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We received a bill from CMR, company hired by Verizon for managing its property claims, for $307 for the damage to the fiber optic cable from regular normal lawn maintenance. Claim # {edited for privacy};date of damage/discovery 06/13/2015.
Technician from Verizon promptly put a new cable on a ground, without even mentioning of any possible charge from Verizon, as the original cable was buried barely 2”deep under the ground.
According NEC 830.47 underground broadband communication cable without safety conduit must be installed at least 18” deep and with conductive tape above. Also, check FOA standards, instructions and manuals, like Drop_Const_manual_CO_107145 (p26). In numerous published on this board cases the same story reappeared every time with a complaint on a bill from Verizon for damaged cable that was buried only 2-3”deep. If it was a systematic violation, why we, customers should be responsible for Verizon's own mistakes from the past 'gold rush' era of expansion?
Years ago, not only the cable was buried with the code violation on our property, our main septic line was cut through: basement and first floor were flooded with the sewage ..
Are there any improvements nowadays? New cable with conduit was installed, breaking through 4 underground irrigation lines…
And yes - this time we are expecting a refund for damage repair from subcontractor.
And should I mention that in all 3 fiber optic cable underground installations on our property we were never notified ahead of time when the work will be done.
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