Judge: D.C. Metro Does, In Fact, Own Its Facilities

An internet company can't just stop paying for the use of underground transit facilities when it decides the subway company doesn't have the right to charge for the access.

1 minute read

November 12, 2018, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Mark Fischer / Flickr

Max Smith reports: "[D.C.] Metro really does control its tunnels and stations, a federal judge ruled Thursday."

The issue was critical to determining whether Metro had the right to charge a fiber optic cable provider for the right to run communications cables through Metro’s tunnels, according to Smith. "FiberLight, LLC stopped paying its bills in 2014, claiming Metro did not truly own the tunnels, or that certified telecoms providers should be allowed to use them for free."

In effect, FiberLight, LLC owes Metro $1 million. "U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle ruled Thursday that failing to pay was a clear violation of the company’s contract," reports Smith.

FULL STORY: Metro wins ruling on whether it owns its stations, tunnels

Saturday, November 10, 2018 in WTOP

Infrastructure Technology District of Columbia Washington D.C. Internet Infrastructure Utilities Court Cases FiberLight LLC Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority View More

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