Court Halts U-Verse In San Francisco

A judge has blocked AT&T from installing up to 726 U-verse utility boxes in public rights of way in San Francisco pending the outcome of a citizens' lawsuit that demands the city do a comprehensive study of the environmental impacts.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn ordered a stay of the city's approval of AT&T's plan, concluding that there is a "fair argument" that the cumulative effect of the AT&T utility boxes would be significant and adverse under the California Environmental Quality Act. The boxes would be four feet across, just over four feet tall and about two feet deep, and sit on concrete pedestals flanked by metal bollards. The lawsuit was filed in August by a coalition of community groups including San Francisco Beautiful, San Francisco Tomorrow, Dogpatch Neighborhood Association, Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association and the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association. Judge Kahn issued his order Nov. 10. The suit challenges the Board of Supervisors' 6-5 vote in July upholding a city staff determination that AT&T could be exempted from having to do an environmental impact report.