SAN FRANCISCO, July 1 (UPI) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigations is investigating an attack on fiber optics lines that has caused widespread disruptions in Internet service in California's Bay area and as far north as Seattle.
The string of attacks span a year, including one early Tuesday. FBI agents will not disclose specifics about the Tuesday attack, but said someone broke into an underground vault and cut three fiber-optics lines for Zayo Group Holdings and Level 3 Communications, Internet wholesalers. Microsoft also reported a slowdown in its Azure cloud computing service in the western U.S.
The FBI said there has been at least 11 occurrences of damage to fiber optics cables in the Bay Area and beyond, dating back to July 6, 2014.
"When it affects multiple companies and cities, it does become disturbing," said FBI Special Agent Greg Wuthrich. "We definitely need the public's assistance."
The damages have also knocked out phone and TV signals for many of Wave Broadband's customers around Sacramento, Calif. The company rerouted some traffic around the cut lines.
"Internet is up, but a little slower than usual," Wave spokesman Mark Peterson said.
