS Installations Safe
  6. User Impressions Of AT&T's New 18Mbps U-Verse Tier
  7. U-Verse Launching In Birmingham Tomorrow?
  8. More Towns Grumble Over AT&T VRADs
Forums » AT&T's Latest VRAD Headache: Graffiti
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Cheese
Premium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
clubs:

Smut...

Says to clean it up...Must listen to Smut!
Austinloop

join:2001-08-19
Austin, TX

Re: Smut...

Looks like there are some pretty low life types in these areas that would benefit by a visit to the gray bar motel. "Taggers" are low life scum.
iampedro

join:2005-02-12
Houston, TX

Re: Smut...

Hopefully they will have a great solution by the time they get to my neighborhood..

ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI

Re: Smut...



Great place for a campaign sign though!
--
Comcast has spoiled me rotten!

S_engineer

join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL

Re: Smut...

Don't give these clowns any ideas...next thing you know they'll be selling the sides as advertising space!

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME

Re: Smut...

LOL - you never know... they're large enough.
I actually wonder, in some areas that have them on the poles, if they are actually a driving hazard. Eg. you can not see the pedestrian stepping out from behind it, or, if you're driving out from a street - these make a blind spot... not being able to see oncoming traffic.
--
Canada = Hollywood North

rawgerz
In Debt we trust
Premium
join:2004-10-03
Grove City, PA
·Verizon Online DSL
·Sprint Mobile Broa..

What doesn't cease to amaze me is they don't seem to realize a simple coat of wax now and then would prevent this.
Same goes for municipalities, they just go out and replace a $200+ stop sign.
--

You can't make all the people happy all of the time. But it should be common sense to shoot for the majority.

ReVeLaTeD
Premium
join:2001-11-10
San Diego, CA

Re: Smut...

Or they could completely prevent even that much by just doing their due diligence and putting them in the ground in the first place. More upfront cost, less backend expense.
Sahrin

join:2004-05-15
Houston, TX

Re: Smut...

Until it breaks...

ReVeLaTeD
Premium
join:2001-11-10
San Diego, CA

Re: Smut...

Like it's any safer above ground? If anything it's in more danger being where it is. All it takes is one drunk driver.

Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs:

said by rawgerz See Profile :

What doesn't cease to amaze me is they don't seem to realize a simple coat of wax now and then would prevent this.
Same goes for municipalities, they just go out and replace a $200+ stop sign.
A simple "chop off their hands" law for vandals would as well.
--
Intel Q6600 @3400Mhz/GA-EP35-DS3P/2x 2048Mb G.Skill/Seagate 750.10/EVGA 8800GT's SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

That's just..

Comcast Rick stating "Get these lawn fridges out of here, and give me FTTH".
--
Canada = Hollywood North
lordofwhee

join:2007-10-21
Everett, WA

Re: That's just..

I'd give up my refrigerator for FTTH...

Who needs food when I have 20/20?

The Dv8or
DSLReports Forums -- The Mouse House 2.0
Premium
join:2001-08-09
Danbury, CT
clubs:

Re: That's just..

said by lordofwhee See Profile :

I'd give up my refrigerator for FTTH...

Who needs food when I have 20/20?
What, they don't have a Lenscrafters in Everett?
--
You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you.

Dennis
Premium,Mod
join:2001-01-26
Algonquin, IL

1 edit

Tendency....really?

I don't think the word tendency was meant to represent an event that has only occured enough to count on one hand.

Shadow01
Premium
join:2003-10-24
Wasteland
·AT&T Midwest

Re: Tendency....really?

said by Dennis See Profile :

I don't think the word tendency was meant to represent an event that has only occured enough to count on one hand.
[/BQUOTE

]Would you leave Karl alone? He is ruining his credibility just fine on his own....

lev
Napoleon is always right
Premium,Ex-mod 2002-08
join:2001-05-30
Chicago, IL
clubs:
·AT&T Midwest

Re: Tendency....really?

said by Shadow01 See Profile :

said by Dennis See Profile :

I don't think the word tendency was meant to represent an event that has only occured enough to count on one hand.
Would you leave Karl alone? He is ruining his credibility just fine on his own....
I was tempted to say something about this. I've done so before, but to no avail. Yeah, it's a really bad thing that a vendor supplied bad batteries and four of them blew up. But the 17,000 dangerous batteries have been replaced. Enough already.

