Telecommunications companies say they are prepared for onslaught of Earl

By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff

Telecommunications companies said they've prepared their New England facilities for the coming storm. Cellphone companies such as T-Mobile USA Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. say that most of their cell sites have emergency backup power, in the form of batteries or electrical generators.

The companies have also moved additional generators to staging areas, where they can be quickly deployed as needed. Cell companies have brought in mobile cell sites that can be set up quickly to replace damaged cell towers.

Verizon Communications said it has checked and refueled emergency generators at all of its 200 central switching offices in Massachusetts and refueled all repair vehicles.

Comcast Corp. said it has sent extra repair crews to Cape Cod and the islands, which are expected to bear the brunt of the storm. Comcast has also stockpiled emergency generators that can restore TV, Internet, and phone service in case the main electrical grid goes down.

Comcast spokeswoman Doreen Vigue said the company's phones have battery backup designed to last for eight hours. After that, Comcast customers will lose phone service unless power is restored, or unless they have emergency generators.

The electric utility National Grid has about 100 local repair crews on standby, as well as an additional 100 outside contractors.

Another 106 will be assigned to clear away downed trees that threaten electrical service. Spokesman David Graves said additional resources are being held in reserve in western Massachusetts.