Blog Layout

What Is A Utility Easement? Cable Installation with Hunt Communications

Hunt Communications • Nov 21, 2023

At one time or another, many property owners find themselves wondering, can a utility company dig in my yard without permission? This is especially true when they come home to find someone unexpectedly digging near their home! The answer to this question usually comes down to utility easements. 


Many people don't think twice about how utilities reach their homes, but utility easements are integral to these critical processes. A utility easement, usually referred to as just an 'easement,' gives a person other than the property owner the right to access the land legally. The easement provides a legal framework that allows utility and cable operators to use designated spaces in each property for cable infrastructure, ensuring coverage and service delivery.


With utility easements, Hunt Communications can access private property to maintain utility lines and construct cable networks. Hunt Communications and other water, electricity, and internet providers will use this access to keep essential utility services running smoothly. While most properties already have utility easements in place, state and local governments are the ones responsible for allowing access to easements. 


These easements are crucial for essential utilities to reach homes and businesses efficiently, especially if they need to cross several properties. Keep reading to learn more about utility easements and why they are important for cable services and installation!

Utility Easements and Cable Network Construction

To better understand the importance of utility easements, you need to understand how cable network construction works. With cable and other standard utilities, the service begins at the source and makes its way to the output, which would be a television. 


This is a complex infrastructure system that works in pipes below the ground and on utility poles above ground. In densely populated cities, these utility poles are home to several wires belonging to many different households, constantly delivering information. 


In these densely populated cities or neighborhoods, the lack of space to set up fiber optic hubs is a problem. During the journey from point A to point B in this delivery system, the wire must cross a vast network of different households. 


This means that for efficient cable service in dense neighborhoods, the cable service company needs access to these wires and pipes running through every single property. Utility easements offer a practical solution, allowing operators to access the network at any point needed, even if it's on private property.

However, cable companies need permission from state or local governments to construct their networks. So, how does Hunt Communications (or other utility companies) get permission for utility easements? 


First, a franchise is granted to a cable company by the local governmental authority, which includes rights relating to the system's construction. Essentially, a franchise is a contract between a city or county and a utility provider that needs public rights-of-way (ROWs) or easements to deliver its services.


Therefore, the franchise will consist of the local authority's authorization, allowing public ROWs and easements while defining the areas that need service. 


If you're a property owner, a transferable easement is usually listed on your property deed and would be disclosed when you bought the property. This can be granted by the owner and recorded at a county clerk's office. When registered and recorded, it becomes an encumbrance on the land's title. 


For cable companies, most of their work takes place on easements, but there are a few circumstances where they may need the rights to construct on private property. Some examples where this is necessary include working in multi-family apartment buildings, across a private road, or in gated communities.

Encouraging Access to Easements for Construction and Installation

It may seem inconvenient to allow Hunt Communications or other utility companies to access your property, but allowing our cable team to work on your land will only create more convenience in the long run. Without access to your property, our team will not be able to update, install, or build your cable networks, leaving you without our services. 


You may be concerned about the potential of something getting damaged on your property while we work on it, but don't worry! In the rare event that something is damaged, like your water line or landscaping, we will repair it ourselves or hire a professional to fix it. 


Many homeowners are also concerned about our team leaving a mess, but we strive to leave your land precisely how we found it. This means we will rebury utility lines, repair any ground cover, and remove our equipment as quickly as possible.


Your Rights as a Property Owner Regarding Easements

As a property owner, you may have easements attached to your property that grant certain rights to utilities, including cable companies, for installation and maintenance. The legal situation around easements can be quite nuanced and may vary depending on the state laws. However, there are a few general rights that most property owners share when it comes to utility easements:


  • Disclosed in Sale: Legally, sellers must disclose utility easements on their property during the sale. This way, you would know if an easement exists by the time you have a purchase agreement.
  • Non-Interference: As a property owner, you probably won't be able to remove an easement if it already exists on your property. For example, let's say you live on the beach, and there is an easement stating that neighbors can access the public beach with the path in your yard. You are legally obligated to let your neighbors use the pathway because they have the right to go to the public beach. Likewise, if a utility company has an easement to access plumbing under your yard, there's not much you can do to change that. 
  • Legal Compensation: If your property is taken by the government or authorized entity because of the easement, then you are due just compensation.
  • Easement Abuse Remedies: If someone with an easement to use your property is using it in a way that's not what was originally agreed upon, you can check if it's possible to stop the excessive use while allowing the proper or intended use to continue. 
  • Cable Companies & Authorized Entities: Under certain laws, franchised cable operators are allowed to use existing electric utility easements without obtaining a separate easement from the owner of the underlying land. 


If you have any other questions about easements and your rights as a property owner, contact the local city administrators in your area. On this page, you can find the contact information for resources in your local government.

