System information

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Maintenance
Battery Backup for Telephone Service
Your telephone service requires electrical power from your home to operate and in
case of a power outage a battery backup is used to provide this service. You will not
be able to make any calls, including 911 calls, during a power outage if your battery backup
unit is not operational. CCI only provides a backup battery option for use during a customer’s
commercial power outage. While other backup power solutions exist, CCI does not have
specific knowledge of these alternate backup solutions. If you decide that you want additional
backup power during a commercial power outage, you should contact an appropriate energy
contractor/dealer that specializes in the design and installation of power backup systems.
Battery Life:
The battery backup unit will provide phone service for up to 8 hours during a power outage. Use
your telephone sparingly during a power outage because the more you use it, the faster your
battery backup power will be used up. This will reduce the time available for emergency calls.
For those living in areas where long power outages occur, we recommend that you have other
available means (e.g. cell phone) of contacting help in an emergency, or that you keep a spare
battery handy for replacement.
Some battery backup units have an emergency reserve to protect you in an emergency.
Once your telephone and battery powers off after a power outage and you need to make an
emergency phone call, press the Battery Emergency Use button once to have up to one hour of
extra battery life for talk time. After the button is pushed, all remaining battery life is used once
the battery power is drained.
Alerts:
In the event of a power outage, some battery backup units will alert you with an audible alarm
that they are supplying power from the battery. You can silence this alarm by pushing the alarm
silence button.
Placement:
You will be provided options regarding where to place the battery backup unit, subject to the
following conditions:
• Distance
• Home utility entry points
• Services ordered
Cordless Phones:
Cordless phones need electrical power to operate and thus will not work during a power outage
because the cordless phone base unit will not have any power. Your backup battery power does
not back up your cordless phones or other equipment you may have connected to the telephone
line that require electrical power. We recommend keeping a corded phone (one that does not
need electrical power to operate) either plugged into a telephone outlet or have one handy to
plug in during a power outage. Or have other backup power on hand to supply electrical power
to your cordless phones or other equipment you may have connected to the telephone line.
Warranty:
CCI provides a 90-day warranty on the battery, during which time we will replace it for free. If your
battery fails during this 90-day period, please call us at: 844.YOURCCI (844.968.7224).
After the 90-day warranty period, it is your responsibility to monitor and replace the battery when
necessary. Expected battery life is 3 to 5 years. Note that battery age and the temperature of the
environment in which it operates both affect battery life. The battery alarms will indicate when
the battery needs to be replaced.
Replacement:
Battery replacement is a safe procedure, isolated from electrical hazards. You may leave the
battery backup unit and connected equipment on for this procedure.
• Replacement batteries can be purchased at:
• Any Consolidated Communications customer service center for $34.99
• Retail stores such as:
— BatteriesPlus
— Fry’s Electronics
— Radio Shack
• Online from numerous companies’ websites, including the stores listed above
If you go to a battery store, we recommend taking your old battery with you to ensure purchase
of an exact match.
Recycle:
When you replace the sealed lead-acid battery in your battery backup
unit, dispose of your old battery properly. All batteries are considered
hazardous waste. California law requires that they must be recycled,
or taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility, a
universal waste handler, or an authorized recycling facility. In most
situations, except purchases made online, wherever you purchase
your replacement battery will accept your old battery for recycling.
If needed, visit the Call2Recycle website to find a recycling location
near you: call2recycle.org