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Telecom Rollouts Raise Ire Over Utility Boxes

Posted by Soulskill on from the price-of-progress dept.

Anti-Globalism points out this AP story, which notes: "As cable and phone companies race to upgrade services or offer video for the first time, they're doing it by installing equipment in boxes on lawns, easements and curbs all over American neighborhoods. Telecommunications rollouts have always been messy, but several towns and residents are fighting back with cries of 'Not in my front yard!' AT&T Inc.'s nearly fridge-sized units, which route its new U-verse video product to customers, are drawing particular ire. A few caught fire or even exploded. AT&T said it has fixed that by replacing the units' backup batteries."

13 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Caught fire? by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Funny

    A few caught fire or even exploded.

    It's obviously the fault of the filesharers. All those bits streaming through the equipment at the same time as video and legitimate Internet usage cause friction, see, and that caused the boxes to catch fire. Yet another arguement against the evil pirates!

  2. oblig. by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Funny

    Get off my lawn!

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    1. Re:oblig. by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

      You must be new here

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    2. Re:oblig. by LearnToSpell · · Score: 3, Funny

      Is that a new slashdot meme?

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    3. Re:oblig. by no1home · · Score: 5, Funny

      I don't see what the problem is. My neighbor has one in his yard, and I don't mind at all.

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  3. Looks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who cares how it looks outside. When you have enough Television and a fast enough internet connection you don't need to go outside.

  4. Wow, those are ugly by cliffiecee · · Score: 5, Funny

    And you'd think AT&T could hire better graffiti artists to decorate the damn things.

  5. Re:Bzzzzzt! by sirambrose · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't want a 4'x4'x2' box suspended from the telephone pole over my head. If it falls off it could kill someone.

  6. Re:Bzzzzzt! by mulvane · · Score: 2, Funny

    And the pole itself falling would bounce off someones head with no damage?

  7. Simple Solution by alohatiger · · Score: 2, Funny

    Paint "Free Copper Wire Inside" on the side of each box.

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  8. Re:Bzzzzzt! by moreati · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yep. Bouncing off someones head would inflict little or no damage to a telegraph pole

  9. Re:It isn't "fast internet" or "no internet" by LearnToSpell · · Score: 3, Funny

    First of all, it's not a VW sized box, it's a 4 by 4 by 2 foot box, which is the size of a smaller refrigerator.

    ...or a larger VW.

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    Haida Manga
  10. Re:Easement by Migraineman · · Score: 2, Funny

    It'd be a shame if someone were to accidentally back his car into one of those boxes ... not that I'm advocating such behavior. I'm just sayin ...