CNN Tech Reporter Begs Viewers to Not ‘Test Call’ 911 During Nationwide Cell Phone Outage
In the midst of a nationwide cell phone outage, CNN tech reporter Brian Fung offered an important message for viewers, urging them to not make “test calls” to 911.
According to CNN, the outage affected U.S. cell customers, mostly those with AT&T service, beginning in the early hours of Thursday morning. Verizon and T-Mobile customers reported some limited outages, but representatives with both of those networks said they were unaffected by the AT&T service outage and it seems that many of the reports of Verizon or T-Mobile outages were actually caused by troubles connecting to affected AT&T customers.
Fung appeared on CNN News Central to discuss the outage and offer some practical advice. Anchor Kate Bolduan asked him about reports that 911 emergency services were impacted by the outage.
He confirmed those reports, noting that it was recommended that affected customers try “an alternative method” like a landline or a cell phone on another service like Verizon or T-Mobile, or even using social media to try and get in touch with the relevant police or fire department. Fung noted that local fire departments were posting messages urging people to make sure if their fire alarm goes off during this outage to remember that the alarm may not be able to automatically connect to the fire department through its usual dedicated telecommunications services, “so make sure if your fire alarm goes off make a call to 911 just to be sure.”
On the flip side, however, Fung discouraged people from making “test calls” to 911.
“Now, on the other hand, we have also seen reports that people have been making test calls to 911, trying to make sure that they can get through if if need be,” he said, and the Massachusetts State Police was warning that their 911 call centers were being “flooded by these so-called test calls.”
“Please do not do that,” said Fung. “Do not call 911, just to make sure that you can get through, because that bandwidth, that capacity is really needed for real emergencies.”
Instead, the police were advising, “if you’re concerned about your ability to access 911, just place a call to another individual, someone you know, a family member or loved one,” and “if that call goes through, that means you will be able to call 911 if you need to, but please do not call 911 directly from your phone.”
Watch the clip above via CNN.
