Verizon Business Preferred: Your stress-free tech support.
Read more
No technology is indestructible. Nearly every kind of tech available is subject to service and power outages, whether they be sporadic or consistent, and they’re a problem that can have serious effects on your business’s performance. A decrease in productivity, loss in revenue and customers, damaged equipment, and loss of data are issues that no one should have to deal with, but many people do.
If you’re a small business owner, it’s likely that an outage has impacted your establishment at some point, throwing a bit of chaos into your workflow. Though an outage of any kind is never a good scenario and always an inconvenience, it’s important to understand what causes them, how to resolve them, and how to be prepared in case it happens to you.
Service outages
The internet is a staple to most modern businesses, which makes it all the more unpleasant when your service suddenly goes down. There’s no end to the frustration of feeling stranded in the middle of the workday, and the setback of delaying projects and rearranging schedules due to an issue with your connection can cause additional problems. Many service outages can be attributed to an overloaded network—too much congestion can slow your connection to a crawl or halt it altogether. They can also happen due to severed lines, failed links or speed fluctuations from your internet service provider, equipment failure or improper setup, and duplicate IP addresses.
If you’re experiencing problems with your Fios internet service, or if it has gone down completely, you can check the Verizon outage map to see if you are being affected by a network or area-wide outage. Other resources that will provide information on a current service outage include:
To speak directly with a technician or customer support representative about your service outage, call 1-800-837-4966. If your outages are the result of too much traffic on your network, consider upgrading your Fios internet and phone plans to support more bandwidth and faster speeds.
Power outages
Nothing is worse than the power cutting out in the middle of your workday—particularly when you’re in the zone and actually ahead of your to-do list for once. Loss of power can bring your productivity to a screeching standstill, and it can be hard to get things back on track even after it comes back. Power outages can occur as a result of inclement weather, extreme temperatures, natural disasters, vehicle collisions, animals, circuit interruptions and overloads, and equipment damage and failure.
If your business finds itself the victim of a power outage, contact your power company to determine the cause and learn when the issue will be taken care of in your area. It also never hurts to stay up to date with weather forecasts and alerts so you can be as prepared as possible in the event of a storm that could damage your tech systems. To report downed telephone and power lines in your area, call 1-800-VERIZON. (1-800-837-4966)
Once the power returns, you’ll need to get your service up and running again. If you’re a Fios internet customer, reset your Optical Network Terminal (ONT). If you are a basic internet or DSL customer, you must reset your modem. If the power is restored but your services still aren’t operating correctly, you can report the outage here.
Troubleshooting
Follow the instructions below to reboot your internet and telephone services and equipment
Fios customers
- Locate the power cord to your Battery Backup Unit (BBU) and unplug it from the wall outlet.
- Plug the cord back in after at least one minute and check to see if the ONT has reset itself.
Basic internet/DSL customers
- Locate the power cord at the back of your computer modem and unplug it from the outlet. Be sure to make sure all lights are off.
- Connect the power cord back into the modem.
- Confirm that the lights on your modem have turned back on.
- Attempt to connect to the internet.
If rebooting your system doesn’t work, check for service outages in your area.
FAQS
Will I be able to make phone calls if the power goes out?
If your phone is corded and operates off a copper line, then you will be able to make and receive phone calls. If your phone operates with Verizon Fios Business Digital Voice, then you will need a Battery Backup Unit. Note: the battery backup will not power Fios television service.
How can I keep my electronics safe during a storm or natural disaster?
- Keep all batteries for electronic devices fully charged.
- Store your electronic devices (phones, tablets, chargers, batteries, etc.) in a dry, accessible place. You can use plastic zip-lock bags, waterproof cases, and more to help protect your devices.
- Keep numerous chargers (as well as solar-powered devices) in an easy-to-reach location so you can stay connected and powered up.
- Have extra charged batteries and car charger adapters readily available for additional backup power.
- Review the American Red Cross winter storm checklist and power outage checklist to better prepare for emergency situations.
Am I responsible for damaged equipment during a storm or natural disaster?
If your service equipment has experienced any sort of damage, call Verizon technical support at 1-800-837-4966 to determine whether or not it must be replaced. Verizon will replace damaged or missing equipment by mail at no cost to you.
How do I report damaged equipment?
To report equipment that has been damaged or has lost functionality due to an outage, weather, or a disaster, call 1-800-837-4966. Choose the “Technical Assistance” option to speak to a tech support professional. Verizon will replace any piece of equipment at no cost to you.
