News Summary
Residents of Hatteras Island, Dare County are expressing urgent concerns regarding frequent communication outages that disrupt vital 911 services and affect local businesses. The community calls for immediate action and solutions from both local officials and service providers to enhance communication infrastructure.
Dare County, North Carolina – Residents of Hatteras Island are calling for immediate action in response to ongoing communications outages that have disrupted vital 911 services and hampered local businesses. These outages have become alarmingly frequent, with the most recent incident occurring just last week, leading to renewed calls for change from the community and local officials.
Dare County officials have emphasized the essential nature of reliable communication infrastructure, particularly given the frequent challenges that residents have faced in reaching emergency services. Drew Pearson, the director of Dare County Emergency Management, pointed out that the outages could prevent residents from contacting 911 during critical situations, raising concerns about public safety.
Local business owners have also reported significant impacts on their operations due to connectivity issues. Trip Forman, co-founder of a local business in Rodanthe, shared that outages have become a weekly occurrence. These interruptions have disrupted point-of-sale systems, affecting both everyday transactions and overall business functionality.
In response to the growing frustration from residents and business owners, Bob Woodard, chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, stated that the repeated loss of 911 call capabilities is unacceptable. He reaffirmed the county’s ongoing efforts to resolve the communication issues affecting Hatteras Island.
Currently, a single fiber optic cable owned by Brightspeed services all internet and wireless carriers on Hatteras Island. Any issues with this cable can have widespread repercussions for the entire island, as it is a critical component of the region’s connectivity. While Brightspeed has worked to address some aspects of these outages by implementing a microwave system to support landline emergency services, this solution does not extend to wireless or internet services, further compounding the challenges facing residents.
Brightspeed has acknowledged the ongoing frustrations experienced by the Hatteras Island community. The company is actively working on solutions to improve the reliability of their services, including the development of redundancy in their communication systems. They have been pursuing federal and state funding opportunities to enhance their fiber networks, including an unsuccessful quest for a middle-mile grant aimed at creating a submarine fiber line.
Implications for the Community
The communication outages impact not only emergency services but also the daily lives of residents and visitors to Hatteras Island. Businesses are struggling to function effectively without reliable internet and connectivity, which affects financial transactions and overall customer service.
Dare County’s proactive measures included securing a grant for mobile cell towers designed to assist with emergency calls during times of widespread outages. However, ongoing frustrations with the reliability of services have prompted local leaders to urge residents to reach out to their internet and wireless service providers. Advocacy for better services and emergency protections is essential to restoring confidence in the existing infrastructure.
Next Steps and Community Engagement
Community members are encouraged to actively participate in advocating for improvements to the communication systems that are so vital to their safety and daily lives. Public support for change is crucial as Dare County continues its efforts to address the ongoing connectivity issues impacting Hatteras Island.
As the situation unfolds, officials remain committed to keeping residents informed about progress towards enhancing communication services. The residents’ voices in these matters are vital for driving needed actions and ensuring a reliable infrastructure for future generations.
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Additional Resources
- WTKR: Hatteras Island Communications Outage
- Wikipedia: Telecommunications in the United States
- Spectrum Local News: History of Connecting the Outer Banks
- Google Search: Hatteras Island Communication Issues
- WDBJ7: North Carolina’s Shelly Island Disappears
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Telecommunications
Author: STAFF HERE OUTER BANKS WRITER
The OBX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOBX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in the Outer Banks, Dare County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Outer Banks Seafood Festival, NC VIP Fishing Tournament, and NCBBA Red Drum Tournament. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and Outer Banks Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in tourism, retail, and hospitality that power the local economy such as Kitty Hawk Kites, Outer Banks Mall, and Avon Fishing Pier. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HERERaleigh.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
