After software and customer service problems led to spotty 911 service in parts of southern Maine over the past few weeks, FairPoint Communications has apologized.
“We are embarrassed. We have lost your confidence, and understandably so,” John Smee, director of network operations for FairPoint, said at a meeting of dispatch directors, according to the ,Portland Press Herald. Last Friday, 17 communities had problems making emergency calls to the Cumberland County Regional Dispatch Center in Windham for about an hour, the third time residents couldn’t complete 911 calls for more than 30 minutes during the past month, the paper said.
FairPoint officials said they are installing new equipment, expected to cost about $1,000, which will quickly reroute 911 calls to another dispatch center in the case of a failed call.