MONTE VISTA— For most of Thursday, Sept. 7 and up to noon on Friday, Sept. 8 many citizens were unable to access their phone and internet services. ATMs did not work; business phones and emails were unusable and stores were only able to accept cash payments.
The situation was caused by a construction crew which cut a CenturyLink fiber optic line on Thursday. Karen Parry, a representative for CenturyLink said in an email to the that services were also affected in Fountain, Woodland Park and a small section of Pueblo. She said on Friday that technicians were working to restore services as quickly as possible. “CenturyLink is committed to providing reliable services and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers,” said Parry.
Verizon Wireless customers also experienced a network outage. This is because Verizon partners with CenturyLink to provide some of its wireless services. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers and worked with CenturyLink to restore service as quickly as possible. Wireless is only wireless from the cell site to the device. We still need fiber to carry those calls, texts and data. Verizon wasn’t the only other service provider impacted,” said Meagan Dorsch, Verizon Wireless spokesperson in an email to the Monte Vista Journal.
According to other reports Charter and Amigo.Net were also affected.
A report from Chaffee County reports that Verizon’s 911 service did not work during the service outage. The local sheriff in Chaffee County called the 911 emergency situation unacceptable.