Spectrum internet outage affects thousands in Lincoln and beyond

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Spectrum customers in Lincoln and the surrounding area dealt with an internet outage on Friday.

The outage started about 11 a.m., according to Spectrum. A spokesman said a fiber-optic line was cut.

Channel 8 received reports of outages in Columbus, Tecumseh, York, Fairbury, Nebraska City and more.

Service was restored by 7:15 p.m., according to Spectrum.

Jim Holmquist is one of thousands of Lincoln customers who lost internet. He also lost cable.

“I was in the kitchen, and all of the sudden, I didn’t hear the TV,” he said. “So I went and looked, and the screen was black,”

Normally, he said this wouldn’t bother him because Spectrum’s outages are typically solved quickly.

But he said it’s “a little frustrating” to be without both cable and internet for so long.

“It’s a little frustrating,” Holmquist said. “It’s amazing how you rely on the technology, and you take it for granted when it’s there. And when it’s not, you really miss it.”

He uses Spectrum Mobile, which he likes, so he isn’t switching to another provider.

But he can see why this would be a tipping point for others, especially since this isn’t a one-time occurrence.

“It might push some people who are kind of on the edge” to switch over to Allo or Windstream, Holmquist said.