Landline phone service in Thorne Bay has mostly returned, according to numerous sources in the city.
The Prince of Wales Island community of about 500 has experienced landline disruptions since late last year. Alaska Communications, Thorne Bay’s landline provider, attributed the disruptions to hardware issues. The break in communication made it difficult to contact Thorne Bay’s city hall and volunteer EMS group, among others.
According to emails from Alaska Communications, technicians resolved the issue last Friday. Thorne Bay’s city hall, post office and grocery store confirmed to KRBD that their landline phones are now working. The Southeast Island School District’s main office, in Thorne Bay, also confirmed that their landlines are working, although the school district’s administrative assistant said via email that occasional static makes it difficult to hear callers.
The city’s school, which is adjacent to the district’s main office, is still experiencing disruptions with its landline service. Alaska Communications could not immediately be reached for comment.
The disruptions most notably impacted the city’s volunteer EMS group, whose landline emergency dispatch number broadcasts all calls via radio to first responders on duty. The group adopted a new, temporary emergency phone line, which rang a cell phone carried by one of two dispatchers. A volunteer dispatcher with the city’s EMS group said they’ll use the cell phone until next week.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
