Copper thieves in rural Alabama hit once again. For the fourth time this year vandals have risked their lives to steal copper cables from TDS Telecom facilities causing phone and Internet outages for many people and businesses from Cedar Bluff to Gaylesville. Early this morning, more than 400 residents woke to no phone or Internet service as a result of the vandalism and theft of a 400 pair copper cable. Local cellular service was also impacted as cell sites connect to TDS lines to connect mobile and landline phone calls across the nation and locally.

TDS Technical Response team members immediately began work to replace the 400 line pair cable in an effort to restore services to the area as quickly as possible; the damages were significant.

The price of copper has made thefts of this nature increase nationwide. Stealing materials such as copper cabling from TDS Telecom is a punishable federal offence and is also a life threatening activity due to the low levels of electrical current traveling through the equipment and the critical nature of phone service in general. Copper thieves impact public safety by taking out 911 services.

WEIS Radio