Living in the modern world requires a lot of data and millions of miles of cables to get that information to phone, computer and TV screens.
For years, telecommunication companies used copper cables coated in plastic to transmit data. Some, like AT&T, still do. Now, companies are switching over to fiber optics to get more data to homes and businesses.
These older cables have been a target for thieves across the country. They strip the copper to sell to scrap yards for a quick buck. The thieves, though, often mistakenly cut into fiber optic cables in their search for copper…