Verizon Making 'Substantial' Progress in Cell Phone Service Restoration

and other severe weather has thrown cell phone service out of commission for many Verizon customers.

Since June 29, Verizon has been experiencing service outages due to the freak weather occurances, and Verizon employees have been assessing and repairing damage.

"After Verizon technicians worked extended shifts throughout the weekend, the company’s service levels are nearly back to normal in most of the Washington metropolitan area," according to a prepared statement from the company. "Company technicians now are focusing on service restoral for several hundred customers in areas technicians could not previously reach due to downed power lines."

The microburst in Fredericksburg downed approximately 20 power poles.

"As of this morning (July 9), field forces are responding to 163 downed utility poles and 602 downed copper or fiber cables in Virginia, Maryland and D.C.," said Verizon. 

“We continue to see strong improvement in the number of repairs we have completed versus the number of incoming repair reports,” said Chris Childs, Verizon’s Potomac region president of consumer and mass-business markets. “I’m extremely proud of our team, which has worked 12 hours-plus daily in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees to bring service back for our customers. And I’m extremely grateful to our customers, who have been overwhelmingly gracious, patient and understanding throughout this process. 

Customers who have a Verizon service issue should call 800-VERIZON (800-837-4966) or visit www.verizon.com/support.