Qwest utility work: Easement rights

I am sure that you have seen or experienced the work being done for Qwest by a subcontractor in the neighborhood. They caused some damage on Quincy between Ridgecrest and Ross Place. The nighbors are trying to organize and band together.

My experience with them has not been good; they gave no information out, showed up and expected to dig underground lines and place "pedestals". There is a utility easement but my understanding was that it was for access and doesn't confer the right to dig. I understand they threatened to call the police on some neighbors. I allowed them to look at my yard but didn't permit them to dig. They flooded a neighbor's yard with tunnelling equipment & the pedestal install and did a bit of damage.

The city code defines this:

EASEMENT. A liberty, privilege, right, or advantage which one has over the land of another.

Not too enlightening. Anybody have any info? And watch out your street may be next.

thanks, lcaldero