AT&T has agreed to pay land owners $45,000 per mile plus additional benefits to settle a class action suit involving the company's installation of fiber optic cables on abandoned railroad rights of way.  AT&T also will pay land owners' attorneys fees and all class-action costs.  American Farm Bureau Federation calls it "a prudent course for other telecommunications firms to follow."

The announced settlement came Wednesday and involves abandoned railroad lines in Indiana, but it also is part of a process to settle all claims against AT&T nationally on abandoned railroad lines, attorneys for the land owners said.

AT&T is "leading the industry in correcting its errors concerning the rights of land owners," said Nels Ackerson, Washington attorney who is co-lead counsel for the land owners.  "At the same time AT&T is protecting its core business from a great risk while its competitors are still exposed."

Dean Kleckner, president, AFBF, said rural land owners should continue their legal efforts to "ensure their rights of ownership are respected along abandoned and active rights of way."  He also commended AT&T "for its cooperation in this matter, and we hope that other firms soon will recognize similar actions as a way to correct past wrongs and protect their future business interests."