CHARLESTON, W.Va. (July 6, 2012) – Frontier Communications has brought in out-of-state company personnel who have volunteered to help restore services in West Virginia, which experienced a severe storm on June 29 that caused widespread damage and power outages in several states.
"As commercial power comes back across the state, we are fully prepared to address any problems we may encounter," said Dana Waldo, senior vice president and general manager for West Virginia. "More than 40 additional Frontier employees from Pennsylvania and New York will join our existing teams in various locales as they continue to work to restore service to customers."
Waldo said he appreciates working in partnership with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for the benefit of customers across West Virginia. Members of the two unions make up nearly 90 percent of Frontier's total employment base in West Virginia.
Elaine Harris, CWA representative for West Virginia, expressed her support for the team effort.
"As we pull together as West Virginians, we all are committed to making sure we can provide the communities of our state with the services they depend upon," Harris said. "We pride ourselves in being able to take care of each other here in West Virginia."
Waldo said Frontier will assign a full force to the field during the upcoming weekend.
"Our employees are committed to being a part of the response to this statewide emergency," Waldo said.
Frontier has 230 central offices in West Virginia, and 205 were operating on commercial power as of 10 a.m. today, Waldo said. Of the remaining central offices, 25 are operating on generators. Central offices are key service distribution points.
"We want to remind customers that telephone service can be available even when commercial power is out," Waldo said. "Customers who have wired, non-cordless telephones in their homes can have service as long as the cables serving their neighborhoods or residences have not been damaged or cut."
-
