Computer Tapes Being Studied for Cause of Phone Disruption

Pacific Bell officials said Thursday that it could be days before they determine the cause of a computer glitch that knocked out toll and long-distance telephone service to parts of West Anaheim, Cypress, Buena Park, Brea and La Palma for eight hours on Wednesday.

To determine why the system failed, some computer parts and magnetic tapes were shipped to the manufacturer, AT&T; Bell Laboratories, for analysis, said Pacific Bell spokeswoman Linda Bonniksen. An AT&T; spokesman said it could be several days before the problem is identified by analyzing computer tapes.

To temporarily restore telephone service, Pacific Bell technicians reloaded the computer commands that route calls at the company’s Anaheim facility. The unit’s main computer processor and storage system were disconnected as a precaution until the source of the problem is identified.

All telephone circuits worked perfectly Thursday, said Bob Porter, Pacific Bell’s regional manager for special services in Orange County.

“I think it’s the expectation of our company’s executives that we will . . . get good data to prevent any type of failure in the future,” Bonniksen said of the AT&T; analysis.

Pacific Bell technicians Thursday also reviewed the service failure. The telephone company must file a network reliability report with the Federal Communications Commission within 30 days to explain the service disruption and how Pacific Bell dealt with the crisis, Bonniksen said.

Residential and business phone customers were unable to make or receive toll or long-distance calls for eight hours beginning shortly before 8 a.m. on Wednesday because of the computer glitch. Emergency 911 lines to several police and fire agencies were also affected.