Another of AT&T’s big metal cable boxes placed on people’s lawns has exploded. The system’s lithium-metal-polymer batteries are the culprit, prompting AT&T to replace 17,000 of them. Four of the U-Verse cabinets have exploded since the program began.

Cleaveland.com reports:

The batteries came from Avestor, a Canadian company that went bankrupt in October 2006. AT&T stopped installing the batteries in early 2007, after the first incident, Coe said. AT&T also hired a consultant to investigate their safety, but was told the batteries posed no greater risk than alternative batteries from other suppliers.

Oops, looks like they got that one wrong.

Here’s what they look like before they explode:

Your World Delivered . . . On Fire [Save Access]
AT&T Begins Massive Battery Replacement [Light Reading] (Thanks to Danger Mouse & David!)

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