 
ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: | 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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 | jc100
join:2002-04-10
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| 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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ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: | Re: Not as bad... Depends on the towns. Easements I believe can extend out from the sidewalk a bit. | |
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marigolds
Gainfully employed, finally
Premium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
| 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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ISCABBS - the oldest and largest BBS on the Internet
telnet://bbs.iscabbs.com
Professional Geographer
Geographic Information Science researcher | |
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N3OGH
They both suck, we're so screwed
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| 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
·Charter Pipeline
 ·Vonage
| 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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ykronic
Premium
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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| | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
| 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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| 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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| | hottboiinnc
Kyle
join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH | 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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Ammler
Premium
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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ShadPTR
join:2008-01-23
Markham, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
| 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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| | flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ | Re: Gladly I'm just wondering?
But can you soak those boxes in gasoline and set them on fire? | |
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dispatcher21
join:2004-01-22
Walla Walla, WA | 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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Toadman
Hypnotoad
join:2001-11-28
Medina, OH
·Armstrong Zoom In..
| 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_man
Things Happen For A Reason
Premium
join:2001-01-27
Port Saint Lucie, FL
| 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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| | | bogey780
join:2004-03-19
Covington, LA | And you can go to jail for it too. It's like refusing to pay taxes. | |
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pfak
Premium
join:2002-12-29
Canada | 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 | 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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moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD | 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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| flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ
 ·Verizon FIOS
| 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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MattE
Obama '08
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
 ·Corporate Colocation
| 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
Utica, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
edit:
May 5th, @11:34AM
| Re: Glad I don't have those boxes said by MattE :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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CultofSkaro
join:2008-05-06
Wallingford, CT | 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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Skeedatl
Ah, push it - push it real good
Premium
join:2007-12-26
The Cloud | Sure looks like the boxes are for the private good. | |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs: | 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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| | | | | NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA | 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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See 9 replies to this post |
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| | Austinloop
join:2001-08-19
Austin, TX | 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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| | Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
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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| | | flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ
·Verizon FIOS
| 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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| | | | Austinloop
join:2001-08-19
Austin, TX | 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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| | | | NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·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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knightmb
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
·Comcast
·Vonage
·Speakeasy
| 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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| | | | | bogey780
join:2004-03-19
Covington, LA | 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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| | cwire
join:2007-06-07
Bedford, KY
edit:
May 5th, @09:51PM
| nevermind | |
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| Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
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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a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Corona, 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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maartena
Super Grover
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
| 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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tshirt
Premium
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
| 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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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
| 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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| NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·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.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey | 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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djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Chicago, IL | 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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CableGei
Premium
join:2004-05-27
Vandalia, OH
·Time Warner Telecom
·Verizon Online DSL
| 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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bobgwen
join:2001-07-07
Bartow, FL
·Comcast
| 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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a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Corona, NY
·Verizon Online DSL
| 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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JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL | 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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Calabria
join:2007-11-06
Lansdale, PA | typical comcast Comcast can even manage to screw up a customers lawn
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MattE
Obama '08
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
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Comcast Mocks AT&T For Lawn Cabinets While Deploying Their Own
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