Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for providing an electric field-free region for fiber optic cables in near proximity to high voltage power lines by means of a conducting electrical shield at the same voltage as the power line. An electric field-free region is still provided even if the electrical shield is omitted, by having the wires of the power line completely surround the fiber optic cable. An electric field-free region is also provided by embedding the optical fiber inside each wire of the power line. The electric field free region for a fiber optic cable prevents electrical treeing and other undesirable effects that would make the cable inoperable.