Some telecommunication customers in Ashtabula County lost phone and data service to points outside the county early this afternoon.
Ken Johnson of Conneaut Telephone said their company received about a half-dozen service calls relative to the service problem. Grand Valley Local Schools put out an email notice that Fairport Communications was reporting that a major connecting fiber optic line in Cleveland had been cut. That isolated the district from any calls originating in or destined for networks beyond Orwell’s.
Johnson said telecommunications companies rent from competitors the lines that pass through a particular geographic location. Therefore, if a break occurs one of the leased lines, the local provider is unlikely to have any control over the situation.
An Ashtabula County Emergency Management Agency spokesman said they had received several reports of the 9-1-1 system not operating in Lake County. The Ashtabula County 9-1-1 system was working and undergoing testing to ensure its reliability.
The Lake County Sheriff, at 11:28 a.m. today notified the public that 9-1-1 lines in Lake County were not working and the number for the central communications center, (440) 354-3434, should be used.
Calls from Ashtabula to Geneva could not be placed this afternoon, but it was unknown if that is due to the line break.