As for the giant devices? Crap. That's a pole-mounted device in the picture. Far smaller.

It's not just AT&T. The news on this site is anti-big-business. I'm mostly fine with that, but it's reading a little two-dimensional and repetitive from here. Fresher stuff please.

Millenniumle

join:2007-11-11
Fredonia, NY

...

I can see some poor AT&T employee getting shot cleaning up some gang's insignia.

rit56

join:2000-12-01
New York, NY

1 edit

Re: ...

they don't install these boxes in neighborhoods where they have gangs. I hate to disappoint you but the majority of the graffiti is being done by children of affluent white people. name one poor neighborhood where they put these boxes?

Samus82
Radly

join:2002-01-29
Chicago, IL
clubs:
·WOW Internet and C..

Re: ...

whoever said they dont install these in areas where they have gangs is a tard. I work for att. ALL of the boxes in my area were put up FIRST in low income areas. Infact i have worked in East St. Louis, Detroit, Ford Heights, Calumet Park... All of witch are LOW income areas. I could keep going and talk to you about how att tried to make sure that the low income areas were some of the first to get uverse so they werent left out.. but i wont.
--
Opinion is just a word people hide behind to try and justify them believing stupid things. It sure is easy to believe in something completely and totally stupid, say it's your "Opinion" and then everyone has to respect it.

dudeGOTowned

@rr.com

Re: ...

owned.

bobjohnson
Premium
join:2007-02-03
Titusville, FL
Same in TX.. ATT put them in the low income areas first... You must have them mistaken for VZ with FTTH... i wish i had pictures of some of the VRADS in san antonio... the fronts were missing off of them and such

semick

join:2002-05-12
Cleveland, OH
Not so in Cleveland...The rich burbs got it first, and we still don't have it where I live, but that's ok I got RR Turbo.

cfm117

join:2004-02-13
Woodland Hills, CA
·DIRECTV

Click for full size
Click for full size
Click for full size
Click for full size
No we dont install VRADS in gang areas, never. I just cleaned these boxes 3 days ago. No this isnt a white neighboorhood. Its all hispanic. Its the turf of one of the gangs on the LAPD's Top Ten shitlist.

mystryfiostk

join:2008-07-17
00000

Re: ...

Actually, none of those tags in these pictures are gang related (unless you want to call a graffiti crew a gang).

there is a difference between graffiti used to mark gang territory and taggers. taggers are more often the kiddies - plenty of suburban white ones - who "aspire" to be graffiti artists someday. more a part of hip-hop culture than gang culture.

each one of the tags in these pictures is a name for an individual writer.

Real gang graffiti is much different. Hispanic gangs do a lot of marking, black gangs - not as much.

most don't care about the difference but it DOES matter.
when you see graffiti tags show up in your neighborhood, it's usually just the little johnny or jose got a hold of a spray paint can or sharpie and thinks he's a writer.

if you see REAL gangster graffiti start to pop up, then there's a problem.

the first google hit from gang graffiti turns up a site w/ good examples of gangster graffiti.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
I didn't think Woodland Hills was that bad of an area... might be getting a litte more central into the valley (Reseda area?)
--
Canada = Hollywood North

cfm117

join:2004-02-13
Woodland Hills, CA

Re: ...

Na, this is on Hart St, X of Canoga Av in Canoga Park. The gang here is CPA or Canoga Park-Alabama. CPA tag is everywhere, just didnt get it in these shots.

bigunk
Gort, Klattu Birada Nikto

join:2001-02-10
Santa Clarita, CA
·AT&T Yahoo

Re: ...

