Georgia homeowners uncover optic line that goes through their lot, telecom provider demands homeowners pay $100k to move the line: 'They are tresspassing on my property'

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 4, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

What should you do when someone else does something wrong and then acts like it is your fault?

Buying a lot and building a house is a job only for the strong-willed people who are not afraid of challenges and know how to deal with any obstacle that comes their way. Because boy, are there obstacles when it comes to building a house…

One has to deal with all the building permits, construction workers, unexpected extra costs, and endless other issues that uncover themselves along the way. There are always twists and turns, and months of sleepless nights because of all the work that's still left to be done. It is truly a task no one is actually ready for.

The story below is a perfect example of an unexpected twist that would have made the faint of heart turn around and never come back. Yet these homeowners are willing to fight for what is right…

Last week, they finally got the permits to start digging in their lot and build their home. Two days ago, a massive bundle of fiber optic cables was uncovered directly beneath their lot, right at the center of where the house should be. After a few calls, the homeowners discovered the cables belonged to a national telecom provider, who have admitted they laid the lines and had taken an illegal shortcut through their lot.

However, the telecom provider refuses to move the lines. They claim it will cost them over $100k to do so, and warn the homeowners that if their construction causes a disruption to the lines, they will be held liable for millions of dollars in damage.

Since the telecom provider is the one transmitting, the homeowners are not willing to give up without a fight. They need to build their house, and no cable will stop them. So, they turned to Reddit's r/legaladvice to understand what their next steps should be…

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  • Architect civil engineer and worker looking at plans and blueprints discussing issues at the construction site, models representing
    via Getty Images

    Architect civil engineer and worker looking at plans and blueprints discussing issues at the construction site, models representing

  • Major telecom company laid a fiber optic line straight through my private lot without an easement. Now they are threatening to sue me if I build my house.

    Location: Georgia, USA. I purhcased a vacant residential lot last year with plans to build a home. We finally got our permits and the excavation team started digging the foundation last week.
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • Two days ago, the excavator uncovered a massive bundle of fiber optic cables buried about four feet down, running directly through the center of my lot where the house is supposed to go.
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • I halted work immediately and called the local utility marking service. They confirmed the lines belong to a major national telecom provider. I spent hours on the phone with them, and
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • their engineering depatment eventually sent a representative to the site. They checked their records and admitted there is absolutely no easement recorded for my parcel. Apparently, they laid
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • these lines ten years ago and just took a shortcut through this vacant land instead of running them along the road.
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • Instead of offering a solution, their legal department sent me an emergency cease-and-desist letter yesterday. They claim that this line serves over 15,000 households and businesses in
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • the area, including a local hospital. They are warning me that if my construction causes any disruption, they will hold me liable for millions of dollars in damages.
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • I cannot build my house without moving these lines, but the telecom company says relocating them will cost over $100,000 and they expect me to pay for it. This seems completely insane since they are tresspassing on my property.
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • What are my legal rights here? Can I force them to move their equipment at their own expense, or am I stuck with a useless piece of land?
    via Ok_Fly3763
  • Construction worker in a hard hat on a building frame
    via Josh Olalde

    Construction worker in a hard hat on a building frame

  • Cyberdyne_T Make sure to talk to your attorney about prescriptive easement laws in Georgia. In your state, a utility company might try to claim they have a right to stay there because the lines have been in place for ten
    via Cyberdyne_T
  • years. However, for a prescriptive easement to form, the use has to be open and notorious. Since these lines were buried four feet underground and completely unmapped, they were hidden from view. There is no way they can
    via Cyberdyne_T
  • argue you or the previous owner should have known they were there. This is a clear case of trespass, and they are completely liable for the relocation costs.
    via Cyberdyne_T
  • wgwalkerii Don't damage the lines, have your lawyer send a letter requiring them to reroute the line around your property within a specific timeline as well as pay for damages related to the delay for construction.
    via wgwalkerii
  • Sweetroll9_Arrow This is incredably insane. They took a shortcut to save money ten years ago, and now they expect you to pay for their illegal trespass? Since they mentioned a local hospital is connected to this line, you should also contact the Georgia Public
    via Sweetroll9_Arrow
  • Service Commision. They do not take kindly to major telecomm companies running unmapped, illegal lines through private residential properties. Get an attorney to file a counter suit for trespass and force them to relocate the line at their own expense. Do not let them billy you.
    via Sweetroll9_Arrow
  • Revelati123 If this is as big an oopsie doopsie as it seems on the face then get a lawyer and sue, I imagine they will line up when you explain the situation.
    via Revelati123
  • Major company negligently laid lines, cant possibly move them without a massive disruption of service for 10s of thousands, this is a settlement You just became a very expensive pain in the a.`to a company with extremely deep pockets, congrats.
    via Revelati123
  • AndSo-Itbegins Given that all your facts are correct, an Attorney should get them to pay for relocation, your immediate expenses and time and stress. A good one will get you enough extra to pay for your garage.
    via AndSo-Itbegins

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property owner sue telecom home building legal homeowner dispute construction building property home money
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