Conclusion – Can a Utility Company Dig in My Yard Without Permission?

In simple terms, a utility company can dig in your yard, but they usually already have permission from the existing easement on your property. However, the importance of easements for utility companies cannot be overstated. Without them, companies cannot install, update, or maintain their services for paying customers. 


If you're a property owner, allowing Hunt Communications to access the easement adjacent to your property for the entire project duration is essential to keeping things running smoothly and efficiently. Feel free to reach out to local city administrators or contact us today if you have any other questions or concerns about utility easements and cable installation!

ethernet cable and fiber optic cables on a laptop

How Fast Is Fiber Optic Internet? Everything you need to know about MB vs. GB File Sizes

By Hunt Communications • 20 Feb, 2024
Explore the speed of fiber optic internet and MB vs. GB file sizes. Learn why fiber optics offer faster, more reliable connectivity for homeowners. Discover the benefits with Hunt Communications!
Fiber-Optic-cable-coiled-around-a-telephone-pole-with-lawn-markings

Understanding Lawn Markings During Hunt Communications' Cable Installation:

By Hunt Communications • 31 Jan, 2024
Discover why utility flags have appeared in your yard and how they play a crucial role in ensuring safety during construction. Learn why understanding the color-coded markings of underground utilities is essential for preventing accidents, property damage, and service disruptions.
Fiber optic cables in the ground

Benefits of Fiber Optic Cable: Everything You Need To Know

By Hunt Communications • 14 Dec, 2023
With most of us working, shopping, gaming, and socializing online, it's no secret that fast internet is currently in high demand.

Building a Connected Future: Partnering with Hunt Communications for Rural Broadband

By Hunt Communications • 26 Oct, 2023
On June 12th, 2023, an initiative titled Internet For All, was announced, promising $714 million in grants and loans to bridge the digital divide in rural areas and connect thousands to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.

Hunt Communications: Bringing Improved Cable Service to Your Neighborhood

By Hunt Communications • 11 Sep, 2023
If you’ve seen a Hunt Communications team or vehicle on your street, a cable construction project is likely about to begin in your neighborhood! Hunt Communications contracts with cable companies to bring new or improved cable network service to neighborhoods like yours.

Bridging the Digital Divide: The Vital Importance of the USDA Federal Initiative to Connect Rural Areas to High-Speed Internet

By Hunt Communications • 10 Aug, 2023
In rural or underserved areas, high-speed internet access can have a transformative impact on individuals, businesses, and the community at large. Read the blog to learn about the USDA Federal Initiative to connect rural areas to high-speed internet!
Hunt Communications image of an Aerial Lineman.

Employee Connection: A Day In The Life Of An Ariel Lineman, Tim Howard.

By Hunt Communications • 10 Aug, 2023
I am an Aerial Lineman at Hunt and have been with the company for six months, but I’ve spent over 40 years in the utility engineering industry itself. I was fourteen when I started working in the cable industry. My sister married a turnkey cable contractor, so I was able to learn about all aspects of the industry from my brother-in-law.

Employee Connection: Construction Supervisor, Frank Granger

By Hunt Communications • 30 Jun, 2023
I started with Hunt three years ago as a Laborer, which involves a variety of tasks and responsibilities like opening, backfilling and compacting trenches, placing fiber in aerial applications, pulling cable and wire through trenches and buildings, and removing and replacing sod on easements.

Going the Distance: The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Long-Distance Fiber Optic Networks

