Washington–Moscow Direct Communications Link

[Sean Donelan]

Since 2008, the Washington-Moscow Direct Communications Link (also 
known as "The Washington-Moscow Hotline") uses redundant circuits of two 
satellite links and a fiber-optic cable. They use commercial facilities 
for at least part of the circuits.

Past accidents have interrupted previous hotline circuits. A Danish 
bulldozer operator once cut the line near Copenhagen. A Finnish farmer 
once plowed it up. A fire in a Baltimore Maryland manhole took it out of 
service temporarily. Yep, even the hotline experienced cable cuts.