BLS Bellsouth Cp

BellSouth Ready to Keep NC Phones Ringing Through Wintry Weather CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- As the first major winter storm of the season heads toward North Carolina, BellSouth (NYSE:BLS) technicians are completing preparations to keep customers connected. "We are well-positioned to provide the reliable service that customers have come to expect from BellSouth," said Krista Tillman, President of North Carolina Operations. "Not only do we have an extremely robust network that makes extensive use of fiber optics and redundant routing, but we also have the ability to generate electrical power if commercial power fails." With forecasts calling for combinations of ice, snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of BellSouth's service territory, technicians completed maintenance checks on mobile electric generators used to power neighborhood distribution hubs, as well as the permanent diesel generators in the company's central offices. Backup batteries are also used in both locations. "The ability to generate our own power is the reason customers can continue to make phone calls in the event commercial electricity is not available," she said. "This equipment, as well as the technicians who operate it, is invaluable in snowstorms or hurricanes." She said that ice has a greater potential to cause service disruptions than snow because the ice can accumulate on overhead lines or cause tree limbs to fall across the lines. Based on BellSouth's experience in previous storms, service to the vast majority of customers will likely be unaffected. However, customers who do have difficulty with their service may reach BellSouth's repair centers by calling 611 for residence or 1-866-620-6900 for business. From a cellular phone or from out of BellSouth service area, call 1-800-642-0544 (residence) or 1-800-252-0803 (business). Tips regarding your telephone service - During a weather emergency, reliable communications are critical. It is particularly important that people be able to reach dial 911 when they need emergency assistance. Please avoid unnecessary or casual calls, which can clog the network and prevent someone from reaching emergency help when they need it. - Heavy phone usage can cause slow dial tone. If you don't hear a dial tone immediately upon picking up your phone, wait a few seconds. If you still do not, please hang up and try your call in a few minutes. Please do not flick the hook several times, as that adds to congestion. - If you do not have commercial power, you will need to use a traditional, wired telephone to make calls. A cordless phone requires additional electrical power. DATASOURCE: BellSouth CONTACT: Clifton Metcalf of BellSouth, +1-704-417-8741 Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/095650.html

Copyright