By Hunt Communications • 30 Jun, 2023
Fast, secure, on-demand internet may seem ubiquitous these days, but in truth, not everyone has equal access to this critical modern resource. Rural communities, isolated communities, and underserved populations often struggle to access reliable internet connections, with many having to travel great distances to do so. Long-distance fiber optic networks are the answer. These fiber networks can provide residents of such communities with the same internet connectivity that residents of major cities enjoy. In doing so, long-distance fiber networks can accomplish more than establishing quick, secure internet connections — they can change lives. Access & Opportunity for Rural Communities A major benefit of long-distance fiber optic networks is its ability to bring high-quality internet connections to rural, isolated and underserved communities. It may surprise you to learn that there are many areas throughout the U.S. which rely on fiber networks to serve their communities from great distances. Without these long-distance fiber connections, these areas would not have internet access at all, as traditional copper-based cable networks were not designed to carry over significant distances. When a previously unconnected community gains access to reliable internet through long-distance fiber networks, a new world of opportunity opens up to its residents. With stable internet connectivity, rural residents can: View & apply to jobs Search & apply for stable housing Complete or check voter registration, renew vehicle registrations, & access other civic e-services Connect with loved ones from a distance via video chat, social media & other platforms Access online educational opportunities Access up-to-date, credible news, information & resources Access to these opportunities and services may be taken for granted in larger, more urban areas, but for residents of rural or underserved areas, they can be life-changing. Long-distance fiber networks are making it happen by providing equitable internet access in areas that private ISPs may not serve. Combating Economic Decline In a world where reliable internet access is a barrier to entry for many economic pursuits, like starting a small business or finding gainful employment, rural and underserved communities are suffering. When internet access is afforded only to those living in major cities or larger urban areas, residents outside of these designated areas are cut off from the opportunities an easily-accessible internet connection can offer, setting them at a distinct economic disadvantage. Think of the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic: Businesses of all sizes leveraged internet-based services and platforms to pivot to online storefronts, curbside pickup, and other creative means to survive. Without internet connectivity, small businesses didn’t stand a chance — an unfair reality proven especially true for businesses in rural and underserved areas. Thankfully, long-distance fiber networks are helping to even these scales across the nation. The implementation of widespread internet access is an impactful step toward reversing the economic decline of smaller, more rural communities. Unlike private ISPs, fiber networks can be locally managed, which helps ensure that residents have equitable, reliable access. And the effects of implementation are compound: As more networks are built, the easier it becomes for networks to grow and expand — and for the communities that benefit from them to grow economically, too. Texas’s Plan for a Connected Future As it becomes increasingly difficult to conduct business without internet connectivity, the Texas legislature and Governor Abbott are taking steps toward a more connected future for the state by establishing the Governor’s Broadband Development Council. In a recent briefing to the new Council, it was noted that “concerns have been raised that a lack of proper broadband connectivity in rural areas of Texas has left many residents at a disadvantage compared to other areas of the state, leaving rural Texans at risk of being left behind.” The Council aims to address these gaps in broadband access and adoption by understanding who is using broadband connections, what roadblocks are in the way of more widespread connectivity, and identifying solutions that will make connectivity possible for a greater number of Texans. Bring Fiber to Your Neighborhood Interested in installing a fiber optic network in your town, municipality, neighborhood or business? Contact us today to learn more about how Hunt Communications can help! If you’re a resident interested in learning more about the benefits of a fiber optic cable network installation in your community, check out Hunt’s Resident FAQ! It answers all the common questions about our work and its benefits, including a breakdown of the installation process.

Employee Connection: Design Engineer, Stephen Gomez (Q&A Questions)

By Hunt Communications • 02 May, 2023
The Hunt Communications team prioritizes professional growth for all our employees. We’re invested in the careers of our team members, and it’s part of our company culture to not only promote from within, but to cross-train and provide additional learning opportunities to any employee that has an interest in them. For this month’s Employee Connection blog, we asked Stephen Gomez about his work with us as a Fiber Design Engineer and his experience growing with us. Please enjoy this Q&A with Stephen, and keep an eye out for more Employee Connections in the near future! Hi Stephen! Tell us a bit about your typical workday as a Fiber Design Engineer at Hunt. My day starts as I walk into the office and greet my coworkers, which easily turns into information-gathering conversations about the day’s work ahead. Throughout my day, I’m responsible for completing estimates, creating redlines — original drawings that have been marked with red lines to reflect modifications to designs — and mapping out new subdivisions. My position requires me to flex skills like problem-solving, math and calculations, and plain old common sense. What’s one thing you wish people knew about your job? It’s fun! Once you’re in a groove and getting your work done, it can be very enjoyable and fulfilling. What’s something that surprised you about your current position? The thing that surprised me the most is also the thing I enjoy the most: There’s always something new to learn. I am constantly learning, and it’s fascinating to get an insider’s understanding of how subdivisions are built. Even the best jobs have challenges — what’s a challenge you face in your work, and how does Hunt support you through it? The sheer volume of work can be overwhelming at times. It’s great to be in an in-demand industry, but the mountain of work can definitely be daunting! Hunt helps us all manage our workloads by creating an environment of teamwork. No one is afraid to ask for help, and you can always count on your peers for assistance when you need it. What are your goals for the next few years of your career? I’m eager to broaden my knowledge of our field outside of work, and bring that knowledge back to Hunt to apply it in my current position. What do you enjoy most about the work Hunt does? The people. Everyone is valued for their own personality and skills, and will always make you feel welcome. There is always someone to learn from, with experience they’re happy to share with the entire team. What are you most proud of in your career so far? My capabilities are greater than I had thought. Hunt has allowed me the opportunity to grow in ways I never could have imagined. Join the Hunt Communications family! Looking to level up your career? Hunt is currently hiring for a variety of telecommunications construction jobs in Newark, TX and elsewhere. Browse our open positions and submit your application today! LEARN MORE
More Posts
Share by: