Cable MSOs hustle in snowstorm's wake to restore TV, phone, Internet service

A winter storm that impacted communities from Maryland to Maine over the weekend left cable operators hustling to restore cable TV, phone and Internet service to subscribers. With leaves still on trees in the Northeast, falling tree limbs are sparking power outages and also impacting telecom services.

"We have a significant number of Connecticut, New Jersey and Westchester/Hudson Valley customers experiencing service disruptions, primarily related to the loss of electrical power," Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) spokesman Jim Maiella said Monday. "We have crews in the field and are working around the clock, in cooperation with local utilities, to restore service as quickly as possible," he added.

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) said it has seen a spike in outages in areas hit hardest by the storm such as parts of New York and Massachusetts.

"Our crews are working to restore service, repair downed poles, and do any other necessary work.  We've assigned additional field technicians and customer service reps to ensure repairs are tended to," Verizon spokeswoman Heather Willner said. The company continues to install FiOS services in areas where commercial power is available, she added.

Some subscribers to Service Electric in northwestern New Jersey also reported Sunday that they had lost phone and high-speed Internet service.

Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) also operate systems in areas impacted by the storm.

For more:
-  See AP story on power outages

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