PITTSBURGH — Some landowners in 29 Ohio counties, including Butler, Hamilton and Warren, could share in a settlement with a subsidiary of Norfolk Southern Corp. that allows the company to install fiber-optic cable in 15 states.

        Some landowners whose property is divided by the rail lines could receive more than $31,000 for every mile of cable laid through their property.

        Thoroughbred Technology and Telecommunications Inc., the subsidiary, settled the class-action lawsuit this week. Nationwide, it could include about 60,000 property owners along 2,500 miles of active railroad track.

        The suit argued that property owners should be compensated when the company lays fiber-optic lines.

        Before the settlement, the railroad argued that it could use property rights-of-way it uses for railroad traffic to “ship” digital information on the cables, without further payment to landowners.

        “We think the law is clear. The landowner has the legal right for compensation for the use of a corridor of land,” Kathleen C. Kauffman, the plaintiffs' attorney, said.

        Property owners affected by line installment have until July 13 to join the settlement, and until July 28 to opt out. The agreement will be completed Aug. 21.

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