Can lightning pass through a Network Interface Device without damaging it? Century Link installed my DSL line without the system being grounded yet by my electrician, which their own rules say they are not to do. We had a bad storm and it caused damages of around $2,000 frying HDMI cables, routers, sound cards etc. Century Links installer, Wise Connect is claiming the lighting did not come through their line because the Network Interface Device (NID) had no signs of a lightning hit...they did not have to replace it. There's no other damage in the facility...only items connected to the Century Link line. Is it possible the lighting didn't come through their system?