Internet outages can disrupt emergency services, business transactions and basic communication. Here are few things to know about the nation's Internet infrastructure and its vulnerabilities.
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HOW IT WORKS
In many cases, information is transmitted at high speeds through light waves carried in slender glass fibers that are bundled together and strung along rights of way such as highways, railroads and pipelines. When covering long distances, these fiber-optic cables often are shared, meaning they might carry Internet, telephone, television and data services for a variety of companies.
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RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE
In major cities, the demand for high-speed Internet means there are typically multiple fiber-optic cables delivering service. If a main line is damaged, Internet traffic can be routed to another path. But in rural areas and smaller cities, these network redundancies sometimes don't exist because they are viewed as too costly. When a fiber-optic cable gets cut in those places, it can take much longer to restore service.
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