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Connecticut storm damage and POTS lines [telecom]

I keep a POTS line, mainly as a fallback in case of storm damage. And, indeed, when my power failed here in Stamford during Isaias, the POTS line continued to work [but] the backup battery on my VOIP and Internet gave out.

I don't recall what the old standards for the CO backup power were, but I expected 24 hours - probably quite a bit more. Hah. Within about 8 hours, the POTS line was dead.

Now, it's certainly possible that this was independent line damage - but it was many hours after the storm itself passed, and there were no nearby line cuts in the area. (We had a large tree supported by communications lines leaning completely over a nearby road - but the POTS line came back when our power came back, several days before crews finally got to that tree.)

Of course, you only need to walk around the neighborhood a bit to see the sorry state of Frontier's external plant. Maintenance? Not a priority.

-- Jerry

Reply to
Jerry Leichter
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I recall reading the power backup is no longer important. Something about people have cellphones for communications if the power goes out. It came from feedback on the FCC's website in the context of 911 service.

There was some scathing criticism about the policy change on the FCC website.

In Maryland, when Verizon performs inside work, they now remove the old ONT with the battery backup and replace it with one without the battery.

Also see docs like

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Jeff

Reply to
Jeffrey Walton

My guess is that your phone line is fed from a concentrator, what used to be called a SLC, and its battery ran down.

COs usually have large battery banks and a way to hook up a generator so I would be surprised if the CO went down.

In rustic upstate NY my rural LEC is installing fiber to the home, providing both Internet and phone. It has a UPS with what looks like a motorcycle battery. I looked up the specs and it appears it's enough to keep my phone and internet on for four days.

Reply to
John Levine

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