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Under consideration PE2199: Facilitate access to emergency telephone services for remote communities
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide robust backup or alternative means to ensure that remote communities are able to contact emergency services in the event of complete power failure.
Background information
On the Isle of Seil we have been forced to change our phones to VOIP. In the event of power failure this will not work. BT/EE insist that a battery backup for the router, and alternative 4G service are adequate to cope with this eventuality. However, on Seil both the telephone exchange and the only available 4G mast use the same electricity supply and do not have adequate backup. As our telephone boxes have also been removed, in the recent power cuts residents have had no telephone, no internet, no mobile phone and thus no means whatsoever to contact emergency services. It is certain that we are not the only community in this position. A robust backup service must be made available to everyone to permit speedy connection with emergency services. Otherwise it is inevitable that people will die for lack of connectivity.
49 signatures
This petition is now under consideration
Click here for further information about the consideration of this petition.