(Host) State regulators plan to investigate why Internet service was interrupted across Vermont for the second time in a month.
Customers of Level Three Communications of Colorado could not surf the Web or use their email for hours on Monday.
As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, thousands of consumers depend on Level Three, even though they may not know it.
(Sneyd) Keith Rivers is the network administrator for Power Shift Online in Stowe, so he had to master the art of multi-tasking when Level Three’s system failed.
(Rivers) "I’m working on rerouting everybody right now… as we speak.”
(Sneyd) Power Shift is an Internet service provider. Customers rely on Power Shift to get them on the World Wide Web and email.
Power Shift, in turn, relies on Level Three to connect the local network to the global. But cuts to Level Three’s network cut that connection.
(Rivers) "It’s been major. We’re not able to give our customers the level of service that they’re accustomed to because of this.”
(Sneyd) Power Shift isn’t alone. State government’s computer system and web sites also crashed.
Tom Murray, who’s in charge of state government’s information technology, says the state switched to a backup. But not everyone can.
(Murray) “The smaller to mid-size businesses, this is very challenging for them to go for a day. I think an hour or two is one thing folks can live through, but to be a day without Internet connectivity is very challenging.”
(Sneyd) The Public Service Department says it wants to know why the network failed for a second time.
Spokesman Steve Wark says the department will call Level Three on the regulatory carpet.
(Wark) "It’s very important. That’s one of the reasons we’re going to be taking a very close look at this. To make sure not only do they understand this is important Vermonters but they know we have a very high level expectation of service.”
(Sneyd) Level Three hasn’t explained what went wrong. VPR made several calls to the company’s headquarters – but they weren’t returned.
For VPR News, I’m Ross Sneyd.
(Host) And we should mention that VPR also is a customer of Level Three Communications.