Internet and Phone Outages Hit NEPA Customers, Businesses Urgently

UPDATE: A significant internet and phone outage has affected numerous customers and businesses across northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) as of Friday night. The disruption began just before 4 p.m. and persisted until approximately 8:30 p.m., impacting areas from the Back Mountain to the Wyoming Valley and parts of Lackawanna County.

Local authorities confirmed the problems, with Luzerne County 911 stating on Facebook, “We’re receiving reports of spotty phone service around the county, especially with Verizon and possibly other carriers. These issues are likely weather-related.” Residents reported intermittent connectivity issues, leading to widespread concern and frustration.

In a public message, Xfinity attributed the outages to “severe weather in or around your area.” The effects were felt acutely by local businesses, many of whom rely heavily on stable internet and phone services for operations. For instance, CK’s Cantina & Grill in Dallas remained open but had to switch to cash transactions only due to the outage. The restaurant took to Facebook, urging customers, “Our phones and internet are out but we’re still here and open for cash customers, so come see us!”

This outage has critical implications for businesses and residents alike, as phone and credit card systems were disrupted. The urgency of the situation has led to heightened calls for immediate restoration of services. Customers are advised to stay tuned for updates from their service providers.

Authorities and service teams are actively working to resolve the situation, with many residents eager for a swift return to normalcy. As recovery efforts continue, users are encouraged to share their experiences and check in with local updates to stay informed.

For those impacted, the situation serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities in communication infrastructure, especially during adverse weather conditions. Stay with us for the latest developments on this urgent issue as officials work diligently to restore connectivity across NEPA.