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Derailed train upstages Net debut of the Clinton report

By Felicity Ussher

Published: Monday 14 September 1998

Web servers across the US came to a standstill on Friday afternoon, but not because of the publication of lewd charges against President Bill Clinton. A derailed train in Atlanta created more disruption, as it cut through the national fibre-optic backbone.

Internet services from MCI and Sprint were cut off, preventing most of Southeast USA from accessing Kenneth Starr's report. But twenty million Americans did reach the 445-page HTML document, published by the House of Representatives after a 363:63 vote in favour.

The White House's server fell down initially at the high demand, but as US media sites re-published the document, it stood up and provided public entertainment for the rest of the weekend.