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wiredInUSA - May 2016
MAKING
THENEWS
Police, fire and residents cut off
after network damage
Thousands of Verizoncustomers, including
a local police and fire department in New
Jersey, were cut off from critical services
after criminals damaged network
facilities.
At least 24 suspected incidents of
sabotage were reported, in five states, in
the space of a week in mid-April.
“We will find out who’s behind these
highly dangerous criminal acts and
we will pursue criminal charges,” said
Michael Mason, Verizon’s chief security
officer.
Reported incidents include sliced fiber
optic cabling at a network facility box in
New Jersey; sabotage in Massachusetts
in which phone services were cut off
for customers for 16 hours; and cut fiber
optic and copper cables in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and New York that disabled
voice communications and Internet
connectivity.
“These perpetrators are putting lives at
risk and these dangerous acts need to
stop,” said Mr Mason, a former FBI official.
“It’s a violation of federal law to damage
critical communications facilities. We
have dispatched additional Verizon
security teams in all states where this
illegal activity is taking place. We’re also
working with law enforcement to ensure
our networks and facilities are secure.”
Verizon is offering a reward of up to
$10,000 for information leading to the
arrest and prosecution of individuals who
intentionally damage Verizon cables or
facilities.
The company is also experiencing a strike
by around 36,000 employees, primarily in
its wireline business.
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