---
title: The True Cost Of Telco Damages
description: "The True Cost of Telco Damages: Evaluating Financial and Non-Financial Impacts on Service, Safety, and Reputation."
---

[Global 811 Magazine ](https://actsnowinc.com/global-811-magazine)

# [The True Cost Of Telco Damages](https://actsnowinc.com/global-811-magazine/the-true-cost-of-telco-damages-2)

 Written by [Staff Report](https://actsnowinc.com/global-811-magazine/author/staff-report) | Nov 28, 2018 1:59:05 PM

[Download the FREE True Cost of Telco Damages worksheet HERE](https://actsnowinc.com/true-cost-of-telco-damages-download)

The cost of cut or damaged communications cable can easily be underestimated when only repair costs are tracked and documented.

Improve your understanding of the real costs of a damage with this checklist based on insight from experienced professionals who have spent years working for communications companies.

**What percent of hard and soft costs does your company collect? How do damages affect your brand?**

**Trackable Costs_______________**

*May or May Not Be Collected****  
***○ External Collection Costs/Agency Commissions  
○ Barricades / Traffic Control  
○ Permits (city/county/state/provincial) to install replacement cables  
○ Legal fees and litigation costs  
○ Exposing the damage for repair  
○ Materials used in repair  
○ Restoration of the area  
○ Actual cost of internal labor  
○ Heavy Equipment used  
○ Generator/Power Equipment  
○ Food, lodging, travel expense  
○ Emergency mobilization (Contractor/Locator)

*Time****  
***○ Damage site investigator  
○ Collection efforts  
○ Out of service complaints  
○ Insurance resolution discussions  
○ Overtime for unexpected increases in workloads  
○ Employee time/travel for deposition and trial

*Overlooked / Difficult to Track****  
***○ Lost Customers  
○ Customer loss of use (refunds/credits)  
○ Resolution of customer complaints  
○ Engineering / reengineering due to the cut  
○ Establishing outage bridge to coordinate service interruption  
○ Support staff (3-20) for outage bridge  
○ Work load delays  
○ Future failure points (Damage may weaken system and lead to future failure unattributed to 3rd party.)  
○ Damage data capture and submission (software and /or manual)  
○ Emergency One Call ticket notifications  
○ Facility owner records updates  
○ Reporting requirements (FAA, 911, PHMSA)

*Soft Costs****  
***○ Loss of brand confidence  
○ Negative public feedback  
○ Difficulty maintaining customer relationships, especial large businesses, with inconsistent services

*Societal Costs****  
***○ Loss of 911/emergency services  
○ Businesses closing  
○ Employee down time  
○ Road closures/traffic delays

**Watch for an article on this topic in the spring edition of the Damage Prevention Professional.**

[View full post](https://actsnowinc.com/global-811-magazine/the-true-cost-of-telco-damages-2)

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