TDS services—restoration complete in Perry and Decatur counties, Tennessee

TDS Telecom is urging customers in Perry and Decatur counties to call in if they are without service.

Update Nov. 25, 2019, 11 a.m. central: TDS Telecom announces services are fully restored.

“It’s business as usual in Perry and Decatur counties,” proclaimed Robert Coontz, Regional Field Services Manager at TDS. “We still have much clean-up to care for, however all phone, internet, and TV services are fully restored.”

While Coontz announced that services have been restored, the company says it’s possible there are some customers without dial-tone/internet service. In these instances, TDS is urging customers to report it by calling 888-225-5837.

As you may recall, unexpected straight-line winds came through West Tennessee in late-October; knocking down hundreds of power poles and cabling. Since the storm, TDS brought hired more than 30 crews to help with re-construction and restoring/splicing cable. Along with their own employees, crews worked every day to re-connect all customers.

“While restoration has been a major hurdle, we’ve truly appreciated the community’s support and patience,” Coontz said. “At the same time, I’d like to applaud the commitment of our employees! They have worked extremely hard, day after day, to do whatever it took to restore services. And, they’ll continue working, cleaning up the area, until it’s back to normal.”

Update Nov. 20, 2019, 10 a.m. central
TDS Telecom expects to have phone, internet and TV services fully restored—within the next seven days—to customers in parts of Perry and Decatur counties. As you may recall, unexpected straight-line winds came through West Tennessee in late-October; knocking down hundreds of power poles and cabling.

Since the storm, TDS brought in more than 30 crews to help with re-construction and restoring/splicing cable. Along with their own employees, crews have been working every day to get all customers re-connected.

“And we’ll keep working every day, until all services are fully restored,” said Robert Coontz, Regional Field Services Manager at TDS. “We’re so close and truly appreciate the patience of our customers.”

Community-by-community:

Parsons—Restoration efforts are nearly complete; construction crews are in full force and services are expected to be fully restored by the end of the week.

Perry County—Deer Creek, Toms Creek, Roans Creek, and Crooked Creek continue to be without service, however, cable is up and splicing is underway. Service is expected to be fully restored by Monday, Nov. 25.

Decatur County (North-end):

• Brodies Landing, Maxine Nelson areas: All cable, splicing and drops are completed; service is restored.
• Woodlawn Shores: All cable is up and splicing continues; drops are 90 percent complete.
• Ponderosa community: All cable will be up tomorrow (Nov. 20), then splicing will get underway; drop crews are 90 percent done.
• Bohannon Landing (Ricketts Creek): All cable is up, splicing is nearly finished (~95 percent), and drops are all done.
• Oakville subdivision: All cable is up, splicing is nearly complete (~90 percent), and drops are also nearly finished (~95 percent).
• Iron Hill community: Services are fully restored; some clean-up is still taking place.

Scotts Hill—All cable is up and final clean-up wrapping up; all services have been restored.

Decaturville—Everything is complete and services restored throughout the area—except for near the elementary school. While all cable is up, splicing continues (~95 percent complete) and drops continue (~90 percent) done. Additional clean-up is still required, as well as a new fiber build which includes replacing and re-splicing, where needed.

TDS is urging customers in these communities to call in and report if they are still having service issues. Call 888-225-5837. “We just want to be sure our list is accurate and we get to everyone,” Coontz said.

Update Nov. 15, 2019, 3:30 p.m. central
TDS Telecom continues to make progress restoring phone, internet and TV services for customers in parts of Perry and Decatur counties, following straight-line winds that unexpectedly came through West Tennessee in late-October.

“Due to the sheer volume of cabling that was damaged by the winds and fallen power poles and trees, restoration is taking longer than normal,” said Robert Coontz, Regional Field Services Manager at TDS. “Plus, these are really rural areas, which further slows down our efforts.”

In an earlier statement, Coontz stated that TDS “Brought in additional crews to help us in these communities and we’ll be working every day, until all services are fully restored.”

Currently, TDS has hired more than 30 crews to help with re-construction and restoring/splicing cable.

Community-by-community:

Parsons—At this time, most of the work is still taking place south, east, and northeast of town—where damaged cables (fiber and copper) remain on the ground, in need of repair. Currently, TDS has 18 construction crews and five cable splicers (re-connecting the cables) working in the area. Four more construction crews arrive tomorrow along with five more contractors to help re-connect customers’ on-premises equipment to the nearby digital service boxes.

Perry County—In Lobelville, Deer Creek, Toms Creek, Roans Creek, and Crooked Creek, crews continue placing cable in order to restore services.

Decatur County (North-end)—In Woodlawn Shores, Ponderosa, and Brodies Landing crews are putting up cable. In addition, in Woodlawn Shores, a team is splicing new copper. In the Bohannon Landing area, crews are putting up cable today; in Decaturville, one crew is working on setting poles.

Scotts Hill—Clean-up is ongoing and crews continue placing cable in order to restore services.

“We continue a non-stop go, until all services are restored,” added Coontz.

