Underground Telecom Laborer

Job Description: Underground Pedestal Replacement Technician - Telecommunications

The Underground Pedestal Replacement Technician is responsible for removing, replacing, repairing, and securing telecommunications pedestals that house fiber optic, coaxial, and copper service connections in residential, commercial, and right-of-way environments. This role supports the integrity and accessibility of underground telecom infrastructure by ensuring pedestals are properly installed, safely restored, and compliant with company, customer, and utility standards.

This position performs field work involving excavation, pedestal change-outs, cable protection, splice access support, site restoration, and basic troubleshooting of damaged or exposed facilities. The technician works around active underground utilities and must follow all safety, locates, and damage-prevention requirements while maintaining service quality and minimizing disruption to customers and surrounding property.

Key Responsibilities

• Remove and replace damaged, missing, leaning, or non-compliant telecommunications pedestals.
• Excavate around existing pedestal locations using hand tools and approved methods to avoid damage to underground utilities and telecom facilities.
• Expose, protect, and organize fiber, coax, and copper cables during pedestal replacement work.
• Install new pedestals, bases, and related hardware according to company specifications and local requirements.
• Secure slack storage and cable routing inside the pedestal to maintain accessibility, protection, and neat workmanship.
• Perform minor ground-level repairs to pedestal hardware, mounting components, covers, and enclosures as needed.
• Assist with identification and handling of damaged conduit, duct, bonding, grounding, and service drop issues encountered during replacement work.
• Verify utility locates, maintain required clearances, and follow all excavation and one-call/dig laws before breaking ground.
• Maintain safe work zones in easements, sidewalks, yards, road shoulders, and other public or private access areas.
• Restore the work area after installation, including backfilling, tamping, leveling, and basic site cleanup.
• Document completed work, material usage, site conditions, and any damaged or unsafe plant conditions discovered in the field.
• Communicate with supervisors, locators, homeowners, crews, and other field personnel regarding access issues, service concerns, and project status.
• Follow all OSHA, company safety rules, utility protection requirements, and customer property protection standards.
• Report service-affecting conditions, unsafe facilities, or unforeseen underground conflicts to management immediately.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous experience in telecommunications, underground utility work, construction, or pedestal/enclosure replacement preferred.
• Familiarity with fiber optic, coaxial, and copper underground telecom infrastructure preferred.
• Basic knowledge of utility locating practices, underground safety, and damage-prevention procedures.
• Ability to use hand tools, shovels, tampers, and other basic construction equipment safely and effectively.
• Ability to read work orders, simple prints, maps, or location sketches.
• Valid driver's license required in most roles.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather and ground conditions.

Skills

• Underground utility awareness
• Safe excavation practices
• Pedestal installation and replacement
• Cable handling and protection
• Attention to detail
• Work-zone safety
• Communication and teamwork
• Property restoration awareness

Work Environment

This role is performed primarily outdoors and may involve working in residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, easements, roadside areas, and undeveloped terrain. The work is physically demanding and may require bending, kneeling, digging, lifting, and working in heat, cold, mud, or rain. Overtime and travel between job sites may be required based on workload and service priorities.

Pay: $25.59 - $30.81 per hour

Benefits:

• On-the-job training

Work Location: In person