Local News in Brief : Phone Line Knocked Out
Construction crews Friday severed an underground Pacific Bell fiber optics line linking telephone and computer communications between downtown Los Angeles and parts of the San Gabriel and eastern San Fernando valleys.
The breakage knocked out Automatic Teller Machines at about 100 Security Pacific Bank branches throughout California, bank spokeswoman Kathy Wedeking said.
But it was not known how many phone customers were affected, said Charlene Baldwin, a spokeswoman for the telephone company.
The line consists of fine strands of glass that are capable of handling thousands more telephone conversations and computer transmissions than the copper lines that formerly dominated communication systems.
The line was severed at 1st and Hill streets about 9:30 a.m. by the crews of a private contracting firm. Pacific Bell crews were expected to repair the line by midnight, Wedeking said.
The severed line affected calls made to and from downtown to Burbank, Glendale and parts of the San Gabriel Valley.
In many cases, callers attempting to reach downtown received “circuit busy” signals, Baldwin said.
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