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The NSA Doesn't Take Kindly To Fiber Cuts
Washington rail extension plays peek a boo with government fiber...

The cutting of an unmarked fiber optic cable or a sewer line are par for the course during construction or fiber installations, though the Washington Post explores what happens when that fiber you cut just happens to belong to a secretive government agency. A $5.2 billion project to extend the DC Metrorail means moving more than 75 miles of conduit. When a normal fiber line gets cut (and they've spent $150 million to move the lines of 21 private utilities) it takes some time to find out the owner, but construction crews say when they cut a government intelligence line, they get a personal visit from very annoyed government employees in black SUVs within minutes.

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aSic
application specific
Premium Member
join:2001-05-17
Wakulla, FL

aSic

Premium Member

Wow..

"...a personal visit from very annoyed government employees in black SUVs within minutes."

Thats one hell of an SLA.

Maynard G Krebs
@teksavvy.com

Maynard G Krebs

Anon

Re: Wow..

said by aSic:

Thats one hell of an SLA.

There's No Such Agreement.

DarkLogix
Texan and Proud
Premium Member
join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX

DarkLogix to aSic

Premium Member

to aSic
I don't think is as much of a SLA as a you cut my cable I'm coming after you agreement

GlenQuagmire
Giggidy Giggidy Giggidy Goo
Premium Member
join:2004-02-16
Grand Rapids, MI

GlenQuagmire

Premium Member

Opps

Opps No more youtube for the NSA.
Expand your moderator at work

cowspotter
join:2000-09-11
Ashburn, VA

cowspotter

Member

Billion

Just a small correction. The metrorail extension is $5.2 billion, not million.
nanoflower
join:2002-07-14
30876

nanoflower

Member

Re: Billion

I figured that was probably the case. Otherwise that's a mighty expensive extension. Spend $5 million on the extension, but spend $150 million moving utilities before the actual extension can be done. Ouch....
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

1 recommendation

Mr Matt

Member

That was the snoop line!

The construction crew was wrong, no one in our government is intelligent. That was the line carrying everyone's communications in the world. The NSA could no longer listen on Aunt Bee's conversation with Barney. That is why they were upset.
BarneyBadAss
Badasses Fight For Freedom
Premium Member
join:2004-05-07
00001

BarneyBadAss

Premium Member

Re: That was the snoop line!

said by Mr Matt:

The construction crew was wrong, no one in our government is intelligent. That was the line carrying everyone's communications in the world. The NSA could no longer listen on Aunt Bee's conversation with Barney. That is why they were upset.
I never talk w/aunt Bee on the phone. I only talk to her using a couple o'tin cans n' some string!
dlewis23
join:2005-04-18
Boca Raton, FL

dlewis23

Member

Nice

Id love to be on the job site the day that happens, just to see how the foreman handles this one... LOL

Nightshade
Premium Member
join:2002-05-26
Salem, OR

Nightshade

Premium Member

Re: Nice

Hell it be enough for me to see the foreman's "Oh Sh*t" look on his face.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to dlewis23

Premium Member

to dlewis23
great would be the foreman telling the government guy, Tough shit we called 811 and you guys where too dumb to have yours on the plans.
social
join:2000-07-19
Saint Louis, MO

1 edit

1 recommendation

social

Member

Hmmm

"it takes some time to fine out the owner" Do you think that they get fined or does it take time to FIND the owner. Hmmm I wonder if it the Men in Black that come to see you.

DarkLogix
Texan and Proud
Premium Member
join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX

DarkLogix

Premium Member

Re: Hmmm

I'd tell you but then I'd have to neuralize you

cwy1980
Premium Member
join:2004-08-10
Monmouth Junction, NJ

cwy1980

Premium Member

Re: Hmmm

I think the currently acceptable term is "marginalize"

tomkb
Premium Member
join:2000-11-15
Tampa, FL

tomkb

Premium Member

ya, but here is the kicker

Who's service is better to the general public? Government or Utility?
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88

Member

black wire

quote:
Georgelas, the developer whose company was overseeing the work in 2000 when the Chevrolet Suburbans drove up to the Greensboro Corporate Center, said he figured that the government was involved when an AT&T crew arrived the same day to fix the line, rather than waiting days. His opinion didn't change when AT&T tried to bill his company for the work but immediately backed down when his company balked.

"These lines are not cheap to move," Georgelas said. "They said, 'You owe us $300,000.' We said, 'Are you nuts?' "

The charges just disappeared.

Non-existent wire means a non-existent repair bill

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

Re: black wire

I'm certain AT&T tried to bill the company as well as the government for the same work.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: black wire

said by morbo:

I'm certain AT&T tried to bill the company as well as the government for the same work.
They probably billed them both more thern once.

rcdailey
Dragoonfly
Premium Member
join:2005-03-29
Rialto, CA

rcdailey to patcat88

Premium Member

to patcat88
What happens when they have to give up those Suburbans and drive around in eco-friendly little cars? They won't be nearly so scary. Of course, they could just remove $300,000 from the bank account of the developer without asking. That would shake him up, probably even more than a formation of black SUV's.
averagedude
join:2002-01-30
San Diego, CA

averagedude

Member

Re: black wire


car
The NSA showing up in a black smart car instead of a SUV....not so intimidating.

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium Member
join:2005-06-29
Florence, SC

hayabusa3303

Premium Member

Re: black wire

How about this one? Makes more since to me..

Mr Neutron
Impassioned Gibberish
Premium Member
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME

Mr Neutron to averagedude

Premium Member

to averagedude
said by averagedude:

The NSA showing up in a black smart car instead of a SUV....not so intimidating.
What about a clown car? You know, something about half the size of a smartcar that pulls up and suddenly a dozen guys start leaping out of it?

