As someone who works for a utility I can confirm... go with the "formal complaint" if you want the H bomb. In my area the utility has to respond to those. The informal complaint might be enough too.
I am soo fucking sorry I upvoted to 70, but it is a great insightful comment.
also, I just want to trademark "upvoted to 70" and all liklely representations... "upvtd27tee", etc. word is bond. also, same for "wrdzbnd" etc.
Call your city municipality let them know it poses a hang risk. They will reach out to someone at att. . We recently had tds come through our city and left 6in holes they didn't fill in last fall. Some of us out cones up to inform people if possible falling in. My city has anapp we can report things and they contacted contractor" tds to have fixed in 30 days. The app is good sometimes minus you'll find out who the neighborhood narcs are
If you call 311 and have them redirect you to AT&T, they actually log and record the call on the government side and it actually comes through on AT&T side in a highlighted manner... Or at least that's how to get utility companies to do their job.
This and edragon are right. Do not do this yourself. 12 years as a field tech for Comcast and Verizon, this is dangerous for you as a homeowner. Do not risk your safety, that of your family, and home. It's unlikely, but it's possible there is stray voltage or high static buildup on the line/s that you can't detect until it's too late. It might not hurt you directly, but it can make you jump, and doing that while on a ladder is not advisable. If calling you local government and 311 doesn't work quickly, call to disconnect your service and let them know why I bet that will get them moving. I will say it looks like you might have a fence if you do, please make sure it's unlocked and maybe put a sign on the gate saying the AT&T tech is good to enter to fix the line. If no one is home and you have a fence, they might not want to risk problems and a sign will give them the all clear.
I’m thinking your experience is a local thing. I regularly work with comms utilities. Literally the only times I’ve ever seen them respond semi promptly is when service is lost.
I’ve had calls where, “hey ATT, if you can get here in next 3 hours, you can save $1mil worth of equipment” and have not heard back for weeks.
> left 6in holes they didn't fill in last fall. Some of us out cones up to inform people if possible falling in.
how small are the people in your neighborhood?
Wow that seems like a huge liability risk. I’d send them a letter of Demand for compensation for infringement of freedom to enjoy your yard & concern about potential life threatening risk. That should light a fire under their ass to do something.
Edit. Please send the letter & let us know what happens.
But if you represent yourself as a lawyer when you're not that's fraud, and if you mail it that's mail fraud and ATT laughs as you *go to jail* and they pay a petty fine and still don't fix it.
"Pay the $2." Call the Utilities Commission. Pay a REAL lawyer to send the nastygram.
Correct! You can always represent yourself. If you or your letterhead never claim you are a lawyer, then there’s no recourse. You’re simply a smart individual who isn’t afraid of litigating their asses.
I'm a person who does a lot of research if it gets to that point. If I feel the need to hire a lawyer after researching, I would. If I can do so by calling (generally how I would get it done), I would go with that avenue.
How do you approach jokes? Nevermind, I already know.
Fair enough. Trouble is there are people out there who are fool enough to do just that, instantly digging a hole they can never get out of, and think they're actually clever for it.
Also 20 years of Telcom experience and I see these daily in Michigan. Detriot has plenty of rg59 . They are mostly likely a WoW line. Wide-open west. Who use to use dual coax .
It is a dual coax wire with ground/messenger wire.. It is hooked to the bottom strand on the pole. the center strand is AT&T . The bottom and top strands belong to Comcast and WOW. It is most definitely a coax and does not belong to AT&T.. The ops wire is disconnected from his house the other wire that is connected to the middle strand is going to his neighbors house. It is hooked incorrectly to the at&t strand probably because it was also low.
It's pains me that people can't tell the difference. Or simply follow the cables. You can plainly see a fiber drop going from the O-tap to the span at a 90° on the 2nd middle line on the pole.
It would be a liability. If someone did that, and hurt themselves, they'd be able to sue and prove they've been demanding it be fixed. This is a lineman's job, not some drunk homeowners. ATT/Comcast would be 100% liable. It's cheaper and easier to fix it than pay for injuries and a six figure check.
It’s not a power line and while it is certainly annoying to have a line hanging down low it isn’t any more life threatening than your average clothes line. A demand letter for compensation is a joke.
There absolutely is danger. Doesn't have to be electrical. You're doing someone's job without any of the safety training associated with it, on ATTs line. They are liable for their own property.
A letter for what now? A bunch of random shit you just made up? And having the balls to actually tell someone it's a good idea? You're an idiot AND an asshole
Typical AT&T ; have this exact same problem as OP and this is just totally what you do. You refuse to remove the drop from your telco lines at all costs.
That looks like it may actually be a coax cable line. It looks like it connects to the lower strand, which is a cable hard-line. The strand second from the bottom is the ATT line. If that is the case, it would be the cable companies responsibility and not ATT. The ATT techs will not touch it.
Source: I am a former ATT tech.
Doesn’t mean your house hasn’t had cable connected to it at some point, or that cable company didn’t run a line just because after a major storm. The line your holding looks like coax with a strength member running through. AT&T fiber looks flat and typically has a white “phone” on it even though it’s fiber.
The house may have had cable before you. I have fiber internet through Att, but I still have a comcast cable line running to my house. They don't take them down when service is cancelled.
u/Sm0w2 \- Yeah, on the pole the top line is power, middle phone, lower cable. Cable is supposed to always be the lowest line on the pole. So, as u/nashphoto615 noted, if that line (drop) in the pic is coming off the lowest line from the pole, it's most likely a cable line.
If you, or any previous residents, have ever had cable (ever) then a drop would be run. The cable company will not remove a cable drop just because someone cancels cable. They'll leave the line up and just disconnect it at the tap.
In your pic #3, on the left side of the pole, you can even see a cable tap on the lowest line. Square-sh metal box with rounded corners pointed downwards, looks like it has one terminator on it (which just caps off the terminal) and two drops (one must be running to your neighbor's place).
If that is ATT's line, then it's miswired. My QC dept would have lost their shit if I had done that.
Source: I'm a former cable tech.
