US investigating CenturyLink internet outage, 911 failures

[left-of-center2012]

Source: SF Chronicle

U.S. officials and at least one state said Friday that they have started investigations into a nationwide CenturyLink internet outage that has disrupted 911 service.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai called the outage that began Thursday "completely unacceptable" because people who need help couldn't use the emergency number. "Its breadth and duration are particularly troubling," he said.

The commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will investigate the cause and effect of the outage, he said.

The Monroe, Louisiana-based telecommunications giant is one of the largest in the United States. It offers communications and information technology services in dozens of states. Customers from New York to California reported outages. CenturyLink spokeswoman Debra Peterson said the outage "is not related to hacking," but she declined further comment.

Read more: https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/technology/article/Investigations-started-on-CenturyLink-outage-911-13495977.php

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Interesting that we had similar happen in parts of Philly with Verizon

the day before the election - and it mostly affected landlines & FIOS, and also impacted 911 calls (specifically those done from landlines). Verizon eventually blamed an underground fire for impacting their fiber lines. But it was out for some time.

[dobleremolque]

2. Ajit Pai is tut-tutting and harumping for show.

A few dozen dead or maimed because people can't reach 911 or emergency services, is NO REASON to saddle CenturyLink with fines or anything like that once the "investigation" (wink, wink) is concluded. I mean, we're dealing with Republican regulators here. Sabre-rattling is fine ... just don't cost the company and its stockholders any MONEY.