They make a circuit tracer you can plug into an outlet and use the receiver to find a breaker, perhaps you could use it to track outlets on the same circuit working back to the panel checking for power as you go.
The wire you are talking about sounds like the drop wire to the house, that is NOT the ground wire, Sounds like the lightning is crossing between the power and phone thus the need to be bonded.
What should have been done by telco was to bond ALL grounds together. Telco should have a protector outside and it's ground should be tied with the power ground, min. of 12 ga wire if the two are within 20' of each other if farther then 10 or 8 ga.
Telco was my bread and butter for 30 years.