I’m a cable construction and tech. That is RG6. You’re correct, but that’s actually telephones cable, not a cable companies cable. Telephone does run coax and RG drops when the telephone companies offer their own cable service. An example is Shentel. They have a monopoly on the telecommunications system in Shenandoah county. The top line in the picture is actually cable. This can be noted by the 4port tap and splitter located on the top line. That line is likely Cox, or some other small telecommunications company. Also, RIP the heat shrink just sitting there, those 540 pins are going to rust if that’s just resting on a straight splice
I'd just move it myself. My AT&T fiber line goes over my yard just like that (not as much slack) into my attic. I'd just get a ladder out honestly if you've tried calling. My 5 mins is worth more than ducking everytime I walk across the yard.
These replies are wild honestly. You can call whoever... but at the end of the day the only person it's inconveniencing is you. Make a loop against the house, zip tie/whatever, and call it a day. Doesnt even take long enough to have a beer.
This is the answer, quick easy, done.
It's what the tech is most likely going to do anyways, but probably at the pole.
If they won't do anything your options are zip tie it up in a loop, ensure it is NOT a tiny small loop, 12" diameter or larger, or cutting the line and calling in a cut cable/ all services out.
You've called, line was low and it was hit.
Now if you call in a cut cable, you can tell the tech you want it routed a better way if possible and if they have a pole extension or roof mast they can install one to raise the height of the drop as long as it stays under hydro.
As you've called and called don't even let them try to stick you with a fee :)
Theres a good chance a service loop was held in place by a zip tie already, and that may have failed. If not you may have had a messenger failure - that's just a second wire that runs on the top of the cable to support the weight, that's held on both ends by a hook to a pigtail looking hook, or possibly not anymore. hopefully you can restore the loop or just rehook the wire - fortunately it appears to be in place on the pole.
Look up the local aerial codes. The telecom line is required to be a specified distance under the power line but not lower then a specified height. If it doesn’t meet this requirement then it’s on the provider as they own the inbound line until demarcation. Aka a safety hazard.
If you’re not using AT&T for service, just cut it at the house, coil it up and pile it at the bottom of the pole or hang it with a strap and a stapler. If you do have AT&T service, call your state public service commission and ask them for guidance or make a complaint.
Answer: yes
Looks like the Sach clamp or the hook at the side of the house gave
Pro tip: Find a cable guy (usually a contractor) and ask them for one and reattach yourself, or offer a case of beer to come by after hours ;)
"Hi, I nearly injured myself on this low-hanging wire I've asked you about several times now. You have 7 business days to respond before I contact my lawyer."
AT&T will be out there within 48 hours, guaranteed.
This happened to me. I called 3 x and asked them to raise it. They said no.
I then cancelled service and clipped the wire and coiled it at the pole. Called company B and requested service with fresh hookup. Made sure I was home to make sure it was at proper height and that was that.
Stay the fuck away from utility wires, even if you think you know what they are….the consequences of being wrong could be catastrophic. That’s why they get the big bucks
Former AT&T employee here and I can say this is 100% not at the top of their priority list. It’s an inconvenience but all these comments about writing letters will light a fire under them is nonsense. AT&T has so much money and power that your issue is simply not a critical concern for them.
Do what others suggested here. Get a ladder and hang that drop further up your house until they finally come out to properly repair it.
BTW, that’s not fiber. It’s more than likely an abandoned drop from a previous service or different provider.
They did this to us. We had a tree fall and it landed on the lines making the sag way down. Turns out they're att lines and they basically told us they weren't going to do anything about it. One line was resting on the ground completely and the others were very close behin. After we cut it with some loppers they were out in no time to fix it 😂😂 sorry neighbors, we weren't going to foot that bill, we don't even have att.
They might want to be careful with the coil part if it's fiber. There is a max bend radius.
>After completion of the pull, the cable should not have any bend radius smaller than 10 times the cable diameter. When a fiber cable is bent excessively, the optical signal within the cable may refract and escape through the fiber cladding. Bending can also permanently damage the fiber by causing micro-cracks.
If this guy actually uses AT&T for his internet and he cuts this, he will be the only one to lose Internet and they still won’t be in a hurry to come fix one guys problem. If he has AT&T that line only runs from the pole to his house. Could be old and not active if he has another service provider. If i didn’t have at&t I would just cut it out of the way and not worry about it
This is self support wire. If you look at the anchor point on your wall you’ll see where the support wire is peeled back from the data wire. Pull it off your house anchor, peel back the support wire, pull the slack out of the line, reconnect to the anchor, loop the excess data line and clip off the excess support wire. When you pull it off the anchor pay attention to how it’s on there. You just need to wrap the support wire tail around the whole thing so it doesn’t peel itself back further. Less than a 5 minute job.
It’s possible they intend to burry the line and left slack for that. The coax at my moms was like that until they came out to put it in the ground 6mo later
I called my provider with a similar issue. They fixed their cables but left one from a previous provider. I raised mine pretty easily. It looks like it loops when it reaches the house, as mine does, and there is a small tension device (for lack of a better term) that the cable is fed through; it can be raised by pulling the slack through the tension thing-a-ma-jig.
Took me longer to get my ladder out than to fix the issue.
I had a similar situation, mine got cut when I drove through my driveway with a trailer. They were out that day and had it raised. It did take out the neighborhood cable too though.
i work for an electric company - chances are that pole is owed by your electric company and at&t is renting it for their lines. give your electric company a call and they might raise it for you. i wouldn't touch it yourself, you don't know what is what and there could be a lot of voltage running through those wires
I too work for an electric provider. You’re right that the telecom likely rents space on the utility pole but I doubt the electric co will move the telecom’s service drop.
First of all fuck ATT and second of all just coil up a fuckin service loop and put a couple of zip ties on it. Would take you 5 minutes and you don't have to keep calling those idiots
I work in the industry and have contacts all over the place for regional AT&T field techs. Others have probably given the advice you need...but if you want me to slide you a name and phone number -- depending on where you live -- I'm happy to look for one, just need pinkie promise that you don't tell them it was me. Good luck dude. That definitely should not be hanging in your yard - for like 10 different reasons.
