Patent ID: 7149546

Claim:
A subterranean equipment bay for housing telecommunication equipment components comprising: a vault having a base, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall, where each of the sidewalls extend upwardly from the base which is to be positioned underground in a generally horizontal position so that the base and each of the sidewalls extending upwardly from the base contact subterranean earth; a top cover positioned in a generally horizontal position that is above and generally coplanar with the base of the vault and providing an access into the vault; an intake air port positioned in one of the sidewalls or the top cover of the vault and an air exhaust port positioned in one of the sidewalls or top cover of the vault; an air intake fan associated with the intake air port; and a water collection area for collecting any water that infiltrates the vault, and wherein a top sidewall channel is positioned on the top of each of the sidewalls to channel water.