(March 8, 2023 – 1 p.m.) —   Broadband outage repairs created by storms on March 3, are in high gear by Meriwether Lewis Connect. An estimated 500 are affected across MLEC’s five-county service area with Hickman, Humphreys and Perry being affected most.

“Crews have been assessing damage, making repairs where possible, and getting things lined up for when power was restored,” says MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “With fiber, power has to be restored and poles back up before most outages can be identified and repairs made.”

Main line fiber is down on Hurricane Creek in Humphreys County, on Gunson Ridge Road and Cooley Ford Road in Houston County, and areas of Centerville among others. There are also numerous individual drops and services with damage. Fiber repairs can take longer to fix due to the intricate, slow task of splicing. Repairs could take up to two weeks to complete for some areas.

Other details of note:

• If power has returned but Internet has not, unplug the router from the power source for a few minutes instead of using the reset button.

• To report an outage, call MLEC and choose OPTION 3, then OPTION 2. If you have Internet access on your phone, you can also create a service ticket using the SUPPORT PORTAL at www.mlconnect.com.

• Tech support tickets for issues inside the home such as speed, routers, etc. are second priority to restoration efforts at this time.

• Scheduled installations are ongoing, as they are handled by a different crew.

“Broadband is no longer a convenience, for many it is a necessity for work and school,” says Carnahan. “Our employees and contractors know everyone is counting on them, and we are committed to working as quickly as possible.”

MLConnect, LLC is a non-profit wholly-owned subsidiary of MLEC and provides broadband and phone to more than 12,500 member-users in Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis and Perry counties. We are helping build brighter futures and making connections possible for those we serve. Learn more at www.mlconnect.com.

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