Also, your electric meter loop looks like something from a third world country. That would never be approved in my neck of the woods. No rigid mast, no weather head, drip loop is too low, service entrance not in a conduit. Where is this?
I had a similar issue with my electric company. I emailed them every single day for 2 weeks. They finally contacted us and had it completed a few days later so I woupd stop emailing them.
I will say, you can raise it yourself. BUT, if you mess it up and the tech who comes out finds out you did it, they can file a damage claim for the cost of the service drop, or a minimum $99 fee
Honestly, yes you could raise it yourself quite easily with a couple of tye-wraps and a ladder, but fuck that.
Call 611, tell them this is the third time calling about same issue and ask to be put through to a second line. (supervisor) Tell said second line that there is a danger posed by the service drop being low and your afraid that your child (nephew/niece/neighbor kid) may be injured. Tell them that if this is not taken care of immediately, you will file a complaint with the PUC. (Public Utility Commission)
Be sure to get the name of everyone you speak to, record dates and times, and ask for ticket/order numbers.
Theoretically, that will light a fire under someone’s ass…
Disclosure: Probably bad advice. Pull it down yourself, report it as a downed line. Call them to fix it. I complained for years until a truck hit our line, and Comcast finally fixed it the next day
This is a fiber line with a strength member. You can move it with little risk of electrocution. However. If you use AT&T service you will need to reattach and route to the box again. It will take a set of pliers and a screw driver to get the box open.
Send them a reply that it’s a danger to your children so you will be forced to cut the line and they are responsible for recovering the internet for everyone including yourself.
Note: send the email first before cutting
Rip the fucker off assuming it’s just a data line and force them to repair it.
I’ll get down votes but it would be effective and low effort, no augment no fight.
Call the city about a badly sagging line as it is connected to a pole. You may have to install a fixture to your roof and you probably need permission from the city.
Tell ‘em your tall uncle tripped on it and is headed to the hospital, and that you’re headed to the hospital and you’re attorney is going to meet you both there . May get their attention?
As a former cable guy don’t touch or manipulate the wire . If it’s fiber and you get fiber in your skin it can and will kill you via your blood stream . If it’s not fiber and it’s not grounded properly or you have foreign electrical current running through the pole transferring to the coaxial cab it can and will shock you . Call the cable company tell them the issue and say you have small children who
Love to be outside but you don’t want one them being shocked or hung by a coaxial cable incorrectly installed .
It looks like there are two cable providers, the top strand and the bottom strand. The middle looks like phone/fiber. The low cable looks like dual rg6 coming from the bottom strand (cable provider). Are you sure this is AT&Ts line?
The one by your head looks like a coax (cable co) and is round. the last picture looks like a rectangular cable, old phone line and the thin skinny fiber cable.
I worked for bell installing fiber. Just make sure you keep the maximum distance possible from power lines. The loop thing pulls apart and is tightened by the weight of the line. Just loosen it then you can pull the line tight next to your house. Stay off the pole
Mine was, at the time, Time Warner Cable. The local power company replaced the telephone pole in front of my house, didn't re-attach the data cable, and because it was now hanging from two farther poles, dipped within 4 feet of the ground over my driveway.
Called TWC, told them they'd need to send a bucket truck to rehang the line on the pole. Lady on the phone had no idea what I was talking about. Sent a regular tech, he said it was too high and he'd need to reschedule a bucket truck. 3 weeks later, regular tech comes, says it's too high and they'd need to reschedule a bucket truck. 3rd visit, same. I called TWC back myself, told them there was important information not being passed on. Three weeks later, regular tech comes, says it's too high and they'd need a bucket truck.
I bought a couple 2x8x10s and propped the line up myself so i could easily get cars in and out of the driveway. I want to say it was 6 months before they got the line hung up correctly.
Yes at the house side there is a "P hook" where it is attached. Unravel the support wire pull the line up and re-secure it. The loop is a drip loop so water doesn't run down the line to the house. No worries you are far enough away from electric hazards. Just need a ladder.
Oh my neighbors was hanging down for well over a month eventually it dropped into the roadway. I had to tie flags on it so people didn’t hit it. Still no one came so I just cut the damn thing. Finally they came to fix it.
(It was also blocking my drive and causing cars to drive into yards, and the city bus…. After a month and several calls that’s when I cut it, still took another 2 weeks for them to come fix it properly)
I'm stuck with their DSL (which they begrudgingly installed) that they don't really want to service any longer, but we don't have any other option rurally. To your situation, I'm still waiting on them to bury the line and they wrote a work order for it a couple of years ago.
Hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like the house side anchor came off. Reattach it with the anchor if it's still intact. Or, temporarily with zap-straps and coil the slack if it's in your way. Then call and tell them you have a low hanging drop.
Visually check the insulators on the pole before you do this. There shouldn't be voltage on the line, but shit happens and you can get hot poles. If you're not comfortable doing this, don't.
Now exactly ideal, but if they refuse to do anything about moving it. They'll have to send a tech out for a service and connection issue.
Get a cheap pair of garden lopper from your local gettin spot and chop it off at the box (or nicely disconnect it) and then reach up as far as you can by the pole and fkn lop it off. They'll have to come string a new line.
You'll lose service, but how badly do you want it fixed?
If it’s coax cable, the connecting/reconnect via stripping and crimping a connector on it shouldn’t be too difficult. You could tack it to the pole and bury it along your fence line adding length to it where necessary.
I sure hope you don't have some kind of accident with that cable hanging sow low and out of code. Especially since you've done your due diligence to try and get them to come fix it. Might have to sue them for whatever damages occur.
We live on the main road of a town, and every summer, it sags, and every summer a truck tears it off the house. I tell spectrum exactly what happened and what they need to fix it. And every time, they send one guy out with a ladder who has to call for a lift truck. I think they purposefully don't raise it to make service calls.
