When your Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service was installed, Mid Century provided you with a backup battery to power your telephone service during power outages. This 8-hour battery backup was part of your initial installation. The FCC recently revised its rules and now require a 24-hour battery backup option also be made available. All FTTH customers now have the option to sign up for an 8-hour or 24-hour battery maintenance and replacement service.

Why do I need a backup battery?

With the investment in and deployment of fiber, the most advanced network available today, the one function that copper provided that fiber cannot is line power. Copper-based telephone service continued functioning during a power outage because low-voltage power passed through the line, keeping the telephone operating. Today’s fiber technology is made of glass, which cannot carry low-voltage power across it. It is important you understand that your fiber telephone service will not function during a power outage without a battery backup option, removing the ability to make ANY calls, including emergency calls to 911.

Mid Century’s battery backup options will only power your telephone service. Mid Century’s backup options do not provide power to any services other than telephone. Home security systems, medical monitoring devices, routers and other equipment will not run on a home telephone backup battery.

We are providing this notice to all FTTH customers with local telephone service to inform you that there are two options for your battery backup from Mid Century. Your options are as follows:

• 8-hour battery backup – Available from Mid Century for $2.50 per month. This includes battery maintenance and replacement service.
• 24-hour battery backup – Available from Mid Century for $15.00 per month. This includes battery maintenance and replacement service.

Future battery maintenance and replacement service on existing 8-hour backup batteries:

At the time your fiber service was originally installed, Mid Century provided an 8-hour battery backup system at no charge. This battery is yours to continue to use at no cost. But you will not receive support if that existing battery fails to operate unless you sign up for one of Mid Century’s battery maintenance services. You can subscribe to Mid Century’s 8-hour battery maintenance service for $2.50 per month, but you must contact our office to do so. (Please complete form below to subscribe.)

Action Required

We are requiring all FTTH customers to decide between three options for your battery backup from Mid Century. You will need to complete and return the attached form to our office by Friday, February 22, 2019. Please choose one of these options:

Option 1: Take responsibility for power backup yourself

If you do not wish to purchase Mid Century’s battery backup service, you will be responsible for the power backup during an outage. If power backup is not important to you, you do not have to purchase anything, but you will not be able to call 911 during an outage.

Option 2: Sign Up for Mid Century’s 8-Hour Battery Maintenance Service

Starting March 1, 2019, Mid Century will provide and maintain an 8-hour battery for $2.50 per month. Under this new plan, Mid Century will provide the battery, monitor battery performance, and replace the battery when it no longer performs to its specifications. The battery offered for lease by Mid Century is approximately 2.5 pounds and is roughly 4”x2”x7”. Our backup batteries are expected to last at least 8 hours on standby power.

Option 3: Sign Up for Mid Century’s 24-Hour Battery Maintenance Service

Starting March 1, 2019, Mid Century will provide and maintain a 24-hour battery for $15.00 per month. Under this new plan, Mid Century will provide the battery, monitor battery performance, and replace the battery when it no longer performs to its specifications. The battery offered for lease by Mid Century is approximately 5 pounds and is roughly 4”x5”x7”. Our backup batteries are expected to last at least 24 hours on standby power.

Instructions for Proper Care and Use of Your Backup Battery

Please follow the more detailed instructions included with your battery for proper use, storage and care to ensure that it will function as needed during a power outage. If you do not store your battery correctly, it may shorten its useful life.

  Battery User Manual

Environmental factors such as temperature can shorten your battery’s useful life. We recommend that you store your battery above -22°F and below 149°F. These batteries are rechargeable. They will not last forever and should be replaced every 10 to 15 years, or when your device starts to make a loud beeping sound. That sound means that the battery is depleted, and must be replaced.

If you choose to lease the power backup service from Mid Century, we will monitor and replace batteries as needed.

Customer Acknowledgement

All FTTH customers must decide whether to lease an 8-hour or 24-hour power backup from Mid Century or acknowledge that they will take responsibility for power backup for their telephone service. Please indicate your decision by completing the form below.