If you have an outside internet cable cut does everyone in that area lose internet?

[Christy]

I'm using Bell for internet only and had 3 days no internet due to a " cut or disconnected cable outside between Brookfield and Dorchester " ( in Niagara Falls Canada ). Now if I have no internet service, would everyone else in my area who uses Bell internet lose connection? Sorry if this sounds like a noob question, but this is the first time having this problem with my internet. Usually its just a modem problem, but this is an outside thing I've never heard of.

[Owen]

simplified..
you cable goes back to a box and connects to the cable for other customers in your street
that goes on to a single cable to the next box joining streets
that goes back to another cable to and are
and so on
there could be thousands of customer on a single cable without any other route

imagine the network is a tree and your house is a leaf depending where to place a saw cut down the brank or trunk the number of leave which fall will change