Disruption of a local high-speed internet service led Race Communications last week to send one of its vice presidents to the area. Race — a service provider for internet, phone and TV — dispatched Jim Miller, vice president of sales and marketing, to Grass Valley to assure broadband customers Race was in the process of resolving the issue in a timely manner. “We feel the pain and sympathize with customers,” said Miller. “All previous outages were because of contractors digging underground and cutting into fiber optic cables.” Contractors evidently did not obtain permission prior to breaking ground and tore into fiber optic cables, which interrupted online service, Miller said. Before anyone digs underground they are advised to dial the 811 number that connects with a Public Utilities Commission division, which has mapped the location of all gas, utility and telecom lines.