A problem created by what the operator termed as "routine maintenance" resulted in a service interruption for Time Warner Cable's (NYSE: TWC) 12 million broadband subscribers nationwide this morning.
"At 4:30 a.m. ET this morning during our routine network maintenance, an issue with our Internet backbone created disruption with our Internet and on demand services," Time Warner Cable said in a statement. "As of 6 a.m. ET services were largely restored as updates continue to bring all customers back online."
Separately but related, the company will pay $1.1 million to resolve an FCC investigation that found the operator failed to report multiple network service outages in 2013,
"TWC failed to file a substantial number of reports with respect to a series of reportable wireline and Voice over Internet Protocol network outages," the FCC said in a report revealing the settlement, which was released Monday and originally reported on by Reuters. "TWC admits that its failure to timely file the required network outage reports violated the Commission's rules."
The FCC requires providers of fixed Internet connection or VoIP calling to promptly report some network outages that last 30 minutes or longer, for instance those that potentially affect emergency response 911 facilities or those that impact enough consumers to collectively result in at least 900,000 minutes of disrupted Internet or phone use. Operators also have 30 days to file a report and explain what happened.
The rules were adopted in the post-9/11 era and motivated by public safety.
The FCC found TWC "had failed to file a substantial number of initial reports and/or final reports with respect to a series of reportable wireline and VoIP network outages for which TWC had timely filed the required notifications," the FCC said in its report.
"We look forward to working with the FCC to ensure that its reporting rules are properly implemented and followed," a Time Warner Cable spokesman said in a statement.
For more:
- read this Reuters story
Related links:
Time Warner Cable restores phone service to 800,000 subscribers impacted by outage
Time Warner Cable grapples with nationwide Internet outage
Time Warner Cable hit with outage during Super Bowl