AT&T sabotage plot thickens
The Fiber Felons? The Cable Crooks? The Manhole Mobsters? Whatever you want to call them, it’s looking more and more like an organized team carried out the fiber optic cable cutting we first discussed yesterday. To recap quickly, after the onset of a severe service outage in Northern California on Thursday, it was discovered that fiber belonging to AT&T had been intentionally severed. The result — landline, internet and cellular outages across the region. Now the plot thickens, as this doesn’t appear to be an isolated incident. Following Thursday’s findings, similar cuts have since been discovered in three additional manholes spanning two cities. That’s no accident. While service has been restored to the area, AT&T means business when it comes to bringing the culprits to justice; the $100,000 reward for information leading to convictions has been upped to $250,000. Many speculate this is the handiwork of some disgruntled ex-employees but so far any theories are just that. With the bounty now at $250k however, it might not be long before the solid leads begin to flow.
[Via Between the Lines]
I have AT&T for data on my netbook, and Sprint as my wireless provider, and in SF neither have been affected, even though both are San Jose numbers (where this took place) –
All I gotta say about the matter with the upped ante is that AT&T has even LESS knowledge then they previously thought..why raise the reward unless they had a general idea?
Oh, and to those who chop fiber wires – If do to this in SF, I personally will need that $250,000 to bail me out of jail for personally maiming you!
good thing i left AT&T and went to Verizon
@richie >>>> i believe that verizon uses that fiber optic cable as well as previously stated on yesterdays article
Yeah, but we respond to outages quicker than any other service.
VZW and Richie… In this case Verizon was using the same cables that were cut.. So your leaving ATT for Verizon, or Verizon having a fast response time is irrelevant since the simple fact remains, Verizon relied on the same thing that ATT does.
the way i see, wouldn’t at&t be better since everyone uses their towers anyway? like sure, you’re paying verizon but ultimately they’re paying at&t for your services…..
It has to be an ex engineer for att, who else would risk cutting a high voltage line? Whoever did this knows what the F their doing.
where there any high dollar robberys in the area >?? that could be a reason why to.
This had nothing to do with “towers” most companies don’t even own towers anymore, 3RD party companies do..
This has to do with backhaul, trunk traffic lines. Think like this.. Sure a freeway runs through LA and its 10 lanes across, but everyone in the area uses it, and Honda, Toyota, Ford etc all use it…should it be damaged, do the cars pay, or the other cities? No, the state pays.. In this case, the state is ATT and the people who use it are all the cars (carriers) and it was not just wireless so ATT Mobility was not free and clear by any regard, no more so then any other company. Clealy many of the readers are unaware of what fiber does and who has a monopoly even in de-regulated states like California
For one, fiber carries no electrical voltage, so “high voltage” doesn’t apply. What’s interesting is who would know where the fiber lines were? I suspect it was a gambut or at least a warning about Communication Workers of America Union negotations that will be held soon.
So, there was no risk of shock, just a risk TO shock. I don’t know if it was thought out well as something dramatic like this means the people could have been charged with more than vandalizm. They may know the “tech” aspects of this, certianly not the legal issues. If the Feds get involved it could be terrorist and even manslaughter charges, (if anyone died because of 911 failure).
What might have started as a few “shots” at a local bar, might end up being a “vacation” in “Club-Fed”….
Fiber Optic Cable is not A “HIGH VOLTAGE” Line. And Anyone Can Cut It Without Being a “Engineer”.
The fiber cuts were specific in not only did they cut the lines, they cut them cleanly, and targetted specific lines.
Informed, strategic (fiber map of the area makes it obvious,) and easily repairable.
They were making a statement. Not vandalism.
Fiber Optic cable doesn’t carry power. So whoever cut it obviously knew what they were doing.
JB I ran a job search to see if there were any Assumptionist positions throughout the US,unfortunatley I came across zero open positions at this time.Please continue to hone your skills until something becomes available in the future.Good Luck
Have they ruled out the union yet? They are always up to no good. Granted there is no one elses money to take here so perhaps it’s not the union. Just a thought.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Dayton United States
@PGarin
Many of these lines run side by side to electrical lines, I was not suggesting fiber optics carry high voltage. Cutting any wire underground has its risks, all I meant was the criminals knew what they were doing. This is not your typical prank.
@The Great W8
All I was saying is they knew what they were doing. I’m sorry I thought this was America, open to speak freely. I didn’t know I needed facts on this site, hell almost everything on here is speculation. I will assume you are an asshole, an I am probably right.
Hmmmm, some one in government is trying to pass a zillion dollar bill to harden USA IT infrastructure. Someone will get that contract if the bill gets passed. If the infrastructure is being attacked, getting the bill passed will be easier. Is this too simple? Anyone got a calculator?
@JB that’s some funny shit.Fiber Optic Cable is in a Bright Orange Tube Called Inter-Duct can’t miss it.And For All u Assholes Who always Try to bash a Union..Any Union.. You seem to think all unions people are bad well u r Wrong.Any CWA Member is not gonna risk that kinda shit…and no I’m not a CWA member.. But I am in a union.
True or False:
Union’s encourage mediocrity?
hmmmm TRUE!
Ding Ding Ding Ding WE HAVE A WINNER!!
What do we have for our lucky guest?
Twice the salary as the next guy for doing half the work!! Hooray!! Support your local workers Mafia, umm I mean Union
^^^ What a asshole
@gmac3: Except he is right for the most part.
I think whomever is responsible for this should be made an example and perhaps the infrastructure should be more protected against this kind of nonsense. The connection are mission critical enough now a days that a failure can indeed be catastrophic for many.
If people really wanted to mess things up they would cut fiber lines that are close to key internet exchange points such as Equinix or Switch & Data facilities in Northen Virginia, New York, and Silicon Valley. These are the places where hundreds of global networks interconnect.
No doubt about it…they will find that the culprits are CWA union goons “making a statement”.
You are so right on! If the execs want that bill bad enough this is as good a time as any to do some harm to the network and make it look like it’s the union’s doing.