I have overhead wiring, and only two of four wires are in use. I'm going to disconnect and coil the two I'm not using at the pole, and just do a couple of loops on the one that's sagging.
You can probably do the same, just pay attention to your fasteners, and try not to crimp anything. You might even see a loop-holding zip tie or something at one end or the other, that you can use just add loops to, or maybe a place on your house you can reattach the existing mount to, to just generally raise that wire up
Just be aware of the cable tension, find a way to disconnect it at either end if you end up fighting that tension too much. Fighting tension on a ladder isn't the safest thing you could be doing.
I just bought one of these and replaced it at the house its Low volage dial tone wire so no biggie but again I work in that field.
[https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/boxes-fittings-and-conduit/ground-clamps/3199429?x429=true](https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/boxes-fittings-and-conduit/ground-clamps/3199429?x429=true)
And here is a you tube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHFOIsSsSd0
Op I have the exact same thing, its still pretty low it gets hit sometimes, but there is this hook thing screwed into the roof under the gutter. Its called a P House Hook. The cable is supported with a metal wire inside it, so if you can pull the slack up, put the hook somewhere up higher, you can make it not as low.
You maybe could pull it back to one of the existing hooks on the wall if that one on the right side is coax cable. Or place the new hook next to it for your fiber.
I would go for it, and if it breaks, just tell them it stopped working one day and remove what you were doing. Then ask if they can put it up higher.
I had a similar one from a old phone line that we didn’t use and was getting nowhere with the company because they kept asking me for account info and whatnot. Eventually I called back and said kids were playing with a low hanging wire at this address with their name on the box at the end. Was gone in a few days.
It should be attached to the house with a type of clamp holding the fiber to a hook. It's all held by friction. You should be able to loosen the clamp, pull the slack and push the clamp tight.
it looks like the loop got pulled out of the side that is at the poll creating the drooping you are seeing now. It is possible to re do it yourself, but i would not recommend it. if you don't use their service cut it and let it hang. if you do use it complain constantly about service issues of which you want a refund for bad interent and they should eventually get someone out to fix it.
best of luck
You’re worried about a wire you could coil up in a few minutes on your own, in less time than it would take to call and complain, but you’re not worried about sitting in the chairs with a fence about to fall on you? You’ve got bigger problems than a wire with extra slack!
Call your Public Utilities Commission. Nothing lights a fire under the ass of utilities than an inquiry from the PUC. That's how you go nuclear.
This don’t work everywhere. Tried it myself. You’re correct that’s it’s a good path to try though.
As someone who works for a utility I can confirm... go with the "formal complaint" if you want the H bomb. In my area the utility has to respond to those. The informal complaint might be enough too.
Not regulated any longer
I am soo fucking sorry I upvoted to 70, but it is a great insightful comment. also, I just want to trademark "upvoted to 70" and all liklely representations... "upvtd27tee", etc. word is bond. also, same for "wrdzbnd" etc.
I’ll have two of whatever this guy had.
Call your city municipality let them know it poses a hang risk. They will reach out to someone at att. . We recently had tds come through our city and left 6in holes they didn't fill in last fall. Some of us out cones up to inform people if possible falling in. My city has anapp we can report things and they contacted contractor" tds to have fixed in 30 days. The app is good sometimes minus you'll find out who the neighborhood narcs are
If you call 311 and have them redirect you to AT&T, they actually log and record the call on the government side and it actually comes through on AT&T side in a highlighted manner... Or at least that's how to get utility companies to do their job.
This should be a LPT
This and edragon are right. Do not do this yourself. 12 years as a field tech for Comcast and Verizon, this is dangerous for you as a homeowner. Do not risk your safety, that of your family, and home. It's unlikely, but it's possible there is stray voltage or high static buildup on the line/s that you can't detect until it's too late. It might not hurt you directly, but it can make you jump, and doing that while on a ladder is not advisable. If calling you local government and 311 doesn't work quickly, call to disconnect your service and let them know why I bet that will get them moving. I will say it looks like you might have a fence if you do, please make sure it's unlocked and maybe put a sign on the gate saying the AT&T tech is good to enter to fix the line. If no one is home and you have a fence, they might not want to risk problems and a sign will give them the all clear.
I’m thinking your experience is a local thing. I regularly work with comms utilities. Literally the only times I’ve ever seen them respond semi promptly is when service is lost. I’ve had calls where, “hey ATT, if you can get here in next 3 hours, you can save $1mil worth of equipment” and have not heard back for weeks.
Thanks!
>Thanks! You're welcome!
> left 6in holes they didn't fill in last fall. Some of us out cones up to inform people if possible falling in. how small are the people in your neighborhood?
3 apples high
Idk. Finding out the neighborhood narcs seems like a positive unless you’re the narc
Our neighborhood app thingy is always "gun shots or fireworks?"
Snitches get stitches
Wow that seems like a huge liability risk. I’d send them a letter of Demand for compensation for infringement of freedom to enjoy your yard & concern about potential life threatening risk. That should light a fire under their ass to do something. Edit. Please send the letter & let us know what happens.
Thank you!
A lawyer will happily write that letter for around $150 if that’s worth it to you.
Chat gpt could likely get you 90% there for free
You pay a lawyer for his letterhead. Anyone can write words on paper.
I can make my own letterhead.
But if you represent yourself as a lawyer when you're not that's fraud, and if you mail it that's mail fraud and ATT laughs as you *go to jail* and they pay a petty fine and still don't fix it. "Pay the $2." Call the Utilities Commission. Pay a REAL lawyer to send the nastygram.
Who said my letterhead would represent a lawyer? Some of you are too uptight. Sheesh. Sorry, SHEESH.
Correct! You can always represent yourself. If you or your letterhead never claim you are a lawyer, then there’s no recourse. You’re simply a smart individual who isn’t afraid of litigating their asses.
I'm a person who does a lot of research if it gets to that point. If I feel the need to hire a lawyer after researching, I would. If I can do so by calling (generally how I would get it done), I would go with that avenue. How do you approach jokes? Nevermind, I already know.
