Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007

HAY RIVER - Some telephone service was knocked out in Hay River last week when cables were ripped from poles.

Anne Kennedy, director of corporate communications with NorthwesTel, explained the cables were knocked down by either a high load or a high piece of equipment being used by an unnamed company.

"It wasn't vandalism," she said. "It was accidental."

Kennedy noted a cable span between two poles was snagged and eight spans were pulled off. Some connections to local businesses were also ripped off outside walls.

The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.

Telephone service was interrupted to 35 business customers in the industrial area, and cell phone service was affected in the whole community. Two NorthwesTel technicians in Hay River isolated the line for cell service and repaired it within a couple of hours. That line connects a microwave radio site to a downtown exchange.

A splicing crew was dispatched from Yellowknife for the remaining repairs and had the land lines back in service by 3:44 a.m. on Sept. 20.

Kennedy noted it was originally thought the land lines might be out two or three days.

She said NorthwesTel is aware of the identity of the company which caused the problem.

"Our insurance company will be talking to their insurance company."

Kennedy said companies should be aware of the height of their machinery and loads.

She noted NorthwesTel will lift lines to let high loads and equipment pass underneath.