I know right where that is. I grew up in the west valley. In fact, the same bunch of shitheads tagged my car and the building I was working at. This happened about 2 months ago, on DeSoto near Vanowen. CPA, if I catch you, you're gonna get picked up off the ground with a spatula and a squeegee.
--
There is not a man in the country that can't make a living for himself and family. But he can't make a living for them AND his government, the way his government is living. What the government has got to do is live as cheap as the people.
- Will Rogers

cfm117

join:2004-02-13
Woodland Hills, CA

Re: ...

Yea DeSoto and Vanowen is not choice real estate either.
cornelius785

join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA
i sense some sarcasm or stupidity in that post, but probably just sarcasm.

spinalboy

@mindspring.com
Actually in central Ohio I have seen them all over. The funny thing in the poor neighborhoods they are clean... In the more well to do areas they have tags.

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC

LOL

LOL @ "not busy exploding"

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

Give them a blank canvas. . . . .

And the little miscreants will tag it.
cornelius785

join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

Re: Give them a blank canvas. . . . .

i agree. in any bad section of pretty much any town, a large box like a VRAD is a magnet to those that feel they must write tag it with some crappy graffiti.

tad2020

join:2007-07-17
Orange, CA
·AT&T DSL Service

Cleaning?

"AT&T is doing a good job of cleaning up the boxes when they're notified of graffiti, something they say is company policy for all equipment."

Um, where I live (Orange/Tustin CA) most of the VRADs and crossovers I see have been tagged and not a single one has be cleaned up yet. AT&T is still working on installing them and I see techs working on them frequently. My city has an active anti-graffiti crew/hotline, I'm surprised the city hasn't done it themselves but they may not be allowed to touch them.

bjl
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Newport Beach, CA

Re: Cleaning?

The one at Walnut & Cherrywood in Tustin got tagged a few months ago and was cleaned fairly quickly (within a week). I don't know if it was at&t or the city that did the cleaning, but the graffiti has not returned.
--
flickr gallery
photo blog (rarely updated)

tad2020

join:2007-07-17
Orange, CA

Re: Cleaning?

Your right, someone did clean that one. That's the only one I've seen that was, though it's the only one I've seen that was tagged on that side of Tustin.
tmc8080

join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY

divine intervention?

where is divine intervention when you need it?
we can have the 1,000th thread about at&t's vrads be when an entire town's vrad system gets struck by lightening in one night!

amigo_boy

join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com


1 edit

Wanker?

A few weeks ago I noticed technicians working near some junction boxes. They had a big (4' tall, 5' long, 2.5' wide) white box with "Wanker" printed on it. I thought it was a generator (or air conditioning because it was summer in the desert). But, now I noticed these "Wanker" units are still there after the technicians left. And, their legs are sitting on four concrete pilings.

Are these related to VRAD? I tried googling the name, but that was useless (a lot of "wankers" out there).

Mark
expert007

join:2006-01-10
Buffalo, NY

Re: Wanker?

Wankers?? Smut?? What is this world coming to???

orion940
Paralyzed By Confusion
Premium
join:2001-12-23
Windsor, CT
·AT&T Yahoo

said by amigo_boy See Profile :

A few weeks ago I noticed technicians working near some junction boxes. They had a big (4' tall, 5' long, 2.5' wide) white box with "Wanker" printed on it.
Are these related to VRAD? I tried googling the name, but that was useless (a lot of "wankers" out there).
Well there's a lot of wanking going on here..

O.
--
In Windsor CT, Home of The Decorative Zamboni

3SGTE
ST215W
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
clubs:
I would like to see a picture of this 'wanker' you are talking about.
--
Striving for Parfection.

Jeffrey
too dark too early
Premium
join:2002-12-24
Dix Hills,NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
·Verizon FIOS
·Vonage
·magicjack.com


1 edit

AT&T's Fault?

What ever happened to the idea that if it isn't your property, you don't touch it or disrespect it or draw on it.

I fail to see how this is AT&T's problem. These boxes are necessary to deliver a service people want. People who have no respect for the property of others sneak out of their bedroom at night and tag them. Now AT&T's getting shit for that?