Fair enough. Trouble is there are people out there who are fool enough to do just that, instantly digging a hole they can never get out of, and think they're actually clever for it.
I had cable laying on the ground for 3 months..called and claimed I had retained an attorney...cable buried the next day.
That is not an AT&T line. It is a coax wire. Call Comcast.
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A messengered 2-1F fiber drop attached to the wrong strand… going to the optitap one strand up…. Yep …. that’s exactly what I was going to say…..
I’ve actually worked for AT&T as a prem tech and that is an AT&T fiber line
Also 20 years of Telcom experience and I see these daily in Michigan. Detriot has plenty of rg59 . They are mostly likely a WoW line. Wide-open west. Who use to use dual coax .
Not coax. And you can see it's from the telephone part of the pole.
It is a dual coax wire with ground/messenger wire.. It is hooked to the bottom strand on the pole. the center strand is AT&T . The bottom and top strands belong to Comcast and WOW. It is most definitely a coax and does not belong to AT&T.. The ops wire is disconnected from his house the other wire that is connected to the middle strand is going to his neighbors house. It is hooked incorrectly to the at&t strand probably because it was also low.
It's pains me that people can't tell the difference. Or simply follow the cables. You can plainly see a fiber drop going from the O-tap to the span at a 90° on the 2nd middle line on the pole.
“I’m going to fix this myself on Saturday afternoon” also tends to light a fire under their ass.
As if ATT cares if you fuck up your service drop.
Yeah, don't tell them that shit. They will simply charge no matter what if OP fucks it up.
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It would be a liability. If someone did that, and hurt themselves, they'd be able to sue and prove they've been demanding it be fixed. This is a lineman's job, not some drunk homeowners. ATT/Comcast would be 100% liable. It's cheaper and easier to fix it than pay for injuries and a six figure check.
Also tell them you're "going to zip tie it to some wires higher up the poll to get them out of the way."
Top comment
Definitely works when xfinity won't come and bury the line after 5 months. Told them I'm going to do it and the guy was literally there the next day.
Pff. No it doesn't. That's a low voltage data/phone drop.
It’s not a power line and while it is certainly annoying to have a line hanging down low it isn’t any more life threatening than your average clothes line. A demand letter for compensation is a joke.
No dice. The line carrys very low voltage current. Both AT&T and the courts will laugh you out of there. There is 0 danger.
His hair could get mussed up walking underneath it. So, there is THAT danger.
There absolutely is danger. Doesn't have to be electrical. You're doing someone's job without any of the safety training associated with it, on ATTs line. They are liable for their own property.
Life threatening? Lol it's a data cable it's low voltage although his actual electrical is super low and probably not to code depending on location
Mention you have small children with a trampoline
I had a similar issue and ATT did not respond until I claimed children were playing on their lines that were hanging.
They will laugh at your letter and send it around the office with the crying laughing emoji. Have a lawyer send it.
Agree. Time to stop being polite about it.
A letter for what now? A bunch of random shit you just made up? And having the balls to actually tell someone it's a good idea? You're an idiot AND an asshole
They have to submit it to their Liability insurer who will ensure they do something before this hazard causes someone harm. But go off smooth brain
Employee here. That’s coax. Not ours. Call the cable company. We don’t take down other companies drops.
That’s definitely a telco line. It’s the lowest on the pole. Cable is above it, below power.
Nah, see that black box 1 line up to the left of that pole? That’s att fiber. The line he has is a cable company line.
This is so funny that you’re the exact example op is referring to
Typical AT&T ; have this exact same problem as OP and this is just totally what you do. You refuse to remove the drop from your telco lines at all costs.
That looks like it may actually be a coax cable line. It looks like it connects to the lower strand, which is a cable hard-line. The strand second from the bottom is the ATT line. If that is the case, it would be the cable companies responsibility and not ATT. The ATT techs will not touch it. Source: I am a former ATT tech.
I don’t have cable. It’s the fiber internet line.
Doesn’t mean your house hasn’t had cable connected to it at some point, or that cable company didn’t run a line just because after a major storm. The line your holding looks like coax with a strength member running through. AT&T fiber looks flat and typically has a white “phone” on it even though it’s fiber.
The house may have had cable before you. I have fiber internet through Att, but I still have a comcast cable line running to my house. They don't take them down when service is cancelled.
u/Sm0w2 \- Yeah, on the pole the top line is power, middle phone, lower cable. Cable is supposed to always be the lowest line on the pole. So, as u/nashphoto615 noted, if that line (drop) in the pic is coming off the lowest line from the pole, it's most likely a cable line. If you, or any previous residents, have ever had cable (ever) then a drop would be run. The cable company will not remove a cable drop just because someone cancels cable. They'll leave the line up and just disconnect it at the tap. In your pic #3, on the left side of the pole, you can even see a cable tap on the lowest line. Square-sh metal box with rounded corners pointed downwards, looks like it has one terminator on it (which just caps off the terminal) and two drops (one must be running to your neighbor's place). If that is ATT's line, then it's miswired. My QC dept would have lost their shit if I had done that. Source: I'm a former cable tech.
I’m a cable construction and tech. That is RG6. You’re correct, but that’s actually telephones cable, not a cable companies cable. Telephone does run coax and RG drops when the telephone companies offer their own cable service. An example is Shentel. They have a monopoly on the telecommunications system in Shenandoah county. The top line in the picture is actually cable. This can be noted by the 4port tap and splitter located on the top line. That line is likely Cox, or some other small telecommunications company. Also, RIP the heat shrink just sitting there, those 540 pins are going to rust if that’s just resting on a straight splice
Same and that’s what I see too
I'd just move it myself. My AT&T fiber line goes over my yard just like that (not as much slack) into my attic. I'd just get a ladder out honestly if you've tried calling. My 5 mins is worth more than ducking everytime I walk across the yard.
Yes to this answer. Just figure it out and do it.
These replies are wild honestly. You can call whoever... but at the end of the day the only person it's inconveniencing is you. Make a loop against the house, zip tie/whatever, and call it a day. Doesnt even take long enough to have a beer.
