AT&T Custom Work Order

I recently received a quote from AT&T for a custom work order that is needed for construction that both my neighbor and I doing with the same contractor. The AT&T work involves re-routing the drops to our homes as well as part of the line underground. I was absolutely outraged at the price AT&T has quoted for this work (north of $2K). What's even more frustrating is that the local utility company (monopoly) and the local cable company are both willing to relocate their lines with no cost. I am a long-time AT&T (Uverse and Wireless) customer, but my neighbor has no AT&T service. So while I am frustrated that a long-time customer would be treated this way, my neighbor is equally upset because they receive no tangible benefit from spending this money with AT&T. 

A call to the engineer who wrote the quote for the custom work order resulted in a response that was as simple as "we type in the work and it generates a price that we are required to charge", with no opportunity to speak to someone further.

I cannot believe there isn't an opportunity to mitigate these charges. I will be switching TV/Internet and Wireless providers if this is how AT&T will treat its customers.