Broadband restoration efforts in Florida hindered by power outages, flooding

Wireline operators are battling to bring residents in Florida back online as quickly as possible in the wake of Hurricane Ian, but conditions on the ground are making it hard to get to all the sites in need of repair. According to Federal Communications Commission data, the storm knocked out wireline service for nearly 526,000 people after it made landfall on September 28. As of September 30, more than 457,000 people remained without cable or wireline telephone, TV, or internet service, the agency said. Service providers in the affected areas include AT&T, Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink), Comcast and Charter Communications, as millions of Florida customers go offline due to the hurricane. Company technicians cite downed power lines and flooding as major roadblocks to service restoration efforts. Additionally, some of their network locations are using generator and battery power since commercial power remains out across a large portion of the state.