Duncan Town Loses Internet Following Overhead Fiber-Optic Cable Cut

In the early hours of August 21, residents of Duncan, a rapidly growing town located between Greenville and Spartanburg, witnessed a sudden interruption of their internet connections, which remained unsolved until later in the day. Following an investigation, it was discovered that an overhead fiber-optic cable near Bethlehem Baptist Church in Moore had been deliberately severed.

Investigation of the Incident

The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident, but has yet to identify a suspect or establish a motive. Surveillance footage from the scene shows an unidentified individual running towards utility poles at around 5:17 a.m. with what appears to be a tool in his hand. Shortly thereafter, at around 5:19 a.m., a four-door car was spotted leaving the scene.

Extent of the Damage and Restoration Efforts

Scarcely minutes after the incident, at 5:22 a.m., Charter Communications, the owner of Spectrum, was alerted of an internet disconnection in the area. The company’s crews swiftly responded, replacing 1000 feet of cable and restoring the connection at an estimated cost of around $20,000. According to a Charter spokesperson, Patti Braskie Michel, repair work involved a technical process of connecting individual fibers within the cable to allow the transmission of information across long distances, requiring the repair of 288 or more fibers. The process took approximately six hours to complete, during which multiple crews were mobilized due to the intricate and time-consuming nature of the task.

Similar Incidents

This wasn’t an isolated incident. On August 19, a similar notification of communication loss was received by Spectrum from an area north of Inman near Compton Bridge Road and Brown Drive. An almost 1,500 feet of fiber-optic cable had been stolen in this earlier incident, for which Spectrum again had to replace the line at an estimated cost of $10,000.

A Mystery Instigator

The fiber-optic cables, largely composed of plastic and glass, contain little to no metal, resulting in insignificant resale value. Hence, it’s perplexing that someone would target them for thefts or cut-offs. Moreover, it is not clear why someone would damage the cables intentionally, considering that the ends don’t justify the means,” as stated by Lt. Kevin Bobo, sheriff’s office spokesman.

These episodes of cable cutting occurred shortly after Charter Communications had laid off nearly 300 employees in Greer. As the company and the local law enforcement continue to probe these incidents, the community hopes for a resolution soon to avoid future connectivity disruptions.