Dear Mayor:

Please copy this letter to your emergency management coordinator.

Widespread deployment of fiber optic phone service through out the state may result in the removal or abandonment of some copper phone lines.  It is important for your municipal operations that you understand how this may impact your phone communications during power outages. 

Copper phone lines are powered by phone company batteries and generators.  They do not rely on subscribers’ power sources to function during power outages. 

A fiber optic phone line requires subscribers to provide a power source, including during power outages. 

For example, the Verizon FiOS web site explains this as follows: “Power for services provided on the Verizon FiOS network must be supplied by the customer. Customer is responsible for back-up battery replacement.

Backup battery does not supply power for Online or Video services. Certain telephones, answering machines and other telephone equipment not meeting industry standards may not work with service provided on the Verizon FiOS network. ©2006. Verizon. All Rights Reserved.”

The League recommends before engaging this new technology, municipal officials carefully examine the different service capabilities of fiber optic based phone service and how they will serve municipal operations. Contact your phone company for technical assistance determining the impact of fiber optic technology on your municipal phone service.

Very truly yours,

                                                                        William G. Dressel, Jr.
                                                                        Executive Director