On Tuesday someone sliced at least three fiber optic cables in an underground vault in Alameda County. The cuts disrupted Internet and phone service around Sacramento and parts of the Bay Area for 20 hours before service was restored.
FBI spokesman Greg Wuthrich said it appears to be the latest in about a dozen acts of vandalism at Bay Area locations in the last year.
"The severed cables are actually happening in multiple cities, in multiple jurisdictions," Wuthrich said.
Fiber cables in Fremont, Walnut Creek and San Jose have been intentionally severed in 11 instances since July 2014. The FBI became involved last month because cable cuts in one location can affect businesses and customers in other jurisdictions.
FBI officials are disputing a statement issued by Wave Broadband that described the vandalism as a "coordinated attack" on its website early this morning.