July 23, 2005 – Telephones in the Hull Bay area suddenly went dead about 5:30 p.m. Saturday – the results of a car hitting a "cross box" near the Dorothea Fire Station.
David L. Sharp, president of Vitelco, also known as Innovative Telephone, said, "He wiped it right out," referring to a green box that holds circuits for many phone lines. Sharp said the situation "sounds pretty bad," but was unable to guess how many customers might be affected.
When asked if the outage was widespread, Sharpe said, "Compared to our 70,000 customers?"
He couldn't say when repairs could be made.
"It depends on if we have the parts," he said, adding Vitelco personnel were assessing the situation.
Sharp, who was reached at his home land line, also confirmed that cell phone users who were not customers of Innovative's cell phone service could not call 912, repair service from their cell phones.
"Not if you have to go through the switches in Puerto Rico," he said. He did not explain why other-than-Innovative cell phone users can, however, reach 913, which is also a Vitelco service line.
From a quick survey made by the Source of phones in the immediate area, it appeared that along with Brass View, phones are also out on Crown Mountain Road east to Four Corners and west to at least Dorothea Estate.
Anyone who are not able to get through to North Siders on their land lines might want to try calling the cell phone. Readers who have more specific information on phone outages can e-mail source@viaccess.net.
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