RTI

There are a few issues in this complaint that are either misleading or completely inaccurate.January 23, 2017.  The phone service went down in Flannigan1/30/17, RTI techs flew to Stateline Peak to assess the problem and what we needed to do to fix the problem.2/2/17, flew to Stateline...

Peak and charged batteries with generator.  Service was restored for approximately 1 to 2 hours. This was caused for lack of time for the solar panels to charge before nightfall.  Severe weather moved into the area and the solar panels were not able to charge the batteries fully before that happened so the signal could not be transmitted2/11/17, attempted to fly to Stateline Peak, however, winds were too strong and helicopter was not able to set down.2/13/17, flying to Stateline Peak with generator to charge battery bank and taking additional new batteries to add to the bank. The batteries customer refers to do not power the phones in her Valley, they power the microwave on Stateline Peak so that the calls are relayed from the Rural CO in Red Rock to the microwave and then the signal is sent to the Flannigan area.  The reason there is such a long lapse between the 1/23/17 beginning of the outage and the 1/30/17 first fly to Stateline Peak was due to inclement weather conditions.  Technicians were not permitted fly.  RTI has not had this issue happen for many years.  RTI installed this new microwave four years ago.  To RTI's knowledge this is the first time there were any issues at all with the signal to Flannigan being interrupted since the new microwave installation.  It should be noted that this has been an exceptionally severe winter and weather conditions have been very difficult to work around. Customer is correct, she was told by dispatch that we were very sorry for the inconvenience and explained that RTI could not fly to Stateline Peak until the weather conditions permitted.  The snow on Stateline Peak is two and half to three feet deep.  Furthermore it is impossible to drive to this location.   At no time did dispatch ever tell this customer or anyone in the Flannigan area that they would have to “wait till spring”.   Dispatch has spoken to this customer 5 or 6 times since the outage began.  Dispatch was honest and forthright about the situation and difficulties getting service restored.  NOTE: Service was fully restored 2/13/17