Install Question (Verification)

All, decided to bite the bullet and get FIOS Internet and TV. My install date is not for another 4 weeks. When I got home today, I saw my lawn all marked in orange or red. I am assuming this was Verizon? In any event, this disturbs me onlyb/c I need to mark my sprinkler system which will not be done until 5 days before the install date. When I ordered online, they state they do the digging for the line 24 or 48 hours before the tech comes on the scheduled day AND call first. I just want to verify this is accurate as I am worried they will start installing the cable before the sprinkler folks come out. TIA.

Accepted answers

Techman28

ok I have verified you will have a buried drop done on 4/21

All comments

prisaz

I know in my area there is only a requirement that the utility marking company be given so much time before you dig. If you know the exact locations of your sprinkler lines I would mark them myself, or get them out asap. Most of the people I have seen putting the fiber in the ground are contractors, and the installers of equipment are Verizon technicians. For example when ever ground work is done behind my house everything but my fiber cable gets marked, so I keep a can of orange paint and mark it myself. Water is blue. Perhaps others can give better information.

MissUtility in my area marks the lines and they do miss a few.

Message Edited by prisaz on 03-23-2009 08:29 PM

Techman28

I double check this for you in the morning but generally its not verizon that comes out to mark the lines. The local utility company/city generally comes out to mark the lines. I'll double check this for you in the morning

akasjl

Appreciated.

SamRay

The cable to our house is above-ground so perhaps our experience does not apply to you.

When they install the service, they will install a Optical Network Terminal (ONT), a power supply (OPSU) and a battery backup (BBU) for the power supply. The FiOS literature says that they can go anywhere convenient for you, but the technicians doing the install say that the ONT must be next to the power box for the house. The ONT goes outside and the OPSU and BBU must (according to the installers and technicians) go inside the house right next to where the ONT is on the outside. We did not know all this of course so we had to move a lot of stuff out of the way in a hurry.

CapnTrips

@akasjl wrote:
All, decided to bite the bullet and get FIOS Internet and TV. My install date is not for another 4 weeks. When I got home today, I saw my lawn all marked in orange or red. I am assuming this was Verizon? In any event, this disturbs me onlyb/c I need to mark my sprinkler system which will not be done until 5 days before the install date. When I ordered online, they state they do the digging for the line 24 or 48 hours before the tech comes on the scheduled day AND call first. I just want to verify this is accurate as I am worried they will start installing the cable before the sprinkler folks come out. TIA.

Here's the deal. Verizon hires the cheapest local contractors available to lay the cable to your house up to a week BEFORE your install date. They get the utilities to mark where you have underground services running to your home. If you have anything else in there, like an underground sprinkler system or an invisible fence, it is YOUR responsibility to mark it before the contractors dig.

I'm not sure what you mean by your sprinkler system not being marked - can you not mark it? If you absolutely HAVE to wait for the sprinkler guys to mark that system, I'd call Verizon and re-schedule your install AFTER you have everything marked.

But even THAT doesn't necessarily help, as I had all of the markings you could imagine from the utilities and cable company, and even placed clearly-labelled flags indicating where I had my invisible pet fence, but they managed to slice through not only the invisible fence, but also the Cox Cable line, so it's even better to be physically present when they dig to see what damage they do and ensure Verizon ultimately compensates you for all of the repairs you end up having done.

In my case, I repaired the invisible fence myself (simple low-voltage wire splice) and called Cox cable, who repaired their cable within a day, and presumably directly billed Verizon for the damage repair, since I didn't have to pay (but I was without any TV for three days while cable was out and FIOS was not yet in!).

(...and yes, I realize that I was cancelling my cable to transition to FIOS anyways, but it was the PRINCIPLE of the thing!)

Techman28

ok I have verified you will have a buried drop done on 4/21

Techman28

CapnTrips wrote:
@akasjl wrote:
All, decided to bite the bullet and get FIOS Internet and TV. My install date is not for another 4 weeks. When I got home today, I saw my lawn all marked in orange or red. I am assuming this was Verizon? In any event, this disturbs me onlyb/c I need to mark my sprinkler system which will not be done until 5 days before the install date. When I ordered online, they state they do the digging for the line 24 or 48 hours before the tech comes on the scheduled day AND call first. I just want to verify this is accurate as I am worried they will start installing the cable before the sprinkler folks come out. TIA.
Here's the deal. Verizon hires the cheapest local contractors available to lay the cable to your house up to a week BEFORE your install date. They get the utilities to mark where you have underground services running to your home. If you have anything else in there, like an underground sprinkler system or an invisible fence, it is YOUR responsibility to mark it before the contractors dig.
I'm not sure what you mean by your sprinkler system not being marked - can you not mark it? If you absolutely HAVE to wait for the sprinkler guys to mark that system, I'd call Verizon and re-schedule your install AFTER you have everything marked.
But even THAT doesn't necessarily help, as I had all of the markings you could imagine from the utilities and cable company, and even placed clearly-labelled flags indicating where I had my invisible pet fence, but they managed to slice through not only the invisible fence, but also the Cox Cable line, so it's even better to be physically present when they dig to see what damage they do and ensure Verizon ultimately compensates you for all of the repairs you end up having done.
In my case, I repaired the invisible fence myself (simple low-voltage wire splice) and called Cox cable, who repaired their cable within a day, and presumably directly billed Verizon for the damage repair, since I didn't have to pay (but I was without any TV for three days while cable was out and FIOS was not yet in!).
(...and yes, I realize that I was cancelling my cable to transition to FIOS anyways, but it was the PRINCIPLE of the thing!)

if we cut/break anything we will reimburse you for any damage incurred

akasjl

Very much appreciated.

dvakaduke

Techman,

What's the appropriate way to file a claim. I had FIOS installed several months ago, after having my irrigation system winterized, and discovered today when restarting the system there is broken pipe right in the direct path where they installed the fiber.

Thanks,

Don

mah__

For several decades there has been a utility and municipal supported program called "One Call" (aka Call Before You Dig). This program is run at the state level and mandates that anyone digging in the vicinity of buried 'public services' call an 800 number and give the location and purpose of the digging. The One Call center then notifies all agencies with buried public service in the vicinity. (This includes your gardener, plumber, etc.) Digging without making the notification can result in major fines and/or penalties --especially if caught (damaging a buried service).

When you ordered FIOS, Verizon did 2 things: 1) notified One Call, so that all other buried service providers get notified; 2) notified their own cable marking group, to mark their existing copper cable(s). Once notified of the intent to dig, and the intended date, each provider arranges to have their buries services 'marked' (sometimes providers may use the same cable marking service and more than one buried service gets marked at the same time).

There is an industry standard color code, each color identifies a specific type of buried service.

WHITE = Proposed Excavation
PINK = Temporary Survey Markings
RED = Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit and Lighting Cables
YELLOW = Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or Gaseous Materials

--may be x-country transmission lines or local service
ORANGE = Telephone, CATV, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit
BLUE = Potable Water
PURPLE = Reclaimed Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines
GREEN = Sewers and Drain Lines

NOTE: YOU are responsible for arranging for the marking of 'private' buried services such as: electronic dog fences, sprinklers, private well and pipes, private septic system, etc

Message Edited by mah__ on 04-30-2009 04:13 PM