Out in the middle of nowhere…

A Fiber Optic cable has been put in. Does this mean high speed internet? The cable started at an AT&T unmanned internet data building that was built (on the edge of a 300 acre farm field) in the late 1980’s I guess to link their connections together from city to city. From there the cable links a Verizon cell tower than to my local phone company (Centurylink) substation. Is this something unusual or is this normal for competitive companies to do this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v688/Jackf/Making%20a%20Living%20the%20Old%20hard%20Way/100_3577.jpg

I believe Cecil used to have allot to do with fiber optic before he retired, he would be a good one to ask

It's hard to say what they are doing. What you show is a buried cable marker put there for (a) helping the company know where the fiber is and (b) hopefully letting anyone digging to be smart enought to call for a cable locate.

As Cecil said, it is hard to tell. May be upgrading the toll routes and data routes. That could quite possibly include high speed internet if your phone company has not had it before. Do not expect it immediately though, it will take completion of the fiber rout, installation of equipment in the office and a lot of testing before it is supplied to customers. First batch to get it will be those within 2 1/2 to 3 miles of the CO> Then it will be expanded out with small cabinets added every 4 or 5 miles to get it done.

Thanks everybody for the reply. About ½ mile from the marker I took the picture of another marker is placed with a concrete pad beneath it. I guess that's for placing the small cabinets John is talking about.
…..And I was hoping to start watching Barnyards video’s….

Could also be a manhole for a splice, usually the pads for the equipment or 4 or 5 feet square.