Originally posted by Tbarchaser
Hey david,
My former day job was a Broadband install trainer for Time warner for 3 1/2 years, 8 yrs as an electrician/estimator.
18" is code but very rarely done. 8"-12" is common, any less is just a lazy tech. If you cut them on a Time Warner/Bright network there is no charge to a cust but a backchage to the installer. But if we are talking trunk lines (the big uns) I would use roundup and call the cable company. Phone lines I admit I don't know the policy's they prob vary by region.
Really?
My title was Engineer Facilities Outside Plant (telephone line engineer)
Handling plant damages were a part of my job.
And you have a couple of things wrong again.
It isn't laziness that drops are shallow. 4" deep is common. And it is in accordance with the operating procedures filed with the state utilities commission. The National Electric Code is not the Holy Bible of electricity. Just a guide that procedures are based on. So you're not going to find the phone company "in the wrong". They have a right to provide temporary service by laying wire on the ground. The record I've seen for temp service was 6 years. You can beg and plead, call the phone company, write your congressman to have the wire buried, but you CAN'T cut the wire.
Some fiber optic cables are no bigger than a pencil and carry 100,000 conversations. It could turn into a really grim error to cut the wrong wire.
Also, phone company policy doesn't vary much by region. As a lot of their facilities are governed by federal law. Plus a lot of companies are nationwide.
I apologize for the lecture. Just happened to be something I'm familiar with. What someone has gotten away with in the past doesn't make good standard procedure.
If I as much as notice a loose ground clamp on a ground sake I tell the customer. Or tighten it up myself.
I've heard of LCOs who take a hammer, break the ground wire and drive the stake under ground. OK when someone gets electrocuted because of that stupid little trick, what's he going to do? If I had my way he'd be doing time.
Dave