PG&E blackout knocks out one-quarter of Sonoma County cellphone towers [telecom]

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By Will Schmitt The Press Democrat

A quarter of the cellphone towers in Sonoma County lost power Monday, reducing the reach of a critical communications tool during a rapidly evolving crisis triggered by the Kincade fire, a massive PG&E blackout and the largest evacuation in county history.

The degradation of the region's cellphone network exposed gaps in carriers' plans to preserve service during PG&E shut-offs and triggered calls for legislation requiring carriers to provide backup power at cell sites.