Multiple alerts went out Tuesday that AT&T reported a 911 service interruption to the borough. The text-based alerts give people who receive them an alternative to the three-digit emergency number, asking them to call the police station at 907-766-2121 if their emergency call is dropped.
Haines Borough IT contractor Austin Neal said he has spoken with both AT&T and the local Alaska Power & Telephone company on the issue. The 911 dedicated line is carried by AT&T but delivered to AP&T.
Neal said AT&T told him there was an equipment failure at one of the microwave tower sites north of Juneau.
“They have a helicopter standing by and are waiting for a weather window to replace the equipment,” Neal wrote in a Tuesday email.
He said the company has routed traffic through a different service and restored basic 911 functions.
“We expect a full restoration of services, hopefully by [Wednesday],” he wrote.