Freedom Fiber crews quickly restore fiber lines after over-height equipment encounter

HAMILTON — In less than 12 hours on Wednesday, June 3, Freedom Fiber crews from Tombigbee Communications restored internet service to all of their customers after a truck hauling a trackhoe snagged into mainline fiber lines, dragging down a pole and impacting several service areas.
The incident occurred on County Road 55 at approximately 10 a.m. and affected service in some areas of Hamilton, Guin, Carbon Hill and Nauvoo.
Freedom Fiber officials noted the equipment being transported was approximately four feet taller than the maximum height permitted on county roads. They also stated the company’s fiber facilities were installed at the proper attachment heights.
The utility kept customers informed throughout the day with social media updates, while Freedom Fiber employees worked around the clock to repair the damaged fiber line and restore service to affected areas.
Around 4:30 p.m., service had been restored to Carbon Hill and Nauvoo, with the all-clear for the rest of Freedom Fiber’s customers being announced at 10:45 p.m.
Tombigbee Communications CEO Britton Lightsey noted the next day, “What could have been a multi-day outage was resolved in less than 12 hours because of the dedication and expertise of our Freedom Fiber employees.
“From the moment this incident occurred, our team mobilized quickly, working throughout the day and into the night to replace damaged infrastructure, resplice fiber and restore service to our customers.
“I am incredibly proud of the professionalism, teamwork and determination they demonstrated under challenging circumstances. Their commitment to serving our communities is what sets Freedom Fiber apart.
“I also want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding while our crews worked to safely and efficiently restore service.”