WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- While clean-up crews continue to work
around the clock in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, local telecom
service providers have made tremendous progress in restoring communications in
the Gulf region.
"While facing tremendous challenges, communications service providers have
done a remarkable job in restoring service as quickly and safely as possible
in the Gulf region," said Walter B. McCormick Jr., President and CEO of
USTelecom. "In this difficult time, carriers from coast to coast have shown an
unwavering commitment to their customers and overwhelming generosity, donating
both time and resources to restore service and help evacuees."
Carriers across the nation are making significant contributions to aid
residents devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Below are some examples of what the
industry is doing to help:
Restoring Service
* Facing significant challenges, all companies serving the region have
worked non-stop to restore communications as quickly and safely as
possible to the affected areas.
* After initially reporting more than 2.5 million lines out of service
after the storm hit, BellSouth, the carrier that serves a majority of
the areas affected by the storm, has restored service to more than two
million lines with just over 300,000 lines not yet in service.
* EATEL employees have worked around the clock to restore service in
affected areas.
* BellSouth has brought more than 1,400 additional technicians and support
personnel into Southeast Louisiana to assist with Hurricane Katrina
restoration efforts, with more to come in the next few weeks. The
numbers include BellSouth employees from other parts of the region,
retirees and employees on loan from SBC and Verizon.
* SBC companies have started deploying up to 140 technicians from
California, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and
Arkansas to provide BellSouth with network and technical support to
assist in the recovery efforts. The company has already sent equipment -
- generators and microwave trailers -- to the area hit by the hurricane,
and additional technicians will be provided on an as-needed basis.
* Alltel has restored service to more than 80 percent of its wireless
network and reopened 52 of 61 stores that were closed after Hurricane
Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.
Evacuee Assistance
* With approximately 6500 employees working in the hardest hit areas of
Louisiana and Mississippi, BellSouth has created several tent cities to
house employees and their families with company technicians and
engineers deployed from these tent cities to continue working in the
affected areas.
* CenturyTel, Alltel, Verizon and VALOR Telecom have donated pre-paid
calling cards for residents evacuated from their homes.
* SBC companies have provided technology to evacuees through a commitment
of more than $4 million a month in services. Free local and long
distance calling, Internet service and voice mail boxes have allowed
thousands of Katrina evacuees to reconnect with families, make
appointments for job interviews, search for housing, and stay in contact
with FEMA and other relief agencies for the focused service.
* Verizon has made available pay phone trailers in areas housing evacuees.
* Verizon has streamlined the automated greeting on its national 411
directory assistance service, allowing callers to be quickly routed to
operators who have access to a growing list of hurricane relief agencies
and services. Callers to 411 can simply say "Katrina relief."
* More than 1,000 SBC employees and retirees have donated thousands of
hours of their time at evacuation shelters by helping victims connect
with loved ones -- through phone calls or Internet site searches. The
volunteers are continuing their efforts to assemble care packages and to
sponsor donation drives.
* Alltel is providing free nationwide roaming and long distance service to
customers in the affected areas. Hurricane evacuees can also make free
calls to family and friends at any Alltel retail store.
* Alltel is providing temporary housing and financial assistance to
employees and their families displaced by the hurricane. The company
recently helped evacuate employees from New Orleans to its corporate
headquarters in Little Rock.
* With the thousands of evacuees temporarily located at the Houston
Astrodome and surrounding Reliant Centers, BellSouth has delivered New
Orleans directories to assist evacuees in reaching family, businesses
and important resources prior to returning to the New Orleans area.
* In an unprecedented effort, CenturyTel helped the United Way of
Northeast Louisiana expand the capacity of the group's 2-1-1 call center
to help meet the overwhelming needs of residents affected by Katrina.
* CenturyTel also led an effort working with wireless carriers to make
2-1-1 accessible throughout the state of Louisiana from cellular phones.
Financial Support
* Many carriers and their employees have donated money to Hurricane
Katrina relief efforts.
* SBC employee donations for the Hurricane Katrina disaster-relief efforts
have exceeded initial projections, prompting the SBC Foundation to
double the cap for its dollar-for-dollar special employee matching-gift
fund to $2 million -- for a total potential company and employee
contribution of up to $4 million.
* The BellSouth Foundation has donated $5 million toward enabling students
from the Gulf States to continue their education via virtual courses.
* The Verizon Foundation and Verizon employees have contributed more than
$8 million to Katrina relief efforts.
* In addition to monetary contributions, thousands of Verizon employees
donated their time by manning call-centers for a national telethon to
raise funds for victims.
In the months ahead, communications service providers will continue to
work diligently to restore service in their communities and connect displaced
residents from Hurricane Katrina.
About USTelecom
The United States Telecom Association, USTelecom, is the premier trade
association representing service providers and suppliers for the telecom
industry. USTelecom represents more than 1,200 companies offering a wide range
of services across the communications platforms, including voice, video and
data over local exchange, long distance, wireless, Internet and cable
services.
SOURCE United States Telecom Association
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Related links:
http://www.usta.org
CONTACT:
Allison Remsen of the United States Telecom
Association, +1-202-326-7370
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