The company said the determination was made based on the nature of the fiber cuts, the extent of damage, and the makeup of impacted customers. In all, more than 50,000 residential customers and more than 500 business customers were affected for up to 30 hours.

Spectrum officials have reportedly ratcheted up their rhetoric following the apparently deliberate slashing of fiber-optic lines in the San Fernando Valley. Initially, the company called the

Charter Communications called a June 15 attack on its communications network in Van Nuys an act of domestic terrorism, "based on the nature of the fiber cuts, extent of damage and make-up of impacted customers.