An undetermined number of Charter Communications customers in Oxford, Addison and Brandon townships lost their cable television, internet and telephone services for a couple days last week when a downed power line destroyed a fiber optic cable on Monday, July 15.
A storm blew through that evening, knocking down a high-voltage electrical transmission line on the east side of M-24 at Metamora Rd. This power line fell onto a main Charter line.
‘A resulting fire destroyed more than a mile of fiber optic cable, which had to be replaced,? according to a written statement released by Charter spokesman John Miller.
Oxford Fire Chief Pete Scholz said the power line sent an electrical charge through the fiber optic cable. Contact with a tree allowed the electricity to go to ground, which resulted in a fire that burned and severed the Charter line, he explained.
‘Charter crews responded immediately to the site, but could not commence repairs until the power company removed live wires and repaired a damaged utility pole,? according to Charter’s statement.
The statement noted that as of Wednesday, July 17, service had been ‘restored to all affected Charter customers.? Miller stated that no estimate regarding the number of affected customers was available.
When asked if Charter customers would be compensated for their loss of service, Miller wrote, ‘We are currently evaluating all the elements involved in the incident in order to make a determination regarding credits.?
The incident affected Oxford Community Television’s ability to broadcast.
‘We were out of commission for about 2? days,? said Assistant Station Manager Dave Kenny.