'No service!' Your High Desert internet may be down: Here's why
Vandalism to network equipment on Sunday disrupted internet services to phone and computer users across the Victor Valley.
Just after midnight on Sunday, Charter Spectrum customers in Apple Valley began noticing no Wi-Fi connectivity. At the same time, Verizon phone users in Apple Valley complained that data services were not available.
By sunrise, customers of T-Mobile, Verizon and Spectrum also reported experiencing outage issues in portions of Adelanto, Hesperia and Victorville, but mostly in Apple Valley.
On Monday, Hesperia sheriff's officials announced that the internet disruption was caused by vandalism to fiber optic cables at a Charter Spectrum utility pole near the corner of C Avenue and Hercules Street.
When deputies arrived at the site on Sunday morning, they discovered that several optic and copper cables had been damaged, with optic cables cut from poles, sheriff's officials said.
Damage to property, estimated at $40,000, may have also affected service by other network providers, authorities said.
Dennis Johnson, the senior director of Spectrum Western Region Communications, told the Daily Press that work crews responded and made necessary repairs to restore service on Sunday night.
No suspects have been identified. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Hesperia sheriff's station at 760-947-1500 or sheriff's dispatch at 760-956-5001.
Chatter on social media on Sunday included talk that a disgruntled employee of an internet service provider had intentionally damaged equipment leading to the outage. The Daily Press hasn't been able to confirm that claim.
The internet disruption affected countless businesses and organization across the High Desert that rely on online network communications.
Officials at local hospitals did not respond to messages, however, employees at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley told the Daily Press the facility experienced some internet issues, but patient safety was never in question.
At the closed T-Mobile store off Dale Evans Parkway in Apple Valley, over a dozen customers were seen reading a sign posted on the front door that stated, “No Service!”
The T-Mobile sign explained that all its company sites in the High Desert were closed except for one store on Main Street in Hesperia.
“No estimated time when they will be back up,” the T-Mobile sign read. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Wi-fi hungry residents flocked to Starbucks in Apple Valley for service only to walk away disappointed after being told, "Sorry, no internet."
On Sunday morning, Spectrum customers began receiving a series of emails stating that restoration work was in progress, with full restoration expected "soon."
At about 2 p.m., a Spectrum email said, “Restoration work has taken longer than expected. Our technicians are working to restore your service as quickly as possible.”
The email continued by suggesting that its customers can stay connected with Spectrum TV by downloading the Spectrum TV App. Spectrum internet customers can access WiFi hotspots nationwide.
Residents react
Several Spectrum customers told the Daily Press that downloading an app was impossible since their phones had no service.
Devynn Thompson, co-owner of Thompson Family Plumbing in Hesperia, said her entire business was down due to internet issues.
At Baker’s Drive-Thru on Seventh Street in Victorville, an employee said that the restaurant had been closed all day because of no internet service.
Bill Lopez of Apple Valley said gas stations along Nisqualli Road in Victorville would only accept cash as their card readers were down.
Many businesses, including Pampa-Rara in Apple Valley told customers that they were accepting cash only since their internet service down,
A Starbucks employee shared how they were frustrated by the internet outage because it affected their home alarm system, garage door, lights and some appliances.
By 4 p.m., internet and phone services began slowly returning to a few areas of the High Desert.
Teacher Paul Longshore, who lives in remote Apple Valley said, “Starlink is still working great in the middle of nowhere.” Starlink is operated by SpaceX, the Elon Musk-run company that serves internet to residents via satellite. Prices range from $120-$250 a month.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 'No service!' Your High Desert internet may be down: Here's why