TDS is urging customers in these communities to call in and report if they are still having service issues. Call 888-225-5837. “We just want to be sure our list is accurate and we get to everyone,” Coontz said.

Update Nov. 8, 2019, 11 a.m. central

Solid progress is being made to restore phone, internet and TV services for approximately 1,000 customers in parts of Parsons, Decaturville, Lobelville, and Scotts Hill, Tennessee.

More than a week ago, straight-line winds came through West Tennessee, taking out hundreds of power poles. Since that time, the power company has replaced or fixed nearly all the poles and restored commercial power. Due to the sheer volume of broken power poles and fallen trees, it’s taking longer than normal for the power to be fully restored, which impacts TDS’ efforts.

“As they are restoring power, our technicians and contractors are coming in on their heels, re-attaching our cabling to the poles,” said Robert Coontz, Regional Field Services Manager at TDS. “We have been able to restore service to a fair number of customers, but we still have a lot of work to do. In some areas, a lot of cabling remains on the ground and much of it needs to be repaired before it can be re-connected to the poles.”

Here’s a community-by-community update:

Scotts Hill—Commercial power has been restored to all TDS equipment. TDS technicians and contractors are actively working to get all cables reattached to the power poles as the poles are replaced and repaired.

Decaturville—Commercial power has been restored to all TDS equipment. As power poles are repaired or replaced, TDS technicians and contractors are working to restore services. At this time, many cables (fiber and copper) remain on the ground, in need of repair. Most of the work is taking place south and east of town where—where most of the damage occurred.

Parsons—Commercial power has been restored to nearly all of TDS’ equipment, except in the Busseltown and Woodlawn Shores areas. Power is expected to be fully restored in both areas during the next few days. As the power poles are replaced, TDS technicians and contractors are actively working to get cables reattached. At this time, many cables (fiber and copper) remain on the ground, in need of repair. Most of the work is taking place south, east, and northeast of town—where most of the damage occurred.

Lobelville—Commercial power has been restored to all TDS equipment. Just west of town (from Deer Creek to Crooked Creek), TDS cables remain down and in need of further repair.

“This is an all-out team effort,” added Coontz. “We brought in additional crews to help us in these communities and we’ll be working every day, until all services are fully restored. At this time, we also have a number of contractors going door-to-door, making sure the cables to each house are intact and replacing, as necessary.”

TDS is urging customers in these communities to call in and report if they are still having service issues. Call 888-225-5837.

“We just want to be sure our list is accurate and we get to everyone,” stated Coontz. “Having customers call in to report issues is the only way we can be sure they are on our list.”

As more details become available, TDS will provide updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Update Nov. 6, 2019, 11 a.m. central
TDS Field Service technicians and contractors are making steady progress on re-connecting cabling that will enable full restoration of phone, internet, & TV services throughout Parsons, Decaturville, Lobelville, and Scotts Hill—in West Tennessee. Periodic updates will be posted until all services are fully restored.

Update Nov. 4, 2019, 11:45 a.m. central
Restoration efforts continue in West Tennessee; TDS services have been restored for a fair number of customers in Parsons, Decaturville, Lobelville, and Scotts Hill. As the power company successfully replaces power poles and restores service, TDS technicians and contractors are on-site, re-connecting cabling in order to fully restore communications (phone, internet, TV) services for customers. Periodic updates will be posted here until all services are fully restored.

Update Oct. 31, 2019, 12:40 p.m. central
Restoration efforts continue in West Tennessee; however, weather is slowing down progress. The power company continues to remove debris and replace power poles in order to restore power. As power comes back up, our technicians and contractors are replacing cabling to re-establish phone, internet and TV services for customers in parts of Parsons, Decaturville, Lobelville, and Scotts Hill. Next update will be posted here on Monday, Nov. 4.

Update Oct. 30, 2019, 1:40 p.m. central
Services have been fully restored in Bruceton and New Johnsonville, Tennessee, following the straight-line winds that came through the area over the weekend. Restoration efforts continue in West Tennessee. As power is restored, TDS technicians will begin replacing cabling to restore phone, internet and TV services for impacted customers in parts of Parsons, Decaturville, Lobelville, and Scotts Hill. More details will be shared, as information becomes available.

Update Oct. 29, 2019, noon central
Following the straight-line winds that came through West Tennessee over the weekend, TDS Telecom customers in parts of Parsons, Decaturville, New Johnsonville, and Scotts Hill remain without phone, internet, and TV services.

TDS Field Service technicians and engineers are on-site, assessing the damage and stand ready to begin restoration efforts, once fallen trees are removed and the power company has replaced the damaged power poles.

According to Robert Coontz, Regional Field Services Manager at TDS, “the winds wiped out hundreds of power poles and brought down our aerial cables that connect our customers to the equipment that delivers their phone, internet, and TV services. Due to the sheer volume of broken power poles and the number of fallen trees, it will take some time for the power company to fully restore the poles. Our restoration efforts are dependent on their progress.”

As more details become available, TDS will provide updates on Facebook and Twitter.