State utility regulators are grilling phone companies and internet providers as to their lack of power back up in the event of an emergency.
During recent public safety power shut off’s many people were without phone service to call emergency services or receive emergency notifications because cellular phones and landlines had no power. This was especially true in the San Lorenzo Valley where large swaths of residents were isolated.
So far cell service and internet providers have resisted providing back up power and instead proposed workshops to set standards for a back up power supply. The companies have agreed to voluntarily disclose data about what cell towers are down.