(Well, it would scare the hell out of me, anyway.)
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88 to rcdailey

Member

to rcdailey
said by rcdailey:

Of course, they could just remove $300,000 from the bank account of the developer without asking. That would shake him up, probably even more than a formation of black SUV's.
Then the bank will swallow the loss after the account holder says fraud, then the bank will withdraw the $ from TARP.

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH
Apple AirPort Extreme (2013)

OSUGoose to patcat88

Member

to patcat88
I'd say the Gov't will be footing the bill to repair their own lines. They failed to mark it, claiming it was "secret". Ya well thats all good and nice but you could of had it setup under a dummy owner name. Failure to mark your facilities normaly means the damager is free from libility. Esp if they called 811/One call number to have them marked BEFORE they dug.
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88

Member

Re: black wire

said by OSUGoose:

Failure to mark your facilities normaly means the damager is free from libility. Esp if they called 811/One call number to have them marked BEFORE they dug.
Yep, if One Call didn't mark it, you have no liability in repairing it.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to patcat88

Premium Member

to patcat88
im sorry since your wire "Doesnt Exist" we "Didn't Cut it".....

Uncle Paul
join:2003-02-04
USA

Uncle Paul

Member

Fine out the owner?

I suppose they might try a fine....

"When a normal fiber line gets cut (and they've spent $150 million to move the lines of 21 private utilities) it takes some time to fine out the owner..."

Steve
I know your IP address

join:2001-03-10
Tustin, CA

2 recommendations

Steve

Re: Fine out the owner?

When you find what's obviously a typo, why not send Karl a private message instead of post a public message?

Uncle Paul
join:2003-02-04
USA

1 edit

Uncle Paul

Member

Re: Fine out the owner?

Because I was only 95% sure it was a typo, could have been a joke considering the gov does like to hand out fines.

Besides, if I send him a private message then I don't get the credit for being a wise ass spelling freak.

*Edit for spelling*

birdfeedr
MVM
join:2001-08-11
Warwick, RI

birdfeedr to Steve

MVM

to Steve
Could be worse. It could be a visit by the GrammarNazi™.

»Re: So did hitler
OwlSaver
OwlSaver
Premium Member
join:2005-01-30
Berwyn, PA

OwlSaver

Premium Member

This sounds like a potential security problem

My understanding is that in the past, any sensitive copper links would be run through hardened conduit with leakage detection. That would make taping or signal inject nearly impossible without detection.

It sounds like they have decided that Fibre plus encryption is secure enough that it does not require special conduit. I am not so sure. But, then again, they did detect the break location, so there must be some sort of detection mechanism.

•••••••

andyross
MVM
join:2003-05-04
Aurora, IL

andyross

MVM

Why not just label them "Top Secret"?

Seems like a stupid way to identify the lines! Now everybody knows which are the government ones! Just cut one, and wait for the SUV's.
cooperaaaron
join:2004-04-10
Joliet, IL

cooperaaaron

Member

Why are they called "secret" lines ?

We all know what info goes thru them......

•••••••••

SLD
Premium Member
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

SLD

Premium Member

Why SUVs?

Can't they drive something a little more eco-friendly and less wasteful of tax-dollars?

••••••

cpsycho
join:2008-06-03
Treadeu Land

cpsycho

Member

Wow 15 minutes...

Man I atleast give my company 20 minutes before I phone them. I know online gaming is all the rage at the NSA but 15 minutes, these guys must be so addicted to WoW and FPS games.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Transmaster

Member

Re: Wow 15 minutes...

a Friend of mine who works for Qwest, and also has the necessary security clearances to work on the fiber used by the Space Command in Colorado Springs. He told me he was working on the fiber lines at the resident of the General in command of The Air Force Space Command. He and his co worker had cleared this with the Generals staff and the Security staff, or so they though. They where working on the system they where challenged and when they looked up from where they where working right into the muzzles of several M4's carbines and M9 pistols. Mark dryly remarked it was apparent not everyone in security had been informed they where there. It turned out the section they where working on had recently had the security requirements increased and part of that was a Air Force Security Officer had to be present at all times too watch the technician do their work.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

Who ya gonna call?

Fiber-Busters!

I believe it.

FunnyBones
Premium Member
join:2004-01-22
usa

FunnyBones

Premium Member

Re: Who ya gonna call?

said by cableties:

Fiber-Busters!

I believe it.
lol I busted my gut reading this..

tmh
@qwest.net

tmh

Anon

What fiber?

The NSA will neither confirm nor deny the existence of any fiber, so if the line gets cut, TS.
OwlSaver
OwlSaver
Premium Member
join:2005-01-30
Berwyn, PA

OwlSaver

Premium Member

Re: What fiber?

So, the work crew accidentally cuts a piece of unidentified fiber. They report it to the appropriate authorities. They go home for the night. When they get back in the morning, either the fibre is mysteriously fixed or it is gone. That sounds more like the NSA.
halfelite
join:2007-09-11

halfelite

Member

did they know?

All i want to know is. Did the SUV folk know there was construction going on. Or did the come with m16's and rocket launchers stashed in their car to take someone out.

SUV: "Finally some action"
SUV: "Ye i hope i can test out my new gun"
SUV: "ahhhhh hell its only construction"

••••
dougau
Premium Member
join:2007-08-09
Dickson, TN

dougau

Premium Member

government SUV's

Why is it that “The Government” gets to drive SUV gas hogs but wants to put the rest of us in “gas efficient” little mini-me cars?

Hpower
join:2000-06-08
Canyon Country, CA

Hpower

Member

Re: government SUV's

lol yup that's what I think of too.
mc5w
join:2002-06-14
Columbus, OH

mc5w

Member

Cut the Fiber

What we really need to do is to cut the fiber going to India. Then, companies would be forced to move the call centers over here.