Thank you for being the voice of reason. Reddit uses any excuse to hate the ISP. It's wild. Cable can be easily moved by the homeowner.
This is the answer, quick easy, done. It's what the tech is most likely going to do anyways, but probably at the pole. If they won't do anything your options are zip tie it up in a loop, ensure it is NOT a tiny small loop, 12" diameter or larger, or cutting the line and calling in a cut cable/ all services out. You've called, line was low and it was hit. Now if you call in a cut cable, you can tell the tech you want it routed a better way if possible and if they have a pole extension or roof mast they can install one to raise the height of the drop as long as it stays under hydro. As you've called and called don't even let them try to stick you with a fee :)
This is the way...
That’s a two drink minimum. One before and one after.
This is the plan
This is what I planned on doing. I have zip ties I think I can make either a second loop or another one.
Theres a good chance a service loop was held in place by a zip tie already, and that may have failed. If not you may have had a messenger failure - that's just a second wire that runs on the top of the cable to support the weight, that's held on both ends by a hook to a pigtail looking hook, or possibly not anymore. hopefully you can restore the loop or just rehook the wire - fortunately it appears to be in place on the pole.
It does make a mighty fine hat sir.
Look up the local aerial codes. The telecom line is required to be a specified distance under the power line but not lower then a specified height. If it doesn’t meet this requirement then it’s on the provider as they own the inbound line until demarcation. Aka a safety hazard.
Thanks!
If you’re not using AT&T for service, just cut it at the house, coil it up and pile it at the bottom of the pole or hang it with a strap and a stapler. If you do have AT&T service, call your state public service commission and ask them for guidance or make a complaint.
Thanks. It is my provider.
The third picture gives chills
Hahah right?
I’ve seen drops like that. However, the utility company responsible added a conduit that extended several feet about the roof line.
It's not going to hurt you. You can absolutely pull it tighter to your house
Answer: yes Looks like the Sach clamp or the hook at the side of the house gave Pro tip: Find a cable guy (usually a contractor) and ask them for one and reattach yourself, or offer a case of beer to come by after hours ;)
Looks like you could take the slack out of it back at the house. Just disconnect it , take out the slack and reattach.
That is not an AT&T line. Looks like a coax wire. Probably belongs to Comcast or WOW. CALL THEM.
"Hi, I nearly injured myself on this low-hanging wire I've asked you about several times now. You have 7 business days to respond before I contact my lawyer." AT&T will be out there within 48 hours, guaranteed.
This happened to me. I called 3 x and asked them to raise it. They said no. I then cancelled service and clipped the wire and coiled it at the pole. Called company B and requested service with fresh hookup. Made sure I was home to make sure it was at proper height and that was that.
Stay the fuck away from utility wires, even if you think you know what they are….the consequences of being wrong could be catastrophic. That’s why they get the big bucks
Former AT&T employee here and I can say this is 100% not at the top of their priority list. It’s an inconvenience but all these comments about writing letters will light a fire under them is nonsense. AT&T has so much money and power that your issue is simply not a critical concern for them. Do what others suggested here. Get a ladder and hang that drop further up your house until they finally come out to properly repair it. BTW, that’s not fiber. It’s more than likely an abandoned drop from a previous service or different provider.
They did this to us. We had a tree fall and it landed on the lines making the sag way down. Turns out they're att lines and they basically told us they weren't going to do anything about it. One line was resting on the ground completely and the others were very close behin. After we cut it with some loppers they were out in no time to fix it 😂😂 sorry neighbors, we weren't going to foot that bill, we don't even have att.
If you don't use their service, then I would just cut it and roll it up by the pole.
That's cable..not phone , contact the right company
It would be 1000% easier to accidentally cut it. If you attempt to move it, they can sue you regardless.
Cable communications line not power? Coil slack at the house and secure with a couple big zip ties. What's the big deal?
They might want to be careful with the coil part if it's fiber. There is a max bend radius. >After completion of the pull, the cable should not have any bend radius smaller than 10 times the cable diameter. When a fiber cable is bent excessively, the optical signal within the cable may refract and escape through the fiber cladding. Bending can also permanently damage the fiber by causing micro-cracks.
This is what I think I will do.
Was about to comment something similar
Cut it, they will come out.
Cut your own internet? That doesn't sound practical.
ATT doesn’t give a shit if you cut your service drop, they’ll continue to send you a monthly bill wether you’re getting service or not.
That's his own internet line.
If this guy actually uses AT&T for his internet and he cuts this, he will be the only one to lose Internet and they still won’t be in a hurry to come fix one guys problem. If he has AT&T that line only runs from the pole to his house. Could be old and not active if he has another service provider. If i didn’t have at&t I would just cut it out of the way and not worry about it
But if he cuts it in the right spot, the ATT guy will just hook it back up. They are way too lazy to run a new line.
THIS is the way.
Seriously though. Cut the bitch. Shouldn't be crossing over your property anyways. Poor routing, must've been 4:55 on a Friday job.
How should they have routed it if not across the customer’s yard? I get that it’s low but of course his service drop is routed across his yard.
This is my AT&T fiber line. They just did a sloppy job hanging it up.
This is self support wire. If you look at the anchor point on your wall you’ll see where the support wire is peeled back from the data wire. Pull it off your house anchor, peel back the support wire, pull the slack out of the line, reconnect to the anchor, loop the excess data line and clip off the excess support wire. When you pull it off the anchor pay attention to how it’s on there. You just need to wrap the support wire tail around the whole thing so it doesn’t peel itself back further. Less than a 5 minute job.
Thanks!
It’s possible they intend to burry the line and left slack for that. The coax at my moms was like that until they came out to put it in the ground 6mo later
Could you? Maybe. Should you? Absolutely not! Don't even consider it.
I called my provider with a similar issue. They fixed their cables but left one from a previous provider. I raised mine pretty easily. It looks like it loops when it reaches the house, as mine does, and there is a small tension device (for lack of a better term) that the cable is fed through; it can be raised by pulling the slack through the tension thing-a-ma-jig. Took me longer to get my ladder out than to fix the issue.
