Wireless Coverage Being Restored After Michael; Verizon Says Fiber Cuts a Problem
Wireless service continues to return to storm-ravaged parts of Florida, Georgia and Alabama, the FCC reported Monday, but Verizon Wireless said continuing fiber cuts are slowing efforts in the Florida Panhandle. As of 11 a.m., providers reported 5.2 percent of…
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cellsites were out in 110 counties, said the commission's Hurricane Michael impact update. That was down from 6.2 percent Sunday, 11.5 percent Friday (see 1810120054) and 18.8 percent Thursday (see 1810110060). Verizon Wireless said it's working "round the clock" to restore service and has seen "positive movement," as 99 percent of its network is in service in Georgia and 98 percent in Florida, with the Panama City and Panama City Beach areas experiencing the most problems. Fiber connections -- "needed for cell sites and some mobile assets to work" -- are "a significant challenge," it said. "As soon as we have fiber repaired and start to see sites come back on air, we experience new cuts resulting from other restoration efforts happening in the community such as clearing roads, residential property clearing, and replacing electric poles." The FCC reported 157,371 cable and wireline subscribers without service in Florida, 61,991 in Georgia and 3,445 in Alabama, down from 252,748, 103,775 and 18,244, respectively on Friday. Two TV stations, 13 FMs and two AMs were off-air, respectively, down from three, unchanged and down from three, Sunday. No public safety answer points were reported down.