Spectrum fiber network vandalism earlier this month is domestic terrorism, company says
The company said the determination was made based on the nature of the fiber cuts, the extent of damage, and the makeup of impacted customers. In all, more than 50,000 residential customers and more than 500 business customers were affected for up to 30 hours.
"This is a pervasive and persistent threat to American families and businesses across the country that cannot be tolerated, and such life-threatening events should be declared acts of domestic terrorism and prosecuted accordingly," Chris Winfrey, President and CEO, of Charter Communications, said in a news release.
Spectrum customers in Los Angeles and Ventura were affected on June 15 after the lines were cut early that morning in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles.
In all, 13 cables were severed, including more than 2,600 individual fibers. The communication company said the damage affected emergency services, including a military base, emergency dispatch, and 911 communication services for local fire and police departments, financial institutions, court buildings, healthcare facilities and hospitals, educational institutions, as well as cell towers providing mobile services.
At the time of the June 15 incident, Spectrum said telecommunications lines have been a target for vandalism because of the precious metals some companies use. Spectrum fiber optic lines do not contain any copper, according to the company.
"This requires immediate attention from federal and state legislation classifying these attacks as a felony, dedicated engagement from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and swift, aggressive prosecution of those criminals causing the perilous situation that results from these outages," Charter Communications wrote in a news release.
As part of a more widespread problem across the nation, Charter said that between June through December 2024, the industry suffered nearly 6,000 intentional critical communications infrastructure attacks.
Spectrum is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information related to these criminal infrastructure attacks that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information can call Spectrum at (833) 404-8477 or reach out to local law enforcement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
9 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Texas Capitol evacuated after shooting threat citing ‘political situation'
The Texas Capitol was evacuated late Tuesday in response to a shooting threat that forced people — including those protesting a Republican order for police to escort Democratic lawmakers to their homes — to leave the building.
CBS News
39 minutes ago
- CBS News
Bench for the blind community honoring Helen Keller stolen in Stockton
A community celebration has turned into a call for justice after a special bench dedicated to the disabled community was stolen from behind the Maya Angelou Library in south Stockton, just weeks after its installation. The ivy-green bench, honoring famed disability rights advocate Helen Keller, was unveiled in late June during a ceremony attended by local dignitaries, community leaders, and members of the San Joaquin Lions Club. Now, the bench is gone without a trace. "I couldn't believe it," said Jennifer Gass, a leader of the San Joaquin Lions Club and an advocate for the blind community. "Who would do this to our disabled people, to our library? It's really discouraging." Gass, who has been blind for years, helped spearhead the project through the Lions Club's "Bags for Benches" initiative, a program that recycles thousands of pounds of plastic to create environmentally friendly benches. The bench carried a plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of Helen Keller's 1925 challenge to the Lions Club International to become "knights of the blind." It symbolized not only a piece of history but a place of reflection and inclusion for the community. "We had dignitaries from the city, the county, Lions International. Everybody enjoyed it and took pictures with the bench, and now it's not there," Gass said. What's particularly puzzling is the nature of the theft. The original bench weighed nearly 40 pounds and was placed in a gated area behind the library, a space accessible only with a key. No suspects have been identified, and Stockton police say there is no surveillance footage capturing the theft. It's also unclear when exactly the bench was taken. While a replacement bench has since been installed, the theft still stings for Gass and others in the disabled community. "Traditionally, we're underrepresented in the arts. We just want to be included and have a presence, and it's been taken from us again," Gass said. The city of Stockton has acknowledged the theft, and a police report has been filed. Authorities and the Lions Club are asking for the public's help. If anyone has information about the missing bench or plaque, they are urged to contact the San Joaquin Lions Club.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Man helped divers locate missing mother and infant in San Joaquin County canal
A man who followed the case of a missing mother and her 8-month-old daughter helped volunteer divers locate their bodies in a submerged SUV in a San Joaquin County canal Sunday, bringing an emotional end to a month-long search. Whisper Owen and her daughter, Sandra McCarty, were last seen on July 15 after leaving a doctor's appointment in Fresno. Authorities later pinged Owen's phone near a rural canal, but initial searches failed to locate the vehicle. Chris Waller, a Waterford resident, said he began reaching out to Adventures With Purpose: a volunteer dive team known for recovering vehicles in missing persons cases, offering local knowledge and support. Waller gathered surveillance footage from area businesses that showed Owen's damaged SUV passing through Waterford and Oakdale the night she disappeared. "They had verified that they had a one-headlight vehicle coming by eight minutes after getting out of Waterford, and then I had another one about nine minutes after that in Oakdale," Waller told CBS 13. Working with Owen's brother, Waller also reviewed her Google activity and noted she appeared to be searching for directions home. He later purchased a $138 sonar ball to help scan waterways in the area. On Sunday, Waller joined Adventures With Purpose and diver Juan Heredia of Angels Recovery at Victory Avenue and Highway 120. Within 30 minutes of putting boats in the water, divers located Owen's 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer pinned under a bridge. "I was like, if she's here, she's under that bridge, and lo and lo and behold, that's exactly where she was," Waller said. In a statement, Adventures With Purpose credited Waller for his role: "With Chris's assistance, we were able to narrow down the search to a one-mile radius… We are grateful for his efforts and support and really give him great credit in helping us locate and bring these two home." Waller's wife organized a vigil for the mother and daughter.
