Judge: D.C. Metro Does, In Fact, Own Its Facilities

Max Smith reports: "[D.C.] Metro really does control its tunnels and stations, a federal judge ruled Thursday."

The issue was critical to determining whether Metro had the right to charge a fiber optic cable provider for the right to run communications cables through Metro’s tunnels, according to Smith. "FiberLight, LLC stopped paying its bills in 2014, claiming Metro did not truly own the tunnels, or that certified telecoms providers should be allowed to use them for free."

In effect, FiberLight, LLC owes Metro $1 million. "U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle ruled Thursday that failing to pay was a clear violation of the company’s contract," reports Smith.