The right of use is indefeasible, so the capacity purchased is also nonreturnable, and maintenance costs incurred become payable and irrefusable.
[1] It refers to the bandwidth purchased after, for example, a submarine cable system has been sealed at the end of construction, and to the maintenance agreement (C&MA) among the owners.
That means their cost is not part of a company's operating results, but instead is included in the tangible assets on a firm's balance sheet.
According to The Wall Street Journal, dark fiber was pioneered decades ago by AT&T, when it still enjoyed monopoly power.
IRUs allowed AT&T's competitors to gain access to the expensive undersea cables that only AT&T could afford to build.
For regulatory reasons, generally only licensed carriers are allowed access to support structures, and to municipal rights of way.