Verizon Predicts Two Weeks Before Wired Service is Restored

In the areas hit the hardest by Hurricane Sandy, it may take as much as two more weeks for wired service to be restored. Both Verizon and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission have stated that Internet, video, and landline phone service are in the process of being fixed, but warn of slow progress.

According to Verizon spokesperson Alberto Canal, these outages may also include their high-speed FiOs fiber-optic service in addition the data and voice services. Given that many of these areas are still without commercial power, Verizon is forced to wait before resorting lines of communication. This is based on safety concerns from the fallen and damaged power cables.

Although the storm ripped through the New York area last Monday night, the damage left behind by the wind and torrential rainfall has complicated issues for restoring communications in the worst-hit areas. Verizon’s time estimate was the longest in its history for getting wired services back up and running.

In fact, Verizon’s headquarters was also adversely affected by Sandy. The New York City office experienced flooding and was only brought back online through emergency power. Verizon’s crews are currently working throughout the day and night to bring backup power to numerous other sites affected by flooding in Queens and lower Manhattan.

Cell phone service is also slow to return to users affected by the storm. The FCC stated the 15 percent of cell sites were still out of operation on Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. It is, however, a four percent improvement from Thursday morning, when 19 percent were out of action.

This new estimate of mobile outages is actually better news than it may appear. The report on Friday included 146 counties spread throughout seven affected states. The FCC stopped collecting information from the states of Rhode Island, Delaware, and Massachusetts because the majority of their power services have since been restored.

Within those seven states, up to 17 percent of cable subscribers also reported having no service. Although this figure is higher than the 12-14 percent given on Thursday, it includes a new report from a cable provider working in these areas and provides a more accurate picture of the situation.

Until the power is restored, all of the biggest mobile operators are using cell sites on wheels in the areas still lacking coverage. Additionally, some of these sites allow residents to charge their phones if they are without power in their homes.

Verizon Wireless, the mobile component of Verizon, said that 97 percent of its sites in the storm-affected areas had been restored as of Friday morning. While the coverage in harder-hit areas like lower Manhattan is still far below normal, Verizon still considers the levels good considering the damage in the area. (RP) Link