This was originally on the ARRL NTS officials email list.   
   * Forwarded (from: netmail) by Richard Webb using timEd 1.10.y2k+.   
   * Originally from James Michener (1:3634/1000) to richard webb (1:116/901).   
   * Original dated: Sun Jan 22, 12:09   
      
   This story is very close to home.  Last night at about 4PM, my internet went   
   out.   I tried to call customer no-service and found that I was unable to dial   
   anyone outside of my exchange.  I tried to use the cell phone and Nada.   I   
   got on 2 meters and found that a fiber was broken,  the guy at Cal Fire was   
   monitoring the local repeaters.   Today I find the rest of the story.   
      
   A telephone pole failed and fell over.  The police report that there was no   
   known cause for the failure,  there was no wind, no accident,  just a rotten   
   telephone pole.   Lines were across Hwy 49, the major route into and out of   
   Nevada County.  Traffic was blocked so the police cut the cable.   It appears   
   that everyone contracts with AT&T for service and by cutting this line caused   
   all communications to Nevada and Sierra County to the outside world to fail.    
   911 Service gone... cell phones gone... the ability to dial outside of the   
   area, gone.  Oops...   
      
   Amateur radio response... none.  Cal Fire radio established a link between   
   Nevada Co ERC and Sacramento and was able to handle the calls... however there   
   were few calls.... perhaps because cell phones didn't work.... and the public   
   had no idea what to do.   People dialing 911 with a serious problem wound up   
   calling the Police... a local call that still worked (via land line)  and they   
   passed the traffic to Cal Fire.... and fortunately it was a quiet night.   
      
   So.  For those who think that our communications in a redundant web,  think   
   again.  One rotten phone pole falling down caused two counties to be   
   disconnected for twelve hours.  The failed pole is 2 miles west of me.   
      
   Jim Michener K9JM   
      
      
      
      
      
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    * Origin:  (1:116/901)