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Boston Edison (BE) and RCN (RCNC) intentionally built a commercial telecom network in Boston, using electric utility regulations that do not have the same requirements and burdens as telecom rules, and the city was in on the "stealth" network after it approved retroactive permits for the initiative, Cablevision (CVC) of Boston charged in a fed'l lawsuit. That retroactive approval allowed Boston Edison/RCN to finish some of the buildout of a telecom network without building a required additional conduit for others that might request access, as well as a conduit for use by the City. In other words, these guys tried to pull a fast one. Boston Edison dug a hole using electric utility rules, laid pipe, covered the hole up, and asked for it to be considered a telecom network. "By skirting the rules and failing to let competitors know of its covert activity, Edison and RCN avoided the delays and costs that apply to other telecom providers" in violation of the Telecom Act's Section 253, which requires "competitively-neutral and non-discriminatory" rights- of-way policies by local authorities. "The City did not require Edison to construct any City shadow conduit, did not require Edison to publicly provide maps or plans, and did not give any competitor the opportunity to participate or have access in any way to the locations of the conduit and cable that (Edison and RCN) had unlawfully converted to commercial telecom use," the suit reads. Boston Edison and RCN were busy crafting their collective the "monopoly doesn't want competition" response, an impression Cablevision says that it is comfortable confronting when considering how extensive the advantage would be if the Edison/RCN fast one succeeds.