Samantha Gholar|Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Cellular and internet carriers are making progress infully restoringcommunications and services for residentsof Hurricane Ian-affected counties in the aftermath of the storm that ravaged much of Southwest Florida on Sept. 28.
Major carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Comcastand Frontier,said their companies' employees are working as fast as possible to restore connections to residents eager to reach family membersand friends or get back to business.
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AT&T restores almost 80% of its service
According to spokesperson Rosie Montalvo, AT&T continues to open its network to other cellular carriers at no cost as they restore service to customers.
"Our priority continues to be keeping our customers connected, and we know this need is even greater before, during, and after any major storm event," Montalvo said. "There are no known impacts to wireline service in Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties at this time,"
As of Tuesday, nearly 80% of AT&T's wireline customers in impacted Florida countieshave had their service restored, Montalvo stated.
AT&T has notified itswireless customers in affected areas across the statethat all cellular servicecharges –including those for talk, textand data overage –have been waived through Oct. 28, 2022.
AT&T released a statement via email Tuesday morning describing the continued efforts of its crews and overall support during and post-Ian:
"Our crews are working as quickly as possible to restore service in the hardest hit areas, including Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties... We have one of the industry’s largest and most advanced disaster response programs and we are deploying generators and other network recovery equipment in affected areas, as conditions allow," the statement read.
On Oct.1, AT&T and FirstNet loaded a portable cell site onto a helicopter to assistwith communications on Pine Island, near the devastated Sanibel community,where residents were stranded. The device, known as acompact rapid deployable, or CRD,is providing wireless service for first responders and Wi-Fi for residents in the affected Lee County area.
Verizon communication centers open in Southwest Florida
Verizon's Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are providing free charging, Wi-Fiand portable power packs to the community most affected by Hurricane Ian.
The centers, which have opened this week in Lee and Charlotte counties, areproviding charging, free Wi-Fi, and freeportable power packs for any member of the community on any carrier, Verizon officials said Tuesday morning.
Residents seeking cellular and internet service can get both at two of Verizon's centers at the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall, 1441 Tamiami Trail. Customers in need can visit the communication center dailyfrom 10a.m. to6p.m.
A second communication center has been opened for residents inFort Myers Beach, at 2525 Estero Blvd. Residents and customers can access the communications center daily from8a.m. to 5p.m.
"Our hearts go out to all who are impacted by Hurricane Ian,” said Shawn Alexander, consumer vice president for Verizon. “Our hope is this offer gives our customers one less thing to worry about so they can focus on staying safe.”
Consumer and small business customersin the Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Hardee, Sarasotaand Lee counties will continue to receive unlimited calling, textingand data through Oct. 11, 2022, Verizon officials said Tuesday.
On Tuesday in Sarasota and Desotocounties, Verizon engineers are continuingtomove communicationsites from temporary satellite connections to more permanent connections by restoring fiber cables. According to Verizon, engineershave restored one cell site on Sanibel Island using satellite connections and portable generators.
Verizon did not provideatimeline forfull restorationTuesday morning.
Frontier continues service restoration
Frontier's vice president of communications, Chrissy Murray,stated the company's emergency centerwaslaunched to helpresidents and consumers stay connected in the wake of the hurricane. According to Frontier, a "robust damage assessment" isunderway in affected areas where Frontier employees have been authorized to enter.
"While power outages and damage to some of our aerial lines have caused what is expected to be short-term service disruption for our customers, as power is restored we anticipate a significant reduction in troubles," Murray said. "We are reviewing and augmenting our strategy in real time based on these assessments and have a workforce to support and repair once conditions are safe to do so."
Frontier's underground fiber optic system, Murray said, was essential to keeping many customers connected and helped reduce the impact and damage to Frontier'snetwork.
A percentage of restoration or expected timeline for the full restoration of Frontier's services could not be provided by the company's spokesperson.
Comcastdoing 'extensive' restoration in SWFL
Extensive restoration work continues daily throughout Florida with over 1,100 technicians removing the damaged network and placing state-of-the-art fiber optic cable and new electronics to re-activate and restore Xfinity services for customers.
In addition, Comcast sent out Xfinity Wi-Fi vans this week in affected areas to assist customers and residents with service needs. In Southwest Florida, Xfinity Wi-Fi vans can be found at the followinglocations daily from 9a.m. to 6p.m.:
- Collier County residents can receive free cell and Wi-Fi service atVeterans Community Park,1895 Veterans Park Drive, North Naples.
- In Lee County, Xfinity Wi-Fi vans can be found atHertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero, and at the Fleamasters Flea Market, 4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Fort Myers.
- Charlotte County residents can visit and tap intoan Xfinity Wi-Fi van in theWalmart Supercenter lot, 19100 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte.
Comcast's vice president ofpublic relations for Florida, Mindy Kramer, said Tuesday morning the lead engineerand his team wereworking and restoring service in affected areas by the hour.
"Our teams have already repaired and reconnected nearly a thousand drops – the lines that connect homes and neighborhoods to our network," Kramer said."This has helped us restore services for tens of thousands of impacted customers to date.We are doing everything possible to restore services in places where power has now been restored."
In addition, Comcast this week committed$1 million in cash and in-kind contributions to the Florida Disaster Fund that will help support Southwest and Central Florida food banks, the United Way and the American Red Cross.
Prior to Hurricane Ian making landfall, Comcast had opened about 90,000 public Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Central, North and Southwest Florida.
A percentage of restoration or expected timeline for the full restoration of Comcast'sservices could not be provided by the company's spokesperson.
Spectrum restores service to 92% of customers
Spectrum Communications, which serves a sliver of Lakewood Ranch and has a footprint in Sarasota and Manatee counties, reported 92% restoration of services to itscustomers since Sept. 29.
Information on Spectrum's website states that restoration can be expected in north Manatee County by Oct.6, south Manatee by Oct.7 and areas affected below Manatee County in Southwest Florida by Oct. 11.
Spectrum's spokesman Joe Durkincould not be reached to comment by press time.
Samantha Gholar covers social justice news for the Herald-Tribune and the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her atsgholar@gannett.comor on Twitter: @samanthagholar
