The Explosive Side of AT&T's U-verse

After four of their utility cabinets caught fire or exploded—two incidents in suburban Houston, and the most recent explosion on Christmas Day in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin—AT&T has finally moved to replace the defective batteries, made by now-bankrupt Avestor. Telecom industry blog Light Reading reports that AT&T stopped deploying Avestor batteries during the first quarter of 2007, but 17,000 cabinets still contain the faulty equipment. The cabinets are used for AT&T's new U-verse service.

U-verse has been rolling out in Austin since November of last year. We're one of the first cities to get the service, so it stands to reason that an Avestor battery or two still lurks in our midst—something to keep in mind for those with the cabinets near their homes. And, of course, local street artists who strive to make our uglier surroundings more festive might want to choose a different canvas for the time being.