FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PSC OPENS INVESTIGATIONS INTO 911 OUTAGES
Lincoln, September 12, 2023- On Tuesday, September 12, the
Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) opened separate
investigations into recent 911 outages involving
telecommunication carriers Lumen (911-075/PI 248) and
Windstream (911-076/PI 249).
“The disruptions in 911 service that occurred in these two
separate incidents is unacceptable, ”said Commission Chair
Dan Watermeier. “The Commission expects 911 service
providers to maintain diverse and redundant connections
between 911centers and their networks.”
Determining why the outage resulted in the loss of 911
service over such a wide area of Nebraska will be essential
to the Lumen investigation (911-075/PI 248).
A primary focus of the Windstream investigation (911-076/
PI 249) will be to determine why a fire and loss of electrical
power at a single Windstream facility resulted in a disruption
of 911 service to a large portion of southeast Nebraska.
In both investigations the Commission seeks an explanation
as to why the redundancy required of both
telecommunications carriers failed and a solution to prevent
this from happening again.
Commissioner Watermeier said, “The highest level of service
is expected and required of our 911 service providers. There
are no exceptions.” ###
Contact:
Deb Collins- Communications & Media Mgr.
(402) 471-0226 /deb.collins@nebraska.gov