If I were AT&T I wouldn't go out of my way to clean them. Sure, if you see one or if you're repairing one that has been defaced, make a slight effort to cover it up. But it's just going to return, because the miscreants will return.
--
"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin

[my ramblings]

See 9 replies to this post

ninjatutle
Premium

join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
·Sprint Mobile Broa..

Ya Got Trouble

Trouble, oh we got trouble,
Right here in New Haven!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool,
That stands for pool.
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in New Haven,
Right here!
Gotta figure out a way
To keep the young ones moral after school!
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...

Mothers of New Haven!
Heed the warning before it's too late!
Watch for the tell-tale sign of corruption!
The moment your son leaves the house,
Does he sag his trousers below the waist?
Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger?
A photo of Slim Shady on the wall?
Is he starting to memorize jokes from Chris Rock?
Are certain words creeping into his conversation?
Words like mut#$F#$#?"
And B#$#$ please?"
Well, if so my friends,
Ya got trouble,
Right here in New Haven!
With a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool.
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in New Haven!
Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule!
Oh, we've got trouble.
We're in terrible, terrible trouble.
That game with the fifteen numbered balls is a devil's tool!
Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble!
With a "T"! Gotta rhyme it with "P"!
And that stands for Pool!!!
Blackened
Your Freedom Fries Are Stale

join:2003-09-29


1 edit

When in doubt..

.. screw "property value" associated with things not actually on or directly affecting the actual "living" portion of it. I'm sure, of all people, "Smuts" would enjoy screwing things, so I say we give it a try.

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
·PHONE POWER
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T CallVantage
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable


1 edit

Yep. I think the beige color makes them especially prone

Ours got hit pretty quickly, and we're not really in an area that gets much graffiti.

AT&T painted over it, but the VRAD is now very splotchy which doesn't help its appearance.

--
Laser eye surgery rocks! I love frickin' laser beams.

rcdailey
Dragoonfly
Premium
join:2005-03-29
Rialto, CA


1 edit

Re: Yep. I think the beige color makes them especially prone

Coincidentally, I just received a notice in the mail (USPS mail, that is) of a public hearing regarding a request by Reliant Land Services for permission to "co-locate wireless telecommunications antennae on a light standard, and construct an equipment shelter" in a nearby city park. Now I do not know the actual company that is going to operate the equipment, because Reliant Land Services is just a contractor. For my part, I'm fine with something being put on a light standard in a city park.

BabyBear
Keep wise ...with Night-Owl

join:2007-01-11

Quite frankly I'm surprised they weren't pre-painted with company logos(ads). Maybe they figured they'd be violating to many outdoor billboard ordinances. Our Vrad is still clean surprisingly, the pots network box in our backyard does have slight marker tagging on it though.
gworkman7

join:2005-10-18
Vail, AZ

How 'bout some perfect timing?

Let's see one of those boxes explode while it is getting tagged. The combustion when then make the spray can explode removing the hand of the tagger. At least it'll be the last time that kid can tag with that hand!

DSL12steps

join:2001-12-24

Graffiti remover

We actually have the wipes that remove the paint without damaging the powdercoat. It works on NID's when you need to wipe off the old number. Takes off permanent marker fine. I'd like to try it on spray paint once to see if it works.
Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

You see it all the time on rail cars so how bad is this?

You see it all the time on rail cars so how bad is this?

RR Conductor
RailRoadDude
Premium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
·Comcast


1 edit

Re: You see it all the time on rail cars so how bad is this?

said by Joe12345678 See Profile :

You see it all the time on rail cars so how bad is this?
Yep, and not only on cars they do it on locomotives, rail equipment and cabooses, it costs the railroads millions of dollars every year in cleaning and repainting. With the sheer number of miles of railroad track and vast numbers of cars, it's impossible for them to keep it from happening, and with the railroads booming and growing, the problem is just getting larger. These stupid taggers think it's their personal property

