I don't want to start an off-topic subthread but I have to call bullshit on this so-called "news" story. So it is my intent that this be my first, last, and only post on this topic.

Was it addressed at NANOG (in SF?) that many rifles and amateur shooters both, are capable of sub-MOA accuracy at short distances? By short, I mean ~50 yards or less.

Or that a hunter with even modest self-training, who was aiming at an insulator with a properly sighted-in rifle at short range, has a significantly greater probability of hitting the insulator being aimed at than of hitting the supported wire? That wasn't addressed in the buttwipe propaganda from down under. Need I remind anyone of the Dunblane and Port Arthur incidents and the subsequent gun control crackdowns in each of those countries. I wouldn't expect any crown- influenced news agency to give issues involving our Second Amendment a fair shake. Just like I don't expect logic or sanity from the Brady Campaign on the 2A issue. Nor should anyone else. The story smacks of deliberately painting hunters as irresponsible ruffians and worse.

What sort of repair rates do the power or other companies running wire across that expanse contend with? Given the remoteness, the identity of the affected client (Google) and the apparent absence of additional information, corporate sabotage seems just-as or even-more probable than random irresponsible hunters. To be fair, some shooters are irresponsible, but deliberate sabotage cannot be ruled out with only the information currently available.

In my experience, there's really two types of shootings (which really depend on the region) -- Number one is using shotguns, not rifles, and bird hunting - for example when goose hunting season happens, you'll see fiber shot out over lakes/rivers more often - I think this is both bad aim and not really caring. (Occasionally the shot will even be stuck in the lines or insulation so you can tell it was a shotgun) The second is drunk idiots shooting at the lines - this is more universal and happens closer to civilization. Power companies will also have repair issues with either of these, but fiber, phone, and cable lines are more likely as they are lower to the ground due to regulations that state they have to be at least X feet away from the power lines. I don't think anyone is claiming all hunters/gun owners are irresponsible, but, as with any segment of the population, when you have a large group there will be a percentage of complete idiots out there who take stupid actions. As for the 2nd amendment stuff - I'm not touching that one with a 10 foot fiber ;) Leslie