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Battery Backup Power

At Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association we do everything possible to keep our customers connected:
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  • Underground Facilities
  • Redundant Networks
  • Backup Batteries at Central Offices
  • Backup Batteries Available for Purchase for your location
  • Generators for WCCTA Locations
  • Local Employees
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Bringing the latest technology to rural areas through the use of Fiber makes communications
dependent on commercial power.
A short power outage is not a problem. But Iowa weather that can bring floods, wind, ice, snow and impassable roads that leave our service area without power for days certainly is.
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Tips During a Power Outage

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association is 100% Fiber to the Home using a Fiber Optic network. Unlike a copper network Fiber does NOT conduct electricity. It is powered at your location by commercial power. WCCTA provides an industry standard backup battery at every service location.

 

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

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  • Your home should retain at least one phone that can be hardwired to a jack.  This means the phone must have a cord attached to its receiver and is not plugged into a electrical outlet. Cordless phones are dependent on commercial power.
     

  • The length of time a backup battery will last is determined by how the phone is used (incoming calls, outgoing calls, or if the phone is used at all.)
     

  • When commercial power goes out at your location our network goes into "power save" mode. Using the backup batter to power your network, you will only receive dial tone. (Internet and television will not work.)

WCCTA provides an industry standard 8 hour battery backup to specifically address short duration power outages. If commercial power outages last for several days and you require long term power please pre-plan accordingly at your location.

Backup Power Disclosure

Backup Power for Phone Services During Power Outages

For many years, your home phone would allow you to stay connected to emergency voice services during a power outage. However, many of today’s advanced home services require backup battery power to continue functioning during an electric outage. To avoid disruption of voice service during an outage – and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services – Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association makes a battery backup unit available to you. This device must always be plugged into an electrical outlet.

 

What Your Battery Can - And Can't - Do For You

WCCTA’s backup batteries allow you to continue to use your home voice services during a power outage. Without a backup battery or alternate backup source such as a generator, customers will not be able to make any calls, including emergency calls to 911. The only way to maintain the ability to use your phone is by using some form of backup power. Our backup battery does not provide power to any services other than voice. Home security systems, medical monitoring devices and other equipment will not run on a home phone backup battery.

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Purchase and Replacement Options

At Webster-Calhoun we understand the importance of staying connected and being able to contact 911 emergency services during a power outage. Webster-Calhoun makes available to you a standard CyberPower 8 hour battery backup. If you feel that is not enough time, you may extend your standby power by purchasing a 24 hour battery or additional 8 hour batteries at additional cost from WCCTA.

 

Please contact our office for available battery options.

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Expected Backup Power Duration

Standard backup batteries are expected to last at least 8 hours on standby power. The available talk time depends on your usage during a power outage. If you feel that is not enough time, you may extend your standby power by purchasing a 24 hour battery or additional 8 hour batteries.

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Instructions for Proper Care of Your Batteries

See the troubleshooting section below for more detailed instruction about your provided battery backup and what operating lights reflect the current status. Batteries will not last forever and may need to be replaced. WCCTA will replace the standard CyberPower 8 hour battery.

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Troubleshooting Your Battery Backup Box

It is important to know where your battery backup box is located. It is typically located in the basement or maintenance room with other utilities. This box should always be plugged into an electrical outlet to power your network as well as keep the battery charged.

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