Choice of Internet Provider Could Impact Service Restoration After Storms
A Frontier Communication’s employee monitors network events at the St. Petersburg Network Operations Center.
TAMPA, Fla. – Frontier wants customers to be safe and prepared for the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season, which begins June 1. After an active Atlantic hurricane season in 2018, AccuWeather forecasters predict 2019 could result in a near-to slightly above-normal season with 12 to 14 storms. In addition to food, water and storm supplies, Frontier encourages customers to prepare a communications emergency kit. This includes lists of important phone numbers, account information, and charging supplies.
“The threats of hurricanes are a part of living in Florida,” said Melanie Williams, Frontier’s Senior Vice President of Operations, South Region. “However, being able to connect with loved ones can be a huge relief during the storm; planning now will help our customers to be ready.”
In a world of cellphones and quick internet searches, many don’t know the actual phone numbers or addresses of important contacts, like family, insurance agents or local hospitals. Frontier encourages everyone to prepare a Frontier Storm Ready card, which can be easily printed from this link, and to store it in a pocket or wallet for quick access to important information.
Once the storm has passed, the characteristics of the network used by your internet provider may affect how quickly broadband services are restored as power outages and network damages are addressed. There are three primary types of network architecture in the Tampa Bay region:
- Copper
- Fiber and coaxial cable
- All fiber
All these require commercial electrical power for internet connections to function. Hurricanes usually cause power outages, often severe, and can tear down aerial cables that must be replaced to restore service. Buried cables are typically not impacted by winds, flooding rains, and falling branches. In the Tampa Bay area, the only network that is completely buried is Frontier’s 100 percent fiber FiOS network. As power is restored, most Frontier FiOS customers will see their internet service (as well as TV and phone service) immediately come back to life. Over the last three years, fiber has greatly minimized lengthy service outages for Frontier customers in the aftermath of hurricanes.
No matter what the 2019 hurricane season brings, here are some tips for both wired and wireless customers that apply before, during and after a storm:
- Prepare for recovery by putting together a communications plan and include things like batteries, potable water, and charging all wireless devices such as cell phones, laptops and tablet devices while power is still available. Battery powered portable chargers can provide additional power and peace of mind.
- Snap photos of important documents like insurance policies, passports, social security cards, deeds and birth certificates. Store the actual documents in a watertight container. Photos can help if the originals are damaged or destroyed.
- Use a cloud service such as Frontier Secure, which provides 50 GB of data storage, to save contacts and other important data on a secure server in case your phone or tablet is lost or damaged.
- Be sure to record important local contact numbers so you have them handy.
- Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number in case of emergency and/or evacuation.
- Customers who rely on cordless phones should consider having a traditional corded phone that can be plugged directly into a phone jack if necessary.
- If commercial power is unavailable, generators and batteries in Frontier’s central offices serve as a backup. Phone lines generally have enough power to allow a corded phone on the copper network to operate; cordless phones do not.
- For customers using FiOS phone services, the battery backup will supply voice service for up to eight hours.
- While home answering machines do not work without power, Frontier voicemail service powered by the network will help families communicate.
About Frontier Communications
Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR) is a leader in providing communications services to urban, suburban, and rural communities in 29 states. Frontier offers a variety of services to residential customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks, including video, high-speed internet, advanced voice, and Frontier Secure® digital protection solutions. Frontier Business™ offers communications solutions to small, medium, and enterprise businesses. More information about Frontier is available at www.frontier.com.