Not quite, but AT&T is worried about the possiblity enough that it wants to replace battery systems in many of its high-speed fiber optic equipment cabinets, perhaps including ones in Santa Clarita neighborhoods.
U-Verse is a special, high speed fiber optic system that the telecommunications giant has been deploying nationwide for the last few years. Last year, some neighborhoods in Santa Clarita got access to the new networking technology that can deliver high speed internet, television and phone over a single line. The equipment is installed on the street in large, beige cabinets.

At least four of those large cabinets have caught on fire around the nation, including one in Wisconsin on Christmas Day that literally exploded. The problem is some defective batteries. AT&T says it will replace at least 17,000 such batteries at an unknown cost. An analyst told LightReading.com that “It’s no small task to change out the batteries in thousands of remote cabinets, especially when many of them are already powered up and handling working U-Verse subscribers.”

Near my own house last year, AT&T installed two of the large cabinets housing the required equipment to connect to homes. Some of my friends and family already use the service and like it. I’ve seen cabinets installed in certain Newhall neighborhoods, Bridgeport and other areas.

Probably nothing to worry about, but if cabinets in Santa Clarita need to be modified, I’d imagine your U-Verse service may be interrupted until repairs are made.

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