The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) released it has fined AT&T $60,000 for failing to mark the locations of its underground lines on time, as required by the Kansas Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act. Between April 30 and May 30, 2024, AT&T reportedly failed to meet the two-day deadline for marking buried facilities on 60 separate occasions. State law mandates that excavators must notify utilities at least two days before digging, and utilities must respond within that time. AT&T admitted it had not marked lines before work began, citing capacity issues and delays on other projects. These failures disrupted excavation schedules and violated state rules.

The KCC expressed serious concern over the high number of violations and suggested the problem could be ongoing. Commissioners noted the potential safety hazards and risk of service disruptions. Chair Andrew French urged staff to consider stronger enforcement in the future, including launching a broader investigation into AT&T’s compliance practices. The Commission may seek a more proactive solution to prevent future delays and ensure safety standards are met.