A Bruno’s roll-off truck struck overhead utility lines on Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, near Waldrons Bottom Road, on Monday afternoon, pulling down the lines, including a key Comcast fiber-optic cable, which caused temporary internet and cellphone disruptions for some Island residents and emergency services.
Comcast’s fiber-optic line, which uses a technology that transmits high-speed data over long distances and is the backbone of telecommunications and internet systems on-Island, was installed between Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth through an undersea cable in 2013. The hybrid cable itself is about 5.5 inches in diameter, and was implemented to meet the rapidly increasing demand for power more than a decade ago.
The incident occurred roughly around 2 pm Monday as the truck traveled down Edgartown–West Tisbury Road and struck lines, which preliminary investigations revealed might have been hanging lower than normal, said West Tisbury Police Chief Bradley Cortez. Roughly 50 feet of line was pulled down onto the surrounding area, and some spectators told The Times that the wires strewn about reminded them of spaghetti.
A spokesperson for the telecommunications company Comcast confirmed the fiber-optic line was taken down, but they repaired it later that night.
“A commercial truck inadvertently took down our fiber, disrupting service for some West Tisbury customers on Monday afternoon. Our teams quickly restored service that night. We know any disruption to our service is an inconvenience, and we apologize for the interruption,” said the spokesperson.
Eversource and Comcast crews responded quickly to the scene, and West Tisbury Police directed traffic through a single lane while repairs were underway.
Officials with Dukes County reported a brief loss of internet at the 911 center, but backup systems activated almost immediately, said Anthony Gould, captain and communications technology officer.
Field officers temporarily lost access to the computer-aided dispatch system, Gould added, though dispatchers handled logging duties manually.
Some police and fire departments up-Island reportedly briefly lost service, Gould said. Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown maintained service.
Cortez praised the collaboration of Eversource, Comcast, the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communication Center, and local police. “The collaboration … was definitely a success in combating what could’ve been a disaster,” he said.
While officials praised the rapid response and repair time, some also said this incident highlights a major vulnerability in the Island’s communications infrastructure, which relies almost entirely on a single fiber-optic line.
“Our team responded this afternoon [Monday] when a truck snagged communications cables on a utility pole, pulling them down. While our wires at the top of the utility pole were not impacted, we completed preventive maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of our equipment. Comcast and Verizon are continuing to work onsite to repair damage,” Kaitlyn Woods, Eversource’s external communications manager, said.