Fiber Optic Line Intentionally Cut Outside Benson

BENSON — The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a fiber-optic communications line was intentionally cut Sunday, marking at least the second time the same line has been vandalized in the same location, according to Brightspeed officials.

The damage was discovered around noon on Dec. 7 after Brightspeed received reports of an outage along S. Wall Street (U.S. 301 South), just outside the Benson town limits near the Harnett County line. Technicians who responded found the fiber line had been deliberately severed.

Brightspeed estimates the most recent vandalism caused roughly $10,000 in damage and repair costs, and temporarily disrupted service to customers in the Benson area.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office is working to determine whether the cut is connected to a series of similar fiber-optic vandalism cases reported in recent months across the region. Damage to fiber lines has the potential to interrupt phone, internet, emergency communications, and business operations.

Brightspeed said its crews restored service as quickly as possible but emphasized that repeated attacks on critical infrastructure are costly and dangerous.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity along S. Wall Street to contact investigators.