Atlanta-based Cox accuses Verizon of damaging cables

<p>Cox Communications Inc. has complained to state regulators that rival Verizon Communications Inc. damaged its underground fiber-optic cables in northern Virginia and then covered up the cuts with black electrical tape.</p><p>"Cox personnel have uncovered and, in one instance actually observed, 'repairs' done by Verizon that consisted of wrapping tape around a Cox line damaged by the (sic) Verizon and then reburying the line," according to a complaint filed last month with the State Corporation Commission.</p><p>The accusation comes amid fierce competition in the industry.</p><p>Atlanta-based Cox, historically a cable company, now competes with Verizon as a provider of telephone and high-speed Internet services in northern Virginia. And Verizon, a major player in local phone and Internet service, may be looking to enter the cable market.</p><p>"Cox welcomes competition, but believes Verizon is improperly using its authority as a telephone company to bypass regulation and oversight associated with its construction project," Cox said in the complaint.</p><p>Cox's complaint includes photos of exposed fiber-optic cables patched with tape in various locations in northern Virginia.</p><p>The company claims there have been about 500 incidents, leading to about $254,000 in damage to Cox's underground network. Company spokesman Alex Horwitz said possible loss of telephone service caused by the cuts jeopardizes crucial communications like emergency 911 service.</p><p>Cox claims Verizon violated Virginia's Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act, which requires that utility companies make public any kind of damage to underground lines.</p><p>Christy Reap, a spokeswoman for New York-based Verizon, said the company already is working with Cox to address the underground damage issue and will formally respond to the complaint with the commission.</p><p>"The bottom line is that we take every precaution to avoid hits on other companies' facilities," Reap said.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cda41c)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/7/143410