Charter restores Internet, makes full repairs overnight

After a damaged fiber-optic cable cut cable and Internet access for Charter Communications customers in Havre for up to eight hours, service was restored until late last night when more permanent repairs again shut down service for a few hours.

Brett Picciolo said a non-Charter work crew — he said Monday that he did not know for whom the crew worked — damaged a fiber-optic cable about 8 a.m. Monday, disrupting service including internet and cable television in Havre.

The disruption was essentially just in the Havre area, Picciolo said.

He said crews made basic repairs and restored service by about 1 p.m.

The service was out again later — some customers reported it going out about midnight, and returning shortly before 4 this morning — while Charter workers more fully repaired the damage.

Picciolo said the company decided to wait until late at night to make the full repairs during a time it would have less impact on its customers.