problem with Century Link

I purchased a small 10 acres to build my a home on. Utilities run across the front of the property, 2 Century Link cable/phone lines are hanging down across my drive entrance 10 foot and some change height. I asked them if they could raise it so I can get dump truck and concrete truck in to start foundation...sure for $1800 we would be glad to install a new pole. The dept said they only have to have their line at 9 foot if I want it taller I must pay up. I feel like they are extorting me to upgrade their crooked rotting poles. I have no access to my land for construction equipment anyone else ever have a deal like this? not sure I just wasted a lot of money on property I can access.

not really sure but one thought , is the access an easement?

not an easement had permit from state to install driveway
as it is on a state highway

I think they are BSing you. Here it is minimum of 14 feet over any drive way or road. Aliant had to come out and raise their lines over the drive when we got bigger combines as they take the full 14 foot. Did not cost us a dime.

Get ahold of your state's Public Utility Board. They usually take complaints seriously. At least Iowa does.

they are saying I put in a new driveway under their existing line and they state they only have to have a 9 foot pedestrian height. the poles in a real good icestorm will come down...i asked him and he said if if does come down due to ice they will put it back to 9 foot.

might be something here

http://epg.modot.mo.gov/index.php?title=643.3_Policy,_Standards_and_Regulations

here is what the guy was talking about i think...

WHERE A SUPPLY OR COMMUNICATION LINE ALONG A ROAD IS LOCATED RELATIVE TO FENCES, DITCHES,
EMBANKMENTS, ETC., SO THAT THE GROUND UNDER THE LINE WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO BE TRAVELED EXCEPT
BY PEDESTRIANS, THE CLEARANCES MAY BE REDUCED TO THE FOLLOWING VALUES:

A) INSULATED COMMUNICATION CONDUCTOR AND COMMUNICATION CABLES - 9.5 FEET


I do not understand this

WHERE THIS CONSTRUCTION CROSSES OVER OR RUNS ALONG ALLEYS, DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING LOTS NOT SUBJECT
TO TRUCK TRAFFIC THIS CLEARANCE MAY BE REDUCED TO 15 FEET.

I am with jd seller on this try the
utilities commission. Then an attorney most
states have a height like 14 feet.

I would assume if you put a drive in after the line is there, you would have to pay.

Yes.. if you put a new drive in,under an existing utility, your are responsible for the cost of raising the line. The rate payers should not have to subsidize your construction/changes to your property for your gain. (regulated utility/fcc rules in effect back when I was an engineer) Retired utility engineer. May or may not have changed since then. Do the poles have power, street light/traffic light circuit, trolley circuits, catv, and telco on them... more expensive as the power company will have to set the poles in the high voltage lead, then each utility will have to transfer to the new taller poles, from the top to bottom.. then the power company can come pull the old poles after everyone is off the old.

Century Link has gone to crap, we still
have a land line that my wife just won't
let go of, we don't need it cause we
both have cell phones. Our landline is
currently out of order, local office
does not receive calls, we've called a
number that's out of state to create a
work order to have phone line checked,
been over a week and no one has been out
and was told there maybe an $85 charge
when they come out, if they do charge us
for a problem on their side I am having
the line retired whether the wife likes
it or not....

Our Century Link lines have been under ground the last 35 years.

Go to the Public Service Board(Commission) in your State. Here in Vt the utility is required to raise the line. Retired utility engineer.

Me and the wife were in the same boat. She didnt want to get rid of the landline even though they charged the crap out of us and we never used it. This went on for years. We both have cell phones. Finally we pulled the plug on them and dont regret it. She wouldnt let go either.

The happiest day of my life was when my wife's last Corvette rolled down the driveway with a new owner. The second happiest day was when we bid CentruyLink a semi-fond adieu and never looked back.

Century Link is a crap company, we had them for our internet provider for several years. They kept shutting us off, claimed we had a virus. We spent thousands of dollars spent looking for a virus, never found 1. Problem went away when we dropped century link.

the poles in question are just about to fall over from dry rot..one pole has guy wire on it thats the only reason it has not fell over...the weight of the line has caused the wire to sag down..the pole are in bad shape. I understand about me putting a driveway in and would contribute to some of the cost ...but not the full 1800 dollars they are required to maintain these poles and they do generate revenue from them.

Century Link is in process of replacing the copper with fiber, this was government subsidized to provide better communications to rural customers, a lot like the rural electrification program of the 50s. This would never be possible if not for the subsidies because the cost of maintaining rural lines is extremely expensive due to the density. Mine was done this spring, I do not know when or if other areas are scheduled.

I doubt this will be funded under current political leadership.