This is only the tip of vandalism on railroad property though, switch locks broken and switches thrown the wrong way, trunks, rocks and anything else you can imagine left on the tracks to try and derail them, spikes removed and bolts tampered with, objects flung at crews inside and outside of cars and locos, etc. One thing, tampering with railroad equipment is a federal offense, so if they get caught they get to take showers with bubba in the federal pen.
--
»www.amtrak.com
»www.amtrakcalifornia.com
»www.narprail.org
»www.freighrailworks.org
»www.up.com
»www.bnsf.com
»www.northcoastrailroad.org
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Even worse is if little johnny is killed while defacing RR property by a moving train, the parents sue the MTA and its the fault of the carrier because they didnt provide enough safety or the train was "going too fast".
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

ohyeah

@swbell.net

City of New Haven annoyed

Maybe if the city of New Haven could keep the little bastard juvenile delinquents in check, they wouldn't have to be annoyed with tagging in the first place.

I completely fail to see how this is AT&T's fault.

rcdailey
Dragoonfly
Premium
join:2005-03-29
Rialto, CA

Re: City of New Haven annoyed

Right. If you have your house tagged, just remember that it's your fault. If you didn't have a house, it wouldn't be tagged.

spg
Grrrr

join:2001-10-31
NOT Texas!

My crew cleans them...

...and they get hit again within hours. The guys begin to wonder what's the point?

They're all getting tagged. Even the ones in the "good" neighborhood. I wish it was open season on those varmints! But then some little darling's mother would cry and then where would we be?

And really Karl, "tendency to blow up"? That's getting a little old isn't it? A couple with defective batteries did, and that IS bad enough, but that was a couple of years ago and it hasn't happened since. Figure in the numbers of VRADs out there and that's really not a "tendency". Compare that with power company transformers and you'll be advocating for kerosene lamps and candles. Geeeesh!

CtrlAltDel
WORSE. THAN. CARTER.
Arbitrary Text
join:2001-12-30
Backyard
·1and1
·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast

FYI Graffiti Removal

A quick spray of aerosol deodorant followed by a quick wipe with a clean cloth removes permanent marker from painted metal objects.

I was looking out my kitchen window and saw a scumbag writing on the hood of my Caddy. By the time I got to the door he was gone, but my dog and I caught 2 of his cohorts and held them for the police. When my kid came home from school he told me how to remove the crap and it worked.


Scumbag Graffiti Asshat Work

--
Obama bin Osama 2008
تصويت لاسامة بن لاوباما 2008

Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
·MegaPath
·Verizon west (ex G..
·Time Warner VOIP

Re: FYI Graffiti Removal

You were lucky...some comedian keyed "Penis" with a giant happy face into the door of my Prius. It was rather nice to drive a Penis around for a few weeks before I could get the door shot. It didn't even have the plates yet. And of course for all my friends, the car's new name stuck.

bob Jenkins

@verizon.net
Aerosol Deodorant - as in Axe?

CtrlAltDel
WORSE. THAN. CARTER.
Arbitrary Text
join:2001-12-30
Backyard

Re: FYI Graffiti Removal

said by bob Jenkins :

Aerosol Deodorant - as in Axe?
I prefer Tag, but Axe will work.

BabyBear
Keep wise ...with Night-Owl

join:2007-01-11

Thanks for the tip. Also good if your car has lots of under chassis odor. Wish graffiti was all I got a few weeks ago, instead they used roof like a trampoline. Over $3000 damage.
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Re: FYI Graffiti Removal

said by BabyBear See Profile :

Thanks for the tip. Also good if your car has lots of under chassis odor. Wish graffiti was all I got a few weeks ago, instead they used roof like a trampoline. Over $3000 damage.
did you know who the perps where? and if under 18 take their parents to the cleaners?

these are the cases that the lawsuit system is ment for.
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports
bogey780

join:2004-03-19
Here

Absolutely nothing new

Tagged crossboxes and cabinets have been happening for decades. Hell, the one in the picture is as big as some crossboxes.

What gives though with people thinking remote cabinets are a new product? They've been around for quite a while.
Forums » AT&T's Latest VRAD Headache: Graffitipage: 1 · 2


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