I didn't even think about this possibility(!) -- but yes, it would make tremendous sense for fiber optic companies to route fiber optic cables along railroad tracks (both currently used and converted to other use, i.e., hiking/walking/biking paths) as the land rights are already established -- that is, there is no need to buy out homeowners/landowners en route; no need to engage in "eminent domain" lawsuits with property owners, etc., etc. -- and because the cables typically would go underground, that is, they wouldn't interfere with the natural scenery; the Nature above...
I'm sure many companies are already engaged in this pursuit -- but I like the idea of getting not just one, but multiple social value-adds from given pre-purposed tracts of land...
Thanks for the memory jog. There is fiber optic running along the line from Marysville to Beatrice so that may have been a consideration for railbanking the line.
https://soogreen.com/
https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights...