New Orleans’ Brave New Wireless World

Millions of Americans have toyed with the idea of dropping landline phone service. Millions more have actually done it. For most of them it’s a matter of price, or convenience. In and around New Orleans, there’s another reason. Katrina.

Some areas, such as St. Bernard Parish, are still more than 80 percent without Bell South landline service. Cox Communications, the primary cable provider, isn’t giving specific numbers about how much of its service area is still out. But wireless and satellite providers are having a field day. (Wireless providers bent over backwards to make friends in the aftermath of Katrina, with one-time credits on their bills.)

For many, wireless is a temporary fix, such as the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office. The Times-Picayune reports that they’re getting along on three dozen cell phones until Bell South can get them wired. (Never mind that according to the Criminal Courts building website, cell phones are forbidden. Those wireless phones presumably don’t get around much.)

Other customers have had to buy two different cell phones (with different area codes and presumably with different providers) to make sure they’ll have service throughout the area. One podiatrist actually gets some of his appointments via text messaging.

Wireless internet providers like Superior Wireless are also making new friends, promising installation in 72 hours, no contracts and rates as low as $35 a month for high speed residential service. While Bell South is spending $700 million rewiring everything in New Orleans with fiber optics, there’ll be thousands of happy wireless customers saying, “Who cares?”.