How to find out who owns the fiber ?

[Modelworks]

My brother lives in the middle of nowhere , about 10 miles to the nearest home. Back in about 1995 they buried fiber along the highway and that is about as far as that area ever got to becoming part of the internet. They placed markers for the cable and everyone pretty much forgot it was ever put there. Now my brother needs to add another driveway to his property across a ditch to the main highway which will require installing a new drainage tile as well as digging directly over where this cable was buried.

I tried calling the number on the marker and it goes to a service is no longer in use or has been disconnected, etc. There are no company logos or anything on the marker. Just a square piece of metal with a reflective label saying call before digging.

I also asked the local telco if they knew who it belonged to or who to contact and they said that it probably belonged to the coop for the area that has been resold about 4 times since then and is now part of sprint , who again has no idea whose it is. Sprint was kind enough to offer to come out and check it further, for $1400 !

My brother isn't the patient type and I got him to hold off for a week, his idea is to cut it and whoever it belongs to will show up then. So how do I find out who owns the cable ?

The markers look like this but are metal not fiberglass

 

[drebo]

Check with the county. They'll have records of who put it there.

 

[ScottMac]

There is usually some kind of "call Julie" service that tracks the paths and owners of the media, pipes, underground power, etc.

Check the front of your phone book for a "Before You Dig" number.

Since the path is well marked, you/your brother/whoever will be financially responsible for any damage to the cable. The cost could range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Perhaps that will help to instill some patience to your brother.

 

[RebateMonger]

Call 811 - Know What's Below:

http://www.call811.com/faqs/default.aspx

"Q: I've called my local "Call Before You Dig" number before - will 811 replace this service?

A: No, 811 will not replace your local one call number. The One Call process will remain the same and continue to notify your local affected utility companies, who will continue to mark your underground lines for free. With more than 62 local one call numbers across the country, 811 eliminates the confusion of multiple "Call Before You Dig" numbers by providing one national number you can call to get your lines marked. For more information on contacting your local One Call Center, click here!


Dial 811 from anywhere in the country a few days prior to digging, and your call will be routed to your local One Call Center. Tell the operator where you're planning to dig, what type of work you will be doing and your affected local utilities companies will be notified about your intent to dig. In a few days, they'll send a locator to mark the approximate location of your underground lines, pipes and cables, so you'll know what's below - and be able to dig safely."

 

[VirtualLarry]

811? Whatever happened to 888-dig-safe?