Let us know how this works out. I think others have given you a list of options. I worked for a logging out fit once and your issues was same as phone lines there. Company gave the boss the run a round. He tried to get them to raise them. State law was 14 ft they were about 10 (old delapatated line). Well we knocked them down with pulp trucks and all you know what broke loose. Well the company put them up to 17ft over the roads and called us every name possible but that was that. line was discontinued with in a year. Of course state law may not be same in your state. Another old trick was find local man on company and he would usually help you. Not so any more your dealing with some one in other state that don't speek English!!! Or a bunch of travling contract workers!!

DG can I contact you I assume you are in Vermont email is open also.

EDITED FOR EASE OF READING: Utility: Privately, publicly or cooperatively owned line, facility or system for producing, transmitting, or distributing communications, cable television, power, electricity, light, heat, gas, oil, crude products, water, steam, waste, storm water not connected with highway drainage or any other similar commodity, including any fire or police signal system or street lighting system which directly or indirectly serves the public and does not include privately owned facilities devoted exclusively to private use. The term utility also means the utility company inclusive of any wholly owned or controlled subsidiary. The term "utility" includes those facilities used solely by the utility that are a part of its operating plan.

Vertical Clearance for Overhead Crossings: The vertical clearance of new or existing overhead installations will not be less than the current minimum requirements of the National Electric Safety Code, but in no case less than 18 ft. (Missouri)

1-try you state public service commission, 2- file a protest on your property tax bill claiming diminished value due to limited access caused by the utility easement, you won't get anywhere with the taxes but
the local government might tell Century tel to fix the problem a lot quicker

thanks everyone for the comments will let you know how it turns out!

I enjoyed reading this post and the comments. We have had CenturyLink for over 14 years for our phone service. The tone was set when we asked for service when we first moved here. My wife called the company to set this up. The conversation "went south" when they told us we could have long distance service, but we must pay a $100 (or greater) deposit. She opted to NOT go with this service, and we used either cell phones or long distance calling cards for long distance phone service. From that first year, we had issues. In wet conditions, particularly in the spring, we had the background crackling during our phone calls. It was so bad at times, we gave up and made the call over our cell phone. We complained, and the problem would go away for a while, then return. When we rebuilt our home, which was under construction for a period of time, we had to disconnect the service to the house and remove the box from the house, because it was a "service call" for them to perform this task. In the most recent years, another service provider was working on bringing a new communications service to our area. We just were connected to this service this spring. Prior to this, though, we had our phone line "go dead." There was no dial tone; there was nothing. My wife called and told them of this. A customer service representative answered. Rather than any attempt at finding out what had happened, or trying to find out a cause, the representative rather abruptly told my wife, "If the problem is found to be in your home, the minimum service charge will be $125. I opened the box and diagnosed the problem to the best of my ability by plugging in a cheap phone to the modular plug, and found the line to be "dead." We called CenturyLink and the next day a service technician was out in our neighborhood and it appeared the problem was in a large, green box about 2 miles away. I was quite certain the problem was not in our home simply because the line from the outside box was only about 8 feet long, and had been replaced within the past 8 years. We have had the crackling sound occur nearly every spring after the snow melts. It was just less obnoxious for about 4 years. I just called to have our CenturyLink line disconnected, since we have gone with the new provider. We kept the CenturyLink line functional for the past 5 or 6 months, with an answering machine connected, informing callers of the change in our phone service. In my conversation with the individual who DOES NOT work customer service, but works with new connections and disconnection of service, I was treated like a child. I was asked if our new provider was providing 911 reliable service; more like my answer was demanded. I felt like I was being scolded for even considering the switch. I prepared a response letter on the history of our service. I find it ironic there is no mailing address to send this to. We were sent an e-mail to discuss our CenturyLink experience, but I do not see any way to attach the letter to our response. As far as 911 reliable service goes; I think my past experience with their poor service strongly indicates that CenturyLink was unable to provide the reliable service they would like their customers to believe they were being provided. I am glad I do not have to depend upon or deal with those people anymore!

I have been trying since September of last year to get them to raise the line so I could have access to my property with construction equipment. the poles in question are on the utility easement of a secondary highway and are at leat 30-40 years old and have bend over significantly over the years and have had guy wires added to them to keep them from snapping. I asked and received permission from the State of Missouri to add a driveway to my property. Today will be talking with state engineers and Lawyers to see what can be done to get the poles put up so access can be made. Centrury Link does not have phone technicians that speak or understand good english so trying to get to the correct people has been a problem. Maybe a court summons will get some attention.

The landline telecommunications industry has been in trouble for several years now. With so many people canceling their land line service in favor of cell phones, especially in cities, their "cash cow" has effectively gone dry.

90% of the expense in running a phone company is providing service to the 10% most rural customers. Everyone in the cities and towns, where it was easy and cheap to service lots of customers, now have cell phones. All that's left are the people out in the boonies that don't have cell service!

In a nutshell, city people were subsidizing the phone service for country people for a long time, and now that's gone.

You can't charge these customers 10X as much for service because, A, the FCC says you can't, and B, because the customers would raise holy hell over it. Something has to give.