AT&T offers reward for broadband vandals
April 10, 2009
Criminal mischief-makers cut fiber-optic cables in locations in Silicon Valley yesterday, causing a loss of phone and high speed internet service over networks operated by AT&T and Sprint Nextel.
AT&T today announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for what the company called "incidents of vandalism" to the AT&T network near San Jose and San Carlos, California.
"Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, AT&T's networks were declared National Critical Infrastructures in recognition of their importance to the nation's security," the company said in a press release.
"Anyone who tampers with, destroys or disrupts the company's network or its components is in violation of federal and state laws and AT&T will assist with any prosecution to the fullest extent of the law," the statement reads.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that police confirmed vandals had caused the phone and internet outage that left thousands of customers in San Jose area without phone or broadband service.
Police said AT&T fiber-optic cables were severed shortly before 1:30 a.m. PDT, the newspaper reported.
A cable in San Carlos owned by Sprint Nextel was also cut about two hours later, a Sprint spokeswoman confirmed, according to CNET.
AT&T said service restoration efforts were under way immediately yesterday.
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