Recover Lost Documents

It appears that it took a hacksaw and a few other tools for someone to sever eight fiber-optic cables in Silicon Valley, California recently, which knocked out cell phone, landline and Internet services.

Peter Svensson and Jason Dearen stated in their report for the Associated Press (on Yahoo! Tech News) that cables were cut in San Jose and nearby San Carlos, which wiped out telecom service to thousands of homes and businesses. Some people were able to conduct local calls, but service for 911 was out.

FBI spokesman Brian Hale said the incident had no connection to terrorism, but did not elaborate on how that determination had been made.

In San Carlos, where four fiber-optic cables were severed, Police Cmdr. Rich Cinfio stated that this action could be performed using tools one can get at any local hardware store.

AT&T Inc., which owns six of the severed cables, posted a $250,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Sprint Nextel Corp. said one of its cables, which provided Internet access for large business customers, was cut as well. Sprint was able to reroute traffic over other lines within a few hours of the cut, said Crystal Davis, a spokeswoman for the company.

Phone and Internet service from Verizon Communications Inc. was also disrupted for about 50,000 homes, since the company utilizes AT&T’s “long-haul” communication lines in the area.

AT&T is in contract negotiations with employees in its landline business, which maintains the fiber-optic cables, and is seeking significant concessions on health care costs, among other things. The union denied any involvement with the incident and said it would cooperate with investigators.