I think we clipped a communications cable of some sort....

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Thanks for the replies. In regards to me not calling the locators... I made a mistake and won't again no matter the outcome of this. I have called for locations on several jobs in the past. I slipped up bad here. I just really didn't expect to find anything where we were at.

Not to deflect fault... I am at fault, no question, the law is the law... but I hear a couple of you folks telling me that shallow communication lines and Catv lines are commonplace. Why shouldn't an important cable like this be required to be deeper than the 12" rootball of a small bush?

Thanks again.
 
Helps to have your own locator for those private lines but it doesn't get you off the hook for not calling.

Had to dig over the top of a major fiberoptic once. They told us location within twenty feet and about how deep. No specifics. Hand dig only on clay. Major PIA but it kept an apprentice busy for most of the day.
 
You can tell what type of cable it is by digging around the cable and seeing what is written on the jacket.....than after determining the cable type call the appropriate company... phone companies either use dual fiber optics or multiple pair cables...cable companies also use fiber but are still using coaxial cabel..how old of a building are you at fiber is relatively new so only in last couple of years have cable companies been into it...than call the appropriate company and ask for the service department and than explain what happened. If there is no revenue lose they normally fix for free...They are more than happy you called instead of just burring and leaving..It costs way more to make service call in inclement weather on a unknown than fixing it properly on a call in...oh they will chastise you.....
 
They told us location within twenty feet and about how deep. No specifics. Hand dig only on clay.
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The Illinois one call law specifies that you only have to hand dig within 18" + half the width of the located object. If you are more than that away from the marks you can use machinery to dig and if you hit the located item you are in the clear. The following is from the Illinois rules.
The tolerance zone is the approximate location of underground utility facilities defined as a strip of land at least 3 feet wide, but not wider than the width of the underground facility plus 1 1/2 feet on either side of such facility based upon the markings made by the owner or operator of the facility.
Excavation within the tolerance zone requires hand-digging using extra care and precaution.
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