topic Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable in Internet

when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

snowblower — Sat, 20 May 2023 18:31:08 GMT

Can anyone describe the legalities of when Bell is considered to have an "easement" to install a buried fibre cable?

I'm asking because a Bell contractor came to my property to install fibre cable to replace a temporary cable and was of the opinion that Bell had and "easement" and the contractor didn't need the permission of my neighbors to bury a cable in their back yards. Note that the original neighborhood underground fibre installation is in front of the houses near the street, where one would expect it - not in anyone's backyard. The whole thing was very suspect, and ultimately the contractor left without installing the permanent cable. I would like to understand this better before they return for their next attempt to resolve the temporary cable issue.

Thanks

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

dks — Tue, 23 May 2023 14:25:21 GMT

An interesting legal question. It isn't unusual for Bell and other utilities to have easements on private properties. These are usually (but not always) registered on title and can include utilities such as hydro, water, gas and drainage. One indication there is a possible easement is if copper phone lines are buried on the property. If an easement exists, a utility contractor does have the right to enter your property. They also restore it to the previous condition. Your municipal office might have a record of easements.

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

snowblower — Tue, 23 May 2023 14:50:21 GMT

Thanks for the reply. That matches my layman understanding. There is no existing Bell fiber infrasture in anyone's back yard, that's for sure. It's definitely all in front. There may or may not be legacy copper telephone wires in back yards, I don't now, but I find it unlikely since the neighborhood Bell utility boxes are in front near the side walk, the service entrance on all the houses are also in front, and the neighbor hood is only 20 years old so there was clear and easy access to install the legacy copper undergroud in front when the neighbor hood homes were first built. Servicing the legacy copper wasn't the point of the contractor visit anyways.

Does an "easement" for servicing the old copper lines extend to installation of new fiber optic lines? I would be surprised if it does, but then, I didn't know what an "easement" was until last Friday. What ever the case, easement or not, my neighbors booted the contractor (which I support them in doing) and there's no way a contractor is getting back into their yard without creating a conflict.

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

dks — Tue, 23 May 2023 15:39:18 GMT

Sounds like an interesting situation. My understanding is an easement is an easement. It never expires except by mutual agreement. Easements are also nuanced. I understand property law in each province is different. I'm not a lawyer, either, but figuring out this stuff is why lawyers exist.

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

snowblower — Thu, 25 May 2023 19:22:52 GMT

Conclusion: the cable in question was removed. Never should have been installed. There was no "easement" and the neigbors never granted permission. Gong show central.

p.s. it turned out the problem with my original cable was simply that it was mislabelled and never connected at Bell's neighbood utility box. Seven months of a temporary cable lying in people's back yards. Eight trips to my house by Bell technicians and contractors, numerous support calls, forum submissions, one illegal cable installation, three frustrated neighbors, one 150 foot strip of grass that has to rejuvinate itself in three of my neighbors' back yards, one length of cable left permanently under one neighbor's patio bricks that the installers never had permission to move to begin with, and finally it's resolved.

bell easement search?

saraclark — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:28:50 GMT

Bell appears to have a large pole for internet (and possibly other wires) on my property. From what I've read, Bell must have an easement in order for this to be allowed. I have done a search through the Ontario Land Registry, and no there is no record of such easement. Who I can speak with at Bell in order to pursue this further?

Re: bell easement search?

dks — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 20:16:46 GMT

With all respect, I suggest you first speak to a lawyer about this matter. Property law can be complex, as can easements. Unless you are a paralegal yourself.

Seeking contact to discuss easement on our property

KristinB — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 23:04:07 GMT

We are planning a subdivision of our property.Bell currently has an easement on our property and require a contact to discuss and grant the easement.

Is there a direct contact?

Re: Seeking contact to discuss easement on our property

BellNick — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:21:44 GMT

Hi there @KristinB @saraclark
We've sent you a private message requesting some more information.
Please check your Messages within your profile avatar in the top right corner.
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Easement

j_c — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:22:31 GMT

I need to discuss an existing easement agreement that Bell has on our property, but I can't find an email address or phone number. Unfortunately, the telephone support team also was not able to find this.

Note: this is not about having a locate done.

Does someone know who I could contact for this?

Thanks!

Re: Easement

dks — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:28:23 GMT

Easements are a legal matter and not in the scope of this user to user forum. Perhaps the Bell moderators will contact you.

