Fiber Optic Cable Hit During Ditch Work After 811 Locate System Fails

From the Blackford County Drainage Board meeting on July 20, 2026

Crews tiling the Pan Handle and Skinner Rush ditches struck a live fiber optic cable that was never flagged by the 811 locate system despite four separate calls to the service.

Rather than risk cutting the live cable, the crew spent extra money to jet around it — working carefully to avoid a service disruption. Commissioner John Lancaster said he raised the issue directly with Mainstream Fiber Networks, telling the company's representative that none of their cables were being properly marked through 811.

Lancaster described similar problems with other providers: "Comcast said there's nothing there. And I said, well, there's an orange cord running from the house to a pole in the ground."

The failure is particularly concerning given that Mainstream Fiber Networks's broadband project — approved at the July 20 Commissioners meeting — is just launching in Blackford County. If 811 locate failures continue as new fiber is installed countywide, future construction and maintenance projects face increased risk of service disruptions and added costs.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County - Drainage Board Meeting - July 20, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.