Superstorm Sandy took away my electrical power for 14 days. Without flowing electricity or a limited-life back-up battery, cable phone lines cannot work.
Cable phone lines depend on electricity to work. Also, without electricity cell phones cannot be charged. Because my home phone is a copper-based land line phone (not dependent on electricity to function), I was able to call 911, if needed, throughout my 14 days without electricity.
Anyone can experience a 911 emergency at any time, even during a power outage, maybe especially during a power outage.
Now more than ever it is most evident that telecommunications companies must be required to repair and maintain all their copper-based land line phone systems in New York and throughout our nation.
Lesson learned No. 1 – No electrical power equals no cable-based phone line service or ability to charge cell phones.
Lesson learned No. 2 – Copper-based land line phone service helps to keep more communication lines open for the American public during emergencies, despite a power outage.
Our federal legislators must take immediate action to require all telecommunications companies to repair and maintain their copper-based land line phone systems on Long Island and throughout our nation, especially since natural disasters appear to be increasing in frequency and intensity (e.g., tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes).
Superstorm Sandy caused a telecommunications’ crisis when it left millions without electrical power and thereby left millions of Americans without phone service and without the ability to call 911 from their cable-based, electricity-driven home phones and/or cell phones.
Federal legislators must act now to preserve copper-based landline phone systems, for the sake of every American’s security.
The issue of preserving copper-based land line phone service does not only involve Fire Island residents, it involves all citizens of our great country.
Kathleen Rittel
East Williston
