Cincinnati Bell Helps Customers Stay Connected During Region's ...

Tag : power Supplies
On Sun., Sept. 14, the remnants of Hurricane Ike blew throughGreater Cincinnati and Dayton with a vengeance. As a result,hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses suffered extendedpower outages as well as property damage. As the region worked torecover from the storm, Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB) moved quicklyand decisively to maintain and restore the highest possible levelof service to its landline, wireless, and ZoomTown Internetcustomers.

"Cincinnati Bell employees worked around the clock to provide theconnectivity our customers depend on," said Jack Cassidy, presidentand chief executive officer of Cincinnati Bell. "Utilizing backuppower supplies, we maintained service to a minimum of 90 percent ofour access lines and were able to restore nearly all lines toservice by Thursday. Likewise, the call completion rate across ourCincinnati Bell Wireless network in Greater Cincinnati and Daytonnever fell below 92 percent even as traffic reached record levels."

Cassidy explained that Cincinnati Bell's largest network sites,known as Central Offices, are equipped with diesel generator backuppower. Hundreds of smaller sites, including most cell towers, havebattery backup supplies. As the commercial power outage lengthenedfrom hours to days, the company's network operations team workedaround the clock to deploy additional power resources to keep asmany sites as possible in operation. At the same time, more than400 field technicians were working to make repairs and restoreservice to residential and business customers while CincinnatiBell's retail locations implemented extended hours to allow peopleto come in and recharge cell phones or access the Internet.

Cincinnati Bell's swift response has led to voice and Internetservice restoration for virtually all of its landline customers.Anyone experiencing problems with service is encouraged to callCincinnati Bell's repair hotline at 513-566-1511 or report theproblem online at www.cincinnatibell.com. Throughout the poweroutage, Cincinnati Bell has reminded customers to use a cordedlandline phone to check for dial-tone service, since cordlessphones do require electricity to operate. More information aboutCincinnati Bell's products and services is available atwww.cincinnatibell.com.

About Cincinnati Bell

With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB)provides integrated communications solutions--including local, longdistance, data, Internet, and wireless services--that help keepresidential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Daytonconnected with each other and with the world.

In addition, businesses ranging in size from start-up companies tolarge enterprises turn to Cincinnati Bell for efficient, scalableoffice communications systems as well as complex informationtechnology solutions including data center and managed services.

Cincinnati Bell conducts its operations through three businesssegments: Wireline, Wireless, and Technology Solutions. For moreinformation, visit www.cincinnatibell.com.