Phone lines down, could be for a while

If you’ve gotten the busy signal a bit more often while calling around Wimberley this last week, that is because a Frontier Communications’ phone line was cut in downtown Wimberley. The line was cut more than a week ago, and the company said that repairs could take until next week to complete.

Frontier Communications is the main provider of landline phones in Wimberley. This does not impact Spectrum customers who may use Voice Over IP for phone operations.

“Early last week, a third-party contractor not affiliated with Frontier cut into, and severely damaged, Frontier’s duct system and specialized telecommunications service cables while digging in downtown Wimberley,” Javier Mendoza, Vice President Corporate Communications and External Affairs for Frontier Communication, said. “The damage is taking multiple days to repair and disrupting voice and internet service for Frontier customers in the area. At this time, we estimate repairs will go into next week and thank our customers for their patience. We will provide updates as our team works diligently to repair the damage and restore service.”

This has primarily impacted phones south of the Wimberley Square including the Hays County Precinct 3 offices. As of Monday, phone lines to the Hays County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Andrew Cable’s office and to the Hays County Constable Precinct 3 office were unavailable.

Constable Don Montague stated that the phone troubles were not impacting emergency communications, as 9-1-1-calls are routed through the sheriff’s department and dispatched on unaffected systems.

Judge Cable’s office is using a county-issued cell phone to answer phone calls. The number is (512)618-6734.

“(W)e have not had phone service for nine days due to a damaged pole in the square,” Cable posted on Facebook Monday evening. “We have tried desperately to reached Frontier for a solution only to have them refuse to respond. This is not what we have expected from Frontier nor what the citizens deserve.”

Other services relying on phone or internet at the building may be compromised while the lines are being fixed.

“Frontier reminds contractors, residents and business owners that by Texas law, they must call *811 and have underground line locations marked before they dig in the yard or at construction sites,” Mendoza said. “Calling 811 or Underground Service Alert will help avoid damage to unseen lines while digging and prevent service disruptions such as this one.”