A year ago, Prince William County residents hailed Verizon’s arrival as a cable TV provider, hoping competition would bring lower prices in a region that Comcast only served. A leading proponent for the service is now crying foul as the company digs trenches across homeowners’ lawns to string its high-speed fiber-optic cables.

“The holes are so deep you could bury someone,” said Maureen Caddigan, the Dumfries District Prince William County supervisor who helped negotiate Verizon’s contract with the county last year. She said her phone rings as her constituents come home because “their property is a complete mess.”

That the extent utility easements spread into homeowners’ property is a surprise to many, county spokeswoman Liz Bahrns said. Because Verizon must avoid the many wires, cables and gas lines already underground, its contractors must manually dig larger holes than are required in areas with fewer existing utilities, Liz Bahrns said. The new service is intended to bring bundled services and competition to areas that one provider has long served, Caddigan said, but she thinks demand will fall as the construction continues.

But the nearby town of Dumfries is an example of how early-yard disruptions turned into satisfied customers a year later, Mayor Fred Yohey said.

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Verizon has fielded far more calls for the new services than it has complaints, Verizon spokeswoman Sandra Arnette said.

“We normally restore people’s properties fully, we just ask them to be patient with us as the work is going on,” Arnette said. “People can barely wait for our service, but in order for us to bring them the services, this is what needs to be done.”

Customers with concerns can call the company’s hot line at 1-888-250-9710.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com