[jabowah]

The former mayor of my city (he had been out of office for a few months when this happened) cut through the only fiber line coming into the area with a back hoe while burying a dead dog. Knocked out long distance, cell phones, and the internet for about 12 hours.

[jws]

My plumber nailed the fiber that connected the fire station next door to its dispatching and emergency response network. He knew it was in that strip, but it was in contact with the bottom of the sewer pipe he was cutting and he didn't see it.

On the plus side, in the ensuing maelstrom of very excited people, they discovered the segment was a lesser grade than they thought they had contracted.