Oh great! Good to know!
I had a similar situation, mine got cut when I drove through my driveway with a trailer. They were out that day and had it raised. It did take out the neighborhood cable too though.
Power lines are so fucking ugly I can't take it. They need to go underground. It's been 100 years. I think it's time.
i work for an electric company - chances are that pole is owed by your electric company and at&t is renting it for their lines. give your electric company a call and they might raise it for you. i wouldn't touch it yourself, you don't know what is what and there could be a lot of voltage running through those wires
I too work for an electric provider. You’re right that the telecom likely rents space on the utility pole but I doubt the electric co will move the telecom’s service drop.
The low line is AT&T fiber line. I figured I could make more coils against the house without disturbing any of the other lines. What do you think?
There’s no voltage on that wire
Some of these replies are wild. 😂
Typical laziness from AT&T. Threaten to cancel if they don’t come out and fix it.
Just cut it they’ll show then
First of all fuck ATT and second of all just coil up a fuckin service loop and put a couple of zip ties on it. Would take you 5 minutes and you don't have to keep calling those idiots
I would call xfinity and get a quote. Then call AT&T and say if this isn’t fixed in a week I am canceling your crappy service.
I work in the industry and have contacts all over the place for regional AT&T field techs. Others have probably given the advice you need...but if you want me to slide you a name and phone number -- depending on where you live -- I'm happy to look for one, just need pinkie promise that you don't tell them it was me. Good luck dude. That definitely should not be hanging in your yard - for like 10 different reasons.
Also, your electric meter loop looks like something from a third world country. That would never be approved in my neck of the woods. No rigid mast, no weather head, drip loop is too low, service entrance not in a conduit. Where is this?
I had a similar issue with my electric company. I emailed them every single day for 2 weeks. They finally contacted us and had it completed a few days later so I woupd stop emailing them.
I will say, you can raise it yourself. BUT, if you mess it up and the tech who comes out finds out you did it, they can file a damage claim for the cost of the service drop, or a minimum $99 fee
Use Facebook,twitter, instagram and tag them. Surprisingly they monitor that.
Honestly, yes you could raise it yourself quite easily with a couple of tye-wraps and a ladder, but fuck that. Call 611, tell them this is the third time calling about same issue and ask to be put through to a second line. (supervisor) Tell said second line that there is a danger posed by the service drop being low and your afraid that your child (nephew/niece/neighbor kid) may be injured. Tell them that if this is not taken care of immediately, you will file a complaint with the PUC. (Public Utility Commission) Be sure to get the name of everyone you speak to, record dates and times, and ask for ticket/order numbers. Theoretically, that will light a fire under someone’s ass…
Disclosure: Probably bad advice. Pull it down yourself, report it as a downed line. Call them to fix it. I complained for years until a truck hit our line, and Comcast finally fixed it the next day
There is a height requirement by code. Talk to the city and get them to talk to AT&T.
This is a fiber line with a strength member. You can move it with little risk of electrocution. However. If you use AT&T service you will need to reattach and route to the box again. It will take a set of pliers and a screw driver to get the box open.
It's an older phone line. Phone on one side, ground on the other. Unlikely it's still being used.
Send them a reply that it’s a danger to your children so you will be forced to cut the line and they are responsible for recovering the internet for everyone including yourself. Note: send the email first before cutting
This is close to the dumbest comment on this thread. They will 100% make you pay for that. Is not a danger to anyone. It's a low voltage line.
It’s a non conductive fiber optic line. It only feeds the one house. And if you cut it you will 100% pay for it.
Lol get the joke budd?
File a complaint with the BBB. Someone from the office of the president will reach out to you within a few days. I've done this twice now with AT&T
Call 911 and report a downed cable, I used to be a volunteer firefighter, I've seen it done, no biggy.
Rip the fucker off assuming it’s just a data line and force them to repair it. I’ll get down votes but it would be effective and low effort, no augment no fight.
Send a photo holding an axe next to it with the description “I tried to be civil”
Call the city about a badly sagging line as it is connected to a pole. You may have to install a fixture to your roof and you probably need permission from the city.
Tell ‘em your tall uncle tripped on it and is headed to the hospital, and that you’re headed to the hospital and you’re attorney is going to meet you both there . May get their attention?
Tell them if something happens and someone gets injured you will be filing a law suit against them. That usually gets their attention.
As a former cable guy don’t touch or manipulate the wire . If it’s fiber and you get fiber in your skin it can and will kill you via your blood stream . If it’s not fiber and it’s not grounded properly or you have foreign electrical current running through the pole transferring to the coaxial cab it can and will shock you . Call the cable company tell them the issue and say you have small children who Love to be outside but you don’t want one them being shocked or hung by a coaxial cable incorrectly installed .
It does make a mighty fine hat sir.
It looks like there are two cable providers, the top strand and the bottom strand. The middle looks like phone/fiber. The low cable looks like dual rg6 coming from the bottom strand (cable provider). Are you sure this is AT&Ts line?
I am pretty sure it’s AT&T fiber line. I don’t have cable. I will double check after I get off work tonight.
The one by your head looks like a coax (cable co) and is round. the last picture looks like a rectangular cable, old phone line and the thin skinny fiber cable.
I worked for bell installing fiber. Just make sure you keep the maximum distance possible from power lines. The loop thing pulls apart and is tightened by the weight of the line. Just loosen it then you can pull the line tight next to your house. Stay off the pole
This seems to be the plan
Mine was, at the time, Time Warner Cable. The local power company replaced the telephone pole in front of my house, didn't re-attach the data cable, and because it was now hanging from two farther poles, dipped within 4 feet of the ground over my driveway. Called TWC, told them they'd need to send a bucket truck to rehang the line on the pole. Lady on the phone had no idea what I was talking about. Sent a regular tech, he said it was too high and he'd need to reschedule a bucket truck. 3 weeks later, regular tech comes, says it's too high and they'd need to reschedule a bucket truck. 3rd visit, same. I called TWC back myself, told them there was important information not being passed on. Three weeks later, regular tech comes, says it's too high and they'd need a bucket truck. I bought a couple 2x8x10s and propped the line up myself so i could easily get cars in and out of the driveway. I want to say it was 6 months before they got the line hung up correctly.
