Ironic there’s no number to report telecom damage
If Rogers and Bell really want the public to report damaged equipment boxes, they’re doing a good job of making sure it doesn’t happen. Our Monday column was about a decapitated equipment box, also known as a pedestal box, on St. Clair Ave. Rogers quickly fixed it, once it determined it was theirs.
There were no identifying markings on it, which seems to be the case with many of them, so we asked Rogers and Bell to check it out. We also asked both why they don’t prominently post a 1-800 number on all boxes, so the public can report damage.
We have long thought the absence of identifying information on so many boxes is no oversight; they know that many are damaged, and that the wiring is mostly impervious to exposure, so there’s no hurry to fix them.
How else to explain the large number of boxes with wires spilling out?
On markings, Bell spokesperson Jacqueline Michelis replied: “Some older pedestals may not be marked, but the newer ones are.”
It’s been our observation that some older boxes are marked, and a lot of the newer ones aren’t. But that’s what she said. We twice asked her why Bell doesn’t clearly mark all boxes with a phone number. She has yet to reply, or even acknowledge the question, so we think we have her answer.
Rogers spokesperson Andrew Garas also did not answer the question, instead saying: “The safety of residents in the communities we operate in is important, which is why it’s better they not get too close to damaged equipment, rather contact us directly and let us investigate.”
Really? If damaged boxes are so dangerous that nobody should get near them, why are so many out there? Shouldn’t Rogers and Bell be a lot more proactive about fixing them, to protect the public?
If Rogers truly wants to be contacted directly, so it can investigate, it’s a lot more likely that the dangerous box will be reported if its name is on the box, along with a1-800 number in large print.
It’s hard not to conclude that Rogers and Bell aren’t nearly as interested in hearing about and fixing damaged boxes as they say, and that anyone who wants to report damage will have to work at it. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. To contact us, go to thestar.com/yourtoronto/the_fixer, call us at 416-869-4823 or email jlakey@thestar.ca. To read our blog, go to thestar.com/news/the_fixer. Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.