FAQs

1. What is the current status of communications services after Hurricane Sandy?
Answer: Communications services are improving but significant outages remain in New York, New Jersey, and other affected areas.

2. What percentage of wireless cell sites were affected initially?
Answer: 25%

3. What is the current percentage of non-functioning cell sites?
Answer: Improved by “a few percentage points” compared to yesterday, approximately 3-4%.

4. What percentage of cable customers are experiencing outages?
Answer: Less than 20%.

5. What are wireless operators doing to restore service?
Answer: Trucking in generators and rolling in cellular towers on wheels (COWS).

6. Which companies have struck a roaming agreement?
Answer: AT&T and T-Mobile USA.

7. What percentage of Verizon Wireless’s cell sites are functional?
Answer: 94%.

8. What are the challenges Verizon Wireline is facing?
Answer: Technical issues in Lower Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island due to flooding and damage to backup power equipment.

9. How are wireless operators’ issues related to switching centers?
Answer: Main communications switching centers have also been affected, impacting wireless services alongside individual cell site outages.

10. What backup measure has Verizon implemented?
Answer: Erected a temporary wireless antenna in Jersey City to support services for financial customers.

11. What is Time Warner Cable’s current status?
Answer: 98% of crews are working to restore service in Brooklyn and Queens, but waiting for Con Edison to restore power for safe access to affected areas.

12. What is the call to action?
Answer: Continue to monitor and report any service problems to service providers or the FCC.

Summary

Hurricane Sandy has affected communications services along the East Coast from Virginia to Maine and westward to Michigan. Initially, 25% of wireless cell sites and 25% of cable customers experienced outages. As of today, the percentage of non-functioning cell sites has improved by 3-4 percentage points, and cable service outages are now less than 20%.

Wireless operators have been working to restore service by trucking in generators and deploying cellular towers on wheels. Water and power remain a concern in some areas, but improvements are being made. AT&T and T-Mobile USA have formed a roaming agreement to enhance coverage. Verizon Wireless reports 94% of its cell sites are functional, and Time Warner Cable is working to restore service in Brooklyn and Queens.

While progress is being made, outages remain, particularly in hard-hit areas like New York, New Jersey, and other affected states. Customers experiencing service problems should contact their service providers or the FCC to report any issues.

For the latest updates and information, please visit the FCC’s website or contact your service provider directly.