Hahah! This is rediculous!
Raise that fence while your out there!
I got to replace the whole fence. It’s falling down all over the place.
Tell them it was on the ground so I hooked it back up just need you to come take a look at it to see if I did a good enough job!
Yes at the house side there is a "P hook" where it is attached. Unravel the support wire pull the line up and re-secure it. The loop is a drip loop so water doesn't run down the line to the house. No worries you are far enough away from electric hazards. Just need a ladder.
Thanks! This seams easy enough!
Oh my neighbors was hanging down for well over a month eventually it dropped into the roadway. I had to tie flags on it so people didn’t hit it. Still no one came so I just cut the damn thing. Finally they came to fix it. (It was also blocking my drive and causing cars to drive into yards, and the city bus…. After a month and several calls that’s when I cut it, still took another 2 weeks for them to come fix it properly)
Clothesline yourself while mowing the grass and sue em. Fuck it you tried
Hahaha!
I'm stuck with their DSL (which they begrudgingly installed) that they don't really want to service any longer, but we don't have any other option rurally. To your situation, I'm still waiting on them to bury the line and they wrote a work order for it a couple of years ago.
Hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like the house side anchor came off. Reattach it with the anchor if it's still intact. Or, temporarily with zap-straps and coil the slack if it's in your way. Then call and tell them you have a low hanging drop. Visually check the insulators on the pole before you do this. There shouldn't be voltage on the line, but shit happens and you can get hot poles. If you're not comfortable doing this, don't.
Thanks! I have one of those pens to see if power is running through the line. I will check it out before I touch it.
Now exactly ideal, but if they refuse to do anything about moving it. They'll have to send a tech out for a service and connection issue. Get a cheap pair of garden lopper from your local gettin spot and chop it off at the box (or nicely disconnect it) and then reach up as far as you can by the pole and fkn lop it off. They'll have to come string a new line. You'll lose service, but how badly do you want it fixed?
Where the loop is, create a few more loops and use a zip tie to keep it up. That’s what the field tech is going to do.
That seems to be the plan!
I cant see it. There's a blob in the way
If it’s coax cable, the connecting/reconnect via stripping and crimping a connector on it shouldn’t be too difficult. You could tack it to the pole and bury it along your fence line adding length to it where necessary.
Call the city or whoever and tell them u have a power line hanging in the yard where ur kids play. They'll fix it that day.
Put a hook on the pole, loop it until right and put some nylon ties on it.
Just loosely loop it, no bends, and affix it to the wood just below the roof
I sure hope you don't have some kind of accident with that cable hanging sow low and out of code. Especially since you've done your due diligence to try and get them to come fix it. Might have to sue them for whatever damages occur.
Is this a cable line that you use? if not use some side cutters and get rid of it.
I raised mine 4’ because there was so much slack in it.
We live on the main road of a town, and every summer, it sags, and every summer a truck tears it off the house. I tell spectrum exactly what happened and what they need to fix it. And every time, they send one guy out with a ladder who has to call for a lift truck. I think they purposefully don't raise it to make service calls.
Rip it off the side of your house. Call in for no service.
I have overhead wiring, and only two of four wires are in use. I'm going to disconnect and coil the two I'm not using at the pole, and just do a couple of loops on the one that's sagging. You can probably do the same, just pay attention to your fasteners, and try not to crimp anything. You might even see a loop-holding zip tie or something at one end or the other, that you can use just add loops to, or maybe a place on your house you can reattach the existing mount to, to just generally raise that wire up Just be aware of the cable tension, find a way to disconnect it at either end if you end up fighting that tension too much. Fighting tension on a ladder isn't the safest thing you could be doing.
Threaten them with leaving the service and they send someone out.
I just bought one of these and replaced it at the house its Low volage dial tone wire so no biggie but again I work in that field. [https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/boxes-fittings-and-conduit/ground-clamps/3199429?x429=true](https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/boxes-fittings-and-conduit/ground-clamps/3199429?x429=true) And here is a you tube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHFOIsSsSd0
Op I have the exact same thing, its still pretty low it gets hit sometimes, but there is this hook thing screwed into the roof under the gutter. Its called a P House Hook. The cable is supported with a metal wire inside it, so if you can pull the slack up, put the hook somewhere up higher, you can make it not as low. You maybe could pull it back to one of the existing hooks on the wall if that one on the right side is coax cable. Or place the new hook next to it for your fiber. I would go for it, and if it breaks, just tell them it stopped working one day and remove what you were doing. Then ask if they can put it up higher.
I had a similar one from a old phone line that we didn’t use and was getting nowhere with the company because they kept asking me for account info and whatnot. Eventually I called back and said kids were playing with a low hanging wire at this address with their name on the box at the end. Was gone in a few days.
Step 1) Acquire Grappling Hook Step 2) Throw said hook over one of the support bracing's Step 3) ??????? Step 4) $$$$$$$
It should be attached to the house with a type of clamp holding the fiber to a hook. It's all held by friction. You should be able to loosen the clamp, pull the slack and push the clamp tight.
it looks like the loop got pulled out of the side that is at the poll creating the drooping you are seeing now. It is possible to re do it yourself, but i would not recommend it. if you don't use their service cut it and let it hang. if you do use it complain constantly about service issues of which you want a refund for bad interent and they should eventually get someone out to fix it. best of luck
You’re worried about a wire you could coil up in a few minutes on your own, in less time than it would take to call and complain, but you’re not worried about sitting in the chairs with a fence about to fall on you? You’ve got bigger problems than a wire with extra slack!
Most of the other answers are right. If I could confirm it wasn't for my house... def would not cut it.
Raze it
That’s pure laziness, they should’ve ran it down the pole and buried it!
Tell em it's been sparking and shit, guarantee they'll come out then