https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/g5b9py/telecom-greed-left-texas-less-prepared-to-handle-cellular-outages

As millions of Texans struggle to survive in the wake of the state’s failing electrical grid, many have also been cut off from essential communications networks. According to the latest FCC data, somewhere around 302,793 wireless subscribers have been unable to access essential communications services as the area struggles to recover from historically cold weather.Because they require broadband and power to function, the FCC states that another 33,331 Texas and Oklahoma residents have lost access to their internet voice (VOIP) services.

The crisis has left Texans dealing not only with freezing temperatures and no power, but challenges ranging from a dramatic spike in carbon monoxide poisonings to a lack of clean drinking water. A lack of communications infrastructure only makes recovery harder, especially after the storms disabled four 911 call centers in Texas and Oklahoma.“Due to the interdependencies between power and communications service, power outages and rolling brownouts are forcing communications service providers to rely on backup power,” the FCC said. “However, icy roads are affecting their ability to refuel generators.”