Frozen Splice Caused TV Interruption on Sunday

What has been termed as a disruption impacting video services, traced to a splice enclosure owned by a third party fiber vendor, was the cause for Charter Communication customers to lose their TV reception this past Sunday, February 2,  for most of the day. 

Brian Anderson, the Director for Regional Communications, Southwest, explained that at 6:08am, service to 3,500 customers between Lamar and La Junta was interrupted as the splice enclosure had filled with water and then froze.  The disruption also impacted customers who receive their internet service from Charter Communications.  Anderson explained that the company had a full repair team on standby in light of the Super Bowl Game set to be broadcast that evening.  He said while one crew worked to trace the line and make repairs, Charter was able to establish a temporary feed to ensure customers didn’t miss any of the game. 

He said crews continued to thaw and make repairs to the fiber optic line while the temporary feed was being established.  Complete video service was restored to Charter Communications customers shortly before 6pm, in time for the kick off between the Broncos and Seahawks.  Anderson said the company plans to make some significant changes to some of its service areas this summer, as analog feeds will be replaced with digital service, beginning in California, the Carolinas and several other states.  He said the increased bandwidth will allow for faster computer speeds as well as a better video image and quality performance.  As was noted in the February 3^rd article in the Prowers Journal, the franchise Charter Communications has with the City of Lamar will be discussed by the city council during a February 24^th public hearing.  The company’s franchise with the City of Lamar will expire September 12, 2014.

By Russ Baldwin