Background:

My neighbour was getting fibre installed, she has a relatively new house with underground services.

She was told by a Chorus subcontractor (Visionstream) that because the old copper wiring was direct buried she would have to accept an overhead connection.

She said “no” and told them to come back with a better plan. Anyway they have said she needs to accept overhead or pay for the install herself.

I had similar problems with my install a few years back so I did a little research which helped her, and I thought might help some others facing similar problems of arguments over fibre installs.

The following extracts are from the “Network Infrastructure Project Agreement” between Chorus and Crown fibre holdings signed in January 2017. I have only included parts of the clauses relevant to a normal domestic install to a stand alone house. If you want to see the whole thing go to the CFH website and download it.

Annex 1

2.10 Standard and non standard installation

(a) … A Standard Installation is a Connection where the distance required to install the End User-Specific Infrastructure is up to 200m from the Premises Boundary Termination Point to the ETP on the outside wall of the Premises..

(c)           Notwithstanding clauses 2.10(a) and 2.10(b) of this Annexure, a Standard Installation includes the ETP and the internal Premises wiring (including MDU wiring)…..

(d)          Notwithstanding clauses 2.10(a) and 2.10(b) of this Annexure, for Bitstream Services, a Standard Installation also includes:

(i)            installing the ONT inside the Premises at the location specified by the End User and Connecting it to the Network (generally at the point of highest data usage in the Premises, such as behind the TV set); …..

(e)          Best Industry Practice applies when Connecting an End User, ensuring that the End User-Specific Infrastructure and associated Connections are to a high standard. This would, for example, limit the use of surface mounting within a Premises to situations where alternatives are not possible. (My Note: must be "not possible" not "difficult")

(f)           Connections must be made on a like-for-like basis unless otherwise agreed by the End User. This means that where an existing telecommunications service is underground, then the fibre End User-Specific Infrastructure must be underground, and where the existing telecommunications service is aerial, then the fibre End User-Specific Infrastructure must be aerial.

(g)          The fibre End User-Specific Infrastructure can only be a ‘fence-line’ installation if the Company first consults with the End User and obtains the End User’s prior written consent to a ‘fence-line’ installation.

(h)          Re-instatement for any form of End User-Specific Infrastructure is to be on a like-for-like basis; for example, a concrete surface must be replaced with a concrete surface, an asphalt surface with an asphalt surface, and a grass surface with a grass surface. However, an exact match is not required (for example, a coloured surface may be patched with an uncoloured surface) and full-width replacement is not required (but always consistent with the duty to act in accordance with Best Industry Practice).

but for the avoidance of doubt, the Company will not be entitled to recover any charges for performing the requirements set out in clauses 2.10(a), 2.10(b), 2.10(c) and 2.10(d) of this Annexure. (My Note: This means Chorus cannot charge the end user for a Standard install)

I hope this is at least of interest to some