Landscaping Accident Cuts Fiber Optic Cable, Knocks Out Phone and Internet in Door County
November 13, 2024 — Residents and businesses in Door County experienced phone and internet outages Tuesday after a landscaping mishap severed a main fiber optic cable, disrupting services for multiple providers. The incident occurred around 1 p.m., affecting customers of Spectrum, U.S. Cellular, and Frontier Communications.
According to Mike Hogan, senior director of communications for Charter Communications (which owns Spectrum), landscaping equipment accidentally damaged the fiber cable while working in a secured area. The outage left Spectrum customers without service until repairs were completed around 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Katie Frey, senior manager of media and public relations for U.S. Cellular, confirmed that brush-clearing equipment was responsible for the fiber damage, which also caused interruptions for U.S. Cellular’s network. Services were restored for their customers later that evening.
Frontier Communications also experienced service disruptions due to the damaged cable, though as of Wednesday morning, the company had not provided an update on the status of their repairs.
The outage serves as a reminder of the critical role fiber infrastructure plays in supporting communications for rural communities and the need for care when working around these vital lines. For residents in Door County, the event underscores the interconnectedness of services and the potential widespread impact of a single incident.
