Long-Distance Lines Accidentally Severed

Tue., April 18, 2000

From Staff

Residents in Eastern Oregon could not make or receive any long-distance calls for about four hours Monday after a construction worker accidentally cut a bundle of fiberoptic cables.

The worker was on a road construction crew digging at a project in Clackamas County southeast of Portland when 22 U S West cables and 12 GTE fibers were severed about 2 p.m., said U S West spokesman Jim Haynes.

That cut off long-distance service to and from the towns of Baker, Bend, Warm Springs, Madras, Culver, Prineville, Sisters, Black Butte, Spring River, La Pine, Hermiston, Pendleton, Redmond, Umatilla and Stanfield.

Residents in those towns still had local service and could make 911 calls, Haynes said.

The cut cables also disconnected local service for some Portland residents.

Haynes said U S West and GTE technicians were able to splice around the cut cables and had service restored at about 6 p.m.

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