WICHITA (AP) – A proposed settlement of claims by thousands of Kansas landowners against three of the nation’s largest telecommunications companies is expected to go before a
federal judge for approval.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Gale scheduled a hearing Thursday on a deal to end the property rights dispute over installation of fiber-optic cable on railroad rights of way. The agreement comes in a lawsuit filed against Sprint Communications Co., Qwest Communication Co. and Level 3 Communications.

The proposal would resolve claims affecting about 459 miles of rights of way throughout Kansas.

The settlement is expected to be worth more than $4.2 million. Class members would get $2.98 million while attorneys would get $1 million.

At issue was whether railroads have the right to allow telecommunications companies to lay the cable.