Re: Easement

BellPatricia — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:36:37 GMT

Hi @j_c

Welcome to the Bell Community.

We'd like to check into this request for you and I have reached out via private message. Please check your Messages within your profile avatar in the top right corner.

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@BellPatricia

when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

Gracie1094 — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:43:43 GMT

I need to get a written commitment from Bell showing that our cottage property has zero easements in order to purchase the shoreline and construct a driveway over crown land. Which department handles this? I called 310-BELL but it was not of any help.

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

dks — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 02:29:47 GMT

Thank you for your question. This question of easements in a property purchase is normally dealt with by your lawyer as part of the title search. Let your lawyer deal with the issue.

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

WelshTerrier — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 14:14:36 GMT

Good Day.

Legal issues such as this are not available on the Bell Community Forum. If you are looking to purchase the shoreline and construct a driveway over crown property, it is best that you leave this type of search in the hands of a professional. e.g. Lawyer, Surveyor, municipality, etc.

For example, every property in Ontario has a Parcel Register. The Parcel Register contains a Property Description (also known as a brief legal description). If a property has one or more easements registered on title, it usually appears in the Property Description. If you live in Ontario, you can contact your local land registry to obtain this information. Homepage - Ontario Land Registry Access

Do you have a copy of your survey? Any easements on your property should be reflected on this document as well.

Take care.

when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

wittyet — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:06:08 GMT

Today, Bell's technician came and knocked on the door asking if they can run a cable across my backyard for neighbor's fiber installation. I ask the technician to go and check if that's doable, as the backyard has a pool and stone floor around it, there is barely any place they can use to run the cable. The technician later left without doing anything.

We actually just moved in the house last week, now when I pulled out the deed survey, and it clear shows the easement (servitude) is only on the left side of the house, not the backyard. So I am assuming, legally Bell can't run that cable through my backyard anyway?

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

WelshTerrier — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:45:35 GMT

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum

Legal issues such as this are not available on the Bell Community Forum.

Bell would not run a cable on your property without an easement and / or your permission to lay down a cable to restore service.

In most cases, if there is no easement, a good neighbour would provide this permission on a temporary basis to install / restore a neighbour's service.

In all cases, safety issues must be taken into consideration & adhered to when providing a temporary service such as this. E.g. Slips, trips, falls swimming pools, etc.

Take care.

when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

LJ1 — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:29:37 GMT

I just came to my cottage and noticed a black cable coming out of the water onto my property and it is tied to a tree. It had a Bell tag on it so I called Bell and they said its for Fiber Optics. I told them I do not have a Bell account for this property nor did I order this. They said its if I want this in the future and they also said there will be a box on my property as the work is not finished since it's just tied to a tree.

Firstly- can Bell just put this on my property without my consent?

Second - how do I find out where this Bell box is going to be located on my property and if they plan to extend the line further away from the water?

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

dks — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:29:47 GMT

Thank you. All very good questions. A Bell contractor has just brought fibre service to you cottage. Bell usually requests permission to enter property, but in the case of crossing water, the rules may be different. There may be easements (a federal easement so far beyond the high water mark, for example) to allow Bell to bring fibre to your property. You can only find that out through a title search or checking with a lawyer or perhaps checking with your local cottager's association, if you have one.

At some point, Bell will likely contact you by mail or by leaving information at your cottage on how to connect with Bell fibre.

Complete fibre installations may have a small box on the outside of your cottage, perhaps 6" x 6". This is usually installed on the hydro meter stack. The fibre line itself is usually buried, although a cottage on rocks may be different.

Bell will do nothing more until you decide order fibre. You are under no obligation to have Bell's fibre, at all. The choice is absolutely and always yours. If the fibre coil is visually offensive, hide it behind a bush. Just don't remove it or try to cut it.

I hope this is helpful.

Re: when does Bell have an "easement" to install and service underground cable

WelshTerrier — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:30:29 GMT

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

This is a peer-to-peer website. As such, we do not have access to these details. I would suggest that you contact Bell Customer Service during normal business hours and request to speak to a manager. They are better suited in answering your questions and or redirecting you to the proper Bell department.

In the interim a Bell moderator may send you a private message so they can gather some details. Please check your Messages within your profile avatar in the top right corner.

Unsure how to check or send a private message? See How to send a private message

Please call: 1 866 310-BELL (2355) or dial #611 from any Bell mobile device.

Take care.