In a Reuters UK article detailing AT&T’s U-Verse plans was this bit:

Analysts have said installation technicians are in short supply, with Verizon also hiring as it builds out its network.

Carey expects average installation times to shorten as technicians become more experienced. While the average was now around 7 to 8 hours, seasoned technicians can finish in around 4 to 5 hours, he said.

AT&T said this month the pace of U-Verse deployment was picking up, with average installations of about 600 per day, compared to the figure of about 500 homes per day it gave at the end of last month.