Union Pacific Railroad signed its first contracts 20 years ago with four major telecommunication companies to permit installation of fiber optic cable in its right-of-way.

Today, more than 33,000 miles of this high-capacity cable carries voice and data transmissions along Union Pacific track.

The official signing date -- Jun28, 1984 -- is being celebrated in Omaha where the railroad is hosting special activities for its telecommunication customers.

"Union Pacific's one-point-of-contact right-of-way has proven to be ideal for this endeavor, said Jim Farrell, UP director fiber optics and asset utilization.

The conceptual work that the original UP fiber optic group did has enabled the current Safety, Asset Utilization and Fiber Optic Technology group to develop into self-directed professionals dedicated to providing the safest environment for both fiber optic and wireless facilities on UPRR right-of-way. - John Bromley, Union Pacific Railroad News Release