We've mentioned there's a lot of people annoyed by the large VRADs installed by AT&T for use in Project Lightspeed/Uverse. In fact, the large devices are at the center of a legal battle between AT&T and several cities. While many of our users would probably be happy to see network upgrades in their neighborhoods, the bulky boxes required for AT&T IPTV and VDSL are annoying the aesthetic sensibilities of some development residents, who are concerned with both appearance and property values. Cleveland residents are the latest to complain.

"Upon returning from vacation last year, Ockuly and his wife were dismayed that workers had laid a concrete pad on their small Bayridge Boulevard tree lawn. Soon, the cream-colored cabinet - the size of an armoire or home-entertainment center - appeared. Adding to the clutter is a smaller metal box. And across the street, AT&T installed another outhouse-size cabinet. "The people who want this should have volunteered to have it in their front yards," Ockuly said. "It looks like an outhouse in the front yard. I wanted to put a half-moon on it and decorate it for Halloween."

Of course, technically, it isn't their front yard -- it's a right of way easement, and the town doesn't have much say in the matter. AT&T says they don't have to adhere to video franchise rules because they technically aren't cable, so towns have very little leeway in negotiating the placement of these boxes.