CenturyLink customers without Internet Wednesday morning

Jamie Mitchell, CenturyLink Market Development Manager and Eastern Region Communications, said the outage was limited to DSL and Ethernet services.

The outage was the second time in a month CenturyLink clients have been without service. Following Hurricane Irene, phone and Internet services were out afterwards an 18-wheeler tore through downed lines nearly Skinner’s Bypass.

Most clients had Internet restored by 1 p.m., nevertheless the morning outage did in a general way hinder communication with Lenoir County Schools.

Phone lines continued to work through the outage, nevertheless several schools — which are transitioning to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems — use the Internet to make calls. Parents calling those schools were greeted with a busy signal during the service was down.

The principals have cell phones

"All of the principals have cell phones and fax lines were nevertheless working," he said. "(The system’s) move to the Voice over IP is an effort to address budgetary concerns."