This episode required someone to enter multiple locations to bring the fiber network down. Many more communities than one would imagine are true "single strand/single path" communities. Then all it takes is an errant backhoe operator in one spot and the results are the same. Believe me, I used to be the guy that fixed the problem.

On the plus side, more and more CATV companies are carrying voice and data on their networks. Often, the paths are close, but not in the same location. This "could" allow the local emergency officials to reroute to the undamaged provider, assuming they have agreements and protocols in place already. But we know what happens when we assume right?