Thousands Without Long Distance, 911 U S West Fiber Optic Line Severed

PORTLAND, Updated 1:34 p.m. PDT June 30, 2000 -- Thousands of residents cannot call 911 or make long-distance telephone calls because of a cut line near Ridgefield, Wash.

U S West Expects Repairs Friday KOIN 6 News reports that a U S West fiber optic line was severed around 9 a.m. Friday, cutting some service to parts ofColumbia, Wahiakum, Clatsop, Cowlitz, Clark and Pacific counties.

According to U S West, repair crews are working to splice the line together, KOIN says.

Some 911 calls are being routed to local law enforcement agencies.

Natural gas utility crews were working near Ridgefield when they sliced through a 36-strand fiber optic line. They also severed a sewage line.

U S West hopes to have service restored by Friday afternoon.

http://www.koin.com/news/stories/news-20000630-184504.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), July 01, 2000