aSic
application specific
Premium
join:2001-05-17
Wakulla, FL
clubs:
| Wow..
"...a personal visit from very annoyed government employees in black SUVs within minutes."
Thats one hell of an SLA. 
--
Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say. |
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GlenQuagmire
Giggidy Giggidy Giggidy Goo
Premium
join:2004-02-16
Grand Rapids, MI | Opps
Opps  No more youtube for the NSA. |
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cowspotter
join:2000-09-11
Ashburn, VA | Billion
Just a small correction. The metrorail extension is $5.2 billion, not million. |
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
 ·Comcast
 ·Embarq
|  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. |
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dlewis23
join:2005-04-18
Boca Raton, FL | Nice
Id love to be on the job site the day that happens, just to see how the foreman handles this one... LOL |
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social
join:2000-07-19
Saint Louis, MO
1 edit | 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. |
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tomkb
Premium
join:2000-11-15
Avon, OH
clubs: | ya, but here is the kicker
Who's service is better to the general public? Government or Utility? |
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patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
| 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  |
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Neyland
join:2003-02-04
USA | 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..." |
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Steve
I'm a PC, so shut up
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA | When you find what's obviously a typo, why not send Karl a private message instead of post a public message? |
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MichaelWacey
OwlSaver
Premium
join:2005-01-30
Berwyn, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| 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. |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | reply to patcat88
Re: black wire
I'm certain AT&T tried to bill the company as well as the government for the same work. |
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nanoflower
join:2002-07-14
30876 | reply to cowspotter
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.... |
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lovswr
join:2001-09-15
Stockbridge, GA
| reply to MichaelWacey
Re: This sounds like a potential security problem
Nowadays, I could not imagine any fiber mux that does not have the capability to detect cuts, down to 1 meter or better , as part of its base package. Even back in my Army days in the RoK (circa 1987) & the military hired AT&T to come in country to lay fiber from the "Z" all the way to Taegu, those big boxes could detect breakage. However the resolution was something like 30 Meters.
--
lovswr = good hivswr = bad |
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Austinloop
join:2001-08-19
Austin, TX
| reply to MichaelWacey
Yes, there is at least one type of detection system that can be relatively accurate on a semi automated basis. I saw a demonstration several years ago, however, it was quite expensive for a normal utility to deploy. For a user with a few fiber cables, it would be a lot more practical, especially if it is for a hush hush government agency.
And, yes, they could be accurate to a few feet. |
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andyross
join:2003-05-04
Schaumburg, IL | 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. |
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Neyland
join:2003-02-04
USA
1 edit | reply to Steve
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* |
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cooperaaaron
join:2004-04-10
Joliet, IL | Why are they called "secret" lines ?
We all know what info goes thru them......  |
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Time
Premium
join:2003-07-05
1 edit | We do? The spooks could have very well been from DISA or DNIC. I doubt NSA could drive from FANX or Ft Meade to DC in a matter of minutes. |
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Desdinova
join:2003-01-26
Gaithersburg, MD | They used those special SUVs with the alien transmissions they pulled out of the Roswell crash site. |
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