Wayward Cable Utility Lines

To the Editor:

On June 28, two lightning strikes damaged the underground cable TV lines that service Timbermill Road in Sandy Hook. As a temporary repair, Charter Communications laid cables above ground, crossing the lawn with wires from the curb to my house and to my neighbor’s house. Another temporary cable was run on the lawn, along the front of our yard, up a tree, stretched through the trees over three driveways and then down another tree at the next cable box located further up the street.

About two weeks later I called Charter to see why the cables were still running on the ground only to be told that there was no repair scheduled. At that time, their service person came out to measure the area, and I was told the cables would be repaired in 30 days. It is now past the 30 days and although they took care of the two lines going to the houses, the utility line along the street still runs over the grass and through the trees. Despite weekly visits to the Charter office, I have not received a commitment from Charter to fix this situation on a timely basis and my requests to have a service representative call me to discuss the problem have been ignored.

A neighborhood with young children playing should not be exposed to this kind of safety hazard and as a homeowner I have a reasonable expectation that Charter Communications will maintain their equipment without creating a nuisance. Their actions show that they have no concern for safety or their responsibility as a public utility.

Jim Manville

15 Timbermill Road, Sandy Hook                             August 20, 2007