If the power goes out in Woolwich, some customers lose telephone service.

Town officials are concerned about this loss of telephone service in the event of an emergency and have been discussing ways to resolve a backup power problem in various remote telephone terminals in the north end of Woolwich. The town paid $750 in March to participate in a “Code Red” 911 emergency alert system through the Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency.

The system, operating through a company called the Emergency Communica-tions Network, enables the county to send quick messages to residents whose phone numbers are listed in its database. Missing child alerts, evacuation notices and other emergency information would be shared in such a system. According to the county webpage (www.sagcounty.com), the system went live July 1.

Sagadahoc County’s EMA Director Misty Mixon addressed Woolwich Selectmen in March to see if Woolwich would contribute funds toward the county-wide alert system, and at the time she said it would also benefit those with cell phones whose phone numbers are in the database. Woolwich staff recently contacted Mixon to address the phone terminal problem.

Town officials are concerned that residents in remote parts of town will not received the benefits of the system if they lose telephone service during an emergency.

During the selectmen’s most recent meeting, Woolwich resident and Fairpoint employee Christian Corbett addressed board members’ concerns.

The conversation between selectmen and Corbett indicated that blinking red lights on nearby towers demonstrate there is a problem with the Fairpoint backup battery system.

“We’re strapped for cash,” Corbett said of his employer, explaining the difficulties his company has faced. He said a limited number of staff members monitor all of the terminals in the state and there are only so many generators they are able to use.

In 2008, the North Carolina-based company purchased properties in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont from Verizon Communications, expanding their customer base significantly. As reported in numerous media outlets, the company filed for bankruptcy protection the following year and emerged from bankruptcy in January 2011.

Corbett indicated that even though the company has emerged from bankruptcy, it is still experiencing financial difficulties.

He told selectmen Fairpoint has just 15 employees, who maintain all of the company’s terminals in the state. The switch to digital networks also resulted in complications, because the equipment in the remote terminals was originally designed for analog signals.

Wayne Jortner is the senior council for the state’s Office of the Public Advocate, a branch of the Public Utilities Commission. He said backup power at telephone terminals is important. The commission can play a role when problems become a safety issue, but Jortner said it is hard to make an official complaint if there has not been a power outage.

Advancements in technology have provided more options for companies and consumers, but also create new challenges. Voice Over IP telephone service and fiber optic lines have been reported as highly efficient and fast, but are also susceptible during storms. Jortner said the commission’s jurisdiction has been changing in light of technological advances.

According to town staff, Corbett agreed to locate the remote terminals whose backup batteries might need replacing. This information was then to be shared with Mixon